Perkins County Open Fields and Waters walk-in hunting: Nebraska 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Perkins County has 35 Open Fields and Waters contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 8,844 acres in all, 1.6% of the county. That ranks 12th of Nebraska's 93 counties for OFW acres. The 2026-27 stubble list adds 14 fields (4,007 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.
Open Fields and WatersPerkins CountyWMALakeHighway
| OFW tracts, 2026-27 | 35 |
|---|---|
| OFW acres | 8,844 (1.6% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 1,154, 960, 951, 552, 514 acres |
| Public land | None mapped |
| Deer units | Platte and Frenchman |
| Game and Parks district | SW |
| Towns | Madrid, Grant, Venango and Elsie |
What kinds of Open Fields and Waters land are in Perkins County?
Game and Parks enrolls each site for a purpose, shown on its sign and in the atlas. Perkins County's 35 contracts by program (a contract can carry more than one):
| OFW program | Contracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| CRP | 34 | 8,595 |
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | 25 | 8,076 |
Tall wheat and milo stubble fields join the program after the atlas is printed: 14 stubble fields, 4,007 acres, valid through Jan. 31, 2027.
Programs and acres: Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027; Game and Parks small grain stubble tracts, 2026-2027.
Where are the biggest walk-in tracts in Perkins 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,154 | 6 mi north of Madrid | Platte | CRP | |
| 960 | 5 mi east of Elsie | Platte | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 951 | 7 mi southeast of Big Springs | Platte | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 552 | 7 mi southwest of Wallace | Frenchman | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 514 | 3 mi east of Elsie | Platte | CRP | |
| 435 | 4 mi northwest of Elsie | Platte | CRP | |
| 363 | 6 mi north of Grant | Platte | CRP | |
| 310 | 7 mi southeast of Elsie | Frenchman | CRP | |
| 307 | 9 mi south of Paxton | Platte | CRP | |
| 296 | 6 mi northwest of Grant | Platte | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 249 | 7 mi northeast of Venango | Platte | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 242 | 8 mi north of Grant | 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 Perkins County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps show no public land open to hunting in Perkins County, so the walk-in tracts are the county's public hunting ground.
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 Perkins County?
Perkins 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platte | 57.4% | 1,423 (2025) | 52,128 |
| Frenchman | 42.6% | 1,985 (2025) | 136,087 |
How does Perkins County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 5 counties that touch Perkins County, most walk-in land first:
| County | OFW acres | OFW tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase County | 46,557 | 48 | 0.7% |
| Lincoln County | 23,134 | 21 | 0.5% |
| Keith County | 17,843 | 25 | 1.2% |
| Hayes County | 12,676 | 37 | 0.1% |
| Deuel County | 8,679 | 19 | 0.1% |
Questions hunters ask
How many Open Fields and Waters acres are in Perkins County, Nebraska?
8,844 acres on 35 contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 1.6% of the county, plus 4,007 acres of stubble fields.
Can you hunt deer on OFW land in Perkins County?
Yes, in season, with the permit for the deer unit the site is in (Platte and Frenchman), 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 Perkins County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps show no public land open to hunting in Perkins County; the walk-in tracts are the public ground.
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.