Knox County Open Fields and Waters walk-in hunting: Nebraska 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Knox County has 24 Open Fields and Waters contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 2,434 acres in all, 0.3% of the county. That ranks 26th 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 EngineersBLMState park or recreation areaOpen Fields and WatersKnox CountyWMALakeHighway
| OFW tracts, 2026-27 | 24 |
|---|---|
| OFW acres | 2,434 (0.3% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 299, 223, 177, 157, 156 acres |
| Public land | 28,565 acres (3.9%) |
| Deer units | Missouri |
| Game and Parks district | NE |
| Towns | Creighton, Bloomfield, Niobrara, Crofton, Santee and Verdigre |
What kinds of Open Fields and Waters land are in Knox County?
Game and Parks enrolls each site for a purpose, shown on its sign and in the atlas. Knox County's 24 contracts by program (a contract can carry more than one):
| OFW program | Contracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| CRP | 24 | 2,434 |
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | 10 | 1,150 |
| Fishing Only | 1 | 82 |
| All Huntings Seasons, Trapping and Fishing (Waters) | 1 | 110 |
Programs and acres: Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027.
Where are the biggest walk-in tracts in Knox 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 299 | 6 mi northwest of Bloomfield | Missouri | CRP | |
| 223 | 7 mi northwest of Verdigre | Missouri | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 177 | 6 mi northwest of Bloomfield | Missouri | CRP | |
| 157 | 9 mi southwest of Verdigre | Missouri | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 156 | 4 mi east of Verdigre | Missouri | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 155 | 6 mi southwest of Bloomfield | Missouri | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 154 | 5 mi northwest of Center | Missouri | CRP | |
| 144 | 4 mi west of Winnetoon | Missouri | CRP | |
| 120 | 3 mi southwest of Winnetoon | Missouri | CRP | |
| 110 | 6 mi south of Verdel | Missouri | CRP | |
| 100 | 6 mi southeast of Center | Missouri | CRP | |
| 82 | 5 mi southwest of Verdel | Missouri | 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 Knox County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps show 28,565 acres of public land in the county, 3.9% of it. The walk-in tracts cover less ground: 2,434 acres. WMAs with a page: Bazile Creek WMA (3,859 acres here), Niobrara Confluence WMA (1,034 acres here) and Bohemia Prairie WMA (678 acres here).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| Army Corps of Engineers | 21,187 | 2.9% |
| Game and Parks land | 7,347 | 1% |
| BLM | 31 | under 0.1% |
| State park or recreation area (not counted as hunting land) | 30 | 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 Knox County?
All of Knox County is in the Missouri 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 100% | 2,242 (2025) | 5,936 |
How does Knox County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 5 counties that touch Knox County, most walk-in land first:
| County | OFW acres | OFW tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holt County | 13,656 | 11 | 0.1% |
| Cedar County | 1,902 | 18 | 0.9% |
| Antelope County | 779 | 17 | 0.5% |
| Pierce County | 268 | 3 | 0% |
| Boyd County | 20 | 1 | 0.2% |
Questions hunters ask
How many Open Fields and Waters acres are in Knox County, Nebraska?
2,434 acres on 24 contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 0.3% of the county.
Can you hunt deer on OFW land in Knox County?
Yes, in season, with the permit for the deer unit the site is in (Missouri), 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 Knox County?
28,565 acres, 3.9% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps, mostly Army Corps of Engineers. WMAs here: Bazile Creek WMA, Niobrara Confluence WMA and Bohemia Prairie 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.