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Arizona Hunter's Guide to Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
National wildlife refuge in Mohave County, Units 15D and 16B, about 33,021 acres.
Photo: ksblack99 (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Getting to Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
Parking, trailheads and gates near Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
- Parking areaParking · 5.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.2 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Fine print for hunters on Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
Hunting categories on Havasu National Wildlife Refuge: upland game hunting and big game hunting. Some hunting on Havasu National Wildlife Refuge needs an extra permit or a draw, as quoted below.
Upland game hunting
We allow hunting of Gambel's quail, cottontail rabbit, Eurasian collared-dove, African collared-dove, black-tailed jackrabbit, bobcat, coyote, gray fox, and kit fox on designated areas of the refuge.
- We prohibit night hunting from 1/2 hour after legal sunset until 1/2 hour before legal sunrise the following day.
- We allow hunting of Gambel's quail, cottontail rabbit, Eurasian collared-dove, African collared-dove, black-tailed jackrabbit, bobcat, coyote, gray fox, and kit fox from September 1-March 15.
- We allow the incidental take of Gambel's quail, cottontail rabbit, Eurasian collared-dove, African collared-dove, black-tailed jackrabbit, bobcat, coyote, gray fox, and kit fox in the Pintail Slough Quota Hunt Area during the general State waterfowl season by hunters possessing a valid permit (FWS Form 3-2439) at their designated waterfowl hunt blind or field.
Big game hunting
We allow hunting of desert bighorn sheep and the incidental take of feral hog on designated areas of the refuge.
- We allow only rifles for desert bighorn sheep hunting.
Refuge hunt zones of Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
| Hunt unit | Huntable | Acres | Permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topock Marsh West | Special rules | 6,065 | Yes |
| Pintail Slough | Special rules | 443 | Yes |
| Lake Havasu – AZ | Special rules | 2,466 | Yes |
| Topock Gorge – AZ | Special rules | 3,134 | Yes |
| Havasu Wilderness – AZ | Special rules | 13,395 | Yes |
| Topock Marsh East – AZ | Special rules | 7,240 | Yes |
| Mesquite Bay | No | 232 | Yes |
(v) The following conditions apply to Pintail Slough (Quota Hunt Area): (A) We require a fee for Quota waterfowl hunting.
(F) We allow dove hunting at the Pintail Slough Quota Hunt Area outside the general State waterfowl season.
(iv) We allow the incidental take of Gambel's quail, cottontail rabbit, Eurasian collared-dove, African collared-dove, black-tailed jackrabbit, bobcat, coyote, gray fox, and kit fox in the Pintail Slough Quota Hunt Area during the general State waterfowl season by hunters possessing a valid permit (.
50 CFR 32.22; refuge hunting page; FWS Public Hunt Units layer; checked November 7, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
Owner, size and setting of Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
The Fish and Wildlife Service runs Havasu National Wildlife Refuge; its hunting rules are written in 50 CFR 32.22(e) and apply on top of Arizona seasons. At 33,021 acres by the FWS refuge GIS, it reaches into Mohave County. Its ground spreads across Region IV (Yuma) and Region III (Kingman).
The refuge hunting page says: From ducks and geese in wetlands to desert bighorn on canyon rims, Havasu National Wildlife Refuge is known for its variety of hunting opportunities. One such opportunity is for Gambel's quail in the upland areas between the river and canyon rims. In a good year, large coveys are abundant and hunters with strong legs and well-trained dogs can find fantastic hunting. Hunters can expect extremely rugged and often very dry conditions, so they should pack plenty of water for themselves and their dogs. Those who make the effort will be rewarded not only with many flushing quail, but also with the spectacular sandstone cliffs of Topock Gorge.
From lands.json (primary source; acres: USFWS Interest layer (INTTYPE1 O = fee, S = secondary) inside Arizona (GIS)), checked November 7, 2026.
Permit-tag hunts covering Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife hunted near Havasu National Wildlife Refuge.
