|
National Park Location Maps:
(click here to zoom and navigate local map)
(click here to zoom and navigate regional map)
View TOPO Maps!
National Park Photo Gallery:
volunteer positions open
National Park Event Calendar:
volunteer positions open
Nearby Parks:
Lake Owyhee State Park
|
|
| 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, as 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 it's 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 it's 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 nation's fish, wildlife, and plant resources for the benefit of present and future generations. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
| Be the 1st to Review Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge. You can rate it, post a comment on it, or do both. |
| |
| 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, all-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, as appropriate. Contact them for current hunting regulations.
Some special regulations apply at the refuge:All 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 Service's hunting information clearinghouse.
All duck and coot hunting must take place within 200 yards of the water's 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. |
| |
|
| |
| | Note to Park related businesses:
List your vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental or any other park related activity, park related attraction or park related service on Google or StateParks.com. (more).... |
|
| Related Links: |
| Welcome to Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge - ... 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 ... | | Bird Checklists of the United States - Bird 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 ... | | Bird Checklists of the United States - ... 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 ... | | Idaho Bird Hunting Society: Events - Idaho 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 ... |
| Directions: |
| 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. |
|
|
| |
|
USA
