Nebraska sets a statewide non-resident permit cap. In previous years, the cap was 10,000 total either-sex and buck-only deer permits for all types combined, including November firearm, archery, muzzleloader, and statewide buck permits. This year, they have reduced that quota to 9,000. Landowner and youth permits are exempt from this overall quota. In the years 2020 and 2021, non-resident deer hunter numbers surpassed 18,000 annually. After years of resident complaints about the disproportionate number of non-residents hunting the western half of the state, the statewide restriction was created. Deer permits are issued as draw units or buy units (over-the-counter permits). Draw units are determined by overall demand and may be applied for during the draw unit application period (June 1 through 12). Buy units are issued on a first-come, first-served basis beginning on July 22. Youth may hunt at age ten and are considered youth until they turn sixteen. They may have two permits, but only one permit may allow for the harvest of a mule deer.
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During the 2025 season, 21,030 whitetail bucks and 5,474 mule deer bucks were harvested. Overall, the deer harvest was down 6%, and the total harvest was the lowest since 1993. Mule deer buck harvest did increase again and was up by 4.3%. The 2024 mule deer buck harvest broke a six-year decline but was still 41.7% below the historic high in 2017. The last five years make up five of the six lowest success rates in history. The declines in deer populations can be attributed to severe drought, Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) cases ramped up by the drought, and increased antlerless harvest between 2019 and 2021. In 2025, resident permit sales fell again, dropping 2.5% from 2024—the lowest since 1998. Non-resident permit sales dropped again as well, down 2.4% from 2024, and made up 12.8% of all permit sales.
Whitetail harvest remained fairly stable following the major 2012 EHD outbreak, but depredation complaints leading to increased harvest, drought conditions over the last six years, and several other EHD events have driven numbers down severely statewide. Keep in mind that all western Nebraska counties are considered Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) positive counties.
Out of all of Nebraska’s counties, seventy-one are CWD positive and twenty-two are not. Northeast Nebraska counties remain negative. If you’re in search of a good whitetail buck in Nebraska, they can be found anywhere that there is a lot of agricultural ground in close proximity to suitable cover. The size of the buck can be determined by the type of private land you are on. If it is a big block of private land that is managed for mature bucks, you are in good shape, but if it is a small piece of private land, buck size has a lot to do with how the adjacent landowners manage their lands. If you don’t have any private land to hunt, you will need to go through Nebraska’s Public Access Atlas for walk-in hunting.
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The one silver lining of the state is the mule deer population. Although nowhere near the record numbers they were at in 2017, they have been on the rebound the last couple of years. Hunters reported seeing more young bucks on the landscape last season. Drought has continued to affect fawn production and the presence of good fawning habitat. Without a break in the dry weather, the trend may revert to a negative one. The state is taking a more aggressive approach this year, with increased tag reductions, especially in antlerless mule deer permits, and continuing to limit hunters to one-unit permits. This approach should help capitalize on the population rebound over the past two years and move deer populations toward desired levels across all deer management units (DMUs).
Nebraska is not overloaded with trophy mule deer bucks, but there have been many typical and non-typical Boone and Crockett entries over the years. Most typical mule deer entries come from Dundy, Grant, Sioux, and Hooker counties, while non-typical entries tend to come from Brown and Dundy counties. There isn’t a go-to area within the state for the biggest bucks.
The statewide whitetail buck permit is a good opportunity for those who have a great deal of open time this season. The statewide permit runs September 1 through December 31 and is valid during the archery, muzzleloader, and November firearm seasons for the harvest of one whitetail buck, provided a hunter is using a weapon that is legal for the season they are hunting. These permits are sold over the counter. There will be a total of 8,000 permits available, though there is a 1,200 non-resident quota. In 2025, only 306 permits were purchased by non-residents before they sold out in early November. Last season, 2,181 whitetail bucks were harvested with this permit. The top three producing units on this permit were Blue Southeast, Republican, and Wahoo.
The statewide restricted buck permit is valid for almost any buck, the exception being mule deer bucks in the Pine Ridge, Buffalo, Frenchman, Platte, and Republican units. In the past, this permit was for the firearm season only, but it is now valid for the harvest of one buck during the archery, muzzleloader, or November firearm seasons, provided a hunter uses a legal weapon for the season being hunted. The season runs September 1 through December 31. Last season, 74% of the mule deer buck harvest on this permit came from the Sandhills, Plains, and Calamus West units. Additionally, 49% of the overall buck harvest for both mule deer and whitetail came from those three units.