AZGFD lists 2 drawn hunts whose open areas include the units of Havasu National Wildlife Refuge: 2 desert bighorn. The booklets authorize 4 tags for them. None of these hunts is limited to Havasu National Wildlife Refuge; each is valid throughout its listed open area. Hunts for species the refuge does not allow are left out. Fall 2026 draw applications closed June 2, 2026, spring 2027 applications closed October 6, 2026, and the 2026 pronghorn and elk deadline was February 3, 2026.
| Animal | Count | Permits | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert bighorn | 2 | 4 | Nov 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 |
| Hunt | Species | Type | Dates | Legal wildlife | Permits | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6801 | Desert bighorn | Pioneer one-horned bighorn sheep (pioneer license required, see r12-4-318) | Nov 1–Dec 31, 2026 | One-horned ram | 1 | 15D |
| 6012 | Desert bighorn | General | Dec 1–31, 2026 | Any ram | 3 | 15D |
Hunt numbers, dates, legal wildlife and permits from the 2026-27 Arizona Hunting Regulations, the 2027 spring booklet and the 2026 pronghorn and elk booklet; deadlines from the draw section; checked November 7, 2026.
Unit-by-unit facts for Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
AZGFD sets seasons by unit, and Havasu National Wildlife Refuge lies in Units 15D and 16B. Read the unit descriptions in the booklet: lines follow landmarks, not fences. AZGFD's unit layer lists bighorn sheep, mule deer, dove, quail and waterfowl for these units, a unit-level hint rather than a promise for this exact ground. 50 CFR 32.22 gives waterfowl, dove, snipe, quail, rabbit, coyote, fox, bobcat, bighorn sheep and feral hog.
Units from the AZGFD Game Management Unit layer overlay in lands.json; unit facts, lion zones, bear limits and archery deer limits from the 2026-27 Arizona Hunting Regulations (zones section, unit maps); checked November 7, 2026.
Seasons written for Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
The regulations print 6 seasons written for Havasu National Wildlife Refuge itself. Statewide dates may not apply on the refuge; these rows do.
| Game | Season | Dates | Tag kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cottontail rabbit | General cottontail rabbit – Any cottontail… | Sep 1–Mar 15, 2027 | License only |
| Coyote | General predators – Coyote, bobcat, and foxes | Sep 1–Mar 15, 2027 | License only |
| Bobcat | General predators – Coyote, bobcat, and foxes | Sep 1–Mar 15, 2027 | License only |
| Foxes | General predators – Coyote, bobcat, and foxes | Sep 1–Mar 15, 2027 | License only |
| Jackrabbits (black-tailed and antelope) | General other birds & mammals – Black-tailed… | Sep 1–Mar 15, 2027 | License only |
| Gambel's, scaled and California quail | General quail – Gambel's, Scaled and California… | Oct 16–Feb 7, 2027 | License only |
Season rows from the 2026-27 Arizona Hunting Regulations, waterfowl and dove leaflets; checked November 7, 2026.
Neighbouring public ground of Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
The closest other public land on this site is Bill Williams River NWR, 33 miles to the southeast. Within reach on the map: 2 wildlife areas, 2 BLM field offices and 1 national wildlife refuge.
| Place | Type | Acres | County | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Williams River NWR | Wildlife refuge | 5,994 | Mohave | 33 miles | southeast |
| Planet Ranch Conservation Area | Wildlife area | 3,414 | Mohave | 39 miles | southeast |
| BLM Kingman FO | BLM field office | 2,400,000 | Mohave | 39 miles | northeast |
| BLM Lake Havasu FO | BLM field office | 1,300,000 | La Paz | 49 miles | southeast |
| Alamo Wildlife Area | Wildlife area | 17,563 | Mohave | 55 miles | southeast |
| Lake Mead NRA | Recreation area | 909,609 | Mohave | 77 miles | north |
Point: USFWS Interest layer (fee and secondary-jurisdiction refuge land inside Arizona) (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Places near Havasu National Wildlife Refuge you cannot hunt
Fort Mojave Reservation lies close by, and hunting there needs tribal authorization, not a state tag. 18 USC 1165 covers trespass to hunt on Indian land.
| Name | Closure | County | How far |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Mojave Reservation | tribal land | Mohave | 26 miles |
| Colorado River Nature Center | closed by R12-4-802 | Mohave | 30 miles |
Closed rows from lands.json: tribal land (18 USC 1165, Census TIGERweb), NPS units (36 CFR 2.2); checked November 7, 2026.
Recent results near Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
Harvest is counted per hunt and unit; no figure exists for Havasu National Wildlife Refuge alone. Hunts spanning several units are not included; AZGFD calls the elk data preliminary.
| Unit | Hunts in 2025 | Hunters | Harvest | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 15D | Bighorn sheep, 1 hunt | 5 | 5 | 100% |
2025 AZGFD harvest summaries: OTC archery deer, deer, elk (preliminary), pronghorn, spring javelina, spring turkey, bighorn sheep; checked November 7, 2026.
