National Wildlife Refuge · Arizona · FWS Region 2

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is located in Yuma County, Arizona, with about 664,665 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 4 mapped hunt units: 3 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 663,400 huntable acres.

3 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
663Khuntable acres
665KFWS-owned acres
3game categories

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
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Kofa NWR

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)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 663,400 (100%)Closed: 1,106 (0%)663Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations663,400 ac 100%
  • Closed1,106 ac 0%
Units by size (acres)
45 B
265,166 ac
45 A
205,826 ac
45 C
192,408 ac
Closed Area
1,106 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
45 A Special regs 205,826 —
45 B Special regs 265,166 —
45 C Special regs 192,408 —
Closed Area Closed 1,106 —

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)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
33.29068, -113.87538
DMS
33°17′26.4″N 113°52′31.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

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

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:39 AM6:09 AM7:02 PM12h 54m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:48 AM6:18 AM6:43 PM12h 26m
Thu, Oct 1, 20265:58 AM6:28 AM6:21 PM11h 53m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:08 AM6:38 AM6:03 PM11h 25m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:23 AM6:53 AM5:45 PM10h 52m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:36 AM7:06 AM5:34 PM10h 28m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM5:28 PM10h 08m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:01 AM7:31 AM5:29 PM9h 58m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:08 AM7:38 AM5:37 PM9h 59m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:08 AM7:38 AM5:49 PM10h 10m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:01 AM7:31 AM6:05 PM10h 34m

Computed for 33.291, -113.875 (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.

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

Cibola NWR

La Paz County, AZ · 47 mi W

5 special4 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

12.2K huntable acres

Imperial NWR

La Paz County, AZ · 48 mi W

2 special2 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

22.4K huntable acres

Bill Williams River NWR

La Paz County, AZ · 68 mi N

2 special1 closed
🦌🐦🕊️🐇🎣

2.9K huntable acres

Cabeza Prieta NWR

Pima County, AZ · 85 mi SE

1 open4 special1 closed
🦌🐦🕊️🐇

850K huntable acres

Havasu NWR

Mohave County, AZ · 98 mi N

9 special2 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

38.7K huntable acres

Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR

Imperial County, CA · 107 mi W

2 special3 closed
🦆🎣

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.