Morrill County Open Fields and Waters walk-in hunting: Nebraska 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Morrill County has 13 Open Fields and Waters contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 3,874 acres in all, 0.4% of the county. That ranks 21st 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 landNational wildlife refuge or WPABLMOther publicOpen Fields and WatersMorrill CountyWMALakeHighway
| OFW tracts, 2026-27 | 13 |
|---|---|
| OFW acres | 3,874 (0.4% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 805, 582, 527, 434, 299 acres |
| Public land | 1,234 acres (0.1%) |
| Deer units | Plains and Upper Platte |
| Game and Parks district | NW |
| Towns | Bridgeport, Bayard and Broadwater |
What kinds of Open Fields and Waters land are in Morrill County?
Game and Parks enrolls each site for a purpose, shown on its sign and in the atlas. Morrill County's 13 contracts by program (a contract can carry more than one):
| OFW program | Contracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| CRP | 13 | 3,874 |
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | 8 | 3,039 |
Programs and acres: Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027.
Where are the biggest walk-in tracts in Morrill 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 805 | 11 mi north of Bridgeport | Plains | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 582 | 11 mi north of Bridgeport | Plains | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 527 | 12 mi southwest of Bridgeport | Upper Platte | CRP | |
| 434 | 7 mi north of Broadwater | Plains | CRP | |
| 299 | 7 mi west of Broadwater | Upper Platte | CRP | |
| 270 | 10 mi east of Broadwater | Plains | CRP | |
| 240 | 14 mi north of Bayard | Plains | CRP | |
| 204 | 8 mi north of Broadwater | Plains | CRP | |
| 156 | 13 mi north of Bayard | Plains | CRP | |
| 155 | 14 mi northeast of Minatare | Plains | CRP | |
| 120 | 12 mi northeast of Bayard | Plains | CRP | |
| 51 | 12 mi southwest of Bridgeport | Upper Platte | 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 Morrill County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps show 1,234 acres of public land in the county, 0.1% of it. The walk-in tracts cover more ground: 3,874 acres. WMAs with a page: Chet and Jane Fliesbach WMA (424 acres here).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| Game and Parks land | 922 | 0.1% |
| Other public (not counted as hunting land) | 682 | 0.1% |
| BLM | 165 | under 0.1% |
| National wildlife refuge or WPA | 147 | 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 Morrill County?
Morrill 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plains | 57.2% | 1,158 (2025) | 38,662 |
| Upper Platte | 42.8% | 930 (2025) | 48,068 |
How does Morrill County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 6 counties that touch Morrill County, most walk-in land first:
| County | OFW acres | OFW tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne County | 9,781 | 33 | 0% |
| Banner County | 5,282 | 11 | 1% |
| Sheridan County | 1,507 | 5 | 0.2% |
| Garden County | 1,111 | 5 | 4.4% |
| Box Butte County | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Scotts Bluff County | 0 | 0 | 1.9% |
Questions hunters ask
How many Open Fields and Waters acres are in Morrill County, Nebraska?
3,874 acres on 13 contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 0.4% of the county.
Can you hunt deer on OFW land in Morrill County?
Yes, in season, with the permit for the deer unit the site is in (Plains and Upper Platte), 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 Morrill County?
1,234 acres, 0.1% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps, mostly Game and Parks land. WMAs here: Chet and Jane Fliesbach 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.