Harlan County Open Fields and Waters walk-in hunting: Nebraska 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Harlan County has 13 Open Fields and Waters contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 2,031 acres in all, 0.6% of the county. That ranks 28th 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 landArmy Corps of EngineersOpen Fields and WatersHarlan CountyWMALakeHighway
| OFW tracts, 2026-27 | 13 |
|---|---|
| OFW acres | 2,031 (0.6% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 395, 363, 305, 192, 160 acres |
| Public land | 17,735 acres (4.8%) |
| Deer units | Republican |
| Game and Parks district | SC |
| Towns | Alma, Orleans, Stamford, Huntley, Republican City and Ragan |
What kinds of Open Fields and Waters land are in Harlan County?
Game and Parks enrolls each site for a purpose, shown on its sign and in the atlas. Harlan County's 13 contracts by program (a contract can carry more than one):
| OFW program | Contracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| CRP | 13 | 2,031 |
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | 12 | 2,003 |
Programs and acres: Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027.
Where are the biggest walk-in tracts in Harlan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 395 | 4 mi northeast of Huntley | Republican | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 363 | 3 mi north of Orleans | Republican | CRP | |
| 305 | 5 mi northeast of Oxford | Republican | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 192 | 5 mi south of Alma | Republican | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 160 | 3 mi northwest of Huntley | Republican | CRP | |
| 154 | 2 mi northeast of Oxford | Republican | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 125 | 1 mi northeast of Republican City | Republican | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 81 | 7 mi south of Orleans | Republican | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 73 | 2 mi northwest of Stamford | Republican | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 72 | 6 mi south of Republican City | Republican | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 60 | 7 mi south of Republican City | Republican | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 28 | 5 mi south of Republican City | 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 Harlan County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps show 17,735 acres of public land in the county, 4.8% of it. The walk-in tracts cover less ground: 2,031 acres. WMAs with a page: Burton's Bend WMA (16 acres here).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| Army Corps of Engineers | 17,368 | 4.7% |
| Game and Parks land | 367 | 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 Harlan County?
All of Harlan 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 Harlan County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 4 counties that touch Harlan County, most walk-in land first:
| County | OFW acres | OFW tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furnas County | 27,461 | 56 | 0% |
| Franklin County | 2,260 | 5 | 0.8% |
| Kearney County | 149 | 2 | 0.9% |
| Phelps County | 0 | 0 | 2.2% |
Questions hunters ask
How many Open Fields and Waters acres are in Harlan County, Nebraska?
2,031 acres on 13 contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 0.6% of the county.
Can you hunt deer on OFW land in Harlan 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 Harlan County?
17,735 acres, 4.8% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps, mostly Army Corps of Engineers. WMAs here: Burton's Bend 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.