Saline County Open Fields and Waters walk-in hunting: Nebraska 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Saline County has 4 Open Fields and Waters contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 946 acres in all, 0.3% of the county. That ranks 41st 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 WPAOther publicOpen Fields and WatersSaline CountyWMALakeHighway
| OFW tracts, 2026-27 | 4 |
|---|---|
| OFW acres | 946 (0.3% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 393, 279, 197, 78 acres |
| Public land | 388 acres (0.1%) |
| Deer units | Blue Northwest |
| Game and Parks district | SE |
| Towns | Crete, Wilber, Friend, Dorchester, Western and De Witt |
What kinds of Open Fields and Waters land are in Saline County?
Game and Parks enrolls each site for a purpose, shown on its sign and in the atlas. Saline County's 4 contracts by program (a contract can carry more than one):
| OFW program | Contracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | 4 | 946 |
| CRP | 3 | 749 |
Programs and acres: Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027.
Where are the biggest walk-in tracts in Saline County?
The 4 largest sites on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, each placed by the nearest town:
| Acres | Where | Deer unit | Program | Stubble or other note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 393 | 3 mi north of Western | Blue Northwest | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 279 | 6 mi north of Western | Blue Northwest | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 197 | 5 mi north of Western | Blue Northwest | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 78 | 6 mi north of Western | Blue Northwest | 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 Saline County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps show 388 acres of public land in the county, 0.1% of it. The walk-in tracts cover more ground: 946 acres. WMAs with a page: Divoky Acres WMA (162 acres here) and Swan Creek WMA (155 acres here).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| Other public (not counted as hunting land) | 709 | 0.2% |
| Game and Parks land | 325 | 0.1% |
| National wildlife refuge or WPA | 63 | 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 Saline County?
All of Saline County is in the Blue Northwest 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 Northwest | 100% | 3,105 (2025) | 3,992 |
How does Saline County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 7 counties that touch Saline County, most walk-in land first:
| County | OFW acres | OFW tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gage County | 1,933 | 19 | 0.2% |
| Thayer County | 1,294 | 8 | 0.4% |
| Jefferson County | 1,089 | 8 | 0.9% |
| Seward County | 800 | 5 | 0.9% |
| Lancaster County | 320 | 3 | 2.6% |
| York County | 78 | 1 | 0.7% |
| Fillmore County | 0 | 0 | 1.2% |
Questions hunters ask
How many Open Fields and Waters acres are in Saline County, Nebraska?
946 acres on 4 contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 0.3% of the county.
Can you hunt deer on OFW land in Saline County?
Yes, in season, with the permit for the deer unit the site is in (Blue Northwest), 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 Saline County?
388 acres, 0.1% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps, mostly Game and Parks land. WMAs here: Divoky Acres WMA and Swan Creek 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.