5
Federal Lands
U.S. Forest Service Lands (USFS)
Most national forest and grassland areas managed by the USFS are open to hunting, unless otherwise
posted. All motorized travel is restricted to designated roads or trails, which are "open" or "closed." Cross-
country or off-road uses of motorized vehicles are prohibited, unless routes or areas are open. Motor
vehicle use for big game retrieval and dispersed camping is allowed within 300 feet of most roads and trails
that are open. Refer to the Motor Vehicle Use Maps issued by the USFS for other regulations. 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 FS.USDA.gov/Nebraska.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lands (USACE)
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, trapping, fishing and other activities. Missouri River USACE lands downstream of
Gavins Point Dam are part of the Missouri River Recovery Program. For more information, call
402-996-3761 or visit NWO.USACE.Army.Mil/MRRP/, click "Maps and MRRP Sites," and then
"Nebraska" under the "MRRP Sites by State" banner. Information on Missouri River USACE
lands upstream of Gavins Point Dam along Lewis and Clark Lake can be found by visiting
NWO.USACE.ARMY.MIL/Missions/Dam-and-Lake-Projects/Missouri-River-Dams/Gavins-Point/ or
calling 402-667-2546. For more information on USACE lands surrounding Harlan County Lake, visit
NWK.USACE.Army.Mil/Locations/District-Lakes/Harlan-County-Lake/ or call 308-799-2105.
Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA)
WPAs are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and purchased with
Federal Duck Stamp revenue. They are open to walk-in public hunting, trapping, and fishing.
Nontoxic shot is required. Camping, target shooting and black-tailed prairie dog shooting are
prohibited. Other special regulations may apply. For more information, call 308-263-3000 or visit
FWS.gov/Refuge/Rainwater_Basin_WMD/Visit/Rules_and_Regulations.html.
National Wildlife Refuges (NWR)
NWRs are managed by the USFWS. Portions of many NWRs are open to limited hunting or fishing. Special
regulations apply and differ by refuge. In an effort to expand existing hunting opportunities, the USFWS is
in the process of listing new rules for NWR lands, which may be in place for the fall of 2020. Please visit the
refuge websites for the most up-to-date information. Visit FWS.gov/Refuges or contact a refuge directly.
National Park Service (NPS)
Portions of NPS lands allow limited access for hunting, trapping and fishing. Special regulations apply. For
more information visit NPS.gov/MNRR/PlanYourVisit/Hunting.htm.
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Operations (USBOR)
Sites displayed as Operations Areas are owned and managed by USBOR and are open to walk-in hunting
and fishing unless otherwise posted. Some USBOR lands in Nebraska are jointly managed with other
entities, such as Game and Parks or the USFWS and are displayed accordingly in the atlas.
Conservation Partners Lands
Conservation partners, including Platte River Basin Environments (PRBE), Ducks Unlimited (DU) and
Pheasants and Quail Forever, have acquired or control specific, high-conservation value properties. They
have allowed inclusion of specific properties in this atlas, and there are area-specific regulations for public
use related to hunting, fishing, trapping and other activities. For more information on publicly accessible
PRBE lands, visit NebWild.org/projects. For more information on DU revolving properties open to public
hunting through a cooperative agreement with Game and Parks, visit Ducks.org/Nebraska/Regulations-
for-Hunting-Ducks-Unlimited-Properties-in-Nebraska. Some properties owned/managed by other partners
(The Nature Conservancy, The Crane Trust, National Audubon Society, Nebraska Public Power District, City
of Alliance, and others) are enrolled in the OFW program, many of which are displayed as "OFW Special
Regulation" sites, or are available through other reservation-based access programs.
