Rainwater Basin WMD
Phelps County, NE · 61 mi W
✓1 open✕1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣
24.9K huntable acres
Waterfowl Production Area · Hamilton County, Nebraska
Springer Waterfowl Production Area
✓Public land (fee title)🥾Walk-in access
Springer Waterfowl Production Area is a 629-acre tract of federally owned wetland and grassland habitat in Hamilton County, Nebraska. It is managed by the Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District as part of the Hamilton County Waterfowl Production Area group of WPAs. Waterfowl Production Areas are purchased largely with Federal Duck Stamp dollars and are generally open to hunting, trapping and fishing under state regulations, with some federal restrictions.
629GIS acres
640deeded acres
Hamilton Countycounty
8WPAs within 40 mi
Springer WPA satellite map
Gold outlines are fee-title Waterfowl Production Areas — public land. Everything outside is typically private; always look for boundary signs.
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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
Hunting on Springer WPA
What you can typically do
- Hunt waterfowl, upland birds, deer and other game in season under Nebraska regulations
- Walk in from roads or designated parking areas — vehicles generally stay off the tract
- Fish and trap where state rules and district regulations allow
- Wildlife watching, photography and hiking
Common restrictions
- No camping, fires or overnight use on most WPAs
- Motorized vehicles only on designated roads/parking
- Temporary blinds and stands usually must be removed daily
- Non-toxic shot required for waterfowl — many districts require it for all shotgun hunting
- Some tracts have closed areas or special regulations — check signs
How to get to Springer WPA
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Destination: Springer Waterfowl Production Area
- Decimal
40.84697, -98.13113- DMS
40°50′49.1″N 98°07′52.1″W
Nearest towns
- Grand Island, NE12 mi SE of town
- Kearney, NE51 mi E of town
- Holdrege, NE71 mi NE of town
Closest airports
- GRI Central Nebraska Regional13 mi
Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.
Shooting hours at Springer WPA
Today at Springer WPA
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 | 6:28 AM | 6:58 AM | 8:07 PM | 13h 09m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:41 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:43 PM | 12h 32m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:57 AM | 7:27 AM | 7:16 PM | 11h 49m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 7:12 AM | 7:42 AM | 6:53 PM | 11h 12m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:32 AM | 7:02 AM | 5:30 PM | 10h 28m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:49 AM | 7:19 AM | 5:15 PM | 9h 57m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 7:07 AM | 7:37 AM | 5:06 PM | 9h 29m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:19 AM | 7:49 AM | 5:05 PM | 9h 16m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:26 AM | 7:56 AM | 5:14 PM | 9h 17m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:24 AM | 7:54 AM | 5:27 PM | 9h 33m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:13 AM | 7:43 AM | 5:47 PM | 10h 04m |
Computed for 40.847, -98.131 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day forecast
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Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.
Nearby Waterfowl Production Areas
| WPA | Acres | Distance | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Troester WPA | 417 | 11 mi E | Hamilton County |
| Nelson WPA | 162 | 12 mi SE | Hamilton County |
| Harvard Nw WPA | 30 | 16 mi S | Clay County |
| Harvard WPA | 1,444 | 16 mi S | Clay County |
| Hultine North WPA | 524 | 17 mi SE | Clay County |
| Hultine South WPA | 478 | 18 mi SE | Clay County |
| McMurtrey WPA | 1,067 | 19 mi S | Clay County |
| Heron WPA | 371 | 21 mi NE | York County |
Closest refuges & districts
Source: USFWS Realty Tracts (fee-title interest), Hamilton County Waterfowl Production Area. Acreage from GIS polygons; deeded acreage from realty records.