White-Tailed Deer Hunting Season Extended

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Posted: 11:41 AM Mar 21, 2010 White-Tailed Deer Hunting Season Extended Lincoln, Neb. Nebraska Game and Parks officials have adopted a new set of regulations designed to help cut Nebraska's plentiful supply of white-tailed deer. Reporter: Associated Press

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Nebraska Game and Parks officials have adopted a new set of regulations designed to help cut Nebraska's plentiful supply of white-tailed deer.

Among other changes approved Friday by the commissioners at their meeting in Lincoln, they expanded the October antlerless season to 10 days from three and increased the hunting area.

Commissioners also lengthened the January antlerless season to 24 days from 15.

Farmers have been complaining about damage to their crops by voracious deer, and collisions with deer remain a big concern along Nebraska roadways.

Earlier this month, state lawmakers advanced a bill that would allow the secretary of the state Game and Parks Commission to extend deer seasons by executive order.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Random on Apr 12, 2010 at 04:24 PM

I have been a deer hunter since I was big enough to fire a high power. I will admit that I myself look for the bigger buck during early rifle season, but feel that having a rifle season before the rut just completely ruins the hunting in November. Any one that hunts deer knows what it is like to see a big buck and when November rolls around they aren't thinking about does. I am perfectly ok with extending the late season. Out of a group of 15 people or so we manage to harvest almost 50 deer each late season. I don't think there is nothing that upsets me more than city people coming out and driving my land all day just waiting to see something and then ruining my hunting because they're to fat or lazy or both to actually ask for permission and walk out and sit like a real hunter. I just feel like this October season is law officials caring to much about there cars and not thinking about the hunters of Nebraska.

Posted by: Anonymous on Mar 29, 2010 at 09:06 AM

Here's an idea...Issue out only doe permits to all hunters and when the doe is harvested and checked in then issue that hunter an either sex permit. And Cheryl I am pretty sure we won't have to worry about deer becoming the same history of the bison. Most does have twins and then we have alot more places for a small deer to hide and outsmart hunters. The only way deer could deplenish this way is if a disease came through and wiped them out because of how populated they are. This can happen to any animal when overpopulation causes disease outbreaks.

Posted by: Anonymous on Mar 29, 2010 at 08:21 AM

How about the hunting clubs who lease all the land? Hunters who pay big money can come in and shoot only trophy bucks where the locals used to shoot more deer they actually ate. Hunting clubs who lease most of the land here bait in the deer which is legal as long as they hunt a distance from the bait stations (we know they don't) and the deer pop. and turkey pop. has soared especially in these areas. I am sure the gpc love the non-resident hunters who pay a much bigger fee than state residents and so the extended periods will bring in alot more revenue. Only trophy bucks are being shot and less deer are being taken on these leased lands. The upside? Farmers are making a little extra income from their land by leasing it. Hope they don't complain about the pop. of deer and turkeys eating their crops when their leasers are baiting them in. Dad is a rancher who does not believe in paid hunting but to keep from having too many hunters he put up signs that say all hunters welcome. It works.

Posted by: scottytoo on Mar 25, 2010 at 08:44 AM

me, what rural area are you from that has farmers that shoot button bucks? any farmer, or anybody for that matter, knows that a female mammal is the only way to make reproduction speed along so quickly. must not be too rural of an area if the 'farmers' are that backwards.

Posted by: Me Location: Rural Area on Mar 24, 2010 at 11:46 PM

I find it funny that alot of these farmers that are complaining about the deer eating their crops, are the same ones who will shoot a small buck instead of one of the does standing by it. If you aren't going to help yourselves, stop complaining.

Posted by: scottytoo on Mar 23, 2010 at 10:54 AM

well put will, jonathan, and country girl. if more 'hunters' would actually invest a little time and effort to contact the landowner, talk about exactly what you BOTH wish to achieve from the hunt and how the hunt is to progress, then i see an easy way to build a successful relationship between eachother. heck, offer to do a little fence work or some meat from the kill or whatnot in return for the graciousness of allowing you to hunt. a little show of appreciation never hurt anyone. granted some will absolutely not let you hunt but that is their right, and judging by country girls post and knowing of similar happenings with other farmers, i don't blame them in the least. i wouldn't like my property or persons on it shot either. i've had similar experiences to yours, aaron. very nerve-racking. nothing sounds quite like a highpower round zipping anywhere near you. i am glad to hear you didn't get hit. lets get out there, help eachother become better people, and start respecting eachother

Posted by: Will Location: Elwood on Mar 22, 2010 at 12:51 PM

i drve 20 miles to work everyday, and i bet i can count at least 30 deer in that stretch of road on both sides. I agree with an earlier post that releasing predators into the state was a bad idea anyway. And I also agree that road hunters and trespassers are the reason most farmers are reason they won't let just anyone on their land. I hunt with a bow, so shooting out of a truck would be rather difficult for me. Plus, it's more fun sitting in a blind or treestand and have the deer come to you. I'm not saying rifle hunting is bad either, I'm just saying that if you're going to hunt with a rifle, use your head! Know what you're shooting at, and what's behind your target. There is no reason why somebody should get shot during hunting season. I hope everybody enjoys the extended hunting seasons, and be safe.

