Chase County Open Fields and Waters walk-in hunting: Nebraska 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Chase County has 48 Open Fields and Waters contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 46,557 acres in all, 8.1% of the county. That ranks first of Nebraska's 93 counties for OFW acres. The 2026-27 stubble list adds 8 fields (2,768 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 landBureau of ReclamationState park or recreation areaOther publicOpen Fields and WatersChase CountyWMALakeHighway
| OFW tracts, 2026-27 | 48 |
|---|---|
| OFW acres | 46,557 (8.1% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 19,204, 7,483, 2,827, 2,344, 2,104 acres |
| Public land | 3,861 acres (0.7%) |
| Deer units | Frenchman |
| Game and Parks district | SW |
| Towns | Imperial, Wauneta and Lamar |
What kinds of Open Fields and Waters land are in Chase County?
Game and Parks enrolls each site for a purpose, shown on its sign and in the atlas. Chase County's 48 contracts by program (a contract can carry more than one):
| OFW program | Contracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | 38 | 45,360 |
| CRP | 37 | 40,768 |
| Small Grain Stubble Management | 1 | 58 |
Tall wheat and milo stubble fields join the program after the atlas is printed: 8 stubble fields, 2,768 acres, valid through Jan. 31, 2027.
Programs and acres: Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027; Game and Parks small grain stubble tracts, 2026-2027.
Where are the biggest walk-in tracts in Chase 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19,204 | 8 mi northeast of Imperial | Frenchman | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 7,483 | 5 mi northeast of Imperial | Frenchman | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 2,827 | 6 mi northwest of Wauneta | Frenchman | CRP | |
| 2,344 | 4 mi west of Wauneta | Frenchman | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 2,104 | 4 mi south of Imperial | Frenchman | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 1,509 | 8 mi north of Wauneta | Frenchman | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 1,462 | 6 mi southeast of Imperial | Frenchman | CRP | |
| 1,022 | 11 mi north of Wauneta | Frenchman | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 925 | 11 mi northeast of Imperial | Frenchman | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 652 | 4 mi north of Wauneta | Frenchman | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 644 | 4 mi north of Wauneta | Frenchman | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 641 | 7 mi east of Lamar | Frenchman | 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 Chase County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps show 3,861 acres of public land in the county, 0.7% of it. The walk-in tracts cover more ground: 46,557 acres. WMAs with a page: Enders Reservoir WMA (4,359 acres here).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| Game and Parks land | 3,505 | 0.6% |
| State park or recreation area (not counted as hunting land) | 676 | 0.1% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 356 | 0.1% |
| Other public (not counted as hunting land) | 55 | 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 Chase County?
All of Chase County is in the Frenchman unit. 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frenchman | 100% | 1,985 (2025) | 136,087 |
How does Chase County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 3 counties that touch Chase County, most walk-in land first:
| County | OFW acres | OFW tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hayes County | 12,676 | 37 | 0.1% |
| Perkins County | 8,844 | 35 | 0% |
| Dundy County | 1,400 | 10 | 0% |
Questions hunters ask
How many Open Fields and Waters acres are in Chase County, Nebraska?
46,557 acres on 48 contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 8.1% of the county, plus 2,768 acres of stubble fields.
Can you hunt deer on OFW land in Chase County?
Yes, in season, with the permit for the deer unit the site is in (Frenchman), 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 Chase County?
3,861 acres, 0.7% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps, mostly Game and Parks land. WMAs here: Enders Reservoir 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.