Richardson County Open Fields and Waters walk-in hunting: Nebraska 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Richardson County has 31 Open Fields and Waters contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 4,595 acres in all, 1.3% of the county. That ranks 18th of Nebraska's 93 counties for OFW acres. OFW also opens 1.9 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 EngineersOpen Fields and WatersRichardson CountyWMALakeHighway
| OFW tracts, 2026-27 | 31 |
|---|---|
| OFW acres | 4,595 (1.3% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 510, 310, 234, 231, 214 acres |
| Public land | 3,300 acres (0.9%) |
| Deer units | Blue Southeast |
| Game and Parks district | SE |
| Towns | Falls City, Humboldt, Rulo, Salem, Verdon and Dawson |
What kinds of Open Fields and Waters land are in Richardson County?
Game and Parks enrolls each site for a purpose, shown on its sign and in the atlas. Richardson County's 31 contracts by program (a contract can carry more than one):
| OFW program | Contracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| CRP | 23 | 3,167 |
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | 22 | 3,219 |
| All Huntings Seasons, Trapping and Fishing (Waters) | 6 | 800 |
| All Huntings Seasons, Trapping and Fishing (Lands) | 6 | 800 |
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping (Closure during nine-day rifle deer season in November) | 2 | 388 |
Programs and acres: Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027.
Where are the biggest walk-in tracts in Richardson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 510 | 7 mi southwest of Salem | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 310 | 2 mi northeast of Dawson | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 234 | 3 mi northwest of Dawson | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping (Closure during nine-day rifle deer season in November) | |
| 231 | 3 mi west of Stella | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 214 | 2 mi west of Stella | Blue Southeast | All Huntings Seasons, Trapping and Fishing (Lands) | |
| 187 | 4 mi south of Dawson | Blue Southeast | CRP | |
| 169 | 2 mi southeast of Verdon | Blue Southeast | All Huntings Seasons, Trapping and Fishing (Lands) | |
| 159 | 5 mi south of Dawson | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 158 | 5 mi northeast of Falls City | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 156 | 3 mi southwest of Stella | Blue Southeast | CRP | |
| 156 | 4 mi northwest of Humboldt | Blue Southeast | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 155 | 2 mi northeast of Dawson | 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 Richardson County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps show 3,300 acres of public land in the county, 0.9% of it. The walk-in tracts cover more ground: 4,595 acres. WMAs with a page: South Fork WMA (271 acres here), Kinter's Ford WMA (210 acres here), Thomas C. Matter WMA (148 acres here), Four-Mile Creek WMA (106 acres here) and Margrave WMA (105 acres here).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| Game and Parks land | 2,912 | 0.8% |
| Army Corps of Engineers | 388 | 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 Richardson County?
All of Richardson 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 Richardson County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 2 counties that touch Richardson County, most walk-in land first:
| County | OFW acres | OFW tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nemaha County | 3,204 | 28 | 2.2% |
| Pawnee County | 1,995 | 17 | 1.2% |
Questions hunters ask
How many Open Fields and Waters acres are in Richardson County, Nebraska?
4,595 acres on 31 contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 1.3% of the county.
Can you hunt deer on OFW land in Richardson 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 Richardson County?
3,300 acres, 0.9% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps, mostly Game and Parks land. WMAs here: South Fork WMA, Kinter's Ford WMA, Thomas C. Matter WMA, Four-Mile Creek WMA and Margrave 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.