ESPN Hunting

Season dates:

• Archery: Sept. 15-Dec. 31; closed Nov. 12-20.
• Muzzleloader: Dec. 1-31.
• Youth/disabled: Youth permits are good for the archery, muzzleloader and November firearm deer seasons, but not for the January season.
• Firearm: Nov. 12-20.
• Special antlerless: Late season: Jan 1-15.

Resident license fees: $26 + $13 habitat stamp.

Nonresident license fees: $176 + $13 habitat stamp.

Bag limit: One (1) deer per permit. Some permits allow a second deer (antlerless only).

Hunter education/bowhunter education required? Hunter safety education is required for hunters born on or after Jan. 1, 1977. Those who are twelve years of age or older must have successfully completed a Firearm Hunter Education course prior to hunting with a firearm. Bowhunter safety education is not required.

Population for 2005: 250,000.

Season forecast: Already known as one of North America's best spots to tag a trophy whitetail buck, little should change this year in the Cornhusker State of Nebraska.

Keep in mind that when it comes to the annual hunting of Nebraska's big supply of trophy bucks, that's saying a lot.

In fact, it was just earlier this year at the biannual Pope & Young Club convention that Mike Beatty's 294 0/8 inch non-typical buck taken in Greene County, Ohio on Nov. 8, 2000 was panel scored and recognized as the new P&Y non-typical world record.

While that news undoubtedly saddens archers across the Cornhusker State, they should take pride in knowing that their very own Del Austin's 1962 Hall County brute that scored 279 7/8 inches stood tall and true as the P&Y world record non-typical for more than 40 years!

While only time will tell if there is another Nebraska whitetail brute that big roaming the Cornhusker State, there are plenty of good bucks in the land of Nebraska football, and that's not to mention plenty of whitetails period.

In fact, Nebraska Game & Parks deer biologist Kit Hams predicts another good year of overall deer hunting across the state.

He indicates that average hunter success rates could range from somewhere between 45 and 60 percent statewide.

Even if another Del Austin-caliber monster doesn't fall this autumn, no matter how you slice it, that's another good year of deer hunting, Nebraska style!

2004 harvest: 45,919 (Note: Hams indicates that Nebraska hunters tagged 10,321 mule deer last year too).

Bow harvest: 4,236 deer.

Muzzleloader harvest: 4,728 deer.

Firearm harvest: 47,374 deer.

Number of licensed deer hunters: Approximately 80,000.

Deer hunter success rates: No answer given - the 2004/2005 ESPNOutdoors.com Deer Forecast listed the figure at 36 percent overall.

Number of bowhunters: 14,447 permits.

Bowhunter success rates: 29 percent.

Number of muzzleloader hunters: 16,540 permits.

Muzzleloader success rates: 29 percent.

Number of firearm hunters: 83,938 permits.

Firearm success rates: 56 percent.

Top counties/regions: South east Nebraska and all major river systems are good according to Hams.

Top public-hunting spots: Hams lists the Pine Ridge National Forest, the Halsey National Forest, and Harlan county reservoir as top choices.

Testing conducted for chronic wasting disease?: Yes, on about 5,000 deer according to Hams.

Units/areas that tested positive for chronic wasting disease: Yes. Positive tests results have occurred in the state's Panhandle region (parts of the Upper Platte, Pine Ridge, Plains, and Sandhills deer management units), and one deer in Hall county.

State record typical: 199 2/8 inches, taken with a firearm by Vernon Virka in Saunders County in 1983. (Note: The Boone & Crockett Club top whitetail for the state of Nebraska is a 194 1/8 inch typical buck taken by E. Keith Fahrenholz in Dakota County in 1966.)

State record non-typical: 279 7/8 inches, taken by bowhunter Del Austin in Hall County in 1962. (Note: This buck is the previous Pope & Young Club world record non-typical whitetail buck.)

State record archery typical: 189 1/8 inches, taken by Robert Vrbsky in Kearney County in 1978.

State record archery non-typical: 279 7/8 inches, taken by bowhunter Del Austin in Hall County in 1962. (Note: This buck is the previous Pope & Young Club world record non-typical whitetail buck.)

More information: Log onto the NGPC Web site or call (402) 471-0641. To report a poacher, call (800) 742-7627.

Did you know? Statewide youth deer permits allow hunting in archery, muzzleloader and November firearm seasons, anywhere in the state, for any deer. These are available for residents and nonresident youth ages 12-15 … Hams indicates that 15 of the state's 18 deer management units usually have permits available for residents and nonresidents as late as September. In fact, the biologist reports that many are still available in November … At the turn of the last century, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Web site reports that there were only about 50 deer left in the entire state. Today, the Nebraska deer herd stands at some 250,000 animals (whitetails and mule deer combined) … Some 95 percent of the Nebraska deer harvest occurs on private land … Most permits allow the taking of whitetail or mule deer in the Cornhusker State.