From ducks and geese in wetlands to desert bighorn on canyon rims, Havasu National Wildlife Refuge is known for its variety of hunting opportunities. One such opportunity is for Gambel's quail in the upland areas between the river and canyon rims. In a good year, large coveys are abundant and hunters with strong legs and well-trained dogs can find fantastic hunting. Hunters can expect extremely rugged and often very dry conditions, so they should pack plenty of water for themselves and their dogs. Those who make the effort will be rewarded not only with many flushing quail, but also with the spectacular sandstone cliffs of Topock Gorge. An alert hunter may see Native American petroglyphs, reminders that this desert country has been used by hunters for millennia.
Pintail Slough Waterfowl Hunt - Quota Hunt
Changes for the 2025-26 season
The process for reserving blinds at Pintail Slough is being migrated to the rec.gov online platform. Blind reservations will be made available during three separate hunt windows and will begin on the dates specified below.
September 15th reservation period opens for the October 1st to November 15th hunt window.
November 1st reservation period opens for the November 15th to December 31st hunt window.
December 15th reservation period opens for the January 1st to January 31st hunt window.
More information about reserving blinds and other hunt program updates will be made available at a public meeting on Friday July 25th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm AZ time at the Mohave Valley Fire Station in Mohave Valley, Arizona and on this page of the refuge website. Thank you for your patience as we implement these updates.
For questions you can call the refuge office at (928) 667-4144.
User Fees for Quota Hunt
The reservation fee is $50.00 per blind. Each hunting party may consist of no more than 4 individuals, including the reservation holder, other hunters, and nonhunters. Hunters can reserve up to three blind permits per hunt window which is 9 total blind permits for the season.
Accessible Hunting
The handicap blind is reserved for CHAMP license hunters with disabilities.
Youth Hunts
Arizona Game & Fish Dept. will be conducting a youth hunter education hunt camp at Pintail Slough the first full weekend of January. Blind reservations will not be available for those dates. For further information about youth participation or opportunities to volunteer as a mentor, contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department Kingman office at (928) 692-7700.
Pintail Slough will be exclusively open to youth hunters for first weekend after the end of hunt season. Youth hunters must be accompanied by at least one adult mentor. Mentors will not be permitted to hunt during this time. Contact the Pintail Slough at coordinator at (928) 667-4144 to make a youth weekend reservation.
Other Refuge Areas Open for Hunting
Topock Marsh
Designated portions of Topock Marsh are open to hunting.
Other Refuge Lands
Refuge lands and waters south of Blankenship Bend to the north boundary of the city limits of Lake Havasu City.
Areas Closed to Hunting
Topock Marsh
Entry into the Topock Marsh closed area is prohibited from October 1 through the last day of the state waterfowl season (including the youth-only hunt). The only exception is through traffic on the Levee Road and the entrance to the Bermuda goose observation tower parking lot.
Topock Gorge
Hunting is prohibited in Topock Gorge from Blankenship Bend north to Interstate 40, including those refuge lands within a quarter mile of the waters of the Colorado River.
Hunting Opportunities
Migratory Bird Hunting
Migratory Bird Dates, daily bag, and possession limits will be in accordance with respective federal and state regulations. Special conditions apply within the Pintail Slough Management Unit.
Dove Hunting
Dates, daily bag, and possession limits will be in accordance with respective federal and state regulations, except in the Pintail Slough management unit, where the hunting of dove is permitted only by quota hunt permit during the state waterfowl hunt season.
Upland Game Hunting
Within the Pintail Slough Quota Hunt Area, take is only permitted by quota hunt permit during the state waterfowl season.鈥� The harvest of desert cottontail rabbit, Eurasian collared-dove, African collared-dove, black-tailed jackrabbit, bobcat, coyote, gray fox, and kit fox is permitted during the refuge specific upland game season September 1 to March 15. Quail may be harvested following regular season dates.
Methods of take permitted on the refuge include shotgun, handgun, pneumatic weapons, archery, crossbow, and muzzleloader, except for quail where the use of muzzleloader is not permitted.