Dixon County Open Fields and Waters walk-in hunting: Nebraska 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Dixon County has 13 Open Fields and Waters contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 949 acres in all, 0.3% of the county. That ranks 40th 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 landOther publicOpen Fields and WatersDixon CountyWMALakeHighway
| OFW tracts, 2026-27 | 13 |
|---|---|
| OFW acres | 949 (0.3% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 202, 154, 139, 106, 76 acres |
| Public land | 3,487 acres (1.1%) |
| Deer units | Missouri and Elkhorn |
| Game and Parks district | NE |
| Towns | Wakefield, Ponca, Allen, Newcastle, Maskell and Dixon |
What kinds of Open Fields and Waters land are in Dixon County?
Game and Parks enrolls each site for a purpose, shown on its sign and in the atlas. Dixon County's 13 contracts by program (a contract can carry more than one):
| OFW program | Contracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| CRP | 12 | 941 |
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | 5 | 500 |
| Ice Fishing Only | 1 | 8 |
Programs and acres: Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027.
Where are the biggest walk-in tracts in Dixon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 202 | 3 mi west of Newcastle | Missouri | CRP | |
| 154 | 3 mi south of Newcastle | Missouri | CRP | |
| 139 | 1 mi northwest of Newcastle | Missouri | CRP | |
| 106 | 4 mi northwest of Allen | Elkhorn | CRP | |
| 76 | 5 mi south of Obert | Missouri | CRP | |
| 76 | 5 mi south of Newcastle | Missouri | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 43 | 4 mi south of Maskell | Missouri | CRP | |
| 40 | 4 mi south of Obert | Missouri | CRP | |
| 38 | 6 mi south of Maskell | Missouri | CRP | |
| 25 | 3 mi east of Dixon | Elkhorn | CRP | |
| 23 | 5 mi south of Maskell | Missouri | CRP | |
| 21 | 5 mi north of Martinsburg | 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 Dixon County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps show 3,487 acres of public land in the county, 1.1% of it. The walk-in tracts cover less ground: 949 acres. WMAs with a page: Elk Point Bend WMA (624 acres here), Powder Creek WMA (465 acres here) and Buckskin Hills WMA (340 acres here).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| Game and Parks land | 3,487 | 1.1% |
| Other public (not counted as hunting land) | 31 | 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 Dixon County?
Dixon 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 | 56.2% | 2,242 (2025) | 5,936 |
| Elkhorn | 43.8% | 1,837 (2025) | 4,026 |
How does Dixon County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 4 counties that touch Dixon County, most walk-in land first:
| County | OFW acres | OFW tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar County | 1,902 | 18 | 0.9% |
| Dakota County | 801 | 7 | 0.2% |
| Wayne County | 160 | 1 | 0.1% |
| Thurston County | 53 | 1 | 0% |
Questions hunters ask
How many Open Fields and Waters acres are in Dixon County, Nebraska?
949 acres on 13 contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 0.3% of the county.
Can you hunt deer on OFW land in Dixon 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 Dixon County?
3,487 acres, 1.1% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps, mostly Game and Parks land. WMAs here: Elk Point Bend WMA, Powder Creek WMA and Buckskin Hills 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.