Mountain lion killed near Nenzel as season ends swiftly

NENZEL, Neb. - The 2025 mountain lion hunting season in Nebraska’s Niobrara Unit ended almost as quickly as it began, closing on its opening day after hunters reached the limit of two females. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reported that one male and two female mountain lions were harvested on Thursday. Regulations require the season to end once four mountain lions, or two females, are killed.

Among the successful hunts was a nearly 150-pound male, taken south of Nenzel along the Niobrara River. Adam Naslund, the hunter, shared his story with News Channel Nebraska, describing an unforgettable experience with his son, Dylan, by his side.

“We had just tucked into some trees for the last call of the day before sunset. Five minutes into calling with a mountain lion-in-heat call, we heard him swimming across the river to our left and a little behind us,” Naslund said.

Naslund continued, saying the lion ran along the river’s edge to get downwind before coming straight toward them. He stopped the call, and the lion paused around 50 yards away, giving Naslund an opportunity to shoot.

“There was an overwhelming amount of excitement and disbelief of what had actually happened,” Naslund said.

The hunt carried additional significance for Naslund, as the lion had been tagged and collared as a kitten in the same area four years ago.

“Cool thing—13 miles upriver from there, this cat was tranquilized to loosen his collar just a mile from my house two years ago. His collar quit working a year ago, so it was neat to see that he had returned to rule his home territory,” Naslund said.