Rock County Open Fields and Waters walk-in hunting: Nebraska 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Rock County has 3 Open Fields and Waters contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 6,733 acres in all, 1% of the county. That ranks 15th 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 WPABLMOpen Fields and WatersRock CountyWMALakeHighway
| OFW tracts, 2026-27 | 3 |
|---|---|
| OFW acres | 6,733 (1% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 5,605, 1,110, 18 acres |
| Public land | 3,611 acres (0.6%) |
| Deer units | Calamus West and Keya Paha |
| Game and Parks district | NE |
| Towns | Bassett and Newport |
What kinds of Open Fields and Waters land are in Rock County?
Game and Parks enrolls each site for a purpose, shown on its sign and in the atlas. Rock County's 3 contracts by program (a contract can carry more than one):
| OFW program | Contracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | 2 | 6,715 |
| All Huntings Seasons, Trapping and Fishing (Waters) | 1 | 18 |
Programs and acres: Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027.
Where are the biggest walk-in tracts in Rock 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,605 | 24 mi southeast of Long Pine | Calamus West | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 1,110 | 26 mi north of Taylor | Calamus West | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 18 | 22 mi south of Bassett | Calamus West | All Huntings Seasons, Trapping and Fishing (Waters) |
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 Rock County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps show 3,611 acres of public land in the county, 0.6% of it. The walk-in tracts cover more ground: 6,733 acres. WMAs with a page: Nick Lyman WMA (696 acres here), Fred Thomas WMA (203 acres here) and Peterson Lake WMA (141 acres here).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| National wildlife refuge or WPA | 2,406 | 0.4% |
| Game and Parks land | 1,044 | 0.2% |
| BLM | 161 | 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 Rock County?
Rock 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calamus West | 74% | 1,108 (2025) | 16,790 |
| Keya Paha | 26% | 1,859 (2025) | 8,300 |
How does Rock County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 5 counties that touch Rock County, most walk-in land first:
| County | OFW acres | OFW tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holt County | 13,656 | 11 | 0.1% |
| Brown County | 4,041 | 3 | 0.8% |
| Loup County | 867 | 1 | 1.6% |
| Boyd County | 20 | 1 | 0.2% |
| Keya Paha County | 0 | 0 | 0.3% |
Questions hunters ask
How many Open Fields and Waters acres are in Rock County, Nebraska?
6,733 acres on 3 contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 1% of the county.
Can you hunt deer on OFW land in Rock County?
Yes, in season, with the permit for the deer unit the site is in (Calamus West and Keya Paha), 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 Rock County?
3,611 acres, 0.6% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps, mostly national wildlife refuge or WPA. WMAs here: Nick Lyman WMA, Fred Thomas WMA and Peterson Lake 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.