Elwood Reservoir WMA: hunting, rules and access
Elwood Reservoir WMA is 724 acres of Game and Parks land, centered about 3 miles north of Elwood, in Gosper County and the Buffalo deer unit.
Data updated October 2026. Game and Parks' 2026-27 Public Access Atlas and property layer; OFW 2026-27.
Game and Parks landState park or recreation areaOpen Fields and WatersElwood Reservoir WMAOther WMAsDeer unit lineLakeHighway
| Acres | 724 (Game and Parks); 864 inside the mapped boundary |
|---|---|
| District and atlas sheet | SW, map sheet 25 |
| County | Gosper |
| Deer unit | Buffalo |
| On Game and Parks' records since | 1999 |
Which deer unit is Elwood Reservoir 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 Elwood Reservoir WMA?
Within five miles: 2,235 acres of Game and Parks land (this area included), and no OFW walk-in land. Nearest WMAs: Darr Strip WMA (9.7 mi) and Dogwood WMA (11.4 mi).
Measured by FilledTag from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027. County walk-in totals: Gosper County.
How do you get to Elwood Reservoir WMA?
Highways within five miles, longest stretch first: US 283 and N-23.
| Town | Miles from the boundary | Direction from the area |
|---|---|---|
| Elwood | under 1 | south |
| Smithfield | 6 | southeast |
| Eustis | 8 | west |
| Lexington | 11 | northeast |
| Bertrand | 13 | southeast |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Elwood Reservoir WMA?
Its middle is about 3 miles north of Elwood, in Gosper County and the Buffalo deer unit.
How big is Elwood Reservoir WMA?
724 acres by Game and Parks' count; 864 acres inside the boundary on Game and Parks' map, in 2 pieces.
Is there walk-in land near Elwood Reservoir WMA?
Not within five miles on Game and Parks' 2026-27 OFW 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.