Smith Lake WMA: hunting, rules and access
Smith Lake WMA is 641 acres of Game and Parks land, centered about 21 miles south of Rushville, in Sheridan County and the Plains deer unit.
Data updated October 2026. Game and Parks' 2026-27 Public Access Atlas and property layer; OFW 2026-27.
Game and Parks landOpen Fields and WatersSmith Lake WMAOther WMAsDeer unit lineLakeHighway
| Acres | 641 (Game and Parks); 659 inside the mapped boundary |
|---|---|
| District and atlas sheet | NW, map sheet 6 |
| County | Sheridan |
| Deer unit | Plains |
| On Game and Parks' records since | 1966 |
Which deer unit is Smith Lake WMA in?
The Plains deer unit, 6,377 square miles, with 1,158 deer taken across the whole unit in 2025. No antlerless mule deer here.
Unit Buck permits for the Plains unit in 2026: Plains 1,000 (1 AD2, 1 AOWT, sold out R - Nov. 10, NR - DRAW in 2025) and Plains WT 200 (1 WT, 1 AOWT, sold out Nov. 14 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 Smith Lake WMA?
Within five miles: 400 acres of Game and Parks land (this area included), and no OFW walk-in land.
Measured by FilledTag from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027. County walk-in totals: Sheridan County.
How do you get to Smith Lake WMA?
Highways within five miles, longest stretch first: N-250.
| Town | Miles from the boundary | Direction from the area |
|---|---|---|
| Rushville | 21 | north |
| Hay Springs | 22 | northwest |
| Clinton | 24 | north |
| Alliance | 30 | southwest |
| Gordon | 30 | northeast |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Smith Lake WMA?
Its middle is about 21 miles south of Rushville, in Sheridan County and the Plains deer unit.
How big is Smith Lake WMA?
641 acres by Game and Parks' count; 659 acres inside the boundary on Game and Parks' map.
Is there walk-in land near Smith Lake 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.