National Wildlife Refuge · Arizona · FWS Region 2

Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge lies in Cochise County, Arizona, with about 2,775 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 2 mapped hunt units: 1 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 813 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
813huntable acres
2.8KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Leslie Canyon 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 Leslie Canyon NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, upland birds, migratory birds, and small game here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge is in Arizona State Hunt Unit 30A. The refuge’s open area is approximately 810 acres; it includes all refuge lands north of Leslie Canyon Road. This area is open to multiple public uses, including hunting.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsUpland 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 (2)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 813 (29%)Closed: 1,962 (71%)813huntable acres
  • Special regulations813 ac 29%
  • Closed1,962 ac 71%
Units by size (acres)
Closed
1,962 ac
Open
813 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Open
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 813 —
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,962 —

Leslie Canyon NWR by the numbers

With about 813 huntable acres, Leslie Canyon NWR ranks #9 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Arizona and #364 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 29% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Open (813 acres, special regulations).

1 unit totaling 1,962 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 2,775 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 22,011 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Leslie Canyon 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, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🐦 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 Leslie Canyon NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Leslie Canyon NWR.

How to get to Leslie Canyon NWR

Navigate

Destination: Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
31.63645, -109.48155
DMS
31°38′11.2″N 109°28′53.6″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Sierra Vista, AZ49 mi E of town
  • Tucson, AZ96 mi SE of town
  • Las Cruces, NM166 mi W of town
  • El Paso, TX176 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • TUS Tucson Intl92 mi
  • ELP El Paso Intl183 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 Leslie Canyon 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, 20265:23 AM5:53 AM6:43 PM12h 51m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:31 AM6:01 AM6:25 PM12h 24m
Thu, Oct 1, 20265:40 AM6:10 AM6:04 PM11h 54m
Thu, Oct 15, 20265:49 AM6:19 AM5:47 PM11h 27m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:03 AM6:33 AM5:29 PM10h 56m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM5:19 PM10h 34m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:29 AM6:59 AM5:14 PM10h 15m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM5:16 PM10h 06m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:47 AM7:17 AM5:24 PM10h 07m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:47 AM7:17 AM5:35 PM10h 18m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:41 AM7:11 AM5:50 PM10h 40m

Computed for 31.636, -109.482 (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 Leslie Canyon 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…

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…

HIP Certification Explained: The Harvest Information Program for Migratory Bird Hunters

What HIP is, who needs it, how to get certified in each state you hunt, and why your answers help set duck, goose and…

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…

Leslie Canyon NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Leslie Canyon NWR?

Yes. Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (813 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, 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 Leslie Canyon NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Leslie Canyon 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 Leslie Canyon NWR located?

Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge is in Cochise County, Arizona, about 49 miles E of Sierra Vista, AZ (straight-line). GPS: 31.63645, -109.48155.

What are legal shooting hours at Leslie Canyon 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

San Bernardino NWR

Cochise County, AZ · 24 mi SE

1 special1 closed
🐦🕊️🐇

1.3K huntable acres

Buenos Aires NWR

Pima County, AZ · 116 mi W

1 open1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗

105K huntable acres

San Andres NWR

Doña Ana County, NM · 187 mi NE

1 open1 closed
🦌🐗

57.3K huntable acres

Cabeza Prieta NWR

Pima County, AZ · 205 mi W

1 open4 special1 closed
🦌🐦🕊️🐇

850K huntable acres

Bosque del Apache NWR

Socorro County, NM · 213 mi NE

5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

47.6K huntable acres

Sevilleta NWR

Socorro County, NM · 237 mi NE

4 special
🦆🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

228K huntable acres

All refuges in Arizona →

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