---
title: "Public Land: Hunting and Fishing in Nebraska"
description: "With just 750,000 acres of publicly-owned land, Nebraska ranks low on the access scale. But it does boast a fairly robust private lands access program that opens a substantial amount of private lands. Open Fields and Waters •  Program that opens private lands to public hunting access •  Areas available across the state •  Merges the former CRP-MAP program with state-run program to open private lands to hunter access"
date: "2013-04-15"
modified: "2021-04-20"
authors:
  - name: "Tony Hansen"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/authors/tony-hansen/"
url: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/open-country/2013/04/public-land-hunting-and-fishing-nebraska/"
categories:
  - "Conservation"
  - "Fishing"
  - "Hunting"
  - "Public Lands & Waters"
---

# Public Land: Hunting and Fishing in Nebraska

![](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/22/UZVFWBZ2J2NK52A7GPY3S5U74Y.jpg>)

With just 750,000 acres of[ publicly-owned land](<https://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/hunting/programs/CRP/atlas.asp/>), Nebraska ranks low on the access scale. But it does boast a fairly robust private lands access program that opens a substantial amount of private lands.

[Open Fields and Waters](<https://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/hunting/programs/openaccess/>)
• Program that opens private lands to public hunting access
• Areas available across the state
• Merges the former CRP-MAP program with state-run program to open private lands to hunter access

[Samuel McKelvie National Forest](<https://www.fs.usda.gov/nebraska//>)
• 116,079 acres
• Excellent deer and turkey hunting
• Noted for pheasant hunting

[Valentine National Wildlife Refuge](<https://www.fws.gov/valentine/>)
• 71,772 acres
• Good waterfowl hunting
• Fishing available in numerous lakes and streams

[Niobrara National Scenic River](<https://www.fs.usda.gov/kootenai/>)
• 76 miles of river
• Ample access along route for boats, canoes, kayaks
• Excellent fishing and whitewater opportunities

[Nebraska National Forest](<https://www.fs.usda.gov/nebraska//>)
• 141,000 acres
• Good deer and turkey hunting
• ATV trails

**More Links**
[WMAs](<https://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/wildlife/places/wmas.asp/>)
[Lake Mapping](<https://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/Fishing/programs/lakemapping/lakemapping.asp/>)
[2013 Fishing Forecast](<https://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/fishing/pdfs/FishForecast.pdf/>)

Find more public land access opportunities with the [Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Hunt Planner](<https://www.rmef.org/TheHunt/HuntPlanner.aspx/>).

Photo: Pine Forest in Nebraska National Forest

Photo credit: [flickr](<https://www.flickr.com/photos/leerentz/7457196032/>)

## Author
Tony Hansen is a contributing writer to Outdoor Life. A Michigan native, he lives in the southern Michigan community where he grew up chasing deer, turkeys, and football-sized smallmouths with the most meaningful catch of his life, his wife, Nichole.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/t.hansen_im2nd?utm_medium=copy_link>)