Gosper County Open Fields and Waters walk-in hunting: Nebraska 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Gosper County has 7 Open Fields and Waters contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 915 acres in all, 0.3% of the county. That ranks 42nd 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 WPAState park or recreation areaOpen Fields and WatersGosper CountyWMALakeHighway
| OFW tracts, 2026-27 | 7 |
|---|---|
| OFW acres | 915 (0.3% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 332, 158, 156, 137, 79 acres |
| Public land | 3,669 acres (1.2%) |
| Deer units | Republican, Buffalo and Frenchman |
| Game and Parks district | SC |
| Towns | Elwood and Smithfield |
What kinds of Open Fields and Waters land are in Gosper County?
Game and Parks enrolls each site for a purpose, shown on its sign and in the atlas. Gosper County's 7 contracts by program (a contract can carry more than one):
| OFW program | Contracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| CRP | 5 | 427 |
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | 3 | 531 |
Programs and acres: Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027.
Where are the biggest walk-in tracts in Gosper County?
The 7 largest sites on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, each placed by the nearest town:
| Acres | Where | Deer unit | Program | Stubble or other note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 332 | 9 mi north of Edison | Republican | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 158 | 5 mi northeast of Arapahoe | Republican | CRP | |
| 156 | 6 mi northwest of Holbrook | Frenchman | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 137 | 8 mi south of Smithfield | Republican | CRP | |
| 79 | 9 mi northwest of Holbrook | Frenchman | CRP | |
| 43 | 7 mi northeast of Holbrook | Frenchman | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 9 | 7 mi south of Smithfield | 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 Gosper County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps show 3,669 acres of public land in the county, 1.2% of it. The walk-in tracts cover less ground: 915 acres. WMAs with a page: Elwood Reservoir WMA (864 acres here).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| Game and Parks land | 2,216 | 0.7% |
| National wildlife refuge or WPA | 1,453 | 0.5% |
| State park or recreation area (not counted as hunting land) | 8 | 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 Gosper County?
Gosper County is split between 3 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 42.7% | 2,565 (2025) | 21,381 |
| Buffalo | 28.7% | 2,363 (2025) | 9,594 |
| Frenchman | 28.6% | 1,985 (2025) | 136,087 |
How does Gosper County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 4 counties that touch Gosper County, most walk-in land first:
| County | OFW acres | OFW tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furnas County | 27,461 | 56 | 0% |
| Dawson County | 3,060 | 6 | 0.3% |
| Frontier County | 376 | 3 | 1.8% |
| Phelps County | 0 | 0 | 2.2% |
Questions hunters ask
How many Open Fields and Waters acres are in Gosper County, Nebraska?
915 acres on 7 contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 0.3% of the county.
Can you hunt deer on OFW land in Gosper County?
Yes, in season, with the permit for the deer unit the site is in (Republican, Buffalo and 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 Gosper County?
3,669 acres, 1.2% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps, mostly Game and Parks land. WMAs here: Elwood 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.
Nebraska hunting Every county's OFW Republican Buffalo Frenchman