East Odessa WMA: hunting, rules and access
East Odessa WMA is 131 acres of Game and Parks land, centered about 5 miles southwest of Kearney, in Buffalo County and the Buffalo deer unit. Atlas note: Camping limited to three consecutive nights in a six-day consecutive period.
Data updated October 2026. Game and Parks' 2026-27 Public Access Atlas and property layer; OFW 2026-27.
Game and Parks landOther publicOpen Fields and WatersEast Odessa WMAOther WMAsDeer unit lineLakeHighway
| Acres | 131 (Game and Parks); 123 inside the mapped boundary |
|---|---|
| District and atlas sheet | SW, map sheet 31 |
| Atlas marks | No target shooting |
| County | Buffalo |
| Deer unit | Buffalo |
| On Game and Parks' records since | 1966 |
What are the rules on East Odessa WMA?
The 2026-27 atlas: Camping limited to three consecutive nights in a six-day consecutive period. The atlas marks it no target shooting.
Source: Game and Parks' 2026-27 Public Access Atlas, area index (PDF page 119).
Which deer unit is East Odessa WMA in?
The Buffalo deer unit, 4,996 square miles, with 2,363 deer taken across the whole unit in 2025. The Buffalo unit has special rules in the Big Game Guide (page 19).
Unit Buck permits for the Buffalo unit in 2026: Buffalo 800 (1 AD2, sold out July 11 in 2025) and Buffalo WT 1,200 (1 WT, sold out Oct. 5 in 2025) (Game and Parks' 2026 Big Game Guide, page 13).
Harvest: Game and Parks' 2026 Big Game Recommendations.
What public and walk-in land is near East Odessa WMA?
Within five miles: 205 acres of Game and Parks land and 155 acres of other public (this area included), and no OFW walk-in land. Nearest WMAs: Bassway Strip WMA (8.8 mi).
Measured by FilledTag from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027. County walk-in totals: Buffalo County.
How do you get to East Odessa WMA?
Highways within five miles, longest stretch first: I-80, US 30 and N-44.
| Town | Miles from the boundary | Direction from the area |
|---|---|---|
| Kearney | 5 | northeast |
| Riverdale | 8 | north |
| Elm Creek | 11 | west |
| Amherst | 13 | north |
| Axtell | 13 | south |
Questions hunters ask
Are there special rules on East Odessa WMA?
Yes. The 2026-27 atlas says: Camping limited to three consecutive nights in a six-day consecutive period.
Where is East Odessa WMA?
Its middle is about 5 miles southwest of Kearney, in Buffalo County and the Buffalo deer unit.
How big is East Odessa WMA?
131 acres by Game and Parks' count; 123 acres inside the boundary on Game and Parks' map.
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Sources: Game and Parks' 2026-27 Public Access Atlas; Game and Parks properties (WMAs, recreation areas, parks); USGS PAD-US 4.1; Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027; Game and Parks' 2026 Big Game Recommendations. General WMA rules: all WMAs. FilledTag is not part of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.