National Wildlife Refuge · Arizona · FWS Region 2

Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Pima County, Arizona, Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 855,592 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 6 mapped hunt units: 1 open under general rules, 4 open with special regulations, and 1 closed, covering about 850,329 huntable acres.

1 open unit4 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
6hunt units
850Khuntable acres
856KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Cabeza Prieta 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 Cabeza Prieta NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

In 1939, a group of Boy Scouts, concerned about the decline of desert bighorn sheep, wrote President Franklin D. Roosevelt. A result was the establishment of Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge to conserve the sheep and their habitat.

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 (6)

Acreage by status
Open: 3,593 (0%)Special regulations: 846,736 (99%)Closed: 5,243 (1%)850Khuntable acres
  • Open3,593 ac 0%
  • Special regulations846,736 ac 99%
  • Closed5,243 ac 1%
Units by size (acres)
46B East
244,939 ac
46A West
208,054 ac
46B West
204,763 ac
46A East
188,980 ac
Closed
5,243 ac
46B East Sheep Only
3,593 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
46B East Sheep Only Open 3,593 Required
Special Use Permit		 Bighorn sheep hunting, special use permit
46A East Special regs 188,980 Required
Special Use Permit		 Bighorn sheep hunting, special use permit
46A West Special regs 208,054 Required
Special Use Permit		 Bighorn sheep hunting, special use permit
46B East Special regs 244,939 Required
Special Use Permit		 Bighorn sheep hunting, special use permit
46B West Special regs 204,763 Required
Special Use Permit		 Bighorn sheep hunting, special use permit
Closed Closed 5,243 Required
Special Use Permit		 Bighorn sheep hunting, special use permit

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Bighorn sheep hunting, special use permit

Type: Special Use Permit

How to get it:

  • ✉️ By mail

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 Cabeza Prieta NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Cabeza Prieta NWR.

How to get to Cabeza Prieta NWR

Navigate

Destination: Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
32.38646, -112.87359
DMS
32°23′11.3″N 112°52′24.9″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Ajo, AZ1.4 mi NW of town
  • Phoenix, AZ87 mi SW of town
  • Yuma, AZ104 mi E of town
  • Tucson, AZ112 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • PHX Phoenix Sky Harbor88 mi
  • YUM Yuma Intl103 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 Cabeza Prieta 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, 20265:35 AM6:05 AM6:57 PM12h 52m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:44 AM6:14 AM6:39 PM12h 25m
Thu, Oct 1, 20265:54 AM6:24 AM6:17 PM11h 53m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:04 AM6:34 AM6:00 PM11h 26m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:17 AM6:47 AM5:42 PM10h 54m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:30 AM7:00 AM5:32 PM10h 32m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM5:26 PM10h 12m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:55 AM7:25 AM5:27 PM10h 03m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:02 AM7:32 AM5:36 PM10h 04m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:02 AM7:32 AM5:47 PM10h 14m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:56 AM7:26 AM6:03 PM10h 37m

Computed for 32.386, -112.874 (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.

Cabeza Prieta NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Cabeza Prieta NWR?

Yes. Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 5 units (850,329 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 Cabeza Prieta NWR?

Yes — Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Special Use Permit. Permits can be obtained mail. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Cabeza Prieta NWR located?

Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge is in Pima County, Arizona, about 1 miles NW of Ajo, AZ (straight-line). GPS: 32.38646, -112.87359.

What are legal shooting hours at Cabeza Prieta 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

Kofa NWR

Yuma County, AZ · 85 mi NW

3 special1 closed
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Buenos Aires NWR

Pima County, AZ · 98 mi SE

1 open1 closed
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105K huntable acres

Imperial NWR

La Paz County, AZ · 113 mi NW

2 special2 closed
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22.4K huntable acres

Cibola NWR

La Paz County, AZ · 124 mi NW

5 special4 closed
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12.2K huntable acres

Bill Williams River NWR

La Paz County, AZ · 146 mi NW

2 special1 closed
🦌🐦🕊️🐇🎣

2.9K huntable acres

Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR

Imperial County, CA · 174 mi W

2 special3 closed
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827 huntable acres

All refuges in Arizona →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated September 29, 2026.