Nebraska Reports 7% Decline in Fire...

Nebraska’s 2025 November firearm deer harvest fell 7 p.c from final yr, a decline wildlife managers anticipated after a number of powerful seasons for the state’s herds. In accordance with preliminary figures launched by the Nebraska Sport and Parks Fee, hunters checked 26,029 deer this yr in comparison with 28,056 in 2024.

Officers say years of drought, harsh winters, and illness have lowered deer numbers statewide. Allow reductions have been put in place to ease stress on struggling herds, creating an anticipated dip in harvest.

Whitetail harvest noticed the biggest drop. Total whitetail numbers fell 10 p.c from final yr. Whitetail buck harvest dropped 3 p.c, whereas antlerless whitetail harvest declined 26 p.c from 2024 and 54 p.c in comparison with 5 years in the past.

Mule deer have been the lone shiny spot. Harvest elevated 4 p.c from final yr, and buck harvest rose 6 p.c. Antlerless mule deer numbers, nonetheless, have been down 9 p.c from 2024 and 67 p.c from 5 years in the past.

“You will need to keep in mind herd restoration takes time,” stated Luke Meduna, Sport and Parks’ massive recreation program supervisor. “Now we have taken motion to assist our deer populations rebound. Now we have lowered antlerless tags 64 p.c over the past 5 years, and buck allow gross sales have been lowered greater than 15 p.c, however we have now a strategy to go earlier than we get again to the place we need to be.”

Meduna stated this yr’s allow reductions align intently with harvest totals. November Firearm permits have been lowered by 2 p.c from final yr, and antlerless tags dropped by 20 p.c.

Sport and Parks goals to rebuild deer numbers to a stage that might permit buck harvest success to extend 20 p.c for whitetail and 25 p.c for mule deer. Managers anticipate hunters to start seeing advantages from lowered antlerless whitetail harvest within the coming years.

Nebraska deer populations have struggled since 2019, when permits have been elevated to handle crop depredation points. Since then, extreme drought, hemorrhagic illness, and harsh winters have lowered habitat high quality and burdened herds throughout the state.

Public response to the harvest report appeared rapidly on social media, with many hunters pointing to predators as an element.

“Put a bounty on coyotes and cease letting mountain lions unfold into central and japanese Nebraska,” wrote Bryon Miller on Fb.

One other hunter, Kenny Albin, urged including mountain lion permits within the northeast, saying there are “lots on path cameras.”

Ultimate harvest totals will probably be launched in spite of everything deer seasons shut. Archery runs by December 31, and muzzleloader season continues by the tip of December. The late antlerless and River Antlerless seasons run from January 1 to fifteen.

Hunters can study extra about herd administration, public conferences, massive recreation analysis, and looking alternatives at OutdoorNebraska.gov.

Keith Lusher

Keith Lusher is an award-winning outside journalist who resides in Covington, Louisiana. He owns and operates NorthshoreFishingReport.com and writes a weekly outside column for the Slidell Impartial Newspaper. He additionally writes for the St.Tammany Parish Tourism Fee’s VisitTheNorthshore.com. He’s the previous host of The Northshore Fishing Report Radio Present and is on the board of the Louisiana Outside Writers Affiliation. Keith contributes to quite a few publications each on-line and in print and prides himself on selling South Louisiana’s distinctive fishery. To contact Keith electronic mail: keithlusherjr@gmail.com