Merritt Reservoir WMA: hunting, rules and access
Merritt Reservoir WMA is 9,102 acres of Game and Parks land, centered about 23 miles south of Nenzel, in Cherry County and the Sandhills deer unit. Atlas note: Seasonal waterfowl blinds allowed. Snowmobiles and ATVs allowed on ice.
Data updated October 2026. Game and Parks' 2026-27 Public Access Atlas and property layer; OFW 2026-27.
Game and Parks landNational forest or grasslandBureau of ReclamationState park or recreation areaOpen Fields and WatersMerritt Reservoir WMAOther WMAsDeer unit lineLakeHighway
| Acres | 9,102 (Game and Parks); 9,104 inside the mapped boundary |
|---|---|
| District and atlas sheet | NW, map sheet 15 |
| County | Cherry |
| Deer unit | Sandhills |
| On Game and Parks' records since | 1920 |
What are the rules on Merritt Reservoir WMA?
The 2026-27 atlas: Seasonal waterfowl blinds allowed. Snowmobiles and ATVs allowed on ice.
Source: Game and Parks' 2026-27 Public Access Atlas, area index (PDF page 123).
Which deer unit is Merritt Reservoir WMA in?
The Sandhills deer unit, 7,806 square miles, with 1,812 deer taken across the whole unit in 2025. The Sandhills unit has special rules in the Big Game Guide (page 19).
Unit Buck permits for the Sandhills unit in 2026: Sandhills 1,200 (1 AD2, sold out R - Nov. 11, NR - DRAW in 2025), Private Land Sandhills 200 (1 AD2, sold out July 29 in 2025) and Sandhills WT 300 (1 WT, sold out Nov. 12 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 Merritt Reservoir WMA?
Within five miles: 38,020 acres of national forest or grassland, 6,423 acres of Game and Parks land, 702 acres of state park or recreation area and 90 acres of Bureau of Reclamation (this area included), and no OFW walk-in land. Nearest WMAs: Big Alkali Lake WMA (11.4 mi), Chat Canyon WMA (11.7 mi) and Schlagel Creek WMA (13.3 mi).
Measured by FilledTag from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027.
How do you get to Merritt Reservoir WMA?
Highways within five miles, longest stretch first: N-97.
| Town | Miles from the boundary | Direction from the area |
|---|---|---|
| Kilgore | 21 | north |
| Crookston | 21 | northeast |
| Nenzel | 22 | north |
| Valentine | 23 | northeast |
| Cody | 26 | northwest |
Questions hunters ask
Are there special rules on Merritt Reservoir WMA?
Yes. The 2026-27 atlas says: Seasonal waterfowl blinds allowed. Snowmobiles and ATVs allowed on ice.
Where is Merritt Reservoir WMA?
Its middle is about 23 miles south of Nenzel, in Cherry County and the Sandhills deer unit.
How big is Merritt Reservoir WMA?
9,102 acres by Game and Parks' count; 9,104 acres inside the boundary on Game and Parks' map, in 3 pieces.
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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.