Wildlife surveys
In order to best manage Nebraska’s wildlife resources, each year Game and Parks, along with agency partners, conduct wildlife and hunter surveys. These survey capture harvest and population information for deer, wild turkey and upland game.
We also conduct annual hunter satisfaction and success surveys for big game species, small game and waterfowl. These surveys are integral in understanding harvest, hunter success and satisfaction, and population structures of game species in Nebraska.
Each of these surveys provides crucial information used to develop regulations, harvest quotas and research.
Explore our completed surveys below.
Deer
Harvest reports
Harvest reports help Nebraska Game and Parks understand deer populations and provide valuable information that informs future bag limits and hunting season lengths.
Big Game Recommendations
- Read our Big Game Recommendations for 2022.
- Read our Big Game Recommendations for 2023.
Hunter surveys
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission periodically surveys the hunters of Nebraska regarding issues related to wildlife management. Below are the results of the most recent surveys.
- 2022 Nebraska Deer Hunter Survey
- 2021 Nebraska Deer Hunter Survey
- 2020 Nebraska Deer Hunter Survey
- 2020 Nebraska Bow Hunter Survey
Landowner surveys
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission periodically surveys the landowners of Nebraska regarding issues related to wildlife management and issues on private land. Below are results of the most recent surveys:
- 2020 Survey of Nebraska Landowner Attitudes on Deer Damage – Summary Report
- 2020 Survey of Nebraska Landowner Attitudes on Deer Damage – Full Report
Pronghorn
Landowner surveys
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission periodically surveys the landowners of Nebraska regarding issues related to wildlife management and issues on private land. Below are results of the most recent surveys:
Elk
Landowner surveys
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission periodically surveys the landowners of Nebraska regarding issues related to wildlife management and issues on private land. Below are results of the most recent surveys:
Bighorn sheep
Coming soon.
Upland game birds
Spring and summer upland-game population surveys help inform what we know about the upland game population and what we can expect for upland game hunting seasons.
Rural Mail Carrier Surveys
- 2022 October RMCS Report
- 2022 July RMCS Report
- 2022 April RMCS Report
- 2021 July RMCS Report
- 2021 April RMCS Report
- 2020 July RMCS Report
- 2020 April RMCS Report
- 2019 July RMCS Report
- 2018 April RMCS Report
- 2017 October RMCS Report
- 2017 July RMCS Report
- 2017 April RMCS Report
- 2016 July RMCS Report
- 2016 April RMCS Report
Northern Bobwhite Whistle Count Surveys
- 2022 Northern Bobwhite Whistle Count Survey
- 2021 Northern Bobwhite Whistle Count Survey
- 2020 Northern Bobwhite Whistle Count Survey
- 2019 Northern Bobwhite Whistle Count Survey
- 2017 Northern Bobwhite Whistle Count Survey
- 2016 Northern Bobwhite Whistle Count Survey
Hunter success reports
Each year, turkey hunter surveys are conducted at the end of the spring and fall seasons. The information obtained is compiled, summarized and provided in the following reports.
Harvest reports
- 2022 Fall Turkey Harvest Report
- 2022 Spring Turkey Harvest Report
- 2021 Fall Turkey Harvest Report
- 2021 Spring Turkey Harvest Report
- 2020 Fall Turkey Harvest Report
- 2020 Spring Turkey Harvest Report
- 2019 Fall Turkey Harvest Report
- 2019 Spring Turkey Harvest Report
- 2018 Fall Turkey Harvest Report
- 2018 Spring Turkey Harvest Report
- 2017 Fall Turkey Harvest Report
- 2017 Spring Turkey Harvest Report
- 2016 Fall Turkey Harvest Report
- 2016 Spring Turkey Harvest Report
- 2015 Fall Turkey Harvest Report
Hunter survey reports
- 2021 Fall Turkey Hunter Survey Report
- 2021 Spring Turkey Hunter Survey Report
- 2019 Fall Turkey Hunter Survey Report
- 2019 Spring Turkey Hunter Survey Report
- 2018 Fall Turkey Hunter Survey Report
- 2018 Spring Turkey Hunter Survey
- 2017 Fall Turkey Hunter Survey Report
- 2017 Spring Turkey Hunter Survey Report
- 2016 Fall Turkey Hunter Survey Report
- 2016 Spring Turkey Hunter Survey Report
- 2015 Fall Turkey Hunter Survey Report
Brood surveys
Surveys of hunters, waterfowl population numbers, peak migration times and other information are compiled and used to inform season dates.
Harvest estimates for potential waterfowl season dates.
- 2023-2024 Waterfowl Season Preference Survey Report
- 2022-2023 Waterfowl Season Date Preference Survey Report
Duck
Harvest estimates for potential duck season dates.
Teal
Harvest estimates for potential teal season dates.
Goose
Harvest report for the 2020-2021 light goose season.
Clear Creek Wildlife Management Area
Final harvest reports
- 2021-’22 Final Harvest
- 2020-’21 Final Harvest
- 2019-’20 Final Harvest
- 2018-’19 Final Harvest
- 2017-’18 Final Harvest
- 2016-’17 Final Harvest
Goose harvest totals will be updated here weekly during the season.
