National Wildlife Refuge · California · FWS Region 8

Coachella Valley National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Riverside County, California, Coachella Valley National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 3,603 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season, all 1 mapped hunt unit are listed as closed to hunting.

1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official website ↗
1hunt units
0huntable acres
3.6KFWS-owned acres
0game categories

Coachella Valley 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 Coachella Valley NWR

  • Big Game
  • Waterfowl
  • Wild Turkey
  • Upland Birds
  • Migratory Birds
  • Small Game
  • Feral & Exotic
  • Fishing

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not list any hunting opportunities for this station.

ATVs and UTVs are not allowed on the refuge.

— U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Closed: 3,643 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed3,643 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 3,643 —

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 California hunting license and any required tags or stamps — California Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Coachella Valley NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Coachella Valley NWR.

How to get to Coachella Valley NWR

Navigate

Destination: Coachella Valley National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
33.79477, -116.32734
DMS
33°47′41.2″N 116°19′38.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Palm Springs, CA13 mi E of town
  • El Centro, CA82 mi NW of town
  • San Diego, CA88 mi NE of town
  • Blythe, CA100 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • PSP Palm Springs Intl11 mi
  • SAN San Diego Intl89 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 Coachella Valley NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

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

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:48 AM6:18 AM7:12 PM12h 54m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:57 AM6:27 AM6:53 PM12h 26m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:08 AM6:38 AM6:31 PM11h 53m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:19 AM6:49 AM6:12 PM11h 24m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:33 AM6:03 AM4:54 PM10h 50m
Sun, Nov 15, 20265:47 AM6:17 AM4:43 PM10h 26m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:01 AM6:31 AM4:37 PM10h 05m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:12 AM6:42 AM4:38 PM9h 56m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:19 AM6:49 AM4:46 PM9h 57m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:19 AM6:49 AM4:57 PM10h 08m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:12 AM6:42 AM5:14 PM10h 32m

Computed for 33.795, -116.327 (PDT / 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.

Coachella Valley NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Coachella Valley NWR?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not currently list hunting opportunities at Coachella Valley National Wildlife Refuge. All mapped units are closed to hunting.

Do I need a permit to hunt Coachella Valley NWR?

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

Where is Coachella Valley NWR located?

Coachella Valley National Wildlife Refuge is in Riverside County, California, about 13 miles E of Palm Springs, CA (straight-line). GPS: 33.79477, -116.32734.

What are legal shooting hours at Coachella Valley 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

Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR

Imperial County, CA · 54 mi SE

2 special3 closed
🦆🎣

827 huntable acres

San Diego NWR

San Diego County, CA · 85 mi SW

1 open1 closed
🦌🐦🕊️🐇

161 huntable acres

San Diego Bay NWR

San Diego County, CA · 94 mi SW

1 closed
🎣

Tijuana Slough NWR

San Diego County, CA · 97 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Cibola NWR

La Paz County, AZ · 100 mi E

5 special4 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

12.2K huntable acres

Seal Beach NWR

Orange County, CA · 100 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in California →

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