Wetland Management District · Nebraska · FWS Region 6

Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District lies in Phelps County, Nebraska, with about 25,926 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 2 mapped hunt units: 1 open under general rules and 1 closed, covering about 24,936 huntable acres.

1 open unit1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
24.9Khuntable acres
25.9KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Rainwater Basin WMD hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Rainwater Basin WMD

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

The Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District manages 24,000 acres of wetland and associated grassland habitat that.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammals

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Nebraska regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Open: 24,936 (96%)Closed: 1,068 (4%)24.9Khuntable acres
  • Open24,936 ac 96%
  • Closed1,068 ac 4%
Units by size (acres)
WPA Open
24,936 ac
McMurtrey WPA
1,068 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
WPA Open
Show on map · Directions		 Open 24,936 —
McMurtrey WPA
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,068 —

Rainwater Basin WMD by the numbers

With about 24,936 huntable acres, Rainwater Basin WMD ranks #3 of 7 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Nebraska and #98 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 96% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is WPA Open (24,936 acres).

1 unit totaling 1,068 acres is closed to hunting (McMurtrey WPA). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 25,926 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 3,357 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

6 Waterfowl Production Areas lie within 35 miles; the closest is Funk WPA (1,994 acres, 1 miles SW).

When to hunt Rainwater Basin WMD

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Nebraska sets the exact dates, and refuges often open fewer days than the statewide season — use this to plan scouting, then confirm the 2026–2027 dates in the state regulations and the refuge hunt brochure.

Typical season windows — Big Game, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

You'll also need

  • A valid Nebraska hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
  • Federal Duck Stamp (waterfowl hunters 16+) and HIP certification for migratory birds
  • Non-toxic shot for waterfowl (federal requirement)
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Rainwater Basin WMD

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

The wetlands throughout the district are frequently dry and during those times provide no fishing opportunities. During wet periods, when the wetlands retain water year-round, primary fish species available during those times are bullhead and carp.

State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.

How to get to Rainwater Basin WMD

Navigate

Destination: Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
40.51715, -99.21674
DMS
40°31′01.7″N 99°13′00.3″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Holdrege, NE9.7 mi NE of town
  • Kearney, NE15 mi SW of town
  • Grand Island, NE54 mi SW of town
  • North Platte, NE91 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • GRI Central Nebraska Regional57 mi
  • LNK Lincoln Airport131 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

Today at Rainwater Basin WMD

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Chicago local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM8:11 PM13h 08m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:46 AM7:16 AM7:48 PM12h 32m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:01 AM7:31 AM7:20 PM11h 49m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:16 AM7:46 AM6:58 PM11h 12m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:35 AM7:05 AM5:35 PM10h 29m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:52 AM7:22 AM5:20 PM9h 58m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:10 AM7:40 AM5:11 PM9h 31m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:22 AM7:52 AM5:11 PM9h 18m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:30 AM8:00 AM5:19 PM9h 20m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:28 AM7:58 AM5:32 PM9h 34m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:17 AM7:47 AM5:52 PM10h 06m

Computed for 40.517, -99.217 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Waterfowl Production Areas managed by Rainwater Basin WMD

This district manages 63 named WPAs totaling 25,926 acres of walk-in public land. The largest are listed below; each links to its county guide with a satellite map and directions.

WPACountyAcres
Funk WPAPhelps County1,994
Harvard WPAClay County1,444
Mallard Haven WPAFillmore County1,246
Macon Lakes WPAFranklin County1,197
Peterson WPAGosper County1,156
Atlanta WPAPhelps County1,147
Massie WPAClay County1,080
McMurtrey WPAClay County1,067
Hannon WPAHall County969
Prairie Dog WPAKearney County894
Hansen WPAClay County642
Springer WPAHamilton County629
Cottonwood WPAPhelps County628
Quadhamer WPAFranklin County598
Johnson WPAPhelps County582
Wilkins WPAFillmore County581
Gleason WPAKearney County571
Smith WPAClay County568
Krause WPAFillmore County533
Hultine North WPAClay County524
Hultine South WPAClay County478
Jensen WPAKearney County468
Clark WPAKearney County455
Troester WPAHamilton County417
Heron WPAYork County371

Showing the 25 largest of 63. All tracts are on the map above and in the KML download.

Guides for hunting Rainwater Basin WMD

Deer Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Quota Hunts, Archery Units and Stand Rules

How refuge deer hunts work — lotteries and quota permits, archery-only and muzzleloader units, tree-stand rules…

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

Pheasant and Upland Bird Hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas

Why WPAs are some of the best walk-in pheasant ground in the Midwest, how to hunt them early and late in the season…

Rainwater Basin WMD FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Rainwater Basin WMD?

Yes. Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District offers hunting in 1 unit (24,936 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Rainwater Basin WMD?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Rainwater Basin WMD. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Rainwater Basin WMD?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Rainwater Basin WMD located?

Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District is in Phelps County, Nebraska, about 10 miles NE of Holdrege, NE (straight-line). GPS: 40.51715, -99.21674.

What are legal shooting hours at Rainwater Basin WMD?

Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

Nearby refuges & public land

Kirwin NWR

Phillips County, KS · 60 mi S

3 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

5.8K huntable acres

John W. and Louise Seier NWR

Rock County, NE · 117 mi N

1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗

2.4K huntable acres

Valentine NWR

Cherry County, NE · 153 mi NW

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

70.9K huntable acres

Quivira NWR

Stafford County, KS · 174 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

8.2K huntable acres

Fort Niobrara NWR

Cherry County, NE · 175 mi N

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

5.1K huntable acres

Karl E. Mundt NWR

Gregory County, SD · 177 mi N

1 special2 closed
🦌

697 huntable acres

Waterfowl Production Areas within 35 miles

All refuges in Nebraska →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.