James N. Douglas WMA: hunting, rules and access
James N. Douglas WMA is 1,118 acres of Game and Parks land, centered about 2 miles north of Elk Creek, in Johnson County and the Blue Southeast deer unit. Species listed: deer, dove, pheasant, quail, rabbit, squirrel, turkey. Atlas note: Target shooting prohibited within 100 yards of parking lot north of private residence.
Data updated October 2026. Game and Parks' 2026-27 Public Access Atlas and property layer; OFW 2026-27.
Game and Parks landOpen Fields and WatersJames N. Douglas WMAOther WMAsDeer unit lineLakeHighway
| Acres | 1,118 (Game and Parks); 1,117 inside the mapped boundary |
|---|---|
| District and atlas sheet | SE, map sheet 49 |
| Species Game and Parks lists | deer, dove, pheasant, quail, rabbit, squirrel and turkey |
| County | Johnson |
| Deer unit | Blue Southeast |
What are the rules on James N. Douglas WMA?
The 2026-27 atlas: Target shooting prohibited within 100 yards of parking lot north of private residence.
Source: Game and Parks' 2026-27 Public Access Atlas, area index (PDF page 121).
Which deer unit is James N. Douglas WMA in?
The Blue Southeast deer unit, 3,283 square miles, with 4,558 deer taken across the whole unit in 2025. No antlerless mule deer here.
Unit Buck permits for the Blue Southeast unit in 2026: Blue Southeast 3,500 (1 AD, sold out Oct. 28 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 James N. Douglas WMA?
Within five miles: 1,274 acres of Game and Parks land (this area included), and 627 acres of OFW walk-in land on 6 tracts. The biggest walk-in tracts reaching into that ring: 156 acres 2.4 miles west (All Hunting Seasons and Trapping), 154 acres 4.1 miles southeast (All Hunting Seasons and Trapping), 126 acres 2.6 miles east (CRP) and 78 acres 1.6 miles west (All Hunting Seasons and Trapping). Nearest WMAs: Osage WMA (4.3 mi), Table Rock WMA (9.2 mi) and Hickory Ridge WMA (10 mi).
Measured by FilledTag from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027. County walk-in totals: Johnson County.
How do you get to James N. Douglas WMA?
Highways within five miles, longest stretch first: N-50, US 136 and N-62.
| Town | Miles from the boundary | Direction from the area |
|---|---|---|
| Elk Creek | 2 | south |
| Tecumseh | 2 | northwest |
| Johnson | 8 | northeast |
| Steinauer | 9 | southwest |
| Table Rock | 10 | south |
Questions hunters ask
What can you hunt on James N. Douglas WMA?
Game and Parks lists deer, dove, pheasant, quail, rabbit, squirrel and turkey. Deer follow the permits for the Blue Southeast deer unit.
Are there special rules on James N. Douglas WMA?
Yes. The 2026-27 atlas says: Target shooting prohibited within 100 yards of parking lot north of private residence.
Where is James N. Douglas WMA?
Its middle is about 2 miles north of Elk Creek, in Johnson County and the Blue Southeast deer unit.
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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.