As muzzleloader deer season gets underway, hunters are being reminded that the Pine Ridge was added to Nebraska’s list of Mule Deer Conservation Area units this year. That means hunters must carry a Pine Ridge MDCA Permit to harvest mule deer in the unit; the Statewide Muzzleloader and Restricted Statewide Buck permits are no longer valid for that species there.
It also means the Pine Ridge MDCA permit — which is valid for any deer, except antlerless mule deer — is valid for both the November firearm and December muzzleloader seasons.
This year’s Pine Ridge MDCA permits have sold out. The quota was set at 1,200; 85% of those were allocated to residents and 15% to nonresidents.
The Pine Ridge Unit encompasses all land north of the Niobrara River between the Wyoming state line and Nebraska Highway 27. Other MDCA units are the Frenchman, Platte, Buffalo and Republican.
People can read about this and other changes to deer regulations at www.outdoornebraska.gov/deerseasonchanges.