National Wildlife Refuge · California · FWS Region 8

Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Imperial County, California, Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 13,145 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 5 mapped hunt units: 2 open with special regulations and 3 closed, covering about 827 huntable acres.

2 with special regs3 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
5hunt units
827huntable acres
13.1KFWS-owned acres
1game categories

Sonny Bono Salton Sea 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 Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR

  • Big Game
  • Waterfowl
  • Wild Turkey
  • Upland Birds
  • Migratory Birds
  • Small Game
  • Feral & Exotic
  • Fishing

Permitted hunting categories are waterfowl, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — tidal / saltwater fishing.

The Salton Sea is a major stopover area for ducks and geese migrating along the Pacific Flyway, and this refuge was created to provide additional habitat for these birds.

WaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and coots

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow California regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (5)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 827 (2%)Closed: 36,439 (98%)827huntable acres
  • Special regulations827 ac 2%
  • Closed36,439 ac 98%
Units by size (acres)
Open Water
31,442 ac
Closed Unit
3,772 ac
Unit 2 Closed
1,225 ac
Hazard Tract
672 ac
Union Tract
155 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Hazard Tract
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 672 —
Union Tract
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 155 —
Closed Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 3,772 —
Open Water
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 31,442 —
Unit 2 Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 1,225 —

Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR by the numbers

With about 827 huntable acres, Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR ranks #17 of 21 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in California and #363 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 2% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Hazard Tract (672 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Union Tract, covers 155 acres.

3 units totaling 36,439 acres are closed to hunting (Closed Unit, Open Water, and Unit 2 Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. California 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 — Waterfowl
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose

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 California hunting license and any required tags or stamps — California Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • 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 Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR

  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing

Refuge waters include Salton Sea, a saltwater inland "lake," saltier than the ocean. There are approximately 35,500 acres of refuge lake area open to fishing, with water ranging from shallow to about 20 feet deep. Fishing season is year-round.

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

How to get to Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR

Navigate

Destination: Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
33.20467, -115.71612
DMS
33°12′16.8″N 115°42′58.0″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • El Centro, CA30 mi N of town
  • Palm Springs, CA65 mi SE of town
  • Blythe, CA70 mi SW of town
  • Yuma, AZ72 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • PSP Palm Springs Intl63 mi
  • YUM Yuma Intl74 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 Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Los Angeles local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:46 AM6:16 AM7:09 PM12h 53m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:55 AM6:25 AM6:50 PM12h 26m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM6:28 PM11h 53m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:16 AM6:46 AM6:10 PM11h 25m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:30 AM6:00 AM4:52 PM10h 52m
Sun, Nov 15, 20265:43 AM6:13 AM4:41 PM10h 29m
Tue, Dec 1, 20265:58 AM6:28 AM4:36 PM10h 08m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:08 AM6:38 AM4:37 PM9h 59m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:15 AM6:45 AM4:45 PM9h 60m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:16 AM6:46 AM4:56 PM10h 11m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:08 AM6:38 AM5:13 PM10h 34m

Computed for 33.205, -115.716 (PDT / 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 Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR

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…

Fishing National Wildlife Refuges: Licenses, Seasons, Boats and Where to Go

What to know before fishing a National Wildlife Refuge or fish hatchery — state licenses, seasonal closures that…

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…

Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR?

Yes. Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (827 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Sonny Bono Salton Sea 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 Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR?

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

Where is Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR located?

Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge is in Imperial County, California, about 30 miles N of El Centro, CA (straight-line). GPS: 33.20467, -115.71612.

What are legal shooting hours at Sonny Bono Salton Sea 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

Coachella Valley NWR

Riverside County, CA · 54 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Cibola NWR

La Paz County, AZ · 59 mi E

5 special4 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

12.2K huntable acres

Imperial NWR

La Paz County, AZ · 62 mi E

2 special2 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🎣

22.4K huntable acres

San Diego NWR

San Diego County, CA · 81 mi SW

1 open1 closed
🦌🐦🕊️🐇

161 huntable acres

San Diego Bay NWR

San Diego County, CA · 91 mi SW

1 closed
🎣

Tijuana Slough NWR

San Diego County, CA · 93 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in California →

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