Who Must Complete a Hunter Education Course?
Persons 12 through 29 years of age must carry proof showing successful completion of a Nebraska Game and Parks Commission-approved hunter education course to:
- Hunt any legal game species with a firearm or airgun or…
- Hunt deer, antelope, elk, or mountain (bighorn) sheep with a bow and arrow or crossbow.
Persons under 15 years of age must be accompanied by a licensed hunter at least 19 years of age when hunting big game (antelope, deer, elk, and mountain [bighorn] sheep).
Persons 12 through 15 years of age must successfully complete an approved hunter education course before participating in a novice hunter education event.
Persons under 12 years of age may hunt some species as shown in the Nebraska Hunting Guide. If hunting with a firearm or crossbow, these youth hunters must be accompanied by an “experienced” hunter. The experienced hunter must:
- Be at least 19 years of age and…
- Be licensed and…
- Stay in constant, unaided visual and verbal contact with the youth hunter and…
- Not accompany more than two youth hunters at the same time and…
- Have proof of successful completion of an approved hunter education course if he or she is 19 through 29 years of age.