The more expensive statewide buck permit, which is valid statewide in any unit for any mule deer or whitetail buck, will continue to be sold over the counter until sold-out. There are only 30 non-resident permits available. In 2025, the non-resident quota sold out in thirty-five minutes on the sale day in July. Permit holders may hunt any open seasons between September 1 and December 31 with the appropriate weapon. The majority of mule deer and whitetail deer taken on this permit were taken out of the Frenchman unit. Residents get 70 tags. Of the 100 total tags, 55 were filled—45 were used to take a mule deer, and 10 were filled with a whitetail.
Youth have two opportunities to get an unlimited statewide permit: the youth restricted deer permit and the youth whitetail permit. The youth restricted deer permit is valid in all units except Frenchman, Platte, or Pine Ridge and is valid for any deer. The other permit youth can get is a statewide whitetail permit, which is valid for any whitetail. Youth permit holders can purchase up to two youth permits each season ($8.50 each), but no more than one may allow the take of a mule deer buck. Youth hunters must follow the open deer season dates and their respective weapon types.
There are three types of permits that non-residents may apply for in the June application period for draw units. These include the statewide archery and muzzleloader permits as well as unit-specific permits. All draw hunts available are listed in the table on page 32.
The statewide archery permit is valid for one deer of either sex except for antlerless mule deer. An unlimited number of resident hunters are allowed to hunt anywhere statewide. However, non-residents are restricted from hunting mule deer in the Buffalo, Frenchman, Pine Ridge, Platte, or Republican units. The season dates run from September 1 to December 31. Applicants have had 100% success in drawing this permit ever since it was moved to a draw. Overall, archery harvest success was average last year at 23%, and about 10% of the bucks taken were mule deer. There were 3,000 permits available to non-residents in the draw. Only 59% of the permits drew out, leaving permits available on a first-come, first-served basis; these permits sold out in early September. The top three units for mule deer buck harvest were Sandhills, Plains, and Upper Platte. The top three units for whitetail deer buck harvest were Blue Southeast, Wahoo, and Blue Northwest.
The statewide muzzleloader permit is valid for one deer of either sex except for antlerless mule deer. However, all hunters are restricted from hunting mule deer in the Buffalo, Frenchman, Pine Ridge, Platte, or Republican units. Applicants have had 100% success in drawing this permit since it was moved to a draw. The season dates run from December 1 to 31. Overall, muzzleloader harvest success was 21% last year, and 33% of the bucks taken were mule deer. There were 1,000 permits available to non-residents in the draw. Only 58% of the permits drew out, leaving permits available on a first-come, first-served basis; these permits sold out in early August. The top three units for mule deer buck harvest were Sandhills, Plains, and Calamus West. The top three units for whitetail deer buck harvest were Blue Southeast, Keya Paha, and Wahoo.
The unit-specific draw permits have all moved to a “season choice” format, meaning a hunter can hunt during the archery, firearm, and muzzleloader seasons. These more sought after permits, especially in units like Frenchman, Pine Ridge, Platte, and Republican, require at least one point to have a chance at drawing. If you are interested in one of those areas, we recommend building a few points to give yourself a 100% chance of hunting in the future. However, as you can see in our table, there are still some draw units where you have a chance to draw right now with zero points.
Some areas are open to hunting but need a special access permit to hunt during certain seasons, such as Desoto, Boyer Chute, and the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. Season dates and regulations are different in these areas, so see the Big Game Guide for more details. The Gifford Point Wildlife Management Area (WMA) special access permit application period runs from August 1 through 15. This area offers 200 permits. This grants a hunter the opportunity to hunt on about 1,500 acres right outside of Omaha. In order to apply, one must hold a valid active deer permit. Many state parks and state historical parks are also open to hunting, though some need access permits to do so. Reach out to each area you are interested in hunting for more details.
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The Nebraska Big Game online application period for deer is June 1-12, 2026.
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| Draw Permit Up-Front Fees | |
| Deer Draw Application | $7 |
| Deer Preference Point Only | $57 |
| Draw Permit Fees (If Successful) | |
| Habitat Stamp | $25 |
| Statewide Archery Deer | $372 |
| Statewide Muzzleloader Deer | $372 |
| Unit Specific Firearm Deer | $372 |
| Buy Permits (OTC) | |
| Habitat Stamp | $25 |
| Statewide Buck | $1,113 |
| Restricted Statewide Buck | $888 |
| Statewide Whitetail Buck | $838 |
| Youth Whitetail or Restricted Deer (ages 10-15) | $8.50 |
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