The 2024 mountain lion hunting season in Nebraska’s Niobrara Unit closed Jan. 7 when the harvest sublimit of one female was met.

A 6-year-old collared female lion was shot north of Long Pine. The season opened Jan. 2.

In accordance with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s management objectives, the harvest of mountain lions allows the population to remain resilient and healthy, while slowing growth in the Niobrara Unit, and halting growth or moderately reducing the population size in the Pine Ridge Unit.

The Niobrara Unit was added to the Pine Ridge Unit for mountain lion hunting for the first time for the 2024 season. The Niobrara Unit encompasses parts of Brown, Cherry, Keya Paha, Rock and Sheridan counties.

Mountain lion presence has been documented in the Niobrara River Valley of north-central Nebraska since 2001. There has been a resident reproducing population there since 2013 and information gathered through research suggests a population that is growing and will be resilient to harvest.

This is the state’s seventh mountain lion harvest season; the first was in 2014. No mountain lions have been harvested in the Pine Ridge Unit this season as of Jan. 7.

Season 1 in the Pine Ridge Unit will continue through the end of February. The season will end immediately if the annual harvest limit of four mountain lions or sub-limit of two females are reached. An auxiliary season would be held March 16 through the end of March if the annual harvest limit or female sub-limit are not reached during Season 1.

For more information about mountain lions in Nebraska, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov/mountainlions.

Mountain lion season ends in Pine Ridge Unit, state

The 2024 mountain lion hunting season in Nebraska’s Pine Ridge Unit closed Jan. 10 when the harvest sublimit of two females was met, also ending the season in the state.

The season closed when a collared adult female was harvested in Dawes County. An adult male and a collared adult female were harvested Jan. 9 in Dawes County as snow conditions over much of the Pine Ridge were favorable for hunters to track animals.

The Niobrara Unit closed Jan. 7 when the harvest sublimit of one female was met. In total, four lions were harvested in the state this year.

In accordance with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s management objectives, the harvest of mountain lions allows the population to remain resilient and healthy, while slowing growth in the Niobrara Unit, and halting growth or moderately reducing the population size in the Pine Ridge Unit.

The Niobrara Unit was added to the Pine Ridge Unit for mountain lion hunting for the first time for the 2024 season. The Niobrara Unit encompasses parts of Brown, Cherry, Keya Paha, Rock and Sheridan counties.

Mountain lion presence has been documented in the Niobrara River Valley of north-central Nebraska since 2001. There has been a resident reproducing population there since 2013 and information gathered through research suggests a population that is growing and will be resilient to harvest.

This is the state’s seventh mountain lion harvest season; the first was in 2014.

For more information about mountain lions in Nebraska, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov/mountainlions.

Commissioners to consider changes to big game permit application periods

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider changes to big game permit application periods when it meets Jan. 19 in Lincoln.

These proposed wildlife regulation changes would simplify the application and purchasing process for deer, elk and antelope permits by collapsing eight purchasing periods to four and harmonizing elk and antelope landowner permit application periods. The changes also would add new nonresident deer draw units.

The meeting will start at 8 a.m. Central time at Commission headquarters, 2200 N. 33rd St.

Also on the agenda are staff recommendations to:

  • amend wildlife regulations to allow up to six people to apply on one application for certain big game draw permits, allow for internet and telephone checking of deer harvested during the November firearm season as an option to check stations, and clarify it is illegal to possess or sell, due to recent statute changes, any badger, bobcat, coyote, gray fox, long-tailed weasel, mink, opossum, raccoon, red fox, or skunk without a valid fur harvest permit.
  • amend wildlife regulations to allow for elk hunting on the Clear Creek Wildlife Management Area portion of the Garden County State Game Refuge and restrict weapons allowed to be used at Bur Oak WMA in Seward County.
  • approve grant awards for the Land and Water Conservation Fund Stateside Assistance Program.
  • approve outdoor trail projects for federal funding through the Recreational Trails Program.
  • approve changes in dates for the Commission’s 2024 meeting schedule.

The following reports will be presented to the commissioners:

  • Summary of 2023 efforts to minimize depredation issues
  • Strategic Plan: Next Steps, Year Two 2024
  • Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation (of hunters and anglers) progress report and summary of 2023 R3 Summit
  • National Archery in the Schools Program update
  • Lake McConaughy creel surveys
  • Salt Creek tiger beetle reintroduction efforts
  • Chronic wasting disease testing
  • Big game harvest

The commissioners will elect their officers for 2024.

To view a complete agenda, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov and search for Public Notices.