Nebraska Game and Parks Announce Big Game Hunting Season Dates for 2022

Nebraska Game and Parks Announce Big Game Hunting Season Dates for 2022
Courtesy of Nebraska Game and Parks.

On April 28, 2022, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) sanctioned several antelope, elk, and deer hunting season dates for 2022. The meeting, which took place at Niobrara State Park, also saw the approval of recommendations intended to aid in population management of big game species, specifically mule deer.

The NGPC agenda covered a variety of topics regarding population management recommendations for big game in Nebraska. In recent years, the state has seen a decline in mule deer populations, leading NGPC staff to recommend changes to big game hunts. These recommended changes seek to curtail declining numbers while still allowing hunters to harvest the deer.

Approved changes to the 2022 big game deer hunts include:

  • Enacting quotas for restricted buck and whitetail buck permits
  • Including Pine Ridge deer management unit in the Mule Deer Conservation area
  • Placing a sales cap on some deer permits for non-residents
  • Changing the percentage of limited landowner permit quotas

The commission approved deer, antelope, and elk hunting season dates for 2022. The new seasons for each species are as follows:

Elk

  • Archery bull elk: September 1 – October 31, 2022
  • Firearm bull elk: September 21 – October 31, 2022
  • Antlerless: August 1, 2022 – January 31, 2023
  • Private land only antlerless: August 1 – September 20, 2022
  • Antlerless, early general: August 1 – October 31, 2022
  • Antlerless, late general: November 1, 2022 – January 31, 2023

Deer

  • Archery: September 1 – December 31, 2022
  • River antlerless firearm: October 1-15, 2022
  • Special landowner: November 5-7, 2022
  • Firearm: November 12-20, 2022
  • Muzzleloader: December 1-31, 2022
  • Antlerless only season choice: September 1, 2022 – January 15, 2023
  • Late antlerless, only firearm: January 1-15, 2023
  • River antlerless late firearm: January 1-31, 2023
  • Youth: September 1, 2022 – January 15, 2023
  • Limited landowner: September 1, 2022 – January 15, 2023

Deer

  • Archery: September 1 – December 31, 2022
  • River antlerless firearm: October 1-15, 2022
  • Special landowner: November 5-7, 2022
  • Firearm: November 12-20, 2022
  • Muzzleloader: December 1-31, 2022
  • Antlerless only season choice: September 1, 2022 – January 15, 2023
  • Late antlerless, only firearm: January 1-15, 2023
  • River antlerless late firearm: January 1-31, 2023
  • Youth: September 1, 2022 – January 15, 2023
  • Limited landowner: September 1, 2022 – January 15, 2023
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