National Wildlife Refuge · Arizona · FWS Region 2

Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in La Paz County, Arizona, Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 4,301 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 3 mapped hunt units: 2 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 2,911 huntable acres.

2 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
2.9Khuntable acres
4.3KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Bill Williams River 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 Bill Williams River NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Cottonwoods and willows provide important habitat for game in the desert, offering a ribbon of lush cover in an otherwise arid environment.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammals

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

Hunt units (3)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 2,911 (49%)Closed: 3,082 (51%)2.9Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations2,911 ac 49%
  • Closed3,082 ac 51%
Units by size (acres)
No Hunting Area
3,082 ac
North Unit
1,769 ac
South Unit
1,142 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
North Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,769 —
South Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,142 —
No Hunting Area
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 3,082 —

Bill Williams River NWR by the numbers

With about 2,911 huntable acres, Bill Williams River NWR ranks #7 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Arizona and #306 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 49% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is North Unit (1,769 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, South Unit, covers 1,142 acres.

1 unit totaling 3,082 acres is closed to hunting (No Hunting Area). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Bill Williams River NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Arizona 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, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit

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 Arizona hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Arizona Game and Fish Department
  • 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 Bill Williams River NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Accessible fishing facilities are open 24 hours per day, seven days a week, and the canoe/kayak (non-motorized) launch is open seven days a week during daylight hours.

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

How to get to Bill Williams River NWR

Navigate

Destination: Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
34.26370, -114.03577
DMS
34°15′49.3″N 114°02′08.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Parker, AZ17 mi NE of town
  • Lake Havasu City, AZ22 mi SE of town
  • Needles, CA52 mi SE of town
  • Blythe, CA56 mi NE of town

Closest airports

  • YUM Yuma Intl116 mi
  • PHX Phoenix Sky Harbor130 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 Bill Williams River NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

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

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:38 AM6:08 AM7:04 PM12h 55m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:48 AM6:18 AM6:44 PM12h 26m
Thu, Oct 1, 20265:59 AM6:29 AM6:21 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM6:03 PM11h 23m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM5:44 PM10h 49m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM5:33 PM10h 25m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:53 AM7:23 AM5:27 PM10h 03m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:04 AM7:34 AM5:27 PM9h 53m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:11 AM7:41 AM5:36 PM9h 54m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:11 AM7:41 AM5:47 PM10h 06m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:04 AM7:34 AM6:04 PM10h 30m

Computed for 34.264, -114.036 (MST / 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 Bill Williams River 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…

Pheasant and Upland Bird Hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas

Why WPAs are some of the best walk-in pheasant ground in the Midwest, how to hunt them early and late in the season…

Dove Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Managed Fields, Openers and Rules

How dove hunting works on National Wildlife Refuges — managed fields and draw days, HIP and plugged-gun rules…

HIP Certification Explained: The Harvest Information Program for Migratory Bird Hunters

What HIP is, who needs it, how to get certified in each state you hunt, and why your answers help set duck, goose and…

Your First Public-Land Hunt: A Step-by-Step Checklist for New Hunters

Hunter education, licenses, choosing a first species, gear, practice, scouting with maps and what to expect on your…

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…

Bill Williams River NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Bill Williams River NWR?

Yes. Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (2,911 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Bill Williams River NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Bill Williams River 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 Bill Williams River NWR?

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

Where is Bill Williams River NWR located?

Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge is in La Paz County, Arizona, about 17 miles NE of Parker, AZ (straight-line). GPS: 34.26370, -114.03577.

What are legal shooting hours at Bill Williams River 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

Havasu NWR

Mohave County, AZ · 34 mi NW

9 special2 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

38.7K huntable acres

Kofa NWR

Yuma County, AZ · 68 mi S

3 special1 closed
🦌🐦🐇

663K huntable acres

Cibola NWR

La Paz County, AZ · 76 mi SW

5 special4 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

12.2K huntable acres

Imperial NWR

La Paz County, AZ · 91 mi SW

2 special2 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

22.4K huntable acres

Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR

Imperial County, CA · 121 mi SW

2 special3 closed
🦆🎣

827 huntable acres

Coachella Valley NWR

Riverside County, CA · 135 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in Arizona →

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