Nebraska Hunting Laws
Nebraska is unusually specific for a Midwestern state: deer and pronghorn rifles must be at least .22 caliber AND deliver 900 ft-lb of energy at 100 yards (with .357 Magnum and .45 Colt rifles specifically exempted from the caliber floor), handguns need 400 ft-lb at 50 yards, and elk require a beefier .25-caliber/1,700 ft-lb rifle or a .45-caliber muzzleloader.
Rules checked against Nebraska Game and Parks Commission regulations, August 30, 2026.
At a Glance
Check a Cartridge in Nebraska
Planning to Apply in Nebraska?
See draw odds by point level, fees, and deadlines on the Nebraska draw odds page.
Sourced Rules
Each rule links to the regulation we read and the month we checked it.
Rifle
4 rulesDeer/pronghorn rifles must be at least .22 caliber AND deliver at least 900 ft-lb at 100 yards — except a .357 Magnum or .45 Colt rifle, which are legal regardless of the caliber floor.
"to take antelope or deer with a rifle smaller than 22 caliber or a rifle which delivers less than 900 foot-pounds of bullet energy at 100 yards except that a .357 magnum rifle or a .45 Colt rifle are legal"
163 NAC 4, §001.01B2 (chapter last approved Dec. 5, 2011) · verified Aug 2026
Deer/pronghorn rifle loads must deliver at least 900 ft-lb of energy at 100 yards.
"a rifle which delivers less than 900 foot-pounds of bullet energy at 100 yards"
163 NAC 4, §001.01B2 · verified Aug 2026
Elk (and mountain sheep) rifles must be at least .25 caliber.
"to take elk or mountain sheep with a rifle smaller than 25 caliber, or which delivers less than 1700 foot-pounds of bullet energy at 100 yards"
163 NAC 4, §001.01B2 · verified Aug 2026
Elk rifle loads must deliver at least 1,700 ft-lb of energy at 100 yards.
"which delivers less than 1700 foot-pounds of bullet energy at 100 yards"
163 NAC 4, §001.01B2 · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
Pronghorn
|
Deer/pronghorn rifles must be at least .22 caliber AND deliver at least 900 ft-lb at 100 yards — except a .357 Magnum or .45 Colt rifle, which are legal regardless of the caliber floor.
"to take antelope or deer with a rifle smaller than 22 caliber or a rifle which delivers less than 900 foot-pounds of bullet energy at 100 yards except that a .357 magnum rifle or a .45 Colt rifle are legal" |
163 NAC 4, §001.01B2 (chapter last approved Dec. 5, 2011) | Aug 2026 |
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
Pronghorn
|
Deer/pronghorn rifle loads must deliver at least 900 ft-lb of energy at 100 yards.
"a rifle which delivers less than 900 foot-pounds of bullet energy at 100 yards" |
163 NAC 4, §001.01B2 | Aug 2026 |
|
Elk
|
Elk (and mountain sheep) rifles must be at least .25 caliber.
"to take elk or mountain sheep with a rifle smaller than 25 caliber, or which delivers less than 1700 foot-pounds of bullet energy at 100 yards" |
163 NAC 4, §001.01B2 | Aug 2026 |
|
Elk
|
Elk rifle loads must deliver at least 1,700 ft-lb of energy at 100 yards.
"which delivers less than 1700 foot-pounds of bullet energy at 100 yards" |
163 NAC 4, §001.01B2 | Aug 2026 |
Shotgun
2 rulesTurkeys may not be taken with a rifle. Legal shotgun loads are shot sizes 2 through 7½, or a single slug.
"to take turkeys with a rifle or while possessing or using shotgun shells containing shot other than sizes 2 through 7½ or containing a single slug"
163 NAC 4, §001.01B2 · verified Aug 2026
On state/federal areas managed primarily for waterfowl and posted as nontoxic-shot areas, nontoxic shot is required for all shotgun hunting, not just waterfowl. Waterfowl hunting itself requires nontoxic shot statewide (separate provision).
"It shall be unlawful, while taking any game bird or game animal on any state or federally owned or controlled areas managed primarily for waterfowl and designated by the Commission and posted as nontoxic shot areas fo..."
163 NAC 4, §011.02 (chapter last approved Dec. 15, 1999) · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Wild Turkey
|
Turkeys may not be taken with a rifle. Legal shotgun loads are shot sizes 2 through 7½, or a single slug.
"to take turkeys with a rifle or while possessing or using shotgun shells containing shot other than sizes 2 through 7½ or containing a single slug" |
163 NAC 4, §001.01B2 | Aug 2026 |
|
All species
|
On state/federal areas managed primarily for waterfowl and posted as nontoxic-shot areas, nontoxic shot is required for all shotgun hunting, not just waterfowl. Waterfowl hunting itself requires nontoxic shot statewide (separate provision).
