Nebraska Draw Odds
Nebraska is barely a nonresident draw state: general elk permits and the bighorn sheep lottery are residents-only (nonresidents can hunt elk only through the landowner draw, which requires owning 1,280+ acres of Nebraska farm or ranch land), and the nonresident draws that do exist cover about a dozen limited deer units plus one 250-permit statewide archery antelope hunt — every other nonresident deer/antelope permit is unlimited or a first-come quota purchase, and nonresident firearm antelope permits do not exist at all.
The deer and antelope draws are pure preference point systems (highest point total wins, all points burn when you draw, even on a second choice); resident bull elk used linear bonus points (entries = points + 1) through 2025 but switched to a bonus-point-SQUARED system for 2026 (entries = points² + 1), sharply steepening the payoff for banking points.
Applications run roughly the first two weeks of June at GoOutdoorsNE.com for a $7-$11 nonrefundable species application fee, results post around June 19-20, and you buy the permit (2026: $369 nonresident deer, $257 nonresident antelope, $196 resident elk) only if drawn, with a purchase deadline in early July.
Sources: Nebraska Game and Parks Commission documents, last verified September 1, 2026. · 27 sources
Odds by Species
Deer
13 hunt codes- NR Tags 2026
- 5,282
- Applicants per Tag
- 0.8
Elk
120 hunt codesAntelope (Pronghorn)
13 hunt codes- NR Tags 2026
- 250
- Applicants per Tag
- 2.1
Bighorn Sheep
2 hunt codesThe Rules, Side by Side
Nonresident and resident rules for every species. Small numbers are sources.
| Rule | Nonres. | Resident |
|---|---|---|
| System | Pref 6 | Pref 6 |
| Choices | 2 | 2 |
| Lower Choice Burns Points | Yes | Yes |
| Point-Only | Yes | Yes |
| Points Expire | — | — |
| Party Averages | — | — |
| NR Share | — | — |
Elk
Nonresident · landowner license
Everyone · landowner license
Resident
- System
- Bonus² 5
- Choices
- 2
- Lower Choice Burns Points
- Yes
- Point-Only
- Yes
- Points Expire
- No
- Party Averages
- No
- NR Share
- —
| Rule | Nonres. | Resident |
|---|---|---|
| System | Pref 6 | Pref 6 |
| Choices | 2 | 2 |
| Lower Choice Burns Points | Yes | Yes |
| Point-Only | Yes | Yes |
| Points Expire | — | — |
| Party Averages | — | — |
| NR Share | 250 tags 1 | — |
| Rule | Resident |
|---|---|
| System | Random 3 |
| Choices | 1 |
| Lower Choice Burns Points | — |
| Point-Only | — |
| Points Expire | — |
| Party Averages | — |
| NR Share | — |
| Species | Who | System | Choices | Lower Choice Burns Points | Point-Only | Points Expire | Party Averages | NR Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Nonresident | Preference points 6 | 2 | Yes | Yes | — | — | — |
| Resident | Preference points 6 | 2 | Yes | Yes | — | — | — | |
| Elk | Nonresident · landowner license | Preference points 6 | 2 | Yes | Yes | — | — | 0% 7 |
| Everyone · landowner license | Preference points 6 | 2 | Yes | Yes | No | — | 0% 7 | |
| Resident | Bonus points (squared) 5 | 2 | Yes | Yes | No | No | — | |
| Pronghorn | Nonresident | Preference points 6 | 2 | Yes | Yes | — | — | 250 tags 1 |
| Resident | Preference points 6 | 2 | Yes | Yes | — | — | — | |
| Bighorn Sheep | Resident | Random draw 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
NR Share
- Elk
- 0% Nonresidents cannot draw or buy a general elk permit; only nonresident landowners get in, through the landowner permits.
- Pronghorn
- 250 tags The only nonresident antelope draw is a statewide pool of 250 archery permits.
- Bighorn sheep
- 0% The bighorn lottery is open to Nebraska residents only.
How These Draws Work, With an Example
Preference points: Tags go to the applicants with the most preference points, one level at a time. If the last level that draws has more applicants than tags remaining, those applicants are chosen at random. Everyone below that level misses and earns a point.
Bonus points (squared): Every applicant gets points² + 1 entries in a random draw, so more points mean more chances, but never a guarantee.
Random draw: Every applicant has the same chance: tags divided by applicants. No points count in this draw.
