Section 163-4-005 - Game Birds (not including turkey, coots and migratory waterfowl), Furbearers, and Cottontail RabbitThe following regulations are prescribed by the Game and Parks Commission, State of Nebraska in accordance with Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 37-314, 37-315, 37-502, 37-701. For purposes of these regulations, unless context otherwise requires, the definitions found in Chapter 37, sections 202 through 247 of the Game Law, are used.
For season dates, bag limits, possession limits, open areas and shooting hours see Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Order C05, Game Birds (not including turkey, coots and migratory waterfowl), Furbearers, Cottontail Rabbit and Squirrels on the Commission's website: outdoornebraska.gov.
005.01 Grouse (Greater prairie-chicken and Sharp-tailed are the only species allowed to be hunted. 005.01A Special Permit Eligibility: Persons who have been issued a valid Nebraska small game hunting permit are eligible to apply for a special permit. Residents 12 through 15 years of age who have successfully completed a state-certified Hunter Education course, as well as persons who may legally hunt small game in the State of Nebraska without a valid small game hunting permit, are also eligible to apply.005.01B Application Period and Procedure: Permits valid for the current calendar year may be applied for no sooner than July 15 of that year. Permits will be distributed to eligible applicants on a first-come, first-served basis, with permit requests accepted at the Lincoln Game and Parks office by mail, phone, or over-the-counter. Permit requests must include the applicant's name, address, and valid small game hunting permit number (or, for residents 12 through 15 years of age, their Hunter Education Certificate number). Persons who may legally hunt small game in the State of Nebraska without a valid small game hunting permit may provide documentation of such status with their application in lieu of a permit number.005.01C Tagging: It shall be unlawful to fail or neglect to tag a grouse taken in the East Zone immediately after killing, with the tag furnished by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, or to transport or possess any grouse taken in the East Zone unless the tag is attached to the carcass.005.02 Pheasant 005.02A1 Youth Eligibility: Youth 15 years of age or younger, and others as specified in 005.02A2.005.02A2 Adults accompanying youth will not be allowed to shoot pheasants, except on Wildlife Management Areas where special hunts have been declared according to 018.13 and other areas posted by Commission signage.005.03 Quail 005.03A1 Youth Eligibility: Youth 15 years of age or younger. 005.03A2 Adults accompanying youth will not be allowed to shoot quail.005.04 Partridge (Gray [Hungarian] and Chukar are the only species allowed to be hunted) 005.04A1 Youth Eligibility: Youth 15 years of age or younger.005.04A2 Adults accompanying youth will not be allowed to shoot partridge.005.05 Cottontail Rabbit 005.05A Running: Running is defined as pursuing or chasing of these animals, but not the killing. Running season is provided for cottontail rabbits. See C05.01I6 for cottontail running season.005.06 FURBEARER SEASONS 005.06A Running is defined as the pursuing or chasing of these animals but not killing except during the taking (hunting, trapping) season. See C05.02G for running seasons for raccoon, Virginia opossum, bobcat and red fox.005.06B Pursuant to this sub-section and Nebraska Statute 37-225, fur harvesting shall mean to chase or pursue or take or attempt to take any furbearers during their respective open trapping and/or hunting seasons.005.06C River Otter 005.06C1 Checking: Any river otter harvested must be registered and officially tagged by the Commission within two business days after the close of the river otter season and before the sale or transfer of said otter. The permittee shall furnish the Commission with the date and location of kill prior to the attachment of the harvest seal.005.06C2 Any incidental take of a river otter outside of the river otter harvest season, or beyond daily or season bag limits, shall be unlawful unless the animal is immediately released if viable, or the harvester reports the take within 24 hours and turns the carcass over to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.163 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 4, § 005
Amended effective 10/31/2017Amended effective 1/29/2018Amended effective 9/27/2021Amended effective 8/19/2023