Willow Island WMA: hunting, rules and access
Willow Island WMA is 75 acres of Game and Parks land, centered about 4 miles west of Cozad, in Dawson County and the Buffalo 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 WatersWillow Island WMAOther WMAsDeer unit lineLakeHighway
| Acres | 75 (Game and Parks); 76 inside the mapped boundary |
|---|---|
| District and atlas sheet | SW, map sheet 25 |
| Atlas marks | No target shooting |
| County | Dawson |
| Deer unit | Buffalo |
| On Game and Parks' records since | 1972 |
What are the rules on Willow Island 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 Willow Island WMA in?
The Buffalo deer unit, 4,996 square miles, with 2,363 deer taken across the whole unit in 2025. The Buffalo unit has special rules in the Big Game Guide (page 19).
Unit Buck permits for the Buffalo unit in 2026: Buffalo 800 (1 AD2, sold out July 11 in 2025) and Buffalo WT 1,200 (1 WT, sold out Oct. 5 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 Willow Island WMA?
Within five miles: 384 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: 149 acres 3.3 miles northwest (CRP). Nearest WMAs: Cozad WMA (4.3 mi).
Measured by FilledTag from USGS PAD-US 4.1 and Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters, 2026-2027. County walk-in totals: Dawson County.
How do you get to Willow Island WMA?
Highways within five miles, longest stretch first: I-80, US 30 and N-21.
| Town | Miles from the boundary | Direction from the area |
|---|---|---|
| Cozad | 4 | east |
| Gothenburg | 5 | northwest |
| Farnam | 14 | southwest |
| Eustis | 15 | south |
| Lexington | 17 | southeast |
Questions hunters ask
Are there special rules on Willow Island 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 Willow Island WMA?
Its middle is about 4 miles west of Cozad, in Dawson County and the Buffalo deer unit.
How big is Willow Island WMA?
75 acres by Game and Parks' count; 76 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.