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Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge


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National Park Contact Information
Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge
Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge
Nampa, 83686





National Park Overview
Nestled in the rolling sagebrush hills of southwest Idaho, the watery oasis at Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge provides an important breeding area for birds and mammals -s well as other wildlife. The refuge is also a significant resting and wintering area for birds migrating along the Pacific Flyway, including spectacular concentrations of mallards and Canada geese. Because of its value to birds, Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge has been declared a Globally Important Bird Area by the American Bird Conservancy.

Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge has two sectors?Lake Lowell and the Snake River Islands. The Lake Lowell sector encompasses 10,588 acres, including the almost 9,000-acre Lake Lowell and surrounding lands. The Snake River Islands sector contains about 800 acres on 101 islands. These islands are distributed along 113 river miles from the Canyon-Ada County Line in Idaho, to Farewell Bend in Oregon.

Several refuge islands in the Snake RiverThe refuge protects a wide range of wildlife habitats from the open waters and wetland edges of Lake Lowell, to the sagebrush uplands around the lake, to the grasslands and riparian forests on the Snake River islands. Refuge staff use a variety of wildlife management techniques to create and maintain wildlife habitat. With assistance from local growers, the refuge also cooperatively farms 240 acres to provide food for wildlife.

Deer Flat, founded by President Teddy Roosevelt on February 25, 1909, is one of the oldest refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System, which now includes 540 refuges. The NWRS celebrated its centennial in March of 2003. Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the System preserves a network of lands and waters set aside for the conservation and management of the nations fish, wildlife and plant resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

Fishing and Hunting
Fishing

Visitors to Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge can fish at Lake Lowell or from the Snake River Islands.

Lake Lowell Sector Where can I fish? Try out the new -ll-access fishing dock at the west end of the Upper Dam. All visitors are welcome to use it, but are asked to give priority to disabled users.

Lake Lowell is open to fishing all year. During waterfowl-hunting season, fishing is restricted to Fishing Areas A and B, 200 yards in front of the Upper and Lower Dams.

Some areas of the refuge are closed to human entry to protect wildlife. Watch for closure signs and check the map.

What kinds of fish can I catch? Game fish in the lake include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, perch, crappie, bluegill, rainbow trout, channel catfish and brown bullhead.

Where and when should I fish? Fishing usually picks up in mid-May. Try for bass in flooded vegetation. As water temperatures rise, crappie and bluegill action increases. A prime spot for catfish and bullhead fishing is the shallow water in front of the Lower Embankment. Late in the season, fishing below the outlets of the lake is often productive. Return to top.

Snake River Islands Sector Channel catfish (Duane Raver/USFWS)When can I fish? Fishing from the shore of refuge islands is prohibited during nesting season from February 1 through May 31.

How do I access the islands? The Snake River Islands can be accessed at a number of different boat ramps in Idaho and Oregon.

Where and when should I fish? Bank fishing for Catfish can be very productive when river levels fall in mid to late summer.

Hunting

Visitors can hunt on both the Lake Lowell and the Snake River Islands sectors of the refuge. Limits and seasons are set by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife -s appropriate. Contact them for current hunting regulations.

Some special regulations apply at the refugeAll waterfowl, coot, upland game and mourning dove hunters on the refuge are required to use non-toxic shot and may not possess lead shot in the field.

Target shooting is prohibited.

Although use of permanent blinds is prohibited, portable blinds are allowed if they are removed at the end of each day. Temporary blinds may be constructed from natural vegetation less than 3 inches in diameter and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information about hunting, including help getting ready for hunting season, information on the Federal Duck Stamp and links to the most recent waterfowl harvest surveys and population status reports, visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services hunting information clearinghouse.

All duck and coot hunting must take place within 200 yards of the waters edge. Duck and coot hunting in the East Side Recreation Area is walk-in only. Duck and coot hunters in the South Side Recreation Area may use float tubes, non-motorized boats, or boats with electric motors only.



More Info


of southwest Idaho, the watery oasis at Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge provides an important breeding area for birds and
value to birds, Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge has been declared
...d Checklists of the United States Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge Nampa, Idaho Welcome to Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge lies in the Boise Valley of

Alene, ID Craters of the Moon National Monument -- Arco, ID (Printed 7/01) Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge -- Nampa, ID (Printed 6/90) Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge -- Wayan, ID (Printed
...ho Bird Hunting Society.
Idaho Ducks Unlimited Waterfowl Fair ? Saturday 9/6/03 at the Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge, 13751 Upper Embankment Road, Nampa. Locally known experts in their
...ia Index page.
Refuges in the News Idaho State News USA Today August 28, 2003The Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge banned hunting around the Lake Lowell dam. The ban follows complaints that

Wildlife Refuge [VA] .B33 Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge [VA] .C42 Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge [ID] .D4 Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge [VA] .E33 Felsenthal

Take Exit 35 off of I-84.

Turn north onto Nampa Boulevard towards the sugar factory and drive about 1/2 mile to the light at Karcher Road (ID Highway 55).

Turn left onto Karcher Road and drive about 4 miles to Lake Avenue.

Turn left onto Lake Avenue and drive about 3 miles to the dam.

Follow the road to the left and make a hard right turn onto the dam, following signs to the Visitor Center.

Drive across the dam and up the hill to the Visitor Center parking lot.

Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge