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 York County, NE
York County has 5 named Waterfowl Production Areas covering 1,283 acres of federally owned, walk-in public land. The largest is Heron WPA at 371 acres; the average tract is about 257 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 577 square miles and has roughly 14,125 residents. WPAs make up about 0.3% of its land area.
5named WPAs
1.3Kacres of WPA land
371largest WPA (ac)
1refuges & districts
Map of WPAs in York 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 York County
| WPA | Acres | Nearest town | GPS | Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heron WPA | 371 | 30 mi E of Grand Island | 40.97583, -97.75994 |
Map · Directions |
| Freeman Lakes WPA | 347 | 36 mi W of Lincoln | 40.92907, -97.36839 |
Map · Directions |
| County Line WPA | 247 | 45 mi E of Grand Island | 40.70227, -97.54256 |
Map · Directions |
| Waco WPA | 161 | 41 mi W of Lincoln | 40.91192, -97.47775 |
Map · Directions |
| Sinninger WPA | 157 | 44 mi W of Lincoln | 40.71664, -97.53536 |
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 York 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 York 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.
- Grand Island, NE39 mi — county center is E of town
- Lincoln, NE47 mi — county center is W of town
- Kearney, NE79 mi — county center is E of town
- Norfolk, NE81 mi — county center is S of town
Shooting hours in York County
Today at York 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 | 6:26 AM | 6:56 AM | 8:05 PM | 13h 09m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:39 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:41 PM | 12h 32m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:55 AM | 7:25 AM | 7:14 PM | 11h 49m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:10 AM | 7:40 AM | 6:51 PM | 11h 12m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:29 AM | 6:59 AM | 5:28 PM | 10h 28m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:46 AM | 7:16 AM | 5:13 PM | 9h 57m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:05 AM | 7:35 AM | 5:04 PM | 9h 29m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:17 AM | 7:47 AM | 5:03 PM | 9h 16m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:24 AM | 7:54 AM | 5:11 PM | 9h 17m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:22 AM | 7:52 AM | 5:25 PM | 9h 32m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:11 AM | 7:41 AM | 5:45 PM | 10h 04m |
Computed for 40.871, -97.591 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast for York 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 York County
Neighboring counties with WPAs
- Clay County, NE 19 WPAs · 7.1K ac
- Fillmore County, NE 10 WPAs · 3.5K ac
- Hamilton County, NE 3 WPAs · 1.2K ac
- Seward County, NE 1 WPAs · 286 ac
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest) and Esri county boundaries. Page updated October 28, 2026.