Willow Creek WMA: Northeast Nebraska Deer and Pheasant Hunting

Willow Creek WMA in Pierce County is the kind of spot that local hunters keep to themselves. It does not show up in magazine articles or public land roundups, and that anonymity is exactly what makes it worth hunting. The creek bottom habitat running through the property holds deer, pheasant, and quail in a part of northeast Nebraska where public land options can be limited.

Creek Bottom Hunting at Willow Creek

Willow Creek itself is the backbone of the WMA. The creek channel, flanked by timber, brush, and grassy margins, creates a linear strip of prime habitat that concentrates game. Creek bottoms in northeast Nebraska's agricultural landscape function like biological highways — they are the cover corridors that connect larger habitat blocks and give wildlife safe travel routes through otherwise open farmland.

The timber along the creek is a mix of cottonwoods, elms, and understory brush that provides year-round cover. The grasslands extending away from the creek add nesting habitat for birds and transitional feeding areas for deer.

Deer Hunting

Whitetail deer are the main event at Willow Creek WMA. The creek bottom timber provides bedding cover, and the surrounding agricultural fields offer a buffet of corn and soybeans from late summer through harvest. Deer living along this corridor have everything they need within a short distance, which means they use the property consistently.

For archery hunters, the creek bottom timber offers natural stand locations. Look for spots where the creek bends or where a side drainage enters the main channel — these features create natural funnels that deer use to cross and travel along the corridor. Place a portable stand downwind of a well-traveled crossing and you are set.

During the November firearms season, the smaller size of the WMA means deer get pushed around by neighboring activity on private land. This can work to your advantage — pressured deer often seek the safety of public timber. Being in position in the creek bottom cover during the first few days of the rifle season can put deer in front of you that are fleeing pressure from surrounding properties.

Pheasant and Quail

The grasslands and brushy edges at Willow Creek hold pheasants and bobwhite quail during the upland season. Work the transitions between taller grass cover and the creek-bottom brush. Birds tend to hold tight in the thicker stuff, so a good flushing dog or pointing breed makes a meaningful difference in your bag rate.

Northeast Nebraska's pheasant numbers have been improving in recent years as CRP habitat has stabilized, and Pierce County is one of the counties that benefits. You are not going to see southwest-Nebraska-level flushes, but a morning walk through Willow Creek's grasslands can produce a handful of opportunities.

Getting There

Pierce County is in northeast Nebraska, accessible from Highway 81 and Highway 13. The nearest towns with services are Pierce and Norfolk. Norfolk is about 25 miles south and offers full services including hotels, restaurants, and outdoor supply stores. The WMA has parking and walk-in access from county roads.

When to Hunt

Archery deer season opens September 1 and the early season can be excellent before any pressure hits the area. November is prime for the rut. Pheasant and quail season starts in late October. Willow Creek WMA is a compact, productive piece of public land that rewards hunters who take the time to scout it and learn its terrain. It may not be big, but it punches above its weight.