National Wildlife Refuge · Iowa · FWS Region 3

Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge is located in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, with about 3,970 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its lands extend into Nebraska. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 11 mapped hunt units: 1 open under general rules and 10 open with special regulations, covering about 3,970 huntable acres.

1 open unit10 with special regs
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
11hunt units
4Khuntable acres
4KFWS-owned acres
3game categories

Boyer Chute NWR hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Boyer Chute NWR

Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, and wild turkey, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

The section of Missouri River that flows between Nebraska and Iowa once was rich in wetland wildlife habitat, but river channelization and wetland conversion have eliminated more than 500,000 acres of habitat.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkey

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Iowa regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (11)

Acreage by status
Open: 2.0 (0%)Special regulations: 3,968 (100%)4Khuntable acres
  • Open2.0 ac 0%
  • Special regulations3,968 ac 100%
Units by size (acres)
Boyer Island
1,560 ac
Horseshoe
895 ac
Nathans Lake North
400 ac
Waterfowl Hunting Zone
250 ac
Nathans Lake South
236 ac
West Chute
199 ac
Yellowlegs
186 ac
North Central
138 ac
Rail
72 ac
Northwest
31 ac
Homestead
2.0 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Homestead
Show on map · Directions		 Open 2.0 —
Boyer Island
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,560 —
Horseshoe
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 895 —
Nathans Lake North
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 400 —
Nathans Lake South
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 236 —
North Central
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 138 —
Northwest
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 31 —
Rail
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 72 —
Waterfowl Hunting Zone
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 250 —
West Chute
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 199 —
Yellowlegs
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 186 —

Boyer Chute NWR by the numbers

With about 3,970 huntable acres, Boyer Chute NWR ranks #4 of 6 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Iowa and #277 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Boyer Island (1,560 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Homestead, covers 2.0 acres.

Besides 3,970 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 0.1 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Boyer Chute NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Iowa sets the exact dates, and refuges often open fewer days than the statewide season — use this to plan scouting, then confirm the 2026–2027 dates in the state regulations and the refuge hunt brochure.

Typical season windows — Big Game, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

You'll also need

  • A valid Iowa hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Iowa Department of Natural Resources
  • Federal Duck Stamp (waterfowl hunters 16+) and HIP certification for migratory birds
  • Non-toxic shot for waterfowl (federal requirement)
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Boyer Chute NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Fishing season is year-round. The primary species taken from both the Missouri River and Boyer Chute include blue catfish, flathead catfish, shovelnose sturgeon and carp, but other game species are also available.

State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.

How to get to Boyer Chute NWR

Navigate

Destination: Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
41.44869, -95.93161
DMS
41°26′55.3″N 95°55′53.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Omaha, NE13 mi N of town
  • Council Bluffs, IA14 mi N of town
  • Lincoln, NE60 mi NE of town
  • Sioux City, IA77 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • OMA Omaha Eppley10 mi
  • LNK Lincoln Airport60 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

Today at Boyer Chute NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Chicago local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:18 AM6:48 AM7:59 PM13h 10m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:32 AM7:02 AM7:35 PM12h 33m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:48 AM7:18 AM7:07 PM11h 49m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:04 AM7:34 AM6:44 PM11h 10m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM5:20 PM10h 26m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:41 AM7:11 AM5:05 PM9h 54m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:00 AM7:30 AM4:55 PM9h 26m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:12 AM7:42 AM4:54 PM9h 12m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:19 AM7:49 AM5:03 PM9h 14m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:17 AM7:47 AM5:16 PM9h 29m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:06 AM7:36 AM5:37 PM10h 02m

Computed for 41.449, -95.932 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Guides for hunting Boyer Chute NWR

Deer Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Quota Hunts, Archery Units and Stand Rules

How refuge deer hunts work — lotteries and quota permits, archery-only and muzzleloader units, tree-stand rules…

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

Fishing National Wildlife Refuges: Licenses, Seasons, Boats and Where to Go

What to know before fishing a National Wildlife Refuge or fish hatchery — state licenses, seasonal closures that…

Boyer Chute NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Boyer Chute NWR?

Yes. Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 11 units (3,970 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, and wild turkey. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Boyer Chute NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Boyer Chute NWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Boyer Chute NWR?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Boyer Chute NWR located?

Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge is in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, about 13 miles N of Omaha, NE (straight-line). GPS: 41.44869, -95.93161.

What are legal shooting hours at Boyer Chute NWR?

Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

Nearby refuges & public land

Desoto NWR

Washington County, NE · 6.7 mi NW

4 special2 closed
🦌🦃🐦🎣

6.8K huntable acres

Loess Bluffs NWR

Holt County, MO · 101 mi S

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🎣

7.4K huntable acres

Neal Smith NWR

Jasper County, IA · 138 mi E

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

4.6K huntable acres

Union Slough NWR

Kossuth County, IA · 153 mi NE

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

2.8K huntable acres

Iowa WMD

Kossuth County, IA · 157 mi NE

1 open3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

27.5K huntable acres

Windom WMD

Cottonwood County, MN · 172 mi N

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

17.8K huntable acres

All refuges in Iowa →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.