Johnson County Open Fields and Waters walk-in hunting: Nebraska 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Johnson County has 29 Open Fields and Waters contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 3,219 acres in all, 1.3% of the county. That ranks 22nd 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 landOpen Fields and WatersJohnson CountyWMALakeHighway
| OFW tracts, 2026-27 | 29 |
|---|---|
| OFW acres | 3,219 (1.3% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 240, 159, 158, 156, 156 acres |
| Public land | 2,445 acres (1%) |
| Deer units | Blue Southeast and Blue Northwest |
| Game and Parks district | SE |
| Towns | Tecumseh, Sterling, Cook, Crab Orchard and Elk Creek |
What kinds of Open Fields and Waters land are in Johnson County?
Game and Parks enrolls each site for a purpose, shown on its sign and in the atlas. Johnson County's 29 contracts by program (a contract can carry more than one):
| OFW program | Contracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | 29 | 3,219 |
| CRP | 25 | 2,748 |
Programs and acres: Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027.
Where are the biggest walk-in tracts in Johnson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 240 | 3 mi northwest of Crab Orchard | Blue Northwest | CRP | |
| 159 | 4 mi south of Burr | Blue Northwest | CRP | |
| 158 | 5 mi northwest of Crab Orchard | Blue Northwest | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 156 | 3 mi northwest of Lewiston | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 156 | 3 mi southwest of Tecumseh | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 153 | 2 mi north of Lewiston | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 150 | 4 mi northwest of Crab Orchard | Blue Northwest | CRP | |
| 150 | 4 mi southwest of Crab Orchard | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 146 | 3 mi north of Lewiston | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 142 | 2 mi northwest of Crab Orchard | Blue Northwest | CRP | |
| 130 | 3 mi northeast of Virginia | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 126 | 3 mi east of Elk Creek | 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 Johnson County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps show 2,445 acres of public land in the county, 1% of it. The walk-in tracts cover more ground: 3,219 acres. WMAs with a page: James N. Douglas WMA (1,117 acres here), Osage WMA (766 acres here) and Hickory Ridge WMA (557 acres here).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| Game and Parks land | 2,445 | 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 Johnson County?
Johnson 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 | 55% | 4,558 (2025) | 15,605 |
| Blue Northwest | 45% | 3,105 (2025) | 3,992 |
How does Johnson County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 5 counties that touch Johnson County, most walk-in land first:
| County | OFW acres | OFW tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nemaha County | 3,204 | 28 | 2.2% |
| Pawnee County | 1,995 | 17 | 1.2% |
| Gage County | 1,933 | 19 | 0.2% |
| Otoe County | 791 | 20 | 0.5% |
| Lancaster County | 320 | 3 | 2.6% |
Questions hunters ask
How many Open Fields and Waters acres are in Johnson County, Nebraska?
3,219 acres on 29 contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 1.3% of the county.
Can you hunt deer on OFW land in Johnson 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 Johnson County?
2,445 acres, 1% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps, mostly Game and Parks land. WMAs here: James N. Douglas WMA, Osage WMA and Hickory Ridge 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 Blue Southeast Blue Northwest