Posted by: Cheryl Location: seward on Mar 21, 2010 at 10:50 PM

Enjoying the lively posts. However, does anyone remember history and the Bison? Is it going to repeat itself down the road? We live where the deer play. It is absolutely heart wrenching to see the young ones who are slaughtered and dumped into the ditches, or left in fields and pastures to die and rot. Target practice is fun, isn't it! Just like farm animals, dogs, trucks, cars, houses, barns. Today's hunters are different animals also. We live out here. Please don't give us no sad story about poor bankrupt farmers from deer. Do any of the hunters have any idea how dangerous it is for us and our families during the normal hunting periods, let alone the new extended ones. Maybe Games and Parks people should try living out here once during hunting season.

Posted by: Aaron Location: Lincoln on Mar 21, 2010 at 10:18 PM

I grew up on a farm and used to be an avid hunter until 2003 rifle season for deer when I was nearly shot by "road hunters". These brothers are habitual road hunters in the area. I was walking on my family farm, my property, when the silence was broken and cedar tree branches were twisted about 10 feet in front of me. Turns out one of these brothers shot at deer on MY land and nearly killed me because he didn't see me on the other side of that treeline. So, for all you "hunters": I don't care if you can't find a place to hunt when you drive up and down the county roads all day looking for a kill. Too bad, cry me a river, yada yada ya. When you shoot onto someone else's property you are breaking the law. My only regret is not turning him in. He said he missed, so I sat in my truck for two hours near there and he drove back and forth for those two hours after dark waiting for me to leave. Finally I did. Our farm was in an area thick with deer, and even thicker with road hunters

Posted by: country girl Location: rural nebraska on Mar 21, 2010 at 04:17 PM

to those of you complaining about farmers not letting people hunt on their land... maybe you should be blaming the hunters for that and not the farmer. I am not going to let everyone hunt on my land. We used to do this, but after having the window of our truck shot out by a careless hunter we do not allow anyone we do not know and trust to hunt on our land. So don't blame the farmer... learn how to hunt responsibly!!

Posted by: Roger Location: Taylor on Mar 21, 2010 at 12:38 PM

Not every land owner will refuse entry. I remember years ago someone drove 6 miles to town to find us(the landowner)to say they saw deer on our place and asked permission to hunt...we said yes and appreciated the fact they took the time FIRST to look us up and ask instead of just entering(trespassing) which has happened a LOT. Now it seems more city people are buying land for hunting purposes and they will not allow hunters. They are not the locals that will allow you to hunt. That being said, I worked on a "game ranch" in Ca years ago where they charged people to hunt on their land. I said then...that will happen some day in Nebraska and it is. There are still some hunters who are trophy hunters only and they are making it tougher for everyone else. Also the people who don't ask permission and just trespass are also hurting others. All that being said, I don't believe releasing natural predators to the state is the answer to the over population of deer.

Posted by: Jonathan Location: Lincoln on Mar 21, 2010 at 12:25 PM

A lot of farmers post their land because they don't want strangers on their property without permission. You probably feel the same way about your own property. If you want to hunt on private land, politely introducing yourself and asking permission is not too much to expect. And if a land owner still won't give permission that's their right even if you and I think they would be better off with fewer deer. Trespassers make all hunters look bad.

Posted by: Kris Location: Hayes County on Mar 21, 2010 at 12:23 PM

Yes the deer need thinned out. Driving from where I live to McCook there is dead deer in the ditchs the whole way. Perhaps the goverment should require farmers with land in the crp and crep programs to open it up for hunting like the land in the cap program years ago was, after all its the taxpayers who are paying for that land to be out of production.

Posted by: bow hunter Location: Ne on Mar 21, 2010 at 12:13 PM

I bow hunt and that gets me on a lot more private land then people who use rifles, some of those people should not be hunting any way.

Posted by: Thomas Location: Leigh, NE on Mar 20, 2010 at 11:41 PM

I think that this is a great idea for new hunters to allow them more time to hunt and feel the passion for deer season and a greater chance for them to get a deer and not be upset with them not getting a deer when maybe then didn't have enough time and this will allow all people to enjoy and give them a great chance to deer hunt and thrive on their passion for deer hunting

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