37-450. Permit to hunt elk; regulation and limitation by commission; issuance; fee; violation; penalty.

(1) The commission may issue permits for hunting elk and may adopt and promulgate separate and, when necessary, different rules and regulations therefor within the limitations prescribed in sections 37-447 and 37-452 for hunting deer.

(2) The commission shall, pursuant to section 37-327, establish and charge (a) a nonrefundable application fee of not more than twelve dollars for a resident elk permit and not to exceed three times such amount for a nonresident elk permit and (b) a fee of not more than one hundred ninety-eight dollars for each resident elk permit issued and three times such amount for each nonresident elk permit issued. The commission may, pursuant to section 37-327, establish and charge a fee of not more than twenty-four dollars for residents and not more than seventy-two dollars for nonresidents for the issuance of a preference point or a bonus point, in addition to any application fee, in lieu of entering the draw for an elk permit during the application period for the random drawing.

(3) An applicant shall not be issued a resident elk permit that allows the harvest of an antlered elk more than once every five years. A person may only harvest one antlered elk in his or her lifetime except when harvesting an antlered elk with a limited permit to hunt elk pursuant to subdivision (1)(b) of section 37-455 or an auction or lottery permit pursuant to section 37-455.01.

(4) The provisions for the distribution of deer permits and the authority of the commission to determine eligibility of applicants for permits as described in sections 37-447 and 37-452 shall also apply to the distribution of elk permits.

(5) Any person violating the rules and regulations adopted and promulgated pursuant to this section shall be guilty of a Class III misdemeanor and shall be fined at least two hundred dollars upon conviction.

Source:Laws 1998, LB 922, § 160; Laws 2003, LB 306, § 6; Laws 2005, LB 162, § 16; Laws 2007, LB299, § 9; Laws 2009, LB105, § 17; Laws 2011, LB41, § 12; Laws 2013, LB94, § 2; Laws 2016, LB745, § 13; Laws 2020, LB287, § 13.