Wheeler County Open Fields and Waters walk-in hunting: Nebraska 2026-27 tracts, acres and map
Wheeler County has 7 Open Fields and Waters contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 6,318 acres in all, 1.7% of the county. That ranks 16th 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.
BLMState park or recreation areaOpen Fields and WatersWheeler CountyWMALakeHighway
| OFW tracts, 2026-27 | 7 |
|---|---|
| OFW acres | 6,318 (1.7% of the county) |
| Largest tracts | 2,104, 1,360, 1,108, 612, 518 acres |
| Public land | 75 acres (under 0.1%) |
| Deer units | Calamus East and Loup East |
| Game and Parks district | NE |
| Towns | Ericson and Bartlett |
What kinds of Open Fields and Waters land are in Wheeler County?
Game and Parks enrolls each site for a purpose, shown on its sign and in the atlas. Wheeler County's 7 contracts by program (a contract can carry more than one):
| OFW program | Contracts | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | 5 | 4,440 |
| CRP | 3 | 1,976 |
| All Hunting Seasons and Trapping (Closure during nine-day rifle deer season in November) | 1 | 518 |
Programs and acres: Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027.
Where are the biggest walk-in tracts in Wheeler County?
The 7 largest sites on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, each placed by the nearest town:
| Acres | Where | Deer unit | Program | Stubble or other note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,104 | 6 mi southwest of Primrose | Loup East | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 1,360 | 8 mi northeast of Bartlett | Calamus East | CRP | |
| 1,108 | 8 mi east of Bartlett | Calamus East | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 612 | 10 mi east of Bartlett | Calamus East | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 518 | 11 mi northeast of Bartlett | Calamus East | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping (Closure during nine-day rifle deer season in November) | |
| 320 | 11 mi north of Bartlett | Calamus East | All Hunting Seasons and Trapping | |
| 296 | 5 mi east of Bartlett | Calamus 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 Wheeler County?
USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps show 75 acres of public land in the county, under 0.1% of it. The walk-in tracts cover more ground: 6,318 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of the county |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 75 | under 0.1% |
| State park or recreation area (not counted as hunting land) | 51 | 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 Wheeler County?
Wheeler 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 East | 94.3% | 628 (2025) | 19,388 |
| Loup East | 5.7% | 2,351 (2025) | 4,483 |
How does Wheeler County compare with the counties around it?
Walk-in acres and public land in the 6 counties that touch Wheeler County, most walk-in land first:
| County | OFW acres | OFW tracts | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holt County | 13,656 | 11 | 0.1% |
| Garfield County | 2,827 | 2 | 0.3% |
| Greeley County | 1,961 | 6 | 0.2% |
| Boone County | 1,882 | 4 | 0% |
| Antelope County | 779 | 17 | 0.5% |
| Valley County | 0 | 0 | 0.8% |
Questions hunters ask
How many Open Fields and Waters acres are in Wheeler County, Nebraska?
6,318 acres on 7 contracts on Game and Parks' 2026-27 map, 1.7% of the county.
Can you hunt deer on OFW land in Wheeler County?
Yes, in season, with the permit for the deer unit the site is in (Calamus East and Loup East), 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 Wheeler County?
75 acres, 0% of the county, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks area maps, mostly BLM.
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.