Franklin County Open Fields and Waters walk-in hunting: Nebraska 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Franklin County has 5 Open Fields and Waters contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 2,260 acres in all, 0.6% of the county. That ranks 27th 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 wildlife refuge or WPAOpen Fields and WatersFranklin CountyWMALakeHighway
| OFW tracts, 2026-27 | 5 |
|---|---|
| OFW acres | 2,260 (0.6% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 1,465, 314, 271, 150, 60 acres |
| Public land | 3,031 acres (0.8%) |
| Deer units | Republican |
| Game and Parks district | SC |
| Towns | Franklin, Bloomington, Hildreth, Upland, Campbell and Riverton |
What kinds of Open Fields and Waters land are in Franklin County?
Game and Parks enrolls each site for a purpose, shown on its sign and in the atlas. Franklin County's 5 contracts by program (a contract can carry more than one):
| OFW program | Contracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| CRP | 4 | 2,110 |
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | 3 | 1,886 |
Programs and acres: Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027.
Where are the biggest walk-in tracts in Franklin County?
The 5 largest sites on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, each placed by the nearest town:
| Acres | Where | Deer unit | Program | Stubble or other note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,465 | 5 mi northeast of Republican City | Republican | CRP | |
| 314 | 3 mi north of Naponee | Republican | CRP | |
| 271 | 7 mi northwest of Riverton | Republican | CRP | |
| 150 | 1 mi east of Bloomington | Republican | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 60 | 3 mi north of Naponee | Republican | 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 Franklin County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps show 3,031 acres of public land in the county, 0.8% of it. The walk-in tracts cover less ground: 2,260 acres. WMAs with a page: Limestone Bluffs WMA (481 acres here) and Alfon C. Haring Memorial WMA (313 acres here).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| National wildlife refuge or WPA | 2,163 | 0.6% |
| Game and Parks land | 868 | 0.2% |
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 Franklin County?
All of Franklin County is in the Republican 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 100% | 2,565 (2025) | 21,381 |
How does Franklin County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 4 counties that touch Franklin County, most walk-in land first:
| County | OFW acres | OFW tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harlan County | 2,031 | 13 | 4.8% |
| Webster County | 822 | 6 | 0.3% |
| Kearney County | 149 | 2 | 0.9% |
| Phelps County | 0 | 0 | 2.2% |
Questions hunters ask
How many Open Fields and Waters acres are in Franklin County, Nebraska?
2,260 acres on 5 contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 0.6% of the county.
Can you hunt deer on OFW land in Franklin County?
Yes, in season, with the permit for the deer unit the site is in (Republican), 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 Franklin County?
3,031 acres, 0.8% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps, mostly national wildlife refuge or WPA. WMAs here: Limestone Bluffs WMA and Alfon C. Haring Memorial 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.
Get a Nebraska hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Nebraska are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Nebraska included.
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.