Cedar County Open Fields and Waters walk-in hunting: Nebraska 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Cedar County has 18 Open Fields and Waters contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 1,902 acres in all, 0.4% of the county. That ranks 32nd 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.
Game and Parks landArmy Corps of EngineersOther publicOpen Fields and WatersCedar CountyWMALakeHighway
| OFW tracts, 2026-27 | 18 |
|---|---|
| OFW acres | 1,902 (0.4% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 290, 174, 158, 150, 137 acres |
| Public land | 4,126 acres (0.9%) |
| Deer units | Missouri and Elkhorn |
| Game and Parks district | NE |
| Towns | Laurel, Randolph, Hartington, Coleridge, St. Helena and Wynot |
What kinds of Open Fields and Waters land are in Cedar County?
Game and Parks enrolls each site for a purpose, shown on its sign and in the atlas. Cedar County's 18 contracts by program (a contract can carry more than one):
| OFW program | Contracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| CRP | 16 | 1,562 |
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | 7 | 806 |
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping (Closure during nine-day rifle deer season in November) | 1 | 50 |
Programs and acres: Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027.
Where are the biggest walk-in tracts in Cedar County?
The 12 largest sites on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, each placed by the nearest town:
| Acres | Where | Deer unit | Program | Stubble or other note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 290 | 3 mi east of Wynot | Missouri | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 174 | 3 mi north of Fordyce | Missouri | CRP | |
| 158 | 4 mi north of Fordyce | Missouri | CRP | |
| 150 | 6 mi southwest of Hartington | Missouri | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 137 | 5 mi north of Fordyce | Missouri | CRP | |
| 133 | 6 mi east of Hartington | Missouri | CRP | |
| 118 | 5 mi west of Coleridge | Missouri | CRP | |
| 113 | 3 mi west of Obert | Missouri | CRP | |
| 91 | 5 mi north of Fordyce | Missouri | CRP | |
| 87 | 4 mi southwest of Obert | Missouri | CRP | |
| 76 | 4 mi west of Wynot | Missouri | CRP | |
| 75 | 4 mi west of Wynot | Missouri | CRP |
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 Cedar County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps show 4,126 acres of public land in the county, 0.9% of it. The walk-in tracts cover less ground: 1,902 acres. WMAs with a page: Wiseman WMA (380 acres here).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| Army Corps of Engineers | 3,603 | 0.8% |
| Other public (not counted as hunting land) | 1,148 | 0.2% |
| Game and Parks land | 523 | 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 Cedar County?
Cedar 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 88.6% | 2,242 (2025) | 5,936 |
| Elkhorn | 11.4% | 1,837 (2025) | 4,026 |
How does Cedar County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 4 counties that touch Cedar County, most walk-in land first:
| County | OFW acres | OFW tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County | 2,434 | 24 | 3.9% |
| Dixon County | 949 | 13 | 1.1% |
| Pierce County | 268 | 3 | 0% |
| Wayne County | 160 | 1 | 0.1% |
Questions hunters ask
How many Open Fields and Waters acres are in Cedar County, Nebraska?
1,902 acres on 18 contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 0.4% of the county.
Can you hunt deer on OFW land in Cedar County?
Yes, in season, with the permit for the deer unit the site is in (Missouri and Elkhorn), 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 Cedar County?
4,126 acres, 0.9% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps, mostly Army Corps of Engineers. WMAs here: Wiseman 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.