National Wildlife Refuge · Arizona · FWS Region 2

San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge is located in Cochise County, Arizona, with about 2,368 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 1,303 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
1.3Khuntable acres
2.4KFWS-owned acres
3game categories

San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino NWR

Hunting opportunities include upland birds, migratory birds, and small game, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

Located in an extremely remote area along the Mexican border, San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge is not a refuge many hunters know. In fact, during most hunting seasons, five or fewer hunters visit the refuge.

Upland 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: 1,303 (55%)Closed: 1,065 (45%)1.3Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations1,303 ac 55%
  • Closed1,065 ac 45%
Units by size (acres)
Hunt Area
1,303 ac
Closed Area
1,065 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Hunt Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,303 —
Closed Area
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,065 —

San Bernardino NWR by the numbers

With about 1,303 huntable acres, San Bernardino NWR ranks #8 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Arizona and #345 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 55% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Hunt Area (1,303 acres, special regulations).

1 unit totaling 1,065 acres is closed to hunting (Closed Area). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 2,368 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 0.7 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt San Bernardino 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 — Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🐦 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 San Bernardino NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for San Bernardino NWR.

How to get to San Bernardino NWR

Navigate

Destination: San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
31.34375, -109.25852
DMS
31°20′37.5″N 109°15′30.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Sierra Vista, AZ63 mi E of town
  • Tucson, AZ117 mi SE of town
  • Las Cruces, NM161 mi SW of town
  • El Paso, TX166 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • TUS Tucson Intl112 mi
  • ELP El Paso Intl172 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 San Bernardino 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, 20265:22 AM5:52 AM6:42 PM12h 50m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:30 AM6:00 AM6:24 PM12h 24m
Thu, Oct 1, 20265:39 AM6:09 AM6:03 PM11h 54m
Thu, Oct 15, 20265:48 AM6:18 AM5:46 PM11h 28m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:02 AM6:32 AM5:29 PM10h 57m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM5:19 PM10h 35m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM5:14 PM10h 16m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM5:15 PM10h 08m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:45 AM7:15 AM5:24 PM10h 09m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:46 AM7:16 AM5:35 PM10h 19m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:39 AM7:09 AM5:50 PM10h 41m

Computed for 31.344, -109.259 (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 San Bernardino NWR

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…

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…

San Bernardino NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at San Bernardino NWR?

Yes. San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (1,303 acres) during 2026–2027 for 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 San Bernardino NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino NWR located?

San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge is in Cochise County, Arizona, about 63 miles E of Sierra Vista, AZ (straight-line). GPS: 31.34375, -109.25852.

What are legal shooting hours at San Bernardino 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

Leslie Canyon NWR

Cochise County, AZ · 24 mi NW

1 special1 closed
🦌🐦🕊️🐇

813 huntable acres

Buenos Aires NWR

Pima County, AZ · 131 mi W

1 open1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🐗

105K huntable acres

San Andres NWR

Doña Ana County, NM · 185 mi NE

1 open1 closed
🦌🐗

57.3K huntable acres

Bosque del Apache NWR

Socorro County, NM · 219 mi NE

5 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

47.6K huntable acres

Cabeza Prieta NWR

Pima County, AZ · 224 mi W

1 open4 special1 closed
🦌🐦🕊️🐇

850K huntable acres

Sevilleta NWR

Socorro County, NM · 246 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.