Supplies and help near Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
The handiest town is Crystal Beach, about 5 miles off. A larger stop is Lake Havasu City, population 59,037. Kingman hosts the AZGFD office nearest to Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, 49 miles out.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Beach | Mohave | – | 5 miles | south |
| Topock | Mohave | – | 7 miles | northwest |
| Lake Havasu City | Mohave | 59,037 | 11 miles | southeast |
| Parker Strip | La Paz | – | 30 miles | southeast |
| Bullhead City | Mohave | 43,266 | 35 miles | north |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024 estimates); AZGFD offices from the AZGFD offices page; businesses from services.json listings; straight-line miles. Checked November 7, 2026.
Sunup and sundown at Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
Raccoon hunting runs around the clock statewide outside metro units and refuges, and coyote does in listed units from December 1; other game around Havasu National Wildlife Refuge stops at sunset.
| Day | Moment | Sunup | Sundown | Daylight window | Early bird window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 2026 | Archery deer | 6:02 a.m. | 7:20 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. | 5:32 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:10 a.m. | 7:06 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 7:06 p.m. | 5:40 a.m. to 7:06 p.m. |
| Oct 16, 2026 | Quail opener | 6:43 a.m. | 6:03 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 6:03 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 6:03 p.m. |
| Oct 23, 2026 | General deer and waterfowl opener | 6:49 a.m. | 5:55 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:41 a.m. | 5:30 p.m. | 7:41 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
| Jan 22, 2027 | Spring javelina | 7:42 a.m. | 5:55 p.m. | 7:42 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. | 7:12 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. |
Hours rules from the 2026-27 Arizona Hunting Regulations (A.R.S. 17-301); sunrise and sunset worked out for this location with the NOAA solar formula (Mountain Standard Time); the AZGFD Phoenix sunrise-sunset chart; checked November 7, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Sight in, then hunt Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
Of the AZGFD-listed ranges, Tri-State Shooting Park lies closest to Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, roughly 25 miles by straight line. Alongside the public bench: the nearest private lines within 30 miles of the land.
From AZGFD’s Shooting Range Facilities page, operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 7, 2026.
Events on or beside Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
Inside about 10 straight-line miles of this place there is 1 listing ahead.
| When | Title | Miles off | Location | Register or tickets | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2027 | Pintail Slough Youth Waterfowl Camp – AZGFD Youth waterfowl camp | 7 | Pintail Slough Camp – Topock Elementary | Sign up | Source |
The Havasu National Wildlife Refuge question list
Do I need CWD testing for deer from Havasu National Wildlife Refuge?
CWD has not been detected in Arizona; AZGFD offers free testing.
Is Havasu National Wildlife Refuge huntable ground?
Yes, in designated areas only, under 50 CFR 32.22(e) and Arizona seasons.
What license works on Havasu National Wildlife Refuge?
A valid Arizona hunting or combination license plus any tag the hunt needs (resident hunting $37, combination $57; nonresident combination $160). Some refuge hunts also need a refuge permit or signed brochure.
Which AZGFD units include Havasu National Wildlife Refuge?
Game units: 15D, 16B.
What size does the record give for Havasu National Wildlife Refuge?
33,021 acres is the listed figure (FWS refuge GIS).
What drawn hunts are valid on Havasu National Wildlife Refuge?
2 draw hunts reach it: desert bighorn.
Camping limits on Havasu National Wildlife Refuge?
Not stated in the sources; contact the manager.
Vehicle access on Havasu National Wildlife Refuge?
Not stated in the sources; obey posted routes.
Is orange clothing mandatory on Havasu National Wildlife Refuge?
No state rule requires orange in Arizona.
Which AZGFD region handles Havasu National Wildlife Refuge?
Call AZGFD Region IV (Yuma) at 928-342-0091.
Is there land near Havasu National Wildlife Refuge I cannot hunt?
Closest of them: Fort Mojave Reservation, tribal land, closed to state-licensed hunting without the tribe’s permission.
Things to confirm for Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
Confirm your hunt number, unit and open dates for Havasu National Wildlife Refuge before you load the truck.
Sources: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4 · source 5 · source 6; seasons from the 2026-27 Arizona Hunting Regulations. Checked November 7, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0); Henry (CC BY 2.0).