Merrick County Open Fields and Waters walk-in hunting: Nebraska 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Merrick County has 3 Open Fields and Waters contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 805 acres in all, 0.3% of the county. That ranks 45th 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 landBLMOpen Fields and WatersMerrick CountyWMALakeHighway
| OFW tracts, 2026-27 | 3 |
|---|---|
| OFW acres | 805 (0.3% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 501, 155, 150 acres |
| Public land | 256 acres (0.1%) |
| Deer units | Loup East, Wahoo and Buffalo |
| Game and Parks district | SC |
| Towns | Central City, Palmer, Chapman, Clarks and Silver Creek |
What kinds of Open Fields and Waters land are in Merrick County?
Game and Parks enrolls each site for a purpose, shown on its sign and in the atlas. Merrick County's 3 contracts by program (a contract can carry more than one):
| OFW program | Contracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | 3 | 805 |
Programs and acres: Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027.
Where are the biggest walk-in tracts in Merrick County?
The 3 largest sites on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, each placed by the nearest town:
| Acres | Where | Deer unit | Program | Stubble or other note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 501 | 5 mi southeast of Genoa | Loup East | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 155 | 4 mi southeast of Genoa | Loup East | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 150 | 5 mi south of Genoa | Loup East | 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 Merrick County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps show 256 acres of public land in the county, 0.1% of it. The walk-in tracts cover more ground: 805 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| Game and Parks land | 251 | 0.1% |
| BLM | 5 | 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 Merrick County?
Merrick 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loup East | 77.6% | 2,351 (2025) | 4,483 |
| Wahoo | 11.3% | 4,544 (2025) | 2,809 |
| Buffalo | 11.1% | 2,363 (2025) | 9,594 |
How does Merrick County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 6 counties that touch Merrick County, most walk-in land first:
| County | OFW acres | OFW tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nance County | 642 | 5 | 0.6% |
| Platte County | 323 | 3 | 0.4% |
| Polk County | 271 | 2 | 0% |
| Howard County | 68 | 1 | 0.3% |
| Hall County | 0 | 0 | 0.7% |
| Hamilton County | 0 | 0 | 0.6% |
Questions hunters ask
How many Open Fields and Waters acres are in Merrick County, Nebraska?
805 acres on 3 contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 0.3% of the county.
Can you hunt deer on OFW land in Merrick County?
Yes, in season, with the permit for the deer unit the site is in (Loup East, Wahoo and Buffalo), 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 Merrick County?
256 acres, 0.1% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps, mostly Game and Parks land.
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.