Buying Points
You can buy a Preference Point in Nebraska without applying for a tag. In lieu of taking part in the draw you may buy one point a year during the application period.
| Species | Resident | Nonresident | How | Points Lapse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer On The Application | $22 1 | $57 2 | On The Application | — |
| Elk On The Application · never lapses | $26 3 | — | On The Application | Never |
| Elk · Landowner License On The Application | $26 4 | $61 5 | On The Application | — |
| Pronghorn On The Application | $22 1 | $57 2 | On The Application | — |
- 1.The $7 nonrefundable application fee is already inside the $22
- 2.The $7 nonrefundable application fee is already inside the $57
- 3.The $11 nonrefundable application fee is already inside the $26
- 4.The $11 nonrefundable application fee is already inside the $26; landowners apply May 18-29
- 5.The $11 nonrefundable application fee is already inside the $61
Source: Preference Point — outdoornebraska.gov
Fees
| 2027 Fee | Nonres. | Resident | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | |||
| Deer draw application fee 12 To apply | $8 | $8 | To apply |
| Deer preference point 12 Point-only purchase | $59 | $17.50 | Point-only purchase |
| Deer draw-unit permit (firearm/muzzleloader/archery) 12 If drawn | $391 | $41 | If drawn |
| Landowner deer permit 12 If drawn | $195.50 | $20.50 | If drawn |
| Elk | |||
| Elk preference point (landowner draw) 12 Point-only purchase | $59 | $17.50 | Point-only purchase |
| Elk permit (either sex or antlerless) 12 If drawn | — | $198 | If drawn |
| Landowner elk permit 12 If drawn | $594 | $43 | If drawn |
| Pronghorn | |||
| Antelope preference point 12 Point-only purchase | $59 | $17.50 | Point-only purchase |
| Antelope draw permit (incl. statewide archery) 12 If drawn | $369 | $41 | If drawn |
| Landowner antelope permit 12 If drawn | $184.50 | $20.50 | If drawn |
| Bighorn | |||
| Bighorn sheep lottery application fee 12 To apply | — | $36 | To apply |
| Cash to Apply, One Species | $8 | $8– |
Kept if you miss |
Cash to apply adds up every fee due with an application; each extra species adds its own application fee.
Next Application Deadlines
-
Deer 10
results about Jun 18
(Last cycle ran Jun 1 – Jun 12, 2026.) Landowners apply in a separate window in late May. Drawn permits must be bought by early July; leftover permits go on sale to residents first, then nonresidents.
Jun 7–11, 2027 237 days expected -
Elk 10
results about Jun 18
(Last cycle ran Jun 1 – Jun 12, 2026.) Residents only. Landowners apply on paper to the district office in late May.
Jun 7–11, 2027 237 days expected -
Pronghorn 10
results about Jun 18
(Last cycle ran Jun 1 – Jun 12, 2026.) Landowners apply in a separate window in late May.
Jun 7–11, 2027 237 days expected -
Bighorn sheep · residents only 4
(Last cycle ran Apr 20 – Aug 7, 2026.)
Apr 19 – Aug 6, 2027 293 days expected
Dates marked expected are last cycle's schedule rolled forward by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission's own rule; confirm them once the new dates are published.
Legal cartridges in Nebraska by species and weapon
Sources (27)
Draw Rules, Fees and Deadlines
- 1. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · 2025 Nebraska Draw Results
- 2. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · Big Game Permits & Applications page (as of 2025-07-10)
- 3. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · Bighorn Sheep Lottery page (as of 2025-10-08)
- 4. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · Bighorn Sheep Lottery page (as retrieved 2026-09-01, describing the 2026 season)
- 5. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · Nebraska 2026 Big Game Guide
- 6. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · Nebraska Administrative Code Title 163 Chapter 4 — Wildlife Regulations (approved 2022-07-22) · 2025
- 7. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · Nebraska Big Game Guide 2024
- 8. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · Permit Pricing (2025) — outdoornebraska.gov/permits/permit-pricing/
- 9. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · Permit Pricing (2026 fees)
- 10. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · Press release: Big game draw permit applications taken June 1-12 (2026-05-27)
- 11. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · Press release: Commissioners approve increase to 2026 hunt, fish permit fees (2025-08-22)
- 12. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · Press release: Commissioners approve increase to hunt, fish permit fees (2026-08-14; 2027 fee schedule)
- 13. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · Season Dates and Application Periods card 2020
- 14. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · Season Dates and Application Periods card 2021
- 15. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · Season Dates and Application Periods card 2022
- 16. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · Season Dates and Application Periods card 2023
- 17. Nebraska Legislature · Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-456 — limited antelope/elk permit cap · 2026
Draw Results, Hunt Lists and Harvest Reports, 2018–2026
2026 · 2 documents
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · 2026 Nebraska Draw Results
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · Commission Order C014: Mountain Sheep (redline approved Aug 2025 for 2026)
2024 · 2 documents
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · 2024 Nebraska Draw Results
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · Season Dates and Application Periods card 2024
2023 · 1 document
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · 2023 Nebraska Draw Results
2022 · 1 document
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · 2022 Nebraska Draw Results (General Bull/Antlerless Elk, Landowner Elk, MDCA Deer, General Antelope)
2021 · 1 document
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · 2021 Nebraska Draw Results
2020 · 1 document
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · 2020 Nebraska Draw Results
2019 · 1 document
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · 2019 Nebraska Draw Results
2018 · 1 document
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · 2018 Nebraska Draw Results
Report an error on this page
About These Numbers
Rules, fees and deadlines are copied from Nebraska Game and Parks Commission documents and change by commission action; a date marked expected is last cycle's schedule rolled forward. The odds on each species page are last draw's results. Check the agency's site and apply there; we don't take applications. How we compute these.