Nebraska Bird Partnership

Senators gave select file approval March 17 to a bill that would provide additional opportunities for citizens to hunt deer.

LB836, introduced by Omaha Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh, would authorize the state Game and Parks Commission to extend existing deer hunting seasons. In addition, the one-deer-per-permit rule applied to permits issued for special deer depredation seasons would be removed and the commission would be given the authority to determine the deer species to be hunted and bag limits of depredation seasons or extensions.

The bill also would provide for an unlimited number of free permits for antlerless deer to be issued to any person owning or operating at least 20 acres of farm or ranch land within the geographic area specified by the commission for the season. Immediate family of the aforementioned landowners or operators would be offered permits as well.

All revenues from the sale of special depredation season permits would be used for the abatement of damage caused by deer.

The bill would permit hunting within a 100-yard radius of an inhabited dwelling or livestock feedlot. The current restriction is 200 yards. Select file debate focused on this provision. Three amendments were introduced to adjust the radius in which hunting is prohibited.

Learn more about the deer hunting radius topic from the Unicameral Update.