More Mountain Lion Permits and Fees Are Going Up

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved a 2026 mountain lion hunting season at its Aug. 22 meeting in McCook.

Commissioners approved a season in three hunting units, increasing the harvest limit in one unit while keeping them the same in the other two.

The harvest limit in the Niobrara Unit will be a maximum of six mountain lions, with a sublimit of three females, up from four lions and a sublimit of two females the previous season. The maximum harvest in the Wildcat Hills Unit will remain at three, with a sublimit of two females; and the harvest limit in the Pine Ridge Unit will remain at 12 with a sublimit of six females.

The increased harvest limit for the Niobrara population is based on information showing the population is likely expanding. The harvest limit is monitored by Game and Parks daily and must also be monitored by those who have a permit.

Also, commissioners approved fee increases that include resident and nonresident hunt and fish permits, paddlefish, youth, multiyear, combination, big game, and lottery, application fees, and nonresident aquatic invasive species stamp.

In other business, the 703-acre Twin Lakes Wildlife Management Area in Rock County the Nick Lyman Wildlife Management Area in honor of the former Game and Parks waterfowl biologist for his 40 years of service to waterfowl conservation and management.

·         The amended permit fees are:

·         Hunt – Resident annual, $17;

·         Fish – Resident annual, *$23;

·         Hunt/fish combination – Resident annual, *$39;

·         Deer and Antelope – Resident, $39

·         Turkey- $31