Medicine Creek Reservoir WMA: Southwest Nebraska's Hidden Gem

Medicine Creek Reservoir sits in Frontier County near the town of Cambridge, and the surrounding WMA land is one of southwest Nebraska's most versatile public hunting spots. The combination of the lake, grassland uplands, and agricultural edges creates a multi-species destination that produces waterfowl, deer, and pheasant in a part of the state that does not get nearly enough credit for its hunting quality.

The Reservoir and Surrounding Habitat

Medicine Creek Reservoir is an irrigation and flood-control reservoir on Medicine Creek, a tributary of the Republican River. The lake covers roughly 1,800 surface acres when full, and the surrounding public land includes WMA grasslands, shoreline habitat, and timbered creek drainages.

The reservoir attracts migrating waterfowl and provides a reliable water source that benefits all wildlife in the area. The grasslands are managed for habitat quality — burns, grazing, and food plots keep the ground-level structure productive for nesting birds and provide cover for deer.

Waterfowl Hunting at Medicine Creek

Medicine Creek Reservoir is a Central Flyway stopover for ducks and geese during fall migration. The lake's shallow bays, coves, and creek arms provide feeding and resting habitat for mallards, pintails, teal, gadwall, and geese moving south from the Dakotas and Montana.

Set up on the upstream end of the reservoir where the creek channel enters the lake — the shallow water and mudflats concentrate feeding birds. A layout blind on a mudflat with a mixed decoy spread is the most effective setup.

Peak waterfowl hunting runs from mid-October through November, with weather fronts from the north pushing fresh birds into the area.

Deer and Pheasant Hunting

Whitetail and mule deer both inhabit the area around Medicine Creek Reservoir. Whitetails concentrate in the timbered creek bottoms and draws, while mule deer prefer the more open grassland ridges and breaks.

Southwest Nebraska is pheasant country, and the grasslands around Medicine Creek Reservoir hold birds. Walk the grassland blocks early in the morning when birds are active and working from roost cover toward feeding areas.

Access and Cambridge

Cambridge, Nebraska is about five miles south of the reservoir and has gas, a grocery store, restaurants, and a couple of motels. The reservoir has parking areas, boat ramps, and designated walk-in access to the WMA land.

The southwest corner of Nebraska is worth exploring beyond just Medicine Creek. Red Willow Reservoir and Swanson Reservoir are within reasonable driving distance, making it possible to build a multi-day southwest Nebraska hunting trip that hits several public land areas.

When to Hunt

Waterfowl: mid-October through November. Deer: November for the rut. Pheasant: late October through November. Medicine Creek Reservoir WMA is a southwest Nebraska gem that rewards hunters who make the drive.