NOVEMBER 2017• NEBRASKAland 43
turkey, pheasant and dove hunting.
Those willing to put in the effort to
hike to the river can be rewarded with
excellent waterfowl hunting. This area
borders the Lake McConaughy State
Recreation Area and is available for
public access year-round.
Seasonal Refuges
Two refuges are included at Clear
Creek. The seasonal refuge covers
2,500 acres on the west end of the
property, including land on both the
north and south sides of the North
Platte River. It is open to most hunting,
fishing, trapping and other outdoor
activities from Feb. 15 until the
Monday before Thanksgiving, when
it becomes a waterfowl refuge. The
exception is waterfowl hunting, which
is only allowed on the wetlands along
the east boundary of the refuge.
A portion of Clear Creek is included
in the Garden County Refuge,
established in 1925 to provide a
sanctuary for migrating waterfowl, and
is closed to all bird hunting. Extending
110 yards from the North Platte River
banks and its side channels throughout
Garden County, the area is open to
deer hunting during all legal seasons
The sun peeks over the trees and casts shadows from a decoy spread on a frozen marsh at Clear Creek.
Clear Creek WMA
Clear Creek Wildlife Management Area
is located about 4 miles southeast of
Lewellen in Garden County. This area
encompasses more than 6,000 acres
of riparian woodlands, wetlands, river
channel, lake bed and upland grasslands.
It offers deer, turkey, pheasant, dove,
rabbit and squirrel hunting, as well as
fishing and mushroom hunting during
specific seasons.
