South Fork WMA: hunting, rules and access
South Fork WMA is 278 acres of Game and Parks land, centered about 5 miles southwest of Dawson, in Richardson County and the Blue Southeast deer unit. Species listed: deer, dove, 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 landOpen Fields and WatersSouth Fork WMAOther WMAsDeer unit lineLakeHighway
| Acres | 278 (Game and Parks); 271 inside the mapped boundary |
|---|---|
| District and atlas sheet | SE, map sheet 49 |
| Species Game and Parks lists | deer, dove, pheasant, quail, rabbit, squirrel, turkey and waterfowl |
| County | Richardson |
| Deer unit | Blue Southeast |
| On Game and Parks' records since | 2001 |
Which deer unit is South Fork 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 South Fork WMA?
Within five miles: 565 acres of Game and Parks land (this area included), and 1,211 acres of OFW walk-in land on 10 tracts. The biggest walk-in tracts reaching into that ring: 234 acres 4.1 miles north (All Hunting Seasons and Trapping (Closure during nine-day rifle deer season in November)), 187 acres 3.7 miles east (CRP), 159 acres 3.7 miles east (CRP) and 152 acres 4 miles north (CRP). Nearest WMAs: Four-Mile Creek WMA (2.8 mi), Kinter's Ford WMA (4.4 mi) and Thomas C. Matter WMA (6.8 mi).
Measured by FilledTag from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027. County walk-in totals: Richardson County.
How do you get to South Fork WMA?
Highways within five miles, longest stretch first: N-8, N-105 and US 75.
| Town | Miles from the boundary | Direction from the area |
|---|---|---|
| Dawson | 4 | northeast |
| Humboldt | 6 | north |
| Du Bois | 8 | southwest |
| Salem | 8 | east |
| Verdon | 10 | northeast |
Questions hunters ask
What can you hunt on South Fork WMA?
Game and Parks lists deer, dove, pheasant, quail, rabbit, squirrel, turkey and waterfowl. Deer follow the permits for the Blue Southeast deer unit.
Where is South Fork WMA?
Its middle is about 5 miles southwest of Dawson, in Richardson County and the Blue Southeast deer unit.
How big is South Fork WMA?
278 acres by Game and Parks' count; 271 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.