Peterson Lake WMA: hunting, rules and access
Peterson Lake WMA is 140 acres of Game and Parks land, centered about 22 miles south of Bassett, in Rock County and the Calamus West deer unit. Atlas note: Signage is present on site showing access road to southern put-in portion of lake.
Data updated October 2026. Game and Parks' 2026-27 Public Access Atlas and property layer; OFW 2026-27.
Game and Parks landOpen Fields and WatersPeterson Lake WMAOther WMAsDeer unit lineLakeHighway
| Acres | 140 (Game and Parks); 141 inside the mapped boundary |
|---|---|
| District and atlas sheet | NE, map sheet 22 |
| Atlas marks | No target shooting |
| County | Rock |
| Deer unit | Calamus West |
| On Game and Parks' records since | 2020 |
What are the rules on Peterson Lake WMA?
The 2026-27 atlas: Signage is present on site showing access road to southern put-in portion of lake. The atlas marks it no target shooting.
Source: Game and Parks' 2026-27 Public Access Atlas, area index (PDF page 124).
Which deer unit is Peterson Lake WMA in?
The Calamus West deer unit, 4,202 square miles, with 1,108 deer taken across the whole unit in 2025. The Calamus West unit has special rules in the Big Game Guide (page 19).
Unit Buck permits for the Calamus West unit in 2026: Calamus West 1,400 (1 AD2, sold out R - Nov. 12, NR - DRAW 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 Peterson Lake WMA?
Within five miles: 838 acres of Game and Parks land (this area included), and 2,200 acres of OFW walk-in land on 2 tracts. The biggest walk-in tracts reaching into that ring: 5,605 acres 2.2 miles southwest (All Hunting Seasons and Trapping) and 18 acres next to it on the east side (All Huntings Seasons, Trapping and Fishing (Waters)). Nearest WMAs: Nick Lyman WMA (1.8 mi).
Measured by FilledTag from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027. County walk-in totals: Rock County.
How do you get to Peterson Lake WMA?
Highways within five miles, longest stretch first: US 183.
| Town | Miles from the boundary | Direction from the area |
|---|---|---|
| Bassett | 21 | north |
| Long Pine | 22 | northwest |
| Newport | 23 | north |
| Stuart | 27 | northeast |
| Ainsworth | 28 | northwest |
Questions hunters ask
Are there special rules on Peterson Lake WMA?
Yes. The 2026-27 atlas says: Signage is present on site showing access road to southern put-in portion of lake.
Where is Peterson Lake WMA?
Its middle is about 22 miles south of Bassett, in Rock County and the Calamus West deer unit.
How big is Peterson Lake WMA?
140 acres by Game and Parks' count; 141 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.