Jefferson County Open Fields and Waters walk-in hunting: Nebraska 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Jefferson County has 8 Open Fields and Waters contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 1,089 acres in all, 0.3% of the county. That ranks 39th 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 landState park or recreation areaOther publicOpen Fields and WatersJefferson CountyWMALakeHighway
| OFW tracts, 2026-27 | 8 |
|---|---|
| OFW acres | 1,089 (0.3% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 205, 195, 158, 139, 120 acres |
| Public land | 3,326 acres (0.9%) |
| Deer units | Blue Southeast and Blue Northwest |
| Game and Parks district | SE |
| Towns | Fairbury, Endicott, Diller, Plymouth, Jansen and Reynolds |
What kinds of Open Fields and Waters land are in Jefferson County?
Game and Parks enrolls each site for a purpose, shown on its sign and in the atlas. Jefferson County's 8 contracts by program (a contract can carry more than one):
| OFW program | Contracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | 7 | 969 |
| CRP | 5 | 673 |
| All Huntings Seasons, Trapping and Fishing (Waters) | 1 | 120 |
| All Huntings Seasons, Trapping and Fishing (Lands) | 1 | 120 |
Programs and acres: Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027.
Where are the biggest walk-in tracts in Jefferson County?
The 8 largest sites on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, each placed by the nearest town:
| Acres | Where | Deer unit | Program | Stubble or other note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 205 | 3 mi east of Reynolds | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 195 | 5 mi northeast of Reynolds | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 158 | 6 mi southwest of Endicott | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 139 | 3 mi west of Fairbury | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 120 | 2 mi north of Endicott | Blue Southeast | All Huntings Seasons, Trapping and Fishing (Lands) | |
| 113 | 5 mi east of Reynolds | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 81 | 3 mi northeast of Reynolds | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 79 | 3 mi northeast of Reynolds | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping |
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 Jefferson County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps show 3,326 acres of public land in the county, 0.9% of it. The walk-in tracts cover less ground: 1,089 acres. WMAs with a page: Alexandria WMA (1,206 acres here), Rock Glen WMA (703 acres here), Rose Creek WMA (652 acres here) and Flathead WMA (255 acres here).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| Game and Parks land | 3,326 | 0.9% |
| Other public (not counted as hunting land) | 218 | 0.1% |
| State park or recreation area (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 Jefferson County?
Jefferson 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Southeast | 89.2% | 4,558 (2025) | 15,605 |
| Blue Northwest | 10.8% | 3,105 (2025) | 3,992 |
How does Jefferson County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 4 counties that touch Jefferson County, most walk-in land first:
| County | OFW acres | OFW tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gage County | 1,933 | 19 | 0.2% |
| Thayer County | 1,294 | 8 | 0.4% |
| Saline County | 946 | 4 | 0.1% |
| Fillmore County | 0 | 0 | 1.2% |
Questions hunters ask
How many Open Fields and Waters acres are in Jefferson County, Nebraska?
1,089 acres on 8 contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 0.3% of the county.
Can you hunt deer on OFW land in Jefferson County?
Yes, in season, with the permit for the deer unit the site is in (Blue Southeast and Blue Northwest), 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 Jefferson County?
3,326 acres, 0.9% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps, mostly Game and Parks land. WMAs here: Alexandria WMA, Rock Glen WMA, Rose Creek WMA and Flathead 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.
Nebraska hunting Every county's OFW Blue Southeast Blue Northwest