Waterfowl Seasons & Areas

Waterfowl: Commission Order 21

Waterfowl and Snipe Notes:

1. Open areas include the Imperial, Cibola, Buenos Aires and Havasu National Wildlife Refuges EXCEPT for posted portions which shall be closed to all hunting; a fee may be required for hunting on National Wildlife Refuges, see refuge regulations. See refuge regulations for the use of dogs in hunting activities.
2. Posted areas on Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area in Unit 30B are closed to waterfowl hunting. Willcox Playa Wildlife Area in Unit 30A is closed to waterfowl hunting.
3. All areas within Arizona are designated nontoxic shot zones. The use or possession of lead shot while waterfowl hunting is prohibited. No person may take ducks, geese (including Brant), or coots while possessing shot (either in shot shells or as loose shot for muzzleloading) other than approved non-toxic shot. Lead shot includes plated lead shot. For a list of approved non-toxic shot, see www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/cur...issues/nontoxic.htm. Steel, bismuth, tungsten-iron, tungsten-polymer, tungsten-nickel-iron, and tungsten matrix shot are approved as nontoxic shot.
4. Persons 16 years of age or older must have in their possession a valid Federal Waterfowl Stamp and a valid, signed Arizona Migratory Bird Stamp* attached to their hunting license or printed privileges on their license when taking ducks, geese, coots, and gallinules. This stamp or privilege will automatically register the holder for the federal Harvest Information Program for the taking of ducks and geese. *The youth license already includes the Arizona Migratory Bird Stamp privileges.
5. Hunting is not permitted in Unit 26M in the following described area: those private lands lying just north of the Town of Cave Creek in Sections 10, 11, 12, 14, and 15 of Township 6 North, Range 3 East.
6. Falconry hunting will not be permitted on National Wildlife Refuges.
7. The Grand Canyon-Parashant, Vermilion Cliffs, Sonoran Desert, Ironwood Forest, and Agua Fria National Monuments are open to hunting.
8. A portion of Unit 26M is closed to hunting. Hunting is not permitted in the following area of Unit 26M: an unincorporated portion of land west of
   Loop 202 (San Tan Freeway) known as the Elliot and Hawes County Island in Section 16, Township 1 South, Range 7 East.
9. Entry into portions of Units 40A, 40B, 46A, and 46B is subject to military closure and requires coordination with the Barry M. Goldwater Range for hunting access. For specifics about accessing the Barry M. Goldwater Range refer to the Index: Hunting on Military Reservations.
10. The Florence Military Reservation (training areas B and D: the areas north and south of Cottonwood Canyon Road) in Unit 37B is subject to short term closures due to military operations, including live fire operations, and requires coordination with the Florence Military Reservation for hunting access. For specific closure dates or any other access concerns, contact the Florence Military Reservation at 602-267-2060. A map of the Florence Military Reservation is located on the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s website (under Region V at www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Units/).
11. Hunting is not permitted in Unit 26M in the following described area: an unincorporated portion of land within the Town of Queen Creek in Pinal County in Sections 5, 7, 8, and 18 of Township 3 South, Range 8 East.
12. Within Unit 25M as described in R12-4-108, all incorporated lands, including private property within municipal boundaries, are closed to hunting unless opened under Commission Order. Incorporated includes all municipal and corporate limits. County islands are open to hunting provided the hunter does not discharge a firearm within ¼ mile of an occupied farmhouse, residence, cabin, lodge, or building without permission of
    the owner or resident. Privately held lands within county islands may be closed by the landowner.
13. Hunting is not permitted in Unit 26M in the following described area in the City of Maricopa: that portion of the city east of Green Road, south of
    Smith Enke Road, and east of the Cobblestone subdivision and that portion of the city north of Farrell Road and west of White and Parker Road.
14. Hunting is not permitted in Units 26M and 37A in the following described area in the Town of Eloy: beginning with the intersection of Cornman Road and LaPalma Road; south on LaPalma Road to Milligan Road; west on Milligan Road to Overfield Road; north on Overfield Road to Cornman Road; east on Cornman Road to LaPalma Road.