"It shall be unlawful, while taking any game bird or game animal on any state or federally owned or controlled areas managed primarily for waterfowl and designated by the Commission and posted as nontoxic shot areas fo..." |
163 NAC 4, §011.02 (chapter last approved Dec. 15, 1999) | Aug 2026 |
Handgun
1 ruleHandguns of any kind (including muzzleloading handguns) are illegal for elk in Nebraska — unlike deer and pronghorn, where a handgun just has to deliver 400 ft-lb at 50 yards.
"It shall be unlawful: ... to take elk with a handgun or to take antelope, deer or mountain lion with any handgun or a muzzleloading handgun which delivers less than 400 foot-pounds of bullet energy at 50 yards"
166 NAC 1, § 001.01B2 (eff. 01-03-2026); NGPC Big Game Guide — Weapons legal for big game hunting · verified Oct 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Elk
|
Handguns of any kind (including muzzleloading handguns) are illegal for elk in Nebraska — unlike deer and pronghorn, where a handgun just has to deliver 400 ft-lb at 50 yards.
"It shall be unlawful: ... to take elk with a handgun or to take antelope, deer or mountain lion with any handgun or a muzzleloading handgun which delivers less than 400 foot-pounds of bullet energy at 50 yards" |
166 NAC 1, § 001.01B2 (eff. 01-03-2026); NGPC Big Game Guide — Weapons legal for big game hunting | Oct 2026 |
Handgun and Muzzleloader
1 ruleHandguns and muzzleloading handguns for deer/pronghorn must deliver at least 400 ft-lb of energy at 50 yards.
"to take antelope or deer with any handgun or a muzzleloading handgun which delivers less than 400 foot-pounds of bullet energy at 50 yards"
163 NAC 4, §001.01B2 · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
Pronghorn
|
Handguns and muzzleloading handguns for deer/pronghorn must deliver at least 400 ft-lb of energy at 50 yards.
"to take antelope or deer with any handgun or a muzzleloading handgun which delivers less than 400 foot-pounds of bullet energy at 50 yards" |
163 NAC 4, §001.01B2 | Aug 2026 |
Muzzleloader
2 rulesMuzzleloading rifles for deer/pronghorn must be at least .44 caliber; a smoothbore muzzleloading musket is a separate legal option if it's at least 62 caliber and fires a single slug.
"a muzzleloading rifle of less than 44 caliber, a muzzleloading musket other than a 62 caliber or larger firing a single slug"
163 NAC 4, §001.01B2 · verified Aug 2026
Muzzleloading rifles for elk must be at least .45 caliber.
"with a muzzleloading rifle of less than 45 caliber"
163 NAC 4, §001.01B2 · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
Pronghorn
|
Muzzleloading rifles for deer/pronghorn must be at least .44 caliber; a smoothbore muzzleloading musket is a separate legal option if it's at least 62 caliber and fires a single slug.
"a muzzleloading rifle of less than 44 caliber, a muzzleloading musket other than a 62 caliber or larger firing a single slug" |
163 NAC 4, §001.01B2 | Aug 2026 |
|
Elk
|
Muzzleloading rifles for elk must be at least .45 caliber.
"with a muzzleloading rifle of less than 45 caliber" |
163 NAC 4, §001.01B2 | Aug 2026 |
Air Gun
1 ruleAir guns are not legal for deer, pronghorn or elk in Nebraska: the big-game rule sets standards only for rifles, handguns, shotguns, muzzleloaders and archery gear, and Game and Parks' legal-weapons table lists no air gun for any big-game permit (airbows are expressly excluded too). Air guns do appear in the sight rules, so they are legal for some other species.
"Weapons legal for big game hunting ... Deer & Antelope Firearm: Rifle, Handgun, Shotgun, Crossbow, Spear, Longbow, recurve bow, compound bow, Muzzleloading handgun, Muzzleloading rifle, Muzzleloading musket ... Slingb..."
NGPC Big Game Guide — Weapons legal for big game hunting; 166 NAC 1, § 001.01B2–B3 (eff. 01-03-2026) · verified Oct 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
Elk
Pronghorn
|
Air guns are not legal for deer, pronghorn or elk in Nebraska: the big-game rule sets standards only for rifles, handguns, shotguns, muzzleloaders and archery gear, and Game and Parks' legal-weapons table lists no air gun for any big-game permit (airbows are expressly excluded too). Air guns do appear in the sight rules, so they are legal for some other species.
"Weapons legal for big game hunting ... Deer & Antelope Firearm: Rifle, Handgun, Shotgun, Crossbow, Spear, Longbow, recurve bow, compound bow, Muzzleloading handgun, Muzzleloading rifle, Muzzleloading musket ... Slingb..." |
NGPC Big Game Guide — Weapons legal for big game hunting; 166 NAC 1, § 001.01B2–B3 (eff. 01-03-2026) | Oct 2026 |
All Weapons
5 rulesFull metal jacket (non-expanding) and incendiary bullets are illegal for antelope, deer, elk, and mountain sheep.
"to take antelope, deer, elk or mountain sheep with a full metal jacket or incendiary bullet"
163 NAC 4, §001.01B2 · verified Aug 2026
Semi-automatic firearms used for big game/turkey hunting are capped at 6 cartridges capacity; fully automatic firearms are banned outright.
