Hunting & Fishing

The weather in Yuma County makes this an ideal location for outdoor recreation.  Among the many choices available Fishing, Hunting and Camping rank fairly high on the locals’ list of favorite activities.  Any chance to take four wheels into the dirt draws Yuma County residents like….

…a fish to water!
…snakes on eggs!
…peanut butter on jelly! 
...you get it; we like the outdoors.

 Below is a brief breakdown of Yuma County Fishing Holes and Hunting Hot Spots.  For more information on any of these topics, please visit the Arizona Game & Fish page, HERE! 

FISHING HOLES 

Whether you are the type of fisherman (or woman) who likes to take the controls of a bass boat equipped with a powerful outboard engine and all the latest in fish-catching technology or if you prefer a lawn chair on a river bank, you have an abundance of places around the Yuma area to choose from. 

In addition to the Colorado and Gila Rivers, there are many lakes and ponds in the surrounding areas where anglers spend time.  Below is a list of places to go fishing in Yuma County.  If you want to know where the sweet spots are, ask the locals!

• Colorado River
• Fortuna Pond
• Gila River
• Growler Pond
• Hidden Shores
• Meers Point
• Mittry Lake
• Martinez Lake/Fisher’s Landing
• Redondo Pond
• Somerton Council Park Pond
• Squaw Lake/Senator Wash Reservoir
• Yuma-area canals 
• Yuma West Wetlands Park Pond
   

Depending on the time of year, the type of fish you will find may vary.  However, there are certain species of fish you will more than likely always find in any of these locations. 

• Largemouth Bass
• Smallmouth Bass
• Striped Bass
• Crappie
• Sunfish
• Channel Catfish
• Flathead Catfish
• Tilapia

For more information on guidelines for fishing in Arizona, and how to obtain a license, visit the Fishing Page on the Arizona Game & Fish site HERE! 

HUNTING

Yuma County is not only home to some amazing anglers, but hunters as well.  No, we are not a large, green, mountainous community; we are desert dwellers and our hunting, though no less skilled, takes on a different list. Dove Hunting is a family tradition for many Yumans.  Further, Yuma County has become such a premiere spot for Dove Hunting that hunters from all over the country have started to come the first week in September every year to be a part of this traditional season.  

The below list is a list of approved species for hunting in the Yuma area:

• Dove
• Pheasant
• Quail
• Antelope
• Bighorn Sheep
• Elk
• Javelina
• Mountain Lion
• Mule Deer
• Waterfowl
• Coyote

Arizona Big Game is limited to seasonal draws.  To gather information on big game draws, licensing, restrictions, season and anything else you need to know about hunting in Yuma County, visit the Arizona Fish & Game hunting site HERE: 

CAMPING/4-WHEELING/WILDLIFE WATCHING

If you are like many residents in Yuma County, you have a vehicle (maybe even your every day vehicle) that doubles as your “weekend vehicle.”  For Yumans, those vehicles are rarely clean – desert life – and they are often used.  Among many “jeeping” clubs in the area, there are countless off-road places to explore! With miles of open desert, just pick a direction and drive!

Typically, those fun and dusty drives can lead to great wildlife watching spots and places to camp for the night.  Below are some popular, and extremely majestic natural areas to begin with. 

Imperial Sand Dunes:

• Large sand system (40 miles in a band, 5 miles wide)
• On and Off Site Camping
• OHV Haven
• Imperial Sand Dunes Website

Cibola National Wildlife Refuge:

• 18,444 acres
• Wildlife watching and photography
• Nature/Hiking Trails
• Fishing
• Select Hunting
• Boating
• Resource Management
  • Watersheds
  • Wetlands
  • Migratory Waterfowl
• Conservation
• www.fws.gov/refuge/cibola/

 Imperial National Wildlife Refuge 
 

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge:

• 25,768 acres, split between Yuma County and California’s Imperial County
• Wildlife watching and photography
• Select hunting
• Fishing
• Boating
• Resource
• Marshes
• Imperial Ponds
• Conservation
• www.fws.gov/refuge/imperial/

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge:

• 665,500 acres
• Wildlife watching and photography
• Nature/Hiking Trails
• Off-Road Trails
• Approved areas for wilderness camping
• Resource Management
  • Bighorn Sheep
  • Sonoran Pronghorn
  • Bats
  • Water
  • Conservation
  • Research Science
  • Home of the King of Arizona (KofA) Mine
  • www.fws.gov/refuge/kofa/