Preliminary results from the 2023 Nebraska November firearm deer season show statewide harvest was down 18 percent from 2022 and down 29 percent from the 2018 to 2022 average.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission expected these results for the Nov. 11 to 19 season based on several factors that indicated a decline in harvest was coming. Lower harvest and deer populations were recorded in 2022 and lead to a reduced number of permits available for 2023.

Other factors indicating the decline included:

Permits and harvest had increased in 2019 and 2020 because of depredation complaints across much...