Cibola NWR
La Paz County, AZ · 47 mi W
!5 special✕4 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣
12.2K huntable acres
Kofa 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
Hunting at Kofa NWR
- Big Game
-
Waterfowl -
Wild Turkey - Upland Birds
-
Migratory Birds - Small Game
-
Feral & Exotic -
Fishing
Hunting opportunities include big game, upland birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.
While desert bighorn sheep may be the most famous game species on this refuge, hunters don't need to draw a bighorn tag to experience incredible hunting here.
Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeSmall 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)
- Special regulations663,400 ac 100%
- Closed1,106 ac 0%
| Unit | Status | Acres | Permit | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 A Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 205,826 | — | |
| 45 B Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 265,166 | — | |
| 45 C Show on map · Directions |
!Special regs | 192,408 | — | |
| Closed Area Show on map · Directions |
✕Closed | 1,106 | — |
Kofa NWR by the numbers
With about 663,400 huntable acres, Kofa NWR ranks #2 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Arizona and #19 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.
The largest huntable unit is 45 B (265,166 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, 45 C, covers 192,408 acres.
1 unit totaling 1,106 acres is closed to hunting (Closed Area). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.
When to hunt Kofa 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.
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
🐦 Upland Birds
🐇 Small Game
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
- Hunter education certification where your state requires it
- The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)
Fishing at Kofa NWR
USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Kofa NWR.
How to get to Kofa NWR
Navigate
Destination: Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)
- Decimal
33.29068, -113.87538- DMS
33°17′26.4″N 113°52′31.4″W
Nearest towns
- Blythe, CA47 mi SE of town
- Yuma, AZ60 mi NE of town
- Parker, AZ64 mi S of town
- Lake Havasu City, AZ86 mi S of town
Closest airports
- YUM Yuma Intl61 mi
- PHX Phoenix Sky Harbor108 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 Kofa 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
| Date | Shooting light | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 1, 2026 | 5:39 AM | 6:09 AM | 7:02 PM | 12h 54m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 5:48 AM | 6:18 AM | 6:43 PM | 12h 26m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 5:58 AM | 6:28 AM | 6:21 PM | 11h 53m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 6:08 AM | 6:38 AM | 6:03 PM | 11h 25m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 6:23 AM | 6:53 AM | 5:45 PM | 10h 52m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:36 AM | 7:06 AM | 5:34 PM | 10h 28m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 6:50 AM | 7:20 AM | 5:28 PM | 10h 08m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 7:01 AM | 7:31 AM | 5:29 PM | 9h 58m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 7:08 AM | 7:38 AM | 5:37 PM | 9h 59m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 7:08 AM | 7:38 AM | 5:49 PM | 10h 10m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 7:01 AM | 7:31 AM | 6:05 PM | 10h 34m |
Computed for 33.291, -113.875 (MST / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day hunting weather
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Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.
Guides for hunting Kofa 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…
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…
How to Read a Refuge Hunt Brochure (and Not Miss the Rule That Matters)
What's inside a National Wildlife Refuge hunt brochure, where to find it, how it relates to 50 CFR Part 32 and state…
Hunting Safety on Public Land: Cold Water, Tree Stands, Crowds and Weather
The safety habits that matter most on refuges and WPAs — firearm rules, blaze orange, tree-stand harnesses, cold-water…
Kofa NWR FAQ
Is hunting allowed at Kofa NWR?
Yes. Kofa National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (663,400 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, upland birds, and small game. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.
Do I need a permit to hunt Kofa NWR?
FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Kofa 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 Kofa NWR located?
Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is in Yuma County, Arizona, about 47 miles SE of Blythe, CA (straight-line). GPS: 33.29068, -113.87538.
What are legal shooting hours at Kofa 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 · 48 mi W
!2 special✕2 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣
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Bill Williams River NWR
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!2 special✕1 closed
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Cabeza Prieta NWR
Pima County, AZ · 85 mi SE
✓1 open!4 special✕1 closed
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Havasu NWR
Mohave County, AZ · 98 mi N
!9 special✕2 closed
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Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR
Imperial County, CA · 107 mi W
!2 special✕3 closed
🦆🎣
827 huntable acres
Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.