Rainwater Basin WMD
Phelps County, NE
✓1 open✕1 closed
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24.9K huntable acres
County guide · Nebraska · NE WPAs
Waterfowl Production Areas & Public Hunting Land in Gosper County, NE
Gosper County has 3 named Waterfowl Production Areas covering 1,450 acres of federally owned, walk-in public land. The largest is Peterson WPA at 1,156 acres; the average tract is about 483 acres, and 1 are smaller than 80 acres.
WPAs here are managed by the Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District, which sets any district-specific rules (vehicle access, blinds, nontoxic shot, closed areas).
The county covers about 462 square miles and has roughly 1,893 residents. WPAs make up about 0.5% of its land area.
3named WPAs
1.5Kacres of WPA land
1,156largest WPA (ac)
1refuges & districts
Map of WPAs in Gosper County
Gold outlines are fee-title Waterfowl Production Areas — federally owned public land. Land outside them is almost always private. Switch to satellite to check water conditions and cover, and click any tract for coordinates.
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Waterfowl Production Area (public)County lineRefuge / station
Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
All Waterfowl Production Areas in Gosper County
| WPA | Acres | Nearest town | GPS | Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peterson WPA | 1,156 | 15 mi W of Holdrege | 40.48108, -99.65832 |
Map · Directions |
| Victor Lakes WPA | 234 | 18 mi NW of Holdrege | 40.59421, -99.65610 |
Map · Directions |
| Elley WPA | 60 | 17 mi W of Holdrege | 40.48541, -99.68448 |
Map · Directions |
Acreage from USFWS realty GIS polygons. Coordinates are a point inside each tract — not necessarily a parking area. Look for designated parking and boundary signs on the ground.
Hunting WPAs in Gosper County: rules & tips
Typically allowed
- Hunting waterfowl, upland birds, deer and other game in season under Nebraska regulations
- Walk-in access from roads and designated parking areas
- Fishing and trapping where state and district rules allow
- Wildlife watching, photography and dog training outside restricted periods
Common restrictions
- No camping, fires or overnight use on most tracts
- Motor vehicles only on designated roads and parking areas
- Blinds and portable stands usually removed at the end of each day
- Nontoxic shot required for waterfowl; many districts require it for all shotgun hunting
- Some tracts have closed areas, refuge-style rules or seasonal restrictions
Getting to Gosper County
Distances below are straight-line from the center of the county. Most WPAs are reached by county and township gravel roads — download the GPX file and load it into your phone or GPS before you lose cell coverage.
- Holdrege, NE25 mi — county center is W of town
- Kearney, NE39 mi — county center is W of town
- North Platte, NE63 mi — county center is SE of town
- Grand Island, NE81 mi — county center is W of town
Shooting hours in Gosper County
Today at Gosper County
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
| Date | Shooting light | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 1, 2026 | 6:35 AM | 7:05 AM | 8:13 PM | 13h 08m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:48 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:50 PM | 12h 32m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 7:04 AM | 7:34 AM | 7:23 PM | 11h 49m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:18 AM | 7:48 AM | 7:00 PM | 11h 12m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:38 AM | 7:08 AM | 5:37 PM | 10h 29m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:55 AM | 7:25 AM | 5:23 PM | 9h 58m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:13 AM | 7:43 AM | 5:13 PM | 9h 31m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:25 AM | 7:55 AM | 5:13 PM | 9h 18m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:32 AM | 8:02 AM | 5:21 PM | 9h 19m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:30 AM | 8:00 AM | 5:34 PM | 9h 34m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:19 AM | 7:49 AM | 5:55 PM | 10h 06m |
Computed for 40.562, -99.809 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast for Gosper County
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Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.
Refuges & districts with land in Gosper County
Neighboring counties with WPAs
- Phelps County, NE 6 WPAs · 4.7K ac
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest) and Esri county boundaries. Page updated October 28, 2026.