National Wildlife Refuge · Arizona · FWS Region 2

Cibola National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Cibola National Wildlife Refuge lies in La Paz County, Arizona, with about 15,597 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its lands extend into California. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 9 mapped hunt units: 5 open with special regulations and 4 closed, covering about 12,242 huntable acres.

5 with special regs4 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
9hunt units
12.2Khuntable acres
15.6KFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Cibola 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 Cibola NWR

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

With annual rainfall of less than four inches, it may come as a surprise that Cibola National Wildlife Refuge is a winter oasis for waterfowl. The refuge offers a first-rate hunting experience in the Sonoran Desert.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsUpland 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 (9)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 12,242 (66%)Closed: 6,201 (34%)12.2Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations12,242 ac 66%
  • Closed6,201 ac 34%
Units by size (acres)
California Lands
5,158 ac
Island Unit
4,761 ac
Unit 1 North
2,680 ac
Colorado River & Levees - AZ
1,852 ac
Cibola Lake Management Area
1,591 ac
Unit 1 South
1,074 ac
Hart Mine Marsh
864 ac
Unit 2
386 ac
Colorado River & Levees - CA
76 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
California Lands Special regs 5,158 Required
Other, Signed Brochure or Similar; CA: Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters require signed brochure.
Hart Mine Marsh Special regs 864 Required
Other, Signed Brochure or Similar; CA: Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters require signed brochure.
Island Unit Special regs 4,761 Required
Other, Signed Brochure or Similar; CA: Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters require signed brochure.
Unit 1 South Special regs 1,074 Required
Other, Signed Brochure or Similar; CA: Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters require signed brochure.
Unit 2 Special regs 386 Required
Other, Signed Brochure or Similar; CA: Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters require signed brochure.
Cibola Lake Management Area Closed 1,591 Required
Other, Signed Brochure or Similar; CA: Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters require signed brochure.
Colorado River & Levees - AZ Closed 1,852 Required
Other, Signed Brochure or Similar; CA: Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters require signed brochure.
Colorado River & Levees - CA Closed 76 Required
Other, Signed Brochure or Similar; CA: Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters require signed brochure.
Unit 1 North Closed 2,680 Required
Other, Signed Brochure or Similar; CA: Signed Brochure or Similar		 All hunters require signed brochure.

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

All hunters require signed brochure.

Type: Other, Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • 🪧 Kiosk at the refuge
  • ✉️ By mail
  • 💻 Online (FWS)
  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

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 Cibola NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Available fishing waters are: Pretty Water (limited hours during waterfowl season, October-February), Cibola Lake (6,500 acres) and 1,080 acres of the Colorado River and the Old River channel.

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

How to get to Cibola NWR

Navigate

Destination: Cibola National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
33.31087, -114.69690
DMS
33°18′39.1″N 114°41′48.8″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Blythe, CA21 mi S of town
  • Yuma, AZ43 mi N of town
  • El Centro, CA62 mi NE of town
  • Parker, AZ63 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • YUM Yuma Intl45 mi
  • PSP Palm Springs Intl110 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 Cibola 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, 20265:42 AM6:12 AM7:05 PM12h 54m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:51 AM6:21 AM6:46 PM12h 26m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:01 AM6:31 AM6:24 PM11h 53m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:12 AM6:42 AM6:06 PM11h 25m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM5:48 PM10h 52m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM5:37 PM10h 28m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:54 AM7:24 AM5:31 PM10h 08m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:04 AM7:34 AM5:32 PM9h 58m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:12 AM7:42 AM5:41 PM9h 59m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:12 AM7:42 AM5:52 PM10h 10m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:05 AM7:35 AM6:08 PM10h 34m

Computed for 33.311, -114.697 (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.

Cibola NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Cibola NWR?

Yes. Cibola National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 5 units (12,242 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, 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 Cibola NWR?

Yes — Cibola National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other and Signed Brochure or Similar. Permits can be obtained kiosk, mail, online through fws, or visitor center. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Cibola NWR?

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

Where is Cibola NWR located?

Cibola National Wildlife Refuge is in La Paz County, Arizona, about 21 miles S of Blythe, CA (straight-line). GPS: 33.31087, -114.69690.

What are legal shooting hours at Cibola 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

Imperial NWR

La Paz County, AZ · 18 mi S

2 special2 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

22.4K huntable acres

Kofa NWR

Yuma County, AZ · 47 mi E

3 special1 closed
🦌🐦🐇

663K huntable acres

Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR

Imperial County, CA · 59 mi W

2 special3 closed
🦆🎣

827 huntable acres

Bill Williams River NWR

La Paz County, AZ · 76 mi NE

2 special1 closed
🦌🐦🕊️🐇🎣

2.9K huntable acres

Havasu NWR

Mohave County, AZ · 93 mi N

9 special2 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

38.7K huntable acres

Coachella Valley NWR

Riverside County, CA · 100 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 September 29, 2026.