Rainwater Basin WMD
Phelps County, NE
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24.9K huntable acres
County guide · Nebraska · NE WPAs
Waterfowl Production Areas & Public Hunting Land in Phelps County, NE
Phelps County has 6 named Waterfowl Production Areas covering 4,674 acres of federally owned, walk-in public land. The largest is Funk WPA at 1,994 acres; the average tract is about 779 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 540 square miles and has roughly 8,968 residents. WPAs make up about 1.4% of its land area.
6named WPAs
4.7Kacres of WPA land
1,994largest WPA (ac)
1refuges & districts
Map of WPAs in Phelps 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 Phelps County
| WPA | Acres | Nearest town | GPS | Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funk WPA 1,985 deeded ac |
1,994 | 8.4 mi NE of Holdrege | 40.49845, -99.23074 |
Map · Directions |
| Atlanta WPA | 1,147 | 7.3 mi SW of Holdrege | 40.38118, -99.48475 |
Map · Directions |
| Cottonwood WPA 638 deeded ac |
628 | 14 mi NW of Holdrege | 40.55020, -99.58691 |
Map · Directions |
| Johnson WPA | 582 | 8.4 mi N of Holdrege | 40.55741, -99.32749 |
Map · Directions |
| Jones WPA | 166 | 4.7 mi SW of Holdrege | 40.38956, -99.43047 |
Map · Directions |
| Linder WPA | 156 | 11 mi NW of Holdrege | 40.54295, -99.53547 |
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 Phelps 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 Phelps 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, NE4.3 mi — county center is NW of town
- Kearney, NE22 mi — county center is SW of town
- Grand Island, NE63 mi — county center is SW of town
- North Platte, NE83 mi — county center is SE of town
Shooting hours in Phelps County
Today at Phelps 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 | 6:33 AM | 7:03 AM | 8:12 PM | 13h 08m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:47 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:48 PM | 12h 32m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 7:02 AM | 7:32 AM | 7:21 PM | 11h 49m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:17 AM | 7:47 AM | 6:59 PM | 11h 12m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:36 AM | 7:06 AM | 5:35 PM | 10h 29m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:53 AM | 7:23 AM | 5:21 PM | 9h 58m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:11 AM | 7:41 AM | 5:12 PM | 9h 31m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:23 AM | 7:53 AM | 5:11 PM | 9h 18m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:30 AM | 8:00 AM | 5:20 PM | 9h 20m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:28 AM | 7:58 AM | 5:33 PM | 9h 35m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:17 AM | 7:47 AM | 5:53 PM | 10h 06m |
Computed for 40.496, -99.406 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast for Phelps 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 Phelps County
Neighboring counties with WPAs
- Franklin County, NE 4 WPAs · 2.1K ac
- Gosper County, NE 3 WPAs · 1.5K ac
- Kearney County, NE 9 WPAs · 2.9K ac
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest) and Esri county boundaries. Page updated October 28, 2026.