"to use any firearm capable of fully automatic fire, or semi-automatic firearm capable of holding more than 6 cartridges"
163 NAC 4, §001.01B2 · verified Aug 2026
Nebraska's hunting rules are silent on suppressors — the big game unlawful-methods list regulates calibre, energy, full-auto and magazine size but never mentions a muzzle device, and neither do the rest of the wildlife regulations or the state-park rules — so the hunting rules do not restrict them for any species. Possession is a separate question: the suppressor itself still has to be lawfully possessed under federal law.
Suppressor law in 2026: what changed · suppressor prices
"001.01B It shall be unlawful: ... 001.01B2 to take antelope, deer or mountain lion with a rifle smaller than 22 caliber or a rifle which delivers less than 900 footpounds of bullet energy at 100 yards ... to use any f..."
Night vision and other light-amplifying/projecting sighting devices are banned on any air gun, firearm, crossbow, or bow used for game — but red dot and illuminated-reticle scopes are explicitly carved out as legal.
"This restriction allows red dot and illuminated reticle sights and scopes, any sight that uses natural light or other light source to make the sight illuminated or enhance the sights visibility but prohibits night vis..."
163 NAC 4, §001.01B3 · verified Aug 2026
At least 400 square inches of hunter orange, worn on head, chest, and back combined, is required during firearm seasons for deer/antelope/turkey/elk/mountain sheep. Archery hunters during a non-centerfire season are exempt, and the Commission has adopted further exceptions by rule (e.g., spring turkey season, and archers during firearm antelope/elk/mountain sheep seasons).
"Any person hunting deer, antelope, wild turkey, elk, or mountain sheep during an authorized firearm season in this state shall display on his or her head, chest, and back a total of not less than four hundred square i..."
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 37-527(2) · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
Elk
Pronghorn
|
Full metal jacket (non-expanding) and incendiary bullets are illegal for antelope, deer, elk, and mountain sheep.
"to take antelope, deer, elk or mountain sheep with a full metal jacket or incendiary bullet" |
163 NAC 4, §001.01B2 | Aug 2026 |
|
All species
|
Semi-automatic firearms used for big game/turkey hunting are capped at 6 cartridges capacity; fully automatic firearms are banned outright.
"to use any firearm capable of fully automatic fire, or semi-automatic firearm capable of holding more than 6 cartridges" |
163 NAC 4, §001.01B2 | Aug 2026 |
|
All species
|
Nebraska's hunting rules are silent on suppressors — the big game unlawful-methods list regulates calibre, energy, full-auto and magazine size but never mentions a muzzle device, and neither do the rest of the wildlife regulations or the state-park rules — so the hunting rules do not restrict them for any species. Possession is a separate question: the suppressor itself still has to be lawfully possessed under federal law.
Suppressor law in 2026: what changed · suppressor prices
"001.01B It shall be unlawful: ... 001.01B2 to take antelope, deer or mountain lion with a rifle smaller than 22 caliber or a rifle which delivers less than 900 footpounds of bullet energy at 100 yards ... to use any f..." |
166 NAC 1 § 001.01B — no mention of suppressors, silencers or mufflers in the big game unlawful-methods list (001.01B2) or anywhere else in Title 166 except vehicle exhaust mufflers (read 2026-10-16) | Oct 2026 |
|
All species
|
Night vision and other light-amplifying/projecting sighting devices are banned on any air gun, firearm, crossbow, or bow used for game — but red dot and illuminated-reticle scopes are explicitly carved out as legal.
"This restriction allows red dot and illuminated reticle sights and scopes, any sight that uses natural light or other light source to make the sight illuminated or enhance the sights visibility but prohibits night vis..." |
163 NAC 4, §001.01B3 | Aug 2026 |
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
Elk
Pronghorn
Wild Turkey
|
At least 400 square inches of hunter orange, worn on head, chest, and back combined, is required during firearm seasons for deer/antelope/turkey/elk/mountain sheep. Archery hunters during a non-centerfire season are exempt, and the Commission has adopted further exceptions by rule (e.g., spring turkey season, and archers during firearm antelope/elk/mountain sheep seasons).
"Any person hunting deer, antelope, wild turkey, elk, or mountain sheep during an authorized firearm season in this state shall display on his or her head, chest, and back a total of not less than four hundred square i..." |
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 37-527(2) | Aug 2026 |
Federal Rules That Apply in Every State
These federal requirements apply in Nebraska on top of state law.
Sources
How to Use This Page
Each rule links to the regulation we read and the month we checked it. Rules marked needs review come from summaries rather than the regulation text, and never produce a green answer in the checker. The checker's energy figures are typical factory loads, so where a rule sets an energy or bullet-weight floor, check your own load's rating. This page covers equipment only, not seasons, tags or local ordinances, and it isn't legal advice. The current Nebraska Game and Parks Commission regulations are the final word.