Nebraska · Public Land · 2026 Edition
Nebraska Public Hunting Land 2026: WMAs & Access Rules
2 wildlife management areas tracked here, from 1,562 to 6,244 acres. A hunting license covers you on Nebraska WMA land the same as anywhere else in the state — but read the access rules below before you assume that's all you need.
01 — Wildlife management areas
| Area | County | Acres | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clear Creek Wildlife Management Area | Keith | 6,244 | Waterfowl, Deer, Turkey, Pheasant, Small game |
| Ballards Marsh Wildlife Management Area | Cherry | 1,562 | Waterfowl, Deer, Small game |
Clear Creek, on Lake McConaughy's west end in Keith County, is 6,244 leased acres built specifically around waterfowl — a 2,500-acre refuge on the North Platte River, a 600-acre controlled hunting area, and roughly 2,000 more acres of open public hunting, with a reputation for excellent Canada goose hunting alongside deer, turkey and pheasant. Ballards Marsh, 20 miles south of Valentine in the Sandhills, is much smaller at about 1,560 acres of marsh and grassland — the kind of area that makes up most of Nebraska's 250-plus WMAs, quiet and lightly hunted rather than a headline destination. This list is a starting point, not Nebraska Game and Parks' full inventory of wildlife management areas statewide.
02 — Access rules beyond your hunting license
WMA access itself is free with no separate entry permit, but almost every hunter also needs a Nebraska Habitat Stamp on top of the hunting permit — small-game hunters need it with few exceptions, and big-game hunters need it too, except landowners hunting their own ground, residents under 16, and veteran or 69-and-older senior permit holders.
03 — Where to go next
Verified · Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · Last verified 2026-08-08
Publisher's note. WMA list and access rules read from Nebraska Game and Parks, retrieved 2026-08-08. Review due 2027-08-01. This is a starting list, not the agency's full WMA inventory — confirm current rules for a specific area before you hunt it.