Willow Lake B.C. WMA: hunting, rules and access
Willow Lake B.C. WMA is 511 acres of Game and Parks land, centered about 23 miles south of Johnstown, in Brown County and the Calamus West deer unit. Atlas note: Snowmobiles and ATVs 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 Lake B.C. WMAOther WMAsDeer unit lineLakeHighway
| Acres | 511 (Game and Parks); 513 inside the mapped boundary |
|---|---|
| District and atlas sheet | NE, map sheet 22 |
| Atlas marks | Nontoxic shot only |
| County | Brown |
| Deer unit | Calamus West |
| On Game and Parks' records since | 1992 |
What are the rules on Willow Lake B.C. WMA?
The 2026-27 atlas: Snowmobiles and ATVs allowed on ice. The atlas marks it nontoxic shot only.
Source: Game and Parks' 2026-27 Public Access Atlas, area index (PDF page 128).
Which deer unit is Willow Lake B.C. WMA in?
The Calamus West deer unit, 4,202 square miles, with 1,108 deer taken across the whole unit in 2025. The Calamus West unit has special rules in the Big Game Guide (page 19).
Unit Buck permits for the Calamus West unit in 2026: Calamus West 1,400 (1 AD2, sold out R - Nov. 12, NR - DRAW 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 Lake B.C. WMA?
Within five miles: 390 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: Brown County.
How do you get to Willow Lake B.C. WMA?
No numbered highway within five miles.
| Town | Miles from the boundary | Direction from the area |
|---|---|---|
| Brewster | 23 | southeast |
| Johnstown | 23 | north |
| Ainsworth | 24 | northeast |
| Halsey | 25 | southwest |
| Long Pine | 28 | northeast |
Questions hunters ask
Are there special rules on Willow Lake B.C. WMA?
Yes. The 2026-27 atlas says: Snowmobiles and ATVs allowed on ice.
Where is Willow Lake B.C. WMA?
Its middle is about 23 miles south of Johnstown, in Brown County and the Calamus West deer unit.
How big is Willow Lake B.C. WMA?
511 acres by Game and Parks' count; 513 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.