West Gothenburg WMA: hunting, rules and access
West Gothenburg WMA is 51 acres of Game and Parks land, centered about 4 miles southeast of Brady, in Lincoln County and the Platte deer unit. Atlas note: Camping limited to three consecutive nights in a six-day consecutive period. No ATVs or snowmobiles allowed on ice.
Data updated October 2026. Game and Parks' 2026-27 Public Access Atlas and property layer; OFW 2026-27.
Game and Parks landOpen Fields and WatersWest Gothenburg WMAOther WMAsDeer unit lineLakeHighway
| Acres | 51 (Game and Parks); 44 inside the mapped boundary |
|---|---|
| District and atlas sheet | SW, map sheet 19 |
| Atlas marks | No target shooting |
| County | Lincoln |
| Deer unit | Platte |
| On Game and Parks' records since | 1972 |
What are the rules on West Gothenburg WMA?
The 2026-27 atlas: Camping limited to three consecutive nights in a six-day consecutive period. No ATVs or snowmobiles allowed on ice. The atlas marks it no target shooting.
Source: Game and Parks' 2026-27 Public Access Atlas, area index (PDF page 128).
Which deer unit is West Gothenburg WMA in?
The Platte deer unit, 5,076 square miles, with 1,423 deer taken across the whole unit in 2025. The Platte unit has special rules in the Big Game Guide (page 19).
Unit Buck permits for the Platte unit in 2026: Platte 700 (1 AD2, sold out DRAW in 2025) and Platte WT 500 (1 WT, sold out Sept. 2 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 West Gothenburg WMA?
Within five miles: 183 acres of Game and Parks land (this area included), and 146 acres of OFW walk-in land on 1 tract. The biggest walk-in tracts reaching into that ring: 159 acres 0.9 miles south (All Hunting Seasons and Trapping). Nearest WMAs: Chester Island WMA (4.1 mi).
Measured by FilledTag from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027. County walk-in totals: Lincoln County.
How do you get to West Gothenburg WMA?
Highways within five miles, longest stretch first: I-80 and US 30.
| Town | Miles from the boundary | Direction from the area |
|---|---|---|
| Brady | 4 | northwest |
| Gothenburg | 8 | southeast |
| Maxwell | 13 | northwest |
| Cozad | 18 | southeast |
| Farnam | 19 | south |
Questions hunters ask
Are there special rules on West Gothenburg WMA?
Yes. The 2026-27 atlas says: Camping limited to three consecutive nights in a six-day consecutive period. No ATVs or snowmobiles allowed on ice.
Where is West Gothenburg WMA?
Its middle is about 4 miles southeast of Brady, in Lincoln County and the Platte deer unit.
How big is West Gothenburg WMA?
51 acres by Game and Parks' count; 44 acres inside the boundary on Game and Parks' map, in 3 pieces.
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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.