15. The following Pima County parks and preserves are open to hunting when the unit they occur in is listed as an open area: A-7 Ranch in Units 32 and 33, Oracle Ridge Property in Unit 33, Six Bar Ranch in Unit 33, Emperita Ranch in Unit 34B, Bar V Ranch in Unit 34B, Sands Ranch in Unit 34B, Clyne Ranch in Unit 34B, Diamond Bell Ranch in Unit 36A, Marley Ranch in Units 36A and 36B, Rancho Seco in Units 36A and 36B, Kings 98 Ranch in Unit 36C, Old Hayhook Ranch in Unit 36C, Verdugo in Unit 36C, Bee Ranch in Unit 37A, Mordka Ranch in Unit 37A, Buckelew Ranch in Unit 37A, Carpenter Ranch in Unit 37A, Cochie Canyon Ranch in Unit 37A, Lords Ranch in Unit 37A, and Tortolita Mountain Park in Unit 37A. Hunting in County Parks, opened by this Commission Order, is not permitted within¼ mile of any developed picnic area, developed camp ground, shooting range, occupied building, boat ramp, or golf course. Developed areas do not include trails.
16. Hunting is not permitted in Unit 36B in the following described area: in the posted portion of Sopori Ranch south of Arivaca Road in Sections 14 and 15, Township 20 South, Range 11 East. The remainder of Sopori Ranch is open to hunting.
17. Hunting is not permitted in Unit 37A in the following described area in the Town of Marana: beginning at the intersection of Sanders Road and Avra Valley Road; north on Sanders Road to the Santa Cruz River; southeast along the Santa Cruz River to the Central Arizona Project Canal; southwest along the Central Arizona Project Canal to Avra Valley Road; west on Avra Valley Road to the intersection of Sanders Road.
18. Hunting is not permitted in Units 43A and 44B in the following described area in the Town of Quartzsite: Sections 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35, Township 4 North, Range 19 West and Sections 2, 3, and 4, Township 3 North, Range 19 West.
19. The following Maricopa County parks and preserves are open to hunting waterfowl and snipe using shotgun shooting shot when this season coincides with quail season as defined in R12-4-301: Lake Pleasant, White Tank Mountains, McDowell Mountain, and Estrella Mountain Regional Park. Hunting
    in County Parks, opened by this Commission Order, is not permitted within
    ¼ mile of any developed picnic area, developed camp ground, shooting range, occupied building, boat ramp, or golf course. Developed areas do not include trails.
20. The area in Unit 37A in the Town of Marana is subject to temporary closures in February for special events. All state lands located south of Cochie Canyon Trail in Township 11 South, Range 12 East.
21. Jacques Marsh Wildlife Area in Unit 3B is open to hunting per R12-4-802.
22. In Units 11M and 38M, the private property within municipal boundaries is closed to hunting.
23. The posted portions of Roosevelt Wildlife Area are closed to hunting in Units 22, 23, and 24B from November 15 through February 15 as prescribed in R12-4-801 and R12-4-802.
24. All City of Tucson Water Properties in Units 36C and 37A are closed to waterfowl hunting.
25. Access requirements for portions of Units 4A, 5A, and 5B North - In Unit 4A on the Hopi’s Aja Ranch and in Unit 5B North on the Hopi’s Hart/Drye Ranch, access is permitted by signing in at designated sign-in boxes located at access points. In the northern portion of Unit 5A, access is permitted on the Clear Creek Ranch by written permission only by contacting the Hopi Tribe Wildlife and Ecosystems Management Program via e-mail at [email protected] or by calling (928) 734-3671, (928) 734-3672 or (928) 734-3673 from Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (MST). All AZGFD State Certified/Licensed Outfitters and Guides who conduct business on the Hopi ranches must contact the Hopi Tribe’s Office of Revenue Commission at (928) 734-3171 or (928) 734-3172 to obtain an annual Hopi Tribal Business License. Upon approval of a Hopi Tribal Business License, access to the Hopi 3 Canyon Ranch may be obtained via email at [email protected] or by calling the numbers above.
26. For hunts in Units 5A and 5B North, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has entered into a Landowner Compact Agreement with the Bar T Bar Ranch and Flying M Ranch located in the northern portion of Units 5A and 5B. A Ranch Pass and adherence to Ranch Rules is required to access these ranches. Signage at points of entrance to the ranch provides notification of the Landowner Compact Agreement. The free Ranch Pass, a copy of Ranch Rules, and location map may be obtained online from the Department’s Landowner Relations Program web page https://www.azgfd. com/landowner-compact/. Ranch Passes and Ranch Rules for the Flying M Ranch may also be obtained at sign-in boxes located at either of the two entrance points onto the ranch. Ranch Passes and Ranch Rules for the Bar T Bar Ranch may also be obtained at the Meteor Crater Gas Station/Convenience Store.
27. Rogers Lake Coconino County Natural Area in Unit 6B is open to hunting; this area is closed to all vehicle access and is closed to motorized big game retrieval. Hunting is not permitted within ¼ mile of any occupied building, wildlife viewing platform, picnic area, or developed trailhead.