Arthur County Open Fields and Waters walk-in hunting: Nebraska 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Arthur County has 3 Open Fields and Waters contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 26,700 acres in all, 5.8% of the county. That ranks 3rd of Nebraska's 93 counties for OFW acres.
Data updated October 2026. Walk-in: Game and Parks' Open Fields and Waters layer for 2026-27. Land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 and agency area maps.
Open Fields and WatersArthur CountyWMALakeHighway
| OFW tracts, 2026-27 | 3 |
|---|---|
| OFW acres | 26,700 (5.8% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 25,560, 622, 518 acres |
| Public land | None mapped |
| Deer units | Plains, Platte and Sandhills |
| Game and Parks district | SW |
| Towns | Arthur |
What kinds of Open Fields and Waters land are in Arthur County?
Game and Parks enrolls each site for a purpose, shown on its sign and in the atlas. Arthur County's 3 contracts by program (a contract can carry more than one):
| OFW program | Contracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | 3 | 26,700 |
Programs and acres: Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027.
Where are the biggest walk-in tracts in Arthur County?
The 3 largest sites on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, each placed by the nearest town:
| Acres | Where | Deer unit | Program | Stubble or other note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25,560 | 11 mi north of Arthur | Plains | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 622 | 9 mi north of Arthur | Sandhills | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 518 | 7 mi northwest of Arthur | Plains | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping |
Tracts: Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027; towns: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places. Use Game and Parks' Public Access Atlas to find each tract's signs and parking.
What public land is in Arthur County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps show no public land open to hunting in Arthur County, so the walk-in tracts are the county's public hunting ground.
Measured by FilledTag inside the Census county line from USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee and designation lands with open or restricted public access) and Game and Parks properties (WMAs, recreation areas, parks) and Game and Parks other public recreation lands; the water of the larger reservoirs is left out.
Which deer units cover Arthur County?
Arthur County is split between 3 deer units. A deer hunter on a walk-in tract needs a permit valid in the unit the tract lies in.
| Deer unit | Share of the county | Deer harvested (whole unit) | OFW acres (whole unit) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plains | 47.7% | 1,158 (2025) | 38,662 |
| Platte | 30.3% | 1,423 (2025) | 52,128 |
| Sandhills | 22% | 1,812 (2025) | 8,433 |
How does Arthur County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 5 counties that touch Arthur County, most walk-in land first:
| County | OFW acres | OFW tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keith County | 17,843 | 25 | 1.2% |
| Garden County | 1,111 | 5 | 4.4% |
| Grant County | 0 | 0 | 0.1% |
| Hooker County | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| McPherson County | 0 | 0 | 0% |
Questions hunters ask
How many Open Fields and Waters acres are in Arthur County, Nebraska?
26,700 acres on 3 contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 5.8% of the county.
Can you hunt deer on OFW land in Arthur County?
Yes, in season, with the permit for the deer unit the site is in (Plains, Platte and Sandhills), unless the site's sign limits it (some close during the November firearm season). Antlerless mule deer may be taken on OFW land, unlike other land open to public hunting.
Is there public land in Arthur County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps show no public land open to hunting in Arthur County; the walk-in tracts are the public ground.
Walk-in rules to know
- Walk-in only: driving on enrolled land is prohibited.
- Hunting, trapping and fishing only; no camping, target shooting or scouting before the season.
- Some sites close during the nine-day November firearm deer season or allow only certain uses: read the sign.
- Portable tree stands are not allowed Feb. 1 to Aug. 31.
Source: Game and Parks' 2026-27 Public Access Atlas, page 8.
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Nebraska included.
Where these numbers come from
- Walk-in tracts: Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027.
- Public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1. County line: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 cartographic boundary counties.
- Deer unit harvest: Game and Parks' 2026 Big Game Recommendations.
FilledTag is not part of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Tracts change every season; the sign on the tract is the final word.