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Public Access Atlas Information Page
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Open Fields and Waters Program has opened more than 275,000 acres of private land to hunting, more than 490 acres of open water for fishing and more than 60 miles of river to the public in Nebraska.
DROUGHT IN NEBRASKA – How has the drought affected public access sites?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture opened Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) tracts in Nebraska to emergency haying and grazing. As a result, some public access tracts listed in this atlas may have been hayed or grazed, resulting in reduced or no huntable cover. However, since some huntable cover often remains after haying and grazing, the areas still appear in the atlas and are posted as open to hunting. Game and parks staff will inspect each area and adjust contract payment for acres that no longer provide acceptable wildlife cover. Although haying and grazing reduced habitat quantity and quality this year, these disturbances can ultimately result in better, more diverse habitat in future years when normal rainfall patterns return.
News Release with more info >>
| Visit the Drought Monitor Web Site for more on Drought conditions in Nebraska
TRAVEL ON U.S. FOREST SERVICE LAND
The U.S. Forest Service restricts all motorized travel on the Nebraska National Forest and grasslands to designated roads or trails. Routes are designated “open” or “closed” for motorized travel. Cross-country or off-road uses of motorized vehicles are prohibited, unless routes or areas are designated open. Motor vehicle use for big game retrieval and dispersed camping is allowed within 300 feet of most roads and trails that are designated open. Areas in Nebraska include Bessey Ranger District near Halsey, McKelvie National Forest near Valentine, Pine Ridge Ranger District near Chadron, and Oglala National Grasslands near Crawford.
Refer to the Motor Vehicle Use Maps issued by the U.S. Forest Service. They may be obtained at all Forest Service District offices, by request at U.S. Forest Service, 125 N. Main St, Chadron, NE 69337, 308-432-0300 or by visiting www.fs.fed.us/r2/nebraska.
US Army Corps of Engineers Lands
The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) owns and manages multiple-purpose properties in Nebraska that provide public recreation opportunities. These properties have area-specific regulations for public use related to hunting, fishing, trapping and other activities. Information on Missouri River USACE lands can be found using the Missouri River Recovery Program link on the Where 2 Hunt page
Natural Resources District Lands
The 23 Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) in Nebraska own and manage multiple-purpose properties in Nebraska that provide public recreation opportunities. These properties have area-specific regulations for public use related to hunting, fishing, trapping and other activities. Information on NRD lands can be found by contacting individual NRDs or within the yearly Game and Parks “Hunt Guide.” Area regulations are typically posted on site too.
Conservation Partner Lands
Conservation Partners including Ducks Unlimited and Platte River Basin Environments have acquired or control specific, high conservation value properties. These partners
value and support public recreation and have allowed inclusion of specific properties in this Public Access Atlas. These properties have area-specific regulations for public use related to hunting, fishing, trapping and other activities. Information on these lands can be found by viewing the Ducks Unlimited, Nebraska: “Managed Properties” and Platte River Basin Environments: “Wildlife Habitat lands” websites, respectively.
REGULATIONS AND STATUTES
Sportsmen are responsible for knowing the regulations and statutes (state laws) before hunting, trapping, or fishing in Nebraska. Failure to do so is not an excuse. This publication is only a guide to those regulations and statutes.
To read them, visit:
Regulations | Statutes
*A small number of enrolled tracts are not included in this publication because of printing dates or other circumstances. These tracts will still be posted with signs
identifying that “Walk-In” access is allowed and any limitations.
The online Public Access Atlas will be updated as new tracts
are enrolled, and PDF and KMZ (Google Earth) downloads
of individual sites are available at: Public Atlas - GPC downloads
Access Program Contacts
To enroll in an access program, contact the nearest Game and Parks regional office:
Northwest – Alliance
Matt Steffl 308-763-2940
Northwest – Chadron Office
Shelley Steffl 308-432-6190
Northeast – Norfolk
Clayton Stalling - 402-370-3374
Scott Wessel 402-370-3374
Southwest – North Platte
T.J. Walker -308-535-8025
Adam Kester - 308-535-8025
Southwest – Kearney Office
Justin Haahr -308-865-5310
Southwest – Alma Office
John Laux -308-928-2541
Southeast – Lincoln
Scott Luedtke 402-471-5561
Michelle Fuhrer-Hurt 402-228-0269
For summaries of Nebraska’s hunting, trapping and fishing regulations, read current issues of the following:
Open Fields and Waters
Nebraska Guide to Hunting and Public Lands
Nebraska Big Game Guide
Nebraska Waterfowl Guide
Nebraska Fishing Guide
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OFFICIAL STATE OF NEBRASKA WEBSITE - 
