Straight Water WMA: hunting, rules and access
Straight Water WMA is 240 acres of Game and Parks land, centered about 3 miles north of Goehner, in Seward County and the Blue Northwest deer unit. Species listed: dove, pheasant, waterfowl.
Data updated October 2026. Game and Parks' 2026-27 Public Access Atlas and property layer; OFW 2026-27.
Game and Parks landNational wildlife refuge or WPAOpen Fields and WatersStraight Water WMAOther WMAsDeer unit lineLakeHighway
| Acres | 240 (Game and Parks); 238 inside the mapped boundary |
|---|---|
| District and atlas sheet | SE, map sheet 43 |
| Species Game and Parks lists | dove, pheasant and waterfowl |
| Atlas marks | Nontoxic shot only |
| County | Seward |
| Deer unit | Blue Northwest |
| On Game and Parks' records since | 1995 |
What are the rules on Straight Water WMA?
The atlas marks it nontoxic shot only.
Source: Game and Parks' 2026-27 Public Access Atlas, area index (PDF page 127).
Which deer unit is Straight Water 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 Straight Water WMA?
Within five miles: 310 acres of Game and Parks land and 289 acres of national wildlife refuge or WPA (this area included), and no OFW walk-in land. Nearest WMAs: Shypoke WMA (4.7 mi), North Lake Basin WMA (5.8 mi) and Marsh Duck WMA (8.2 mi).
Measured by FilledTag from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027. County walk-in totals: Seward County.
How do you get to Straight Water WMA?
Highways within five miles, longest stretch first: I-80 and US 34.
| Town | Miles from the boundary | Direction from the area |
|---|---|---|
| Goehner | 2 | south |
| Utica | 6 | west |
| Beaver Crossing | 6 | southwest |
| Seward | 7 | east |
| Staplehurst | 8 | northeast |
Questions hunters ask
What can you hunt on Straight Water WMA?
Game and Parks lists dove, pheasant and waterfowl. Deer follow the permits for the Blue Northwest deer unit.
Are there special rules on Straight Water WMA?
The 2026-27 atlas marks it nontoxic shot only.
Where is Straight Water WMA?
Its middle is about 3 miles north of Goehner, in Seward County and the Blue Northwest deer unit.
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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.