Pawnee Lake WMA: hunting, rules and access
Pawnee Lake WMA is 1,938 acres of Game and Parks land, centered about 3 miles south of Malcolm, in Lancaster County and the Blue Northwest deer unit. Species listed: deer, pheasant, quail, rabbit, squirrel, turkey, waterfowl.
Data updated October 2026. Game and Parks' 2026-27 Public Access Atlas and property layer; OFW 2026-27.
Game and Parks landArmy Corps of EngineersState park or recreation areaOpen Fields and WatersPawnee Lake WMAOther WMAsDeer unit lineLakeHighway
| Acres | 1,938 (Game and Parks); 668 inside the mapped boundary |
|---|---|
| District and atlas sheet | SE, map sheet 43 |
| Species Game and Parks lists | deer, pheasant, quail, rabbit, squirrel, turkey and waterfowl |
| County | Lancaster |
| Deer unit | Blue Northwest |
| On Game and Parks' records since | 1965 |
What are the rules on Pawnee Lake WMA?
The 2026-27 atlas: Trap and archery ranges available; target shooting prohibited on north portion between NW 112th and NW 126th streets and within 100 yards of any access road or parking or camping area; archery, shotgun, and muzzleloader hunting only.
Source: Game and Parks' 2026-27 Public Access Atlas, area index (PDF page 124).
Which deer unit is Pawnee Lake WMA in?
The Blue Northwest deer unit, 2,834 square miles, with 3,105 deer taken across the whole unit in 2025. No antlerless mule deer here.
Unit Buck permits for the Blue Northwest unit in 2026: Blue Northwest 2,200 (1 AD, sold out Oct. 27 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 Pawnee Lake WMA?
Within five miles: 2,084 acres of Game and Parks land and 758 acres of Army Corps of Engineers (this area included), and no OFW walk-in land. Nearest WMAs: Twin Lakes WMA (2.3 mi), Bur Oak WMA (5 mi) and Conestoga Lake WMA (5.2 mi).
Measured by FilledTag from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027. County walk-in totals: Lancaster County.
How do you get to Pawnee Lake WMA?
Highways within five miles, longest stretch first: I-80, US 34, N-2, US 6 and N-103.
| Town | Miles from the boundary | Direction from the area |
|---|---|---|
| Malcolm | 3 | north |
| Pleasant Dale | 5 | southwest |
| Garland | 7 | northwest |
| Denton | 8 | south |
| Raymond | 8 | northeast |
Questions hunters ask
What can you hunt on Pawnee Lake WMA?
Game and Parks lists deer, pheasant, quail, rabbit, squirrel, turkey and waterfowl. Deer follow the permits for the Blue Northwest deer unit.
Are there special rules on Pawnee Lake WMA?
Yes. The 2026-27 atlas says: Trap and archery ranges available; target shooting prohibited on north portion between NW 112th and NW 126th streets and within 100 yards of any access road or parking or camping area; archery, shotgun, and muzzleloader hunting only.
Where is Pawnee Lake WMA?
Its middle is about 3 miles south of Malcolm, in Lancaster County and the Blue Northwest deer unit.
Get a Nebraska hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Nebraska are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Nebraska included.
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.