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The Pintail Slough Management Unit, in Arizona, is made up of all Havasu NWR lands north of the North Dike and west of Mohave County 1 and Mohave County 227. Please contact Havasu National Wildlife Refuge at 760/326-3853 or fw2_rw_havasu@fws.gov.

if you have questions about hunting on the refuge.

• Hunting shall be in accordance with all applicable state and federal regulations.
• Non-toxic shot is required for all hunting.
• Only shotguns permitted, limited to 10 gauge or smaller. Shotguns must be plugged in such a way that the magazine is incapable of holding more than two shells.
• Entrance to Pintail Slough hunt area is permitted only from designated parking areas.
• Camping is permitted only in designated areas of the refuge. (There is no camping in Pintail Slough Management Unit.)
• Decoys must be removed at the end of each day.
• All species of animals and plants are protected except those listed below. Note that the lengths of some hunting seasons may vary with those designated by the State of Arizona.
• During hunting hours, Pintail Slough is closed to visitors without a hunting reservation.
  

Hunting Days

Dove and cottontails: daily
Waterfowl:Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays

Hunting Hours

Hunting hours will be from one-half hour before sunrise to 12:00 noon (Mountain Standard Time) during the waterfowl season.

Slough (Duck Hunting)

A drawing will be held for the hunting blinds each morning one hour and 30 minutes before shooting time. Hunting blinds will be designated by a numbered post. Hunters may construct a blind of dead native vegetation or material such as camo netting, but must remove personal belongings at the end of each hunting day. Hunters must hunt within 25 feet of their numbered post. Drawing for alternate hunters (see alternate hunters selection).

A drawing will be held for the assigned hunting fields each morning 1 hour and 30 minutes before shooting time for those hunters desiring to hunt geese.

Hunters are encouraged to bring portable blinds for goose hunting. Hunting fields will be designated by a lettered post. The same regulations on blind construction apply as with slough hunters.

Advance Reservations

(Required for ducks, geese, coots and galinules only.)

A hunting reservation is required for each waterfowl hunter entering Pintail Slough. Reservations are made in advance of the hunt day and are not transferable. Reservations are not required for hunting doves and rabbits during the September season.

Reservations can be made only by telephone. Reservations will be accepted from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm beginning the first Monday after September 10th.

Hunters may make only one weekend reservation (any or all of Saturday, Sunday, and the following Wednesday) during the hunting season. Each hunter may bring one unarmed observer. Observers must be identified. Only two armed hunters per blind are permitted.

Hunters must adhere to the daily check-in deadlines since blinds assigned to no-shows will be reassigned in a separate drawing on the hunt day.

A $10.00 per hunter per day user fee will be collected daily at the check-in from each hunter each morning. Cash only please.

Check In

All hunters must report to the Pintail Slough Parking Area Check Station between 1 hour and 45 minutes and 1 hour and 30 minutes before legal shooting time.

Alternate Hunters (Standby)

Hunters without Advanced Reservations will be permitted to enter the drawing for alternate reservations, if any blinds remain unfilled, after the Advance Reservation holders have drawn for their blinds. Alternate hunters are subject to the same regulations as Advance Reservation holders.

Loaded Weapons (Waterfowl Only)

• Weapons must be unloaded except at blinds.
• Duck and goose hunters may only have sixteen (16) shells per day for hunting.

Check Out

Hunters are required to check out of the area at the end of each day by 1:00 p.m.

Decoys and Dogs

A minimum of one-half dozen decoys per blind is required. When setting out decoys, it is recommended the outer decoy be placed no more than 40 yards from the blind. This will help you judge when to shoot and result in fewer cripples. Use of retrievers is encouraged. Dogs must be kept under control at all times.

Conduct

Hunters are required to be at their blind site 45 minutes before shooting time and must not leave the hunting area until at least one hour after the start of shooting time.

Each hunter is expected to respect the rights of others. Interference with another's hunting, long-range shooting, or unsportsmanlike behavior may be cause for revocation of hunting privileges.

Physically Impaired Hunters

The refuge covers a variety of habitats, including uneven terrain, deep waters, and dense stands of vegetation. Hunting difficulty varies by blind.

Disabled persons must hunt with a partner and consult with the Refuge Manager prior to the hunt for suggestions on hunting the area safely. One blind (#3) with wheelchair access is available and will be used for reserved disabled hunters. Disabled hunters must provide proof of disability.

Accidents

Injuries or accidents occurring on the refuge must be reported immediately to the Refuge Manager, Havasu National Wildlife Refuge; P.O. Box 3009; Needles, California 92363; telephone 760/326-3853.

Shooting Hours (Mountain Standard Time)

October

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November

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December

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January

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