Deuel County Open Fields and Waters walk-in hunting: Nebraska 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Deuel County has 19 Open Fields and Waters contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 8,679 acres in all, 3.1% of the county. That ranks 13th of Nebraska's 93 counties for OFW acres. The 2026-27 stubble list adds 2 fields (2,957 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 landOther publicOpen Fields and WatersDeuel CountyWMALakeHighway
| OFW tracts, 2026-27 | 19 |
|---|---|
| OFW acres | 8,679 (3.1% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 3,410, 1,047, 953, 480, 430 acres |
| Public land | 214 acres (0.1%) |
| Deer units | Platte and Upper Platte |
| Game and Parks district | NW |
| Towns | Chappell and Big Springs |
What kinds of Open Fields and Waters land are in Deuel County?
Game and Parks enrolls each site for a purpose, shown on its sign and in the atlas. Deuel County's 19 contracts by program (a contract can carry more than one):
| OFW program | Contracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| CRP | 16 | 4,895 |
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | 10 | 6,575 |
Tall wheat and milo stubble fields join the program after the atlas is printed: 2 stubble fields, 2,957 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 Deuel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,410 | 3 mi west of Big Springs | Platte | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 1,047 | 5 mi south of Lodgepole | Upper Platte | CRP | |
| 953 | 6 mi southwest of Lewellen | Platte | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 480 | 6 mi south of Lodgepole | Upper Platte | CRP | |
| 430 | 2 mi northeast of Chappell | Upper Platte | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 320 | 4 mi east of Lodgepole | Upper Platte | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 319 | 9 mi north of Big Springs | Platte | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 294 | 10 mi north of Big Springs | Platte | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 262 | 10 mi south of Lewellen | Platte | CRP | |
| 248 | 10 mi southeast of Chappell | Platte | CRP | |
| 158 | 8 mi northwest of Big Springs | Platte | CRP | |
| 153 | 8 mi northwest of Big Springs | Platte | 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 Deuel County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps show 214 acres of public land in the county, 0.1% of it. The walk-in tracts cover more ground: 8,679 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| Game and Parks land | 214 | 0.1% |
| Other public (not counted as hunting land) | 1 | 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 Deuel County?
Deuel 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platte | 56.8% | 1,423 (2025) | 52,128 |
| Upper Platte | 43.2% | 930 (2025) | 48,068 |
How does Deuel County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 4 counties that touch Deuel County, most walk-in land first:
| County | OFW acres | OFW tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keith County | 17,843 | 25 | 1.2% |
| Cheyenne County | 9,781 | 33 | 0% |
| Perkins County | 8,844 | 35 | 0% |
| Garden County | 1,111 | 5 | 4.4% |
Questions hunters ask
How many Open Fields and Waters acres are in Deuel County, Nebraska?
8,679 acres on 19 contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 3.1% of the county, plus 2,957 acres of stubble fields.
Can you hunt deer on OFW land in Deuel County?
Yes, in season, with the permit for the deer unit the site is in (Platte and Upper Platte), 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 Deuel County?
214 acres, 0.1% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps, mostly Game and Parks land.
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.