Nebraska Deer — Upper Platte
Upper Platte
Nebraska Upper Platte covers 2,819,695 acres and lies 25 miles north-east of Kimball. 0% of it is public land. In 2018, hunters took 1,153 mule deer here. The 2026 draw put up 120 nonresident tags here for 124 first-choice applicants.
Your chance of drawing here
Every deer license type on offer in Upper Platte, with the prior-draw chance for a first-choice nonresident applicant. Type your points in to see your own number.
Chances are from the 2026 draw (the most recent) for a first-choice nonresident. "Points needed" = the cut in the last draw.
Simple view Odds at every point level-
63% Real chance
| Hunt | Your odds (0 pts) | Points needed | Tags / applicants | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPPER-PLATTE ↗ Upper Platte | 63% Real chance | 0 steady since 2024 | 120 / 124 | Sep 1 – Dec 31, 2026 |
What these columns mean
- Your odds —
- the share of applicants at your point level who drew this tag in the 2026 draw. Not a forecast: quotas and demand move every year.
- The badge —
- plain language for that number. Likely draw 75% or better · Real chance 40%+ · Long shot 15%+ · Point builder below that, so you are applying mainly to bank a point · Undersubscribed means fewer first-choice applicants than tags, so everyone who applied drew.
- Points needed —
- the lowest point total that still got a tag in the 2026 draw, and how that cut has moved since the earliest draw we hold.
- Tags / applicants —
- tags on offer and first-choice applicants for them, as the agency published them. Under five tags we print counts instead of a percentage, because one applicant either way swings it.
What it costs to apply (2026 nonresident fees)
| License | Up front | Gone if you miss | If you draw |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per application | $0 | $0 | $369 |
Application window: opens Jun 1, closes Jun 12, 2027 (expected). Full fee breakdown.
The country
Boundaries are drawn for orientation only — the written boundary description in the regulations governs.
Who owns the ground
- Private 2,806,796 ac · 100%
- State land 11,738 ac · 0%
- County or city land 1,026 ac · 0%
- National Wildlife Refuge 134 ac · 0%
How the hunting has gone
What Nebraska Game and Parks Commission publishes for this area after each season — harvest statistics for everyone who hunted it, not draw odds and not a forecast.
Mule Deer
| Season | Harvest |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 1,153 |
| 2017 | 1,083 |
White-tailed Deer
| Season | Harvest |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 407 |
| 2017 | 478 |
What people carried (2025 harvest)
- Archery 77 · 55%
- Muzzleloader 62 · 45%
What the agency says about the area
NGPC deer management unit "Upper Platte"; permits drawn as Upper Platte
Source: Nebraska Big Game Guide 2026 (unit names, public-land statements)
Boundary: Deer Management Units (NGPC hosted feature layer, Deer_Mangement_Units_2022)
Harvest: 2026 Big Game Recommendation Book (2025 season harvest; comparisons 2021-2025)
Harvest: 2025 Big Game Recommendation Book (2024 season harvest; comparisons 2020-2024)
Harvest: 2024 Big Game Recommendation Book (2023 season harvest; comparisons 2019-2023)