National Wildlife Refuge · Arizona · FWS Region 2

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge lies in La Paz County, Arizona, with about 888 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 4 mapped hunt units: 2 open with special regulations and 2 closed, covering about 22,353 huntable acres.

2 with special regs2 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
22.4Khuntable acres
888FWS-owned acres
5game categories

Imperial 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 Imperial NWR

Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

While Imperial National Wildlife Refuge offers excellent hunting for a number of species, the most popular game animal serious hunters pursue here is the desert bighorn sheep.

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 (4)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 22,353 (76%)Closed: 7,209 (24%)22.4Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations22,353 ac 76%
  • Closed7,209 ac 24%
Units by size (acres)
Hunt Zone - AZ
14,480 ac
Hunt Zone - CA
7,873 ac
No Hunt Zone - AZ
4,974 ac
No Hunt Zone - CA
2,235 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Hunt Zone - AZ
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 14,480 —
Hunt Zone - CA
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 7,873 —
No Hunt Zone - AZ
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 4,974 —
No Hunt Zone - CA
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 2,235 —

Imperial NWR by the numbers

With about 22,353 huntable acres, Imperial NWR ranks #5 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Arizona and #107 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 76% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Hunt Zone - AZ (14,480 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Hunt Zone - CA, covers 7,873 acres.

2 units totaling 7,209 acres are closed to hunting (No Hunt Zone - AZ and No Hunt Zone - CA). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 888 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 6.1 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Imperial 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, Waterfowl, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🐦 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 Imperial NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Refuge waters include Martinez Lake (1,040 acres), Clear Lake (200 acres), Island Lake (2,010 acres) and Adobe Lake (2,080 acres), as well as the Lower Colorado River (2,010 acres).

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

How to get to Imperial NWR

Navigate

Destination: Imperial National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
33.05349, -114.65574
DMS
33°03′12.6″N 114°39′20.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Yuma, AZ25 mi N of town
  • Blythe, CA39 mi S of town
  • El Centro, CA56 mi E of town
  • Parker, AZ79 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • YUM Yuma Intl27 mi
  • PSP Palm Springs Intl120 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 Imperial 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 53m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:51 AM6:21 AM6:46 PM12h 25m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:01 AM6:31 AM6:24 PM11h 53m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:11 AM6:41 AM6:06 PM11h 25m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM5:48 PM10h 53m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM5:38 PM10h 29m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:53 AM7:23 AM5:32 PM10h 09m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:04 AM7:34 AM5:33 PM9h 59m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:11 AM7:41 AM5:41 PM10h 00m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:11 AM7:41 AM5:52 PM10h 11m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:04 AM7:34 AM6:09 PM10h 35m

Computed for 33.053, -114.656 (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 Imperial 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…

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…

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…

Imperial NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Imperial NWR?

Yes. Imperial National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (22,353 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 Imperial NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Imperial 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 Imperial NWR?

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

Where is Imperial NWR located?

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge is in La Paz County, Arizona, about 25 miles N of Yuma, AZ (straight-line). GPS: 33.05349, -114.65574.

What are legal shooting hours at Imperial 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

Cibola NWR

La Paz County, AZ · 18 mi N

5 special4 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

12.2K huntable acres

Kofa NWR

Yuma County, AZ · 48 mi E

3 special1 closed
🦌🐦🐇

663K huntable acres

Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR

Imperial County, CA · 62 mi W

2 special3 closed
🦆🎣

827 huntable acres

Bill Williams River NWR

La Paz County, AZ · 91 mi NE

2 special1 closed
🦌🐦🕊️🐇🎣

2.9K huntable acres

Coachella Valley NWR

Riverside County, CA · 109 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Havasu NWR

Mohave County, AZ · 110 mi N

9 special2 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

38.7K huntable acres

All refuges in Arizona →

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