Unit 16B, Arizona

Predominantly flat-to-rolling Lower Colorado River Valley desert, with two distinct rocky mountain ranges rising from the plains: the Needle Mountains in the north (accessed from I-40 Exit 2 / Topock area) and the smaller, less rugged Aubrey Hills in the south near the Bill Williams River confluence. Elevation ranges from approximately 200 feet along the river/lake margin to about 2,100 feet in the upper ridges of the Needle Mountains. Much of the unit floor is river terrace and broad desert washes draining west toward the Colorado River.

Public land totals approximately 77% of the unit — 43% BLM (managed by the Lake Havasu Field Office, 928-505-1200), roughly 18% designated wilderness, 3% NPS/US Fish and Wildlife Service (Havasu National Wildlife Refuge), and approximately 13% other public; 23% is private (breakdown figures are approximate per HuntScore). Primary vehicle corridor is US Highway 95, which bisects the unit north-south through Lake Havasu City. Interstate 40 forms the northern boundary; Exit 2 (Needles Mountains Exit, ~3 miles from the AZ-CA line) provides the principal trailhead access to the Needle Mountains and the north end of Havasu NWR. A second route into the Needle Mountains is a two-track designated dirt road off SR 95 at milepost 192 into Blankenship Wash (south approach). Boat launches at Lake Havasu City and Topock provide water access to the NWR and both mountain ranges. Motor vehicles are not permitted on Havasu NWR lands; designated motorized routes on BLM only. BLM travel management maps (7 separate sheets) are available from the Lake Havasu Field Office. Hunting on the refuge is open south of Blankenship Bend to the northern Lake Havasu City limits; the Topock Gorge area from Blankenship Bend north to I-40 is closed to hunting within 1/4 mile of the Colorado River (verified per USFWS). Entry to Topock Marsh is prohibited October 1 through end of the state waterfowl season, except for through-traffic on Levee Road. Non-toxic shot is mandatory throughout the refuge. Pintail Slough waterfowl hunting requires a quota blind reservation through recreation.gov ($10/blind, max 4 persons). The Bill Williams River NWR abuts the southern boundary. No seasonal road closures specific to 16B were identified in the 2026-27 regulations.

Dominated by Sonoran desertscrub of the Lower Colorado River Valley subdivision — creosote bush, white bursage, and ironwood are the structural species, with brittlebush, desert lavender, and catclaw acacia in washes. The Colorado River / Lake Havasu shoreline and major wash bottoms support a riparian corridor of cottonwood, willow, arrowweed, and cattail, which concentrates both waterfowl and upland game near water. The Havasu National Wildlife Refuge encompasses Topock Gorge and Topock Marsh, providing extensive backwater wetland habitat. No ponderosa pine, pinyon-juniper, or sky-island habitats are present; the entire unit is low-elevation Sonoran desert and riparian.

Desert bighorn sheep inhabit both mountain ranges — the Needle Mountains (north; more rugged) and the Aubrey Hills (south; smaller and accessible on foot only). Rams observed in the unit typically score 140-170 Boone and Crockett points; lower scores relative to age are attributed to extreme heat and limited rainfall. Mourning and white-winged doves concentrate near the Lake Havasu City developed shoreline and agricultural fringe during early and late migratory periods. Gambel's quail occur throughout the unit at relatively low densities compared to central Arizona, most reliably found along wash bottoms with cover vegetation and near permanent water; the Standard Wash area south of Lake Havasu City is noted for higher quail concentrations. Waterfowl — mallards, pintails, American wigeon, and multiple teal species — use Lake Havasu and the Havasu NWR backwaters, with December representing the peak of the late-season migration. Mountain lions move through both mountain ranges. Coyotes and bobcats are present. No elk, mule deer, javelina, pronghorn, or turkey populations are identified for this unit in current AZGFD regulations or official unit references.

1. Desert bighorn sheep are confirmed present in unit 16B (Needle Mountains and Aubrey Hills) per Hunt Now Arizona and Lake Havasu Tourism hunting map, but NO dedicated draw hunt number for unit 16B appears in the 2026-27 AZGFD regulations or 2025 bighorn sheep draw odds. Adjacent unit 16A has active sheep draw hunts (e.g., hunts 6013 and 6014). Hunters should verify directly with AZGFD Region III (Kingman, 928-692-7700). 2. Unit 16B has no draw hunts for deer, elk, javelina, bear, or turkey in 2026-27 regulations. 3. The 77% public land figure and ownership breakdown are from HuntScore and are approximate. 4. Dove and waterfowl dates reflect 2025-26 framework patterns; the 2026-27 USFWS Pacific Flyway supplement had not been published as of June 2026. 5. Mountain lion tag_quota of 14 is the combined annual harvest threshold for zone E (units 16A/16B/18A/18B), not a 16B-only quota. 6. CORRECTION FROM DRAFT: Topock Gorge hunting closure boundary is Blankenship Bend (not 'Castle Rock Bay') north to I-40 within 1/4 mile of the Colorado River, per USFWS Havasu NWR hunting page. 7. Topock Marsh entry is prohibited Oct 1 through end of state waterfowl season (Levee Road through-traffic excepted), per USFWS.