Beginning
at the junction of the Stone Cabin-King Valley
road and Kofa National Wildlife Refuge; south,
east, and north along the refuge boundary
to the Stone Cabin-King Valley road; north
and west on this road to the junction of
the Stone Cabin-King Valley road and Kofa
National Wildlife Refuge boundary.
Overview:
The desert bighorn sheep population
in unit 45C is one of the most stable
populations in the state and is increasing.
The number of permits increased this
year from three to five. Most of unit
45C has been exposed to very little
disturbance, and the Arizona Game and
Fish Department and the Kofa Wildlife
Refuge has been successful in enhancing
the habitat through numerous sheep
water developments over the years.
The population appears to have come
out of the drought in pretty good shape.
All of the hunters in the previous
nine years have been successful. The
average of the rams taken in the previous
five years is 160. All of the sheep
habitat in unit 45C is on the Kofa
Wildlife Refuge. Sheep hunters will
want to consult with the Kofa prior
to hunting to ensure that hunters are
aware of any special regulations that
may be in effect.
Areas: Hunters are encouraged to contact the Kofa early to find out
which areas and roads they can and cannot hunt (contact phone number
and address is in the hunting regs). Of course, all sheep hunters
will want to purchase a complete set of topographic maps, and should
use them as a reference for the areas mentioned here. Hunters should
keep in mind that very little of the unit's sheep habitat can be
directly accessed by vehicle, rather, the available roads will only
get one close. ATV's may be useful, but check with the Kofa about
where they can be used. Off road vehicle travel is prohibited, including
travel in washes, and all ATV's must be licensed and insured for
highway driving.
The Stone Cabin-King Valley road forms the unit's northern boundary
and the Kofa boundary form the unit's western, eastern and southern
boundaries. From Highway 95, forty miles north of Yuma, one can access
the southern end of the Castle Dome Mountains from the Castle Dome
road. The northern part of the unit can be accessed by the Stone
Cabin-King Valley Road. Macpherson Pass can be used to travel from
the Castle Dome road to the King Valley Road. Macpherson passable
only with a four-wheel drive and you should allow at least 3 hours
for this trip. Vehicle travel is limited to designated roads. Again,
the Kofa should be consulted along with the topo maps to figure out
which routes can be used.
Overview:
There has been some relief from the
droughts that effected unit 45C over
the last several years, but mule deer
populations are still down. However,
quality bucks can still be found in
the unit. Hunters generally concentrate
in and around desert washes where most
of the deer are found. This is a good
strategy, but hunters who are interested
in a challenging hunt and larger, older
bucks should try the broad, desert
flats near to the larger washes. Hunting
the flats is a challenge because vantage
points from which to glass are few,
but persistent hunters often find the
largest bucks here. Whichever strategy
one uses, it should involve scouting
for areas that show signs of deer usage,
and then concentrating the effort on
those areas during the season. Even
in November, temperatures in Unit 45C
can often be fairly warm, so deer will
be most active in the early morning
and late evening hours. The refuge
boundaries are marked with signs but
it is extremely important for hunters
to know where they are. This might
require a little research prior to
the season, and most definitely a good
set of maps.
Areas: All of 45C lies within the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge.
The flats surrounding the Castle Dome Mountains contain large desert
washes. All washes in this area eventually meander down to the Colorado
River. To hunt the washes one should locate deer sign in a specific
area, and then spend time glassing into the washes and rolling hills.
Successful hunters also glass into the washes in the early morning
and evenings from the high ridges between the washes. Four-wheel
drive is recommended. Hunters should keep in mind that very little
of the Kofa is accessed by vehicle and vehicles are required to stay
on designated roads. ATV's may be useful, but check with the Kofa
about where they can be used and ATV's must be licensed and insured
for highway driving.
The Stone Cabin-King Valley road forms the unit's northern boundary
and the Kofa boundary form the unit's western, eastern and southern
boundaries. From Highway 95, forty miles north of Yuma, one can access
the southern end of the Castle Dome Mountains from the Castle Dome
road. The northern part of the unit is accessed by the Stone Cabin-King
Valley Road. Take Macpherson Pass to travel from the Castle Dome
road to the King Valley Road. MacPherson Pass is passable only with
a four wheel drive and you should allow at least 3 hours for this
trip. Vehicle travel is limited to designated roads. Again, the Kofa
should be consulted along with the topo maps to figure out which
routes can be used.
Note: Unit 45C contains land managed the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge,
managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge had specific
regulations that are in effect and hunters should contact the refuge
regarding the area they wish to hunt:
Overview:
Unit 45C does not have the tremendous
dove populations that can be found
in other Yuma area units, because there
isn't any agriculture. Hunters who
wish to get away from the crowds and
still get a limit (though it will probably
take longer then 20 minutes), can find
a place in 45C.
Areas: Hunters interested in a completely different dove hunt might
try locating water sources out in the refuge. The refuge provides
a map of the water catchments in the area. Shooting in these areas
will be less frantic, and there will be fewer people. Water sources
near to roosting sights will prove to be the most fruitful.
Overview:
Unit 45C's quail populations, like
the rest of the state, fluctuate greatly
with the levels of precipitation received.
Fortunately, unit 45C was not hit as
hard by the drought as it's surrounding
areas. All parts of the unit can provide
very good quail hunting opportunities.
Although increased rain over the last
to years has allowed unit 45C quail
populations to recover from the previous
droughts, it will probably take at
least one more good year for quail
populations to really explode.
Areas: All of 45C lies within the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge and
is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Kofa refuge
often supports good populations of quail. The area contains a multitude
of large desert washes heading west from the Castle Dome Mountains.
During good conditions one will easily find quail in these washes.
Four-wheel drive is recommended. Hunters should keep in mind that
very little of the Kofa is accessed by vehicle and vehicles are required
to stay on designated roads. ATV's may be useful, but check with
the Kofa about where they can be used and ATV's must be licensed
and insured for highway driving.
