Dawes County Open Fields and Waters walk-in hunting: Nebraska 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Dawes County has 6 Open Fields and Waters contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 4,015 acres in all, 0.4% of the county. That ranks 20th 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 landNational forest or grasslandBureau of ReclamationBLMState park or recreation areaOpen Fields and WatersDawes CountyWMALakeHighway
| OFW tracts, 2026-27 | 6 |
|---|---|
| OFW acres | 4,015 (0.4% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 1,640, 744, 640, 560, 296 acres |
| Public land | 81,042 acres (9%) |
| Deer units | Pine Ridge and Plains |
| Game and Parks district | NW |
| Towns | Chadron, Crawford and Whitney |
What kinds of Open Fields and Waters land are in Dawes County?
Game and Parks enrolls each site for a purpose, shown on its sign and in the atlas. Dawes County's 6 contracts by program (a contract can carry more than one):
| OFW program | Contracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | 5 | 3,271 |
| All Huntings Seasons, Trapping and Fishing (Waters) | 1 | 744 |
| All Huntings Seasons, Trapping and Fishing (Lands) | 1 | 744 |
| CRP | 1 | 134 |
Programs and acres: Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027.
Where are the biggest walk-in tracts in Dawes County?
The 6 largest sites on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, each placed by the nearest town:
| Acres | Where | Deer unit | Program | Stubble or other note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,640 | 14 mi north of Whitney | Pine Ridge | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 744 | 11 mi southeast of Crawford | Pine Ridge | All Huntings Seasons, Trapping and Fishing (Lands) | |
| 640 | 11 mi northwest of Whitney | Pine Ridge | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 560 | 10 mi northwest of Whitney | Pine Ridge | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 296 | 7 mi southeast of Crawford | Pine Ridge | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 134 | 6 mi east of Whitney | Pine Ridge | 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 Dawes County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps show 81,042 acres of public land in the county, 9% of it. The walk-in tracts cover less ground: 4,015 acres. WMAs with a page: Ponderosa WMA (4,699 acres here), Chadron Creek Ranch WMA (2,417 acres here), Box Butte Reservoir WMA (2,001 acres here), Bordeaux WMA (1,769 acres here) and Bighorn WMA (1,270 acres here).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| National forest or grassland | 61,029 | 6.8% |
| Game and Parks land | 19,849 | 2.2% |
| State park or recreation area (not counted as hunting land) | 166 | under 0.1% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 85 | under 0.1% |
| BLM | 79 | 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 Dawes County?
Dawes 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pine Ridge | 97.5% | 1,556 (2025) | 29,929 |
| Plains | 2.5% | 1,158 (2025) | 38,662 |
How does Dawes County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 3 counties that touch Dawes County, most walk-in land first:
| County | OFW acres | OFW tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux County | 13,729 | 18 | 8.2% |
| Sheridan County | 1,507 | 5 | 0.2% |
| Box Butte County | 0 | 0 | 0% |
Questions hunters ask
How many Open Fields and Waters acres are in Dawes County, Nebraska?
4,015 acres on 6 contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 0.4% of the county.
Can you hunt deer on OFW land in Dawes County?
Yes, in season, with the permit for the deer unit the site is in (Pine Ridge and Plains), 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 Dawes County?
81,042 acres, 9% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps, mostly national forest or grassland. WMAs here: Ponderosa WMA, Chadron Creek Ranch WMA, Box Butte Reservoir WMA, Bordeaux WMA and Bighorn 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.