Hunt unit · Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District

WPA Open Hunt Unit Map & Access

Open

The WPA Open unit is one of 2 mapped hunt units on Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District in Franklin County, NE. It covers approximately 24,936 acres and is listed as “open to hunting” for 2026–2027. Hunting generally follows state seasons and bag limits, along with general refuge rules.

Navigate to unit Refuge overview Official hunt info ↗
24,936acres
Openstatus 2026–27
Norefuge permit
Franklin Countycounty

WPA Open map

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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
Downloads (whole refuge):KMLGPX

Rules & permits for this unit

Status: Open to hunting

Hunting follows Nebraska seasons, bag limits and licensing, plus general National Wildlife Refuge rules.

Game at Rainwater Basin WMD

Species listed for the refuge as a whole — a special-regulation unit may be limited to certain species. Confirm in the hunt brochure.

Getting to the WPA Open unit

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Destination: center of the WPA Open unit

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Decimal
40.19228, -98.95510
DMS
40°11′32.2″N 98°57′18.4″W

Nearest towns

  • Holdrege, NE28 mi SE of town
  • Kearney, NE36 mi S of town
  • Grand Island, NE60 mi SW of town

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

The navigation point is a point inside the unit polygon, not necessarily a parking area or legal access point. Use satellite view to find roads, gates and designated parking, and respect closed areas and private inholdings.

Shooting hours at this unit

Today at WPA Open

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, 20266:32 AM7:02 AM8:09 PM13h 07m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:45 AM7:15 AM7:46 PM12h 31m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:00 AM7:30 AM7:20 PM11h 49m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:15 AM7:45 AM6:57 PM11h 13m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM5:34 PM10h 31m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM5:20 PM9h 60m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:08 AM7:38 AM5:11 PM9h 33m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:20 AM7:50 AM5:10 PM9h 20m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:27 AM7:57 AM5:19 PM9h 21m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:26 AM7:56 AM5:32 PM9h 36m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:15 AM7:45 AM5:52 PM10h 07m

Computed for 40.192, -98.955 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

Weather forecast

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

Other units at Rainwater Basin WMD

UnitStatusAcresPermit
McMurtrey WPAClosed1,068—

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