Nebraska, the Cornhusker State, is a hunter’s paradise filled with big and small game, birds and waterfowl, and plenty of room to roam. From the gently rolling hills of eastern Nebraska to the sprawling cattle ranches and the famous Sandhills, Nebraska has plenty of habitat for deer, pronghorn, elk, pheasants, and much more. Hunters are welcomed in every corner of Nebraska with the state’s famous Midwestern hospitality. White-tailed deer are found statewide, but they are mostly concentrated in eastern Nebraska and in riparian corridors. Mule deer occupy the western two-thirds of the state and are the main deer species in twenty counties in Nebraska. Permit availability is good for both types of deer as archery, muzzleloader, and most firearm deer permits do not sell out until October. Pronghorn occur primarily in northwestern Nebraska and provide plenty of hunting opportunities to archers and firearm hunters. Approximately 350 bighorn sheep occupy the bluffs and buttes of western Nebraska, and limited bighorn sheep hunting opportunities have been available since 1998 through the issuance of auction and lottery permits. In some years, a few mountain lion permits are made available. Nebraska had its first modern elk season in 1986, and since then, elk and have expanded into hills and rivers of western Nebraska. More than 1,600 elk have been harvested since the first season. Limited permits are available, with public land hunting opportunities in some areas, although most elk are taken on private land. Nebraska is a prime destination for upland bird hunters, especially those in pursuit of pheasants, bobwhite quail, greater prairie chickens, and sharp-tailed grouse. Wild turkeys are abundant statewide. More than fifteen different species of ducks migrate through the state, and goose hunting is excellent in every corner of the state. Big-game hunters in Nebraska must wear 400 square inches of hunter orange during the firearms season, and upland game hunters are strongly encouraged to do the same. For information on licenses and season dates, visit http://outdoornebraska.gov/hunting/.