Nebraska · License · 2026 Edition
Nebraska Hunting License Cost 2026: Fees, Deer & Turkey Permits
A year costs $17 for residents and $125 for nonresidents.
Nebraska has no single all-species base license — a Small Game Permit (or the pricier Hunt/Fish Combo) covers small game and fishing, while deer and turkey are entirely separate permits bought on top. A $25 Habitat Stamp is required of nearly every hunter in the state regardless of species, on top of any permit below. Nebraska's deer permits are the most fragmented in this project: beyond the flat statewide Archery, Muzzleloader and Whitetail Buck permits shown here, the state also sells dozens of individually named 'Unit Buck' permits (Blue Northwest, Calamus East, Pine Ridge, Platte, and many more) — each with its own quota, its own draw requirement in many units, and prices that range from the same $42/$372 shown here up past $198/$1,113 for the most restricted permits. A hunter targeting a specific management unit should check that unit's own quota and price in the Big Game Guide rather than assume the statewide rate applies.
01 — Base hunting license
| Type | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small Game Permit | $17 | |
| Hunt/Fish Combo | $39 | |
| Small Game Permit | $125 | |
| Hunt/Fish Combo | $187.50 |
02 — Deer permits
| Permit | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Deer — Statewide Archery | $42 | |
| Deer — Statewide Muzzleloader | $42 | |
| Deer — Statewide Whitetail Buck | $100.50 | |
| Deer — Unit Buck (typical unit) | $42 | Price for a standard Unit Buck permit — many specific units cost more and require a lottery draw. See the note above. |
| Deer — Statewide Archery | $379 | Draw permit for nonresidents — limited to 3,000 statewide archery permits; includes a nonrefundable $7 application fee. |
| Deer — Statewide Muzzleloader | $379 | Draw permit for nonresidents — limited to 1,000 statewide muzzleloader permits; includes a nonrefundable $7 application fee. |
| Deer — Statewide Whitetail Buck | $838 | |
| Deer — Unit Buck (typical unit) | $372 | Nonresidents are capped at 9,000 either-sex/buck-only permits statewide, excluding landowner and youth permits. |
03 — Turkey permits
| Permit | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey — Spring | $34 | |
| Turkey — Spring Youth (15 & under) | $8.50 | |
| Turkey — Spring Landowner | $18.50 | |
| Turkey — Fall | $34 | |
| Turkey — Fall Youth (15 & under) | $8.50 | |
| Turkey — Fall Landowner | $18.50 | |
| Turkey — Spring | $158 | Capped at 10,000 spring permits statewide for nonresidents. |
| Turkey — Spring Youth (15 & under) | $8.50 | |
| Turkey — Spring Landowner | $80.50 | |
| Turkey — Fall | $158 | |
| Turkey — Fall Youth (15 & under) | $8.50 | |
| Turkey — Fall Landowner | $80.50 |
04 — Other permits
| Permit | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Habitat Stamp | $25 | Required of nearly every hunter in Nebraska regardless of species — exceptions are residents under 16, veteran/69+ senior permit holders, and landowners hunting their own qualifying land. |
| Habitat Stamp | $25 |
05 — Hunter education
Nebraska requires a hunter education certificate for most first-time license buyers. Required for all hunters age 12 through 29 hunting with a firearm or bow for big game — an age band, not a birth-year cutoff. Hunters 30 and older are exempt.
Nebraska hunter safety course — options, costs and where to register →
06 — Where to buy
Licenses and permits are sold through OutdoorNebraska.gov, the state's official portal.
Where to hunt public land in Nebraska — WMAs by county & access rules →
Nebraska hunt permits run on a calendar year, not a season-to-season license year (per Nebraska Game and Parks Commission).
FAQ
Can I hunt on my own land in Nebraska without a license?
Nebraska resident farmers or ranchers, and their immediate family living on land they own or lease, may hunt squirrel, cottontail, jackrabbit, prairie grouse, partridge, pheasant, and quail there without a permit or Habitat Stamp. Deer, antelope, elk, and turkey still need their own landowner permit application.
How much is a hunting license in Nebraska?
A resident annual Nebraska hunting license costs $17, and the nonresident annual license costs $125. Species permits for deer, turkey and waterfowl are charged on top — see the tables above. Prices are set by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and were read from their own license document on Aug 12, 2026.
How much is a nonresident hunting license in Nebraska?
$125 for the annual nonresident license. Species permits come on top of the base license.
How much is a deer permit in Nebraska?
Deer — Statewide Archery — $42. Deer — Statewide Muzzleloader — $42. Deer — Statewide Whitetail Buck — $100.50. Deer — Unit Buck (typical unit) — $42. Deer — Statewide Archery — $379. Deer — Statewide Muzzleloader — $379. Deer — Statewide Whitetail Buck — $838. Deer — Unit Buck (typical unit) — $372. A deer permit is charged on top of the base hunting license.
What do I need to get a hunting license in Nebraska?
Nebraska requires a hunter education certificate for most first-time license buyers. Licenses are sold through OutdoorNebraska.gov, the state's official portal. Nebraska hunt permits run on a calendar year, not a season-to-season license year (per Nebraska Game and Parks Commission).
Do I need a hunter safety course to buy a Nebraska hunting license?
Yes, for most first-time buyers. Required for all hunters age 12 through 29 hunting with a firearm or bow for big game — an age band, not a birth-year cutoff. Hunters 30 and older are exempt.
Verified · Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · Last verified 2026-08-12
Publisher's note. Prices read from the NGPC license offerings document, retrieved 2026-08-12. Review due 2027-02-01. Fees are set by the state and change without notice — confirm current prices before purchase.