Brown County Open Fields and Waters walk-in hunting: Nebraska 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Brown County has 3 Open Fields and Waters contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 4,041 acres in all, 0.5% of the county. That ranks 19th of Nebraska's 93 counties for OFW acres. OFW also opens 1.5 miles of stream here.
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.
Game and Parks landNational wildlife refuge or WPABLMOther publicOpen Fields and WatersBrown CountyWMALakeHighway
| OFW tracts, 2026-27 | 3 |
|---|---|
| OFW acres | 4,041 (0.5% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 2,570, 1,346, 126 acres |
| Public land | 6,360 acres (0.8%) |
| Deer units | Calamus West and Keya Paha |
| Game and Parks district | NE |
| Towns | Ainsworth, Long Pine and Johnstown |
What kinds of Open Fields and Waters land are in Brown County?
Game and Parks enrolls each site for a purpose, shown on its sign and in the atlas. Brown County's 3 contracts by program (a contract can carry more than one):
| OFW program | Contracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| All Huntings Seasons, Trapping and Fishing (Waters) | 2 | 1,472 |
| All Huntings Seasons, Trapping and Fishing (Lands) | 2 | 1,472 |
| Special Regulations | 1 | 2,570 |
Programs and acres: Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027.
Where are the biggest walk-in tracts in Brown 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,570 | 10 mi north of Johnstown | Keya Paha | Special Regulations | |
| 1,346 | 11 mi northeast of Johnstown | Keya Paha | All Huntings Seasons, Trapping and Fishing (Lands) | |
| 126 | 2 mi southeast of Johnstown | Calamus West | All Huntings Seasons, Trapping and Fishing (Waters) |
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 Brown County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps show 6,360 acres of public land in the county, 0.8% of it. The walk-in tracts cover less ground: 4,041 acres. WMAs with a page: Plum Creek Valley WMA (1,307 acres here), Pine Glen WMA (961 acres here), Bobcat WMA (885 acres here), Keller WMA (644 acres here), Willow Lake B.C. WMA (513 acres here) and South Pine WMA (443 acres here).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| Game and Parks land | 5,273 | 0.7% |
| BLM | 597 | 0.1% |
| National wildlife refuge or WPA | 490 | 0.1% |
| Other public (not counted as hunting land) | 180 | under 0.1% |
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 Brown County?
Brown County is split between 2 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calamus West | 69.4% | 1,108 (2025) | 16,790 |
| Keya Paha | 30.6% | 1,859 (2025) | 8,300 |
How does Brown County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 5 counties that touch Brown County, most walk-in land first:
| County | OFW acres | OFW tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock County | 6,733 | 3 | 0.6% |
| Loup County | 867 | 1 | 1.6% |
| Cherry County | 171 | 1 | 5.7% |
| Blaine County | 0 | 0 | 2.5% |
| Keya Paha County | 0 | 0 | 0.3% |
Questions hunters ask
How many Open Fields and Waters acres are in Brown County, Nebraska?
4,041 acres on 3 contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 0.5% of the county.
Can you hunt deer on OFW land in Brown County?
Yes, in season, with the permit for the deer unit the site is in (Calamus West and Keya Paha), 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 Brown County?
6,360 acres, 0.8% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps, mostly Game and Parks land. WMAs here: Plum Creek Valley WMA, Pine Glen WMA, Bobcat WMA, Keller WMA, Willow Lake B.C. WMA and South Pine WMA.
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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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.