Webster County Open Fields and Waters walk-in hunting: Nebraska 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Webster County has 6 Open Fields and Waters contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 822 acres in all, 0.2% of the county. That ranks 44th 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 WatersWebster CountyWMALakeHighway
| OFW tracts, 2026-27 | 6 |
|---|---|
| OFW acres | 822 (0.2% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 237, 197, 159, 113, 102 acres |
| Public land | 1,098 acres (0.3%) |
| Deer units | Republican |
| Game and Parks district | SC |
| Towns | Red Cloud, Blue Hill, Cowles, Guide Rock and Bladen |
What kinds of Open Fields and Waters land are in Webster County?
Game and Parks enrolls each site for a purpose, shown on its sign and in the atlas. Webster County's 6 contracts by program (a contract can carry more than one):
| OFW program | Contracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| CRP | 5 | 625 |
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | 4 | 610 |
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping (Closure during nine-day rifle deer season in November) | 1 | 197 |
Programs and acres: Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027.
Where are the biggest walk-in tracts in Webster County?
The 6 largest sites on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, each placed by the nearest town:
| Acres | Where | Deer unit | Program | Stubble or other note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 237 | 3 mi south of Guide Rock | Republican | CRP | |
| 197 | 3 mi southeast of Riverton | Republican | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping (Closure during nine-day rifle deer season in November) | |
| 159 | 4 mi northwest of Lawrence | Republican | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 113 | 5 mi west of Guide Rock | Republican | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 102 | 2 mi southwest of Blue Hill | Republican | CRP | |
| 15 | 2 mi west of Blue Hill | Republican | 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 Webster County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps show 1,098 acres of public land in the county, 0.3% of it. The walk-in tracts cover less ground: 822 acres. WMAs with a page: Guide Rock Diversion Dam WMA (534 acres here).
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| Game and Parks land | 1,098 | 0.3% |
| Other public (not counted as hunting land) | 262 | 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 Webster County?
All of Webster County is in the Republican 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 100% | 2,565 (2025) | 21,381 |
How does Webster County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 5 counties that touch Webster County, most walk-in land first:
| County | OFW acres | OFW tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | 2,260 | 5 | 0.8% |
| Adams County | 197 | 1 | 0.2% |
| Nuckolls County | 176 | 2 | 0.1% |
| Kearney County | 149 | 2 | 0.9% |
| Clay County | 39 | 1 | 2.3% |
Questions hunters ask
How many Open Fields and Waters acres are in Webster County, Nebraska?
822 acres on 6 contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 0.2% of the county.
Can you hunt deer on OFW land in Webster County?
Yes, in season, with the permit for the deer unit the site is in (Republican), 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 Webster County?
1,098 acres, 0.3% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps, mostly Game and Parks land. WMAs here: Guide Rock Diversion Dam 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.