Nemaha County Open Fields and Waters walk-in hunting: Nebraska 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Nemaha County has 28 Open Fields and Waters contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 3,204 acres in all, 1.2% of the county. That ranks 23rd of Nebraska's 93 counties for OFW acres. OFW also opens 3.9 miles of stream here.
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 EngineersState park or recreation areaOpen Fields and WatersNemaha CountyWMALakeHighway
| OFW tracts, 2026-27 | 28 |
|---|---|
| OFW acres | 3,204 (1.2% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 303, 230, 193, 175, 170 acres |
| Public land | 5,806 acres (2.2%) |
| Deer units | Blue Southeast |
| Game and Parks district | SE |
| Towns | Auburn, Brownville, Peru, Brock, Nemaha and Johnson |
What kinds of Open Fields and Waters land are in Nemaha County?
Game and Parks enrolls each site for a purpose, shown on its sign and in the atlas. Nemaha County's 28 contracts by program (a contract can carry more than one):
| OFW program | Contracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | 18 | 2,326 |
| CRP | 9 | 1,214 |
| All Huntings Seasons, Trapping and Fishing (Lands) | 7 | 855 |
| All Huntings Seasons, Trapping and Fishing (Waters) | 6 | 835 |
| Fishing Only | 3 | 22 |
Programs and acres: Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027.
Where are the biggest walk-in tracts in Nemaha 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 303 | 4 mi northwest of Shubert | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 230 | 3 mi southeast of Nemaha | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 193 | 6 mi southwest of Auburn | Blue Southeast | All Huntings Seasons, Trapping and Fishing (Waters) | |
| 175 | 6 mi southwest of Auburn | All Huntings Seasons, Trapping and Fishing (Waters) | ||
| 170 | 7 mi northwest of Stella | Blue Southeast | CRP | |
| 167 | 2 mi southwest of Nemaha | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 165 | 2 mi southeast of Brock | Blue Southeast | All Huntings Seasons, Trapping and Fishing (Lands) | |
| 158 | 3 mi north of Stella | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 154 | 4 mi east of Elk Creek | Blue Southeast | CRP | |
| 152 | 2 mi south of Nemaha | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 152 | 2 mi southwest of Nemaha | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 152 | 7 mi southwest of Auburn | 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 Nemaha County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps show 5,806 acres of public land in the county, 2.2% of it. The walk-in tracts cover less ground: 3,204 acres. WMAs with a page: Peru Bottoms WMA (855 acres here) and Aspinwall Bend WMA (146 acres here).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| Game and Parks land | 3,318 | 1.3% |
| Army Corps of Engineers | 2,488 | 0.9% |
| State park or recreation area (not counted as hunting land) | 12 | 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 Nemaha County?
All of Nemaha County is in the Blue Southeast 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Southeast | 100% | 4,558 (2025) | 15,605 |
How does Nemaha County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 4 counties that touch Nemaha County, most walk-in land first:
| County | OFW acres | OFW tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richardson County | 4,595 | 31 | 0.9% |
| Johnson County | 3,219 | 29 | 1% |
| Pawnee County | 1,995 | 17 | 1.2% |
| Otoe County | 791 | 20 | 0.5% |
Questions hunters ask
How many Open Fields and Waters acres are in Nemaha County, Nebraska?
3,204 acres on 28 contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 1.2% of the county.
Can you hunt deer on OFW land in Nemaha County?
Yes, in season, with the permit for the deer unit the site is in (Blue Southeast), 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 Nemaha County?
5,806 acres, 2.2% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps, mostly Game and Parks land. WMAs here: Peru Bottoms WMA and Aspinwall Bend 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.