Platte County Open Fields and Waters walk-in hunting: Nebraska 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Platte County has 3 Open Fields and Waters contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 323 acres in all, 0.1% of the county. That ranks 58th 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 landOther publicOpen Fields and WatersPlatte CountyWMALakeHighway
| OFW tracts, 2026-27 | 3 |
|---|---|
| OFW acres | 323 (0.1% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 157, 153, 14 acres |
| Public land | 1,940 acres (0.4%) |
| Deer units | Loup East, Elkhorn and Wahoo |
| Game and Parks district | NE |
| Towns | Columbus, Humphrey, Lindsay, Duncan, Platte Center and Creston |
What kinds of Open Fields and Waters land are in Platte County?
Game and Parks enrolls each site for a purpose, shown on its sign and in the atlas. Platte County's 3 contracts by program (a contract can carry more than one):
| OFW program | Contracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | 2 | 309 |
| CRP | 1 | 14 |
Programs and acres: Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027.
Where are the biggest walk-in tracts in Platte 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 157 | 3 mi southeast of Genoa | Loup East | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 153 | 3 mi west of Duncan | Loup East | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 14 | 4 mi west of Duncan | Loup East | 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 Platte County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps show 1,940 acres of public land in the county, 0.4% of it. The walk-in tracts cover less ground: 323 acres. WMAs with a page: Wilkinson WMA (934 acres here), George D. Syas WMA (919 acres here) and Lee Rupp WMA (68 acres here).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| Game and Parks land | 1,940 | 0.4% |
| Other public (not counted as hunting land) | 341 | 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 Platte County?
Platte 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 | 53.7% | 2,351 (2025) | 4,483 |
| Elkhorn | 40.9% | 1,837 (2025) | 4,026 |
| Wahoo | 5.4% | 4,544 (2025) | 2,809 |
How does Platte County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 8 counties that touch Platte County, most walk-in land first:
| County | OFW acres | OFW tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boone County | 1,882 | 4 | 0% |
| Butler County | 1,153 | 9 | 0.1% |
| Merrick County | 805 | 3 | 0.1% |
| Nance County | 642 | 5 | 0.6% |
| Stanton County | 529 | 4 | 0.8% |
| Polk County | 271 | 2 | 0% |
| Madison County | 260 | 3 | 0.4% |
| Colfax County | 140 | 2 | 0.1% |
Questions hunters ask
How many Open Fields and Waters acres are in Platte County, Nebraska?
323 acres on 3 contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 0.1% of the county.
Can you hunt deer on OFW land in Platte County?
Yes, in season, with the permit for the deer unit the site is in (Loup East, Elkhorn and Wahoo), 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 Platte County?
1,940 acres, 0.4% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps, mostly Game and Parks land. WMAs here: Wilkinson WMA, George D. Syas WMA and Lee Rupp 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.