Unit 45A, Arizona

The unit covers approximately 321 square miles (about 205,700 acres). Elevation ranges from roughly 875–1,200 feet on the broad desert flats to 4,877 feet at Signal Peak in the Kofa Mountains — the highest point in Yuma County — with the Castle Dome Mountains in the southwest corner topping out at Castle Dome Peak (3,780 feet). Terrain is extreme: broad, gently sloping desert bajadas give way to sharp needlepoint peaks, sheer cliffs, boulder fields, and deep canyon systems. Loose, rocky footing dominates the broken country, and distances compress poorly in the mountains — short horizontal distances involve enormous elevation changes. Summers bring temperatures exceeding 120°F; summer monsoon rains rarely reach this far west, keeping the unit exceptionally arid.

The entire unit is Kofa National Wildlife Refuge land managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (9300 E. 28th St., Yuma, AZ 85365; 928-783-7861). Approximately 82% of the refuge (547,719 acres) is designated Kofa Wilderness — the second-largest wilderness area in Arizona. Vehicle use is restricted to existing designated roads and vehicles must remain within 100 feet of those roads; no cross-country driving is permitted. The wilderness boundary eliminates motorized access to the bulk of the Kofa Mountains interior, requiring extended foot travel — often several miles — to reach prime habitat. Primary highway access is US Highway 95, which runs north–south along the western refuge boundary for approximately 57 miles. Key named access roads off US 95 include: Palm Canyon Road (gravel, approximately 8 miles east from milepost 85; 2WD-accessible to the trailhead); MST&T Road (off US 95 at approximately milepost 92.7); El Paso Natural Gas Line Road (8 miles south of Quartzsite on US 95). From the east, Hovatter Road off Interstate 10 and King Valley Road (22 miles, accessed east of Stone Cabin) provide access to the King Valley corridor between the Kofa and New Water mountains. Castle Dome Mine Road (approximately 9 miles) penetrates the southwestern Castle Dome Mountains area. Four-wheel-drive with high clearance is strongly recommended for most dirt roads; spare tires are essential given remote distances. Campsites must be located at least 1/4 mile from water sources. Firearms must be unloaded and cased when transported in vehicles on the refuge. Nearest services: Quartzsite (north, US 95/I-10 junction) and Brenda (east, I-10). No hospitals, hotels, or grocery stores within 20 miles of the unit.

The unit lies within the Yuma Desert subdivision of the Sonoran Desert. Dominant cover is low desert scrub: palo verde, mesquite, catclaw acacia, ironwood, saguaro cactus, ferocacti, and prickly pear. Washes and canyon bottoms support denser riparian desert vegetation that serves as wildlife corridors. At higher elevations in the Kofa Mountains, desert shrub transitions to slightly denser cover. Palm Canyon hosts the only native California fan palm (Washingtonia filifera) grove in Arizona — a biological landmark. Springs and artificial water catchments (tinajas and guzzlers) are critical habitat nodes scattered throughout the interior.

Desert bighorn sheep are the flagship species; the refuge-wide population was estimated at 428 animals in a recent USFWS survey (Wikipedia) and at 941 animals in the 2021 WAFWA aerial survey — a major recovery from historical lows (~130 animals in 2009, 274 in 2014). Rams in unit 45A have averaged approximately 158–166" (B&C) in recent harvests (2022 data), with statewide average around 161"; GoHunt rates the unit's trophy potential at 180"+. Class IV rams remain scarce. Mule deer (desert mule deer subspecies) are present throughout; populations peaked around 1,500 animals in the mid-to-late 1980s and declined to approximately 811 in 2015, with ongoing suppression attributed to drought. Units 45A/B/C carry some of the lowest mule deer densities statewide; deer are smaller-bodied with smaller antlers on average. Mule deer movement centers on washes, canyon bottoms, and edges of the mountain ranges rather than the rugged mountain interiors. Gambel's quail are distributed throughout the unit and represent the most accessible game; covey size and density fluctuate with spring precipitation. Javelina are present and huntable under state regulations. Coyote, bobcat, kit fox, badger, cougar, and desert tortoise also inhabit the refuge. No elk or pronghorn occupy this unit.

1. Tag quotas for mule deer draw hunts in unit 45A could not be confirmed from publicly accessible sources; AZGFD Commission Order 2 (deer proclamation) is the authoritative source. 2. Bighorn sheep tag quota of 10 total (5 per hunt code, 2 nonresident per code) sourced from GoHunt 2026 application strategy — verify against current year proclamation. 3. Bighorn sheep population: Wikipedia cites 428 animals (USFWS recent survey); WAFWA 2021 aerial survey estimated 941 refuge-wide — draft figure of 274 (2014) was outdated and has been replaced. 4. Ram B&C scores: 2022 harvest data shows 158–166" mean; draft's '150 B&C' figure was understated and has been corrected. 5. Castle Dome Peak corrected to 3,780 ft (draft said 'near 3,600 feet'). 6. Mule deer OTC archery: unit 45A subject to in-season closure once harvest limit is reached; check AZGFD OTC archery tracker at azgfd.com before hunting. 7. No elk or pronghorn occupy this unit.