Firearm Deer Harvest Down

Preliminary results from the 2025 Nebraska November firearm deer season show statewide harvest fell 7% from 2024, which was expected, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Harvest went from 28,056 last year to 26,029 this year. Given that populations are down after several years of drought, harsh winters, and disease outbreaks — and permit numbers have been reduced to aid in recovery — the lower harvest was no surprise.

Whitetail harvest is down 10% from last year. Whitetail buck harvest is off 3% from 2024. Antlerless harvest fe

ll 26% from last year and 54% from five years ago.

Mule deer harvest rose 4% from last year. Mule deer buck harvest is up 6% from last year. Antlerless mule deer harvest is down 9% from last year and 67% from five years ago.

Game and Parks’ goal is for herds to recover to a high enough population that buck harvest can increase 20% for whitetail and 25% for mule deer.

Available November Firearm permits have decreased each year since 2022. They decreased by 2% in 2025, 13% in 2024, 6% in 2023 and 4% in 2022.

Final harvest results will be available following the close of all deer seasons in Janaury.

Hunters are invited to learn more about the 2025 season, big game research, management and more at the big game public meeting in Ainsworth on December 17th at 6:30 at Community Center.

In the KVSH area success rates were very similar to statewide numbers. Unofficially, in the Sandhills Unit, whitetail buck harvest was down 17%.  In Calamus West, Whitetail buck harvest was down 3% and Mule Deer bucks were up 7%.  In the Keya Paha unit, white tail bucks were down 11% when compared with last year.