Bordeaux Creek WMA: Nebraska Pine Ridge Hunting Guide

If you have been looking for public land hunting in Nebraska that feels more like Montana than the Midwest, Bordeaux Creek WMA is your spot. Located just east of Chadron on Highway 20 in Dawes County, this 1,915-acre Wildlife Management Area sits right in the heart of the Pine Ridge — one of Nebraska's most dramatic and underappreciated hunting landscapes.

Why Bordeaux Creek WMA Stands Out

Bordeaux Creek is one of the newest additions to Nebraska's WMA system, and it arrived with serious terrain. We are talking ponderosa pine ridges that climb several hundred feet above deep creek draws, open meadows tucked between timbered slopes, and enough vertical relief to make your legs earn every deer you drag out. This is not your typical flat-ground Nebraska hunt. The topography creates natural funnels and travel corridors that whitetail and mule deer use daily, especially during the rut when bucks cover miles of ridgeline looking for does.

Species and Seasons at Bordeaux Creek

Whitetail deer occupy the creek bottoms and timber edges, while mule deer tend to work the open ridge tops and pine flats. During November, both species overlap in the transition zones between timber and grassland, making this one of the few spots in Nebraska where you can realistically encounter both in a single sit.

Wild turkey numbers are strong throughout the Pine Ridge, and Bordeaux Creek is no exception. Spring gobbler hunting in these ponderosa draws is an experience you will not forget — birds gobbling off pine-studded ridgelines at first light with the Chadron valley spread out below you.

Sharp-tailed grouse and other upland birds also call this area home, particularly in the grassland openings between timber stands. A walk through the meadows in October can flush birds without much effort.

Access and Terrain Tips

The main access comes off Highway 20, with a parking area and walk-in access into the property. There are no maintained interior roads, so plan on hoofing it. Bring boots with ankle support — the terrain is steep and uneven in places, and the pine duff on the slopes gets slick after rain or frost.

For deer hunters, focus on the creek draws that cut through the ridges. Whitetails bed on the timbered north-facing slopes and feed in the meadows and along the creek bottom. Set up where a draw pinches between two ridges and you will be in a natural funnel.

Nearby Resources

Chadron is about 10 minutes west and has everything you need — gas, groceries, motels, and restaurants. Chadron State Park is just south of town if you want to combine hunting with a family camping trip. Fort Robinson State Park is 20 minutes further west and offers additional public hunting land as well as lodging.

When to Go

The prime window for deer is November through mid-December. Archery season opens September 1 and gives you first crack at unpressured bucks. Turkey hunters should target late April through mid-May. For upland birds, October is the sweet spot before the snow pushes grouse out of the higher elevations.

Bordeaux Creek WMA is the kind of place that rewards hunters willing to put in the work. The terrain filters out the lazy, the access is straightforward, and the Pine Ridge delivers scenery and game that most people do not associate with Nebraska. Put it on your list.