Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge has been closed and mostly inaccessible due to flooding since mid-March. With waters receding, the refuge plans to still host the scheduled Antlerlesss Muzzleloader Deer hunt for Dec. 14 through Dec. 22.
Interested hunters should be aware that access will be extremely limited due to portions of county roads still being flooded or damaged.The refuge will continue to work with the Washington County Roads Department to provide access where possible, however the road to the main Boyer Chute unit is still inaccessible by vehicle and won't be repaired in time for the hunt. The refuge will post brochure holders with updated maps at various access points to the refuge closer to the hunt week. Hunters can also learn more about the hunt and access a map through the Boyer Chute website at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Boyer_Chute/visit/visitor_activities.html or contact Peter Rea at 712-388-4803 or peter_rea@fws.gov.
The refuge facilitates this hunt in cooperation with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.Hunting is used as amanagement tool to control the number of deer on the Refuge. Hunting is one of six wildlife-dependent recreational uses on refuges which also include wildlife observation, wildlife photography, fishing, environmental education, and interpretation.