Birdwatching

With over 300 species of birds to be found in both the Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge and the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, these two destinations are highly recommended for anyone who enjoys birds from beginner to those who consider themselves experts. 

Birding Hot Spots in the Bill Williams River NWR include Delta Point, Mosquito Flats, Gate, and Mineral Wash. 

Favorite birding sites in the Havasu NWR include N. Lake Havasu, New South Dike, South Dike, Catfish Paradise, Five-mile Landing, North Dike, and Pintail Slough. In addition, there is a wildlife observation towers at Bermuda Pasture. 

Maps and additional information are available at both refuge headquarters’ offices.  

Here are some helpful Links: ​

• Arizona Field Ornithologists: A printable bird list for Mohave County, or the State of Arizona, is available at this site. 
• Prescott Audubon Society: This link will take you to the website for the Prescott Audubon Society.
• Yuma Audubon Society: This link will take you to the website for the Yuma Audubon Society.

Public hunting on Havasu NWR is permitted in specified areas as outlined in the current regulations.

At Bill Williams River NWR, hunting for dove (mourning, white-winged), Gambel’s quail and cottontail rabbit is offered on the refuge and permitted south of the Planet Ranch Road. Only shotguns are permitted for hunting dove, Gambel's quail, and cottontail rabbit on designated areas of the refuge. In the field, hunters using a shotgun shall possess and use only nontoxic shot. Hunting for cottontail rabbit is open from September 1st to the end of the state hunting season, seasons for dove and quail coincide with state regulations. For your safety and enjoyment, please be familiar with the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s regulations at www.azgfd.gov.

Each January, we participate in a partnership with Arizona Game and Fish,  Ducks Unlimited, and Topock Elementary School in a Youth Waterfowl Hunt at Havasu NWR, for youth aged 12-17. 

Youth participants receive hands-on instruction ranging from firearm safety to waterfowl identification, to hunting and cleaning of the birds.

The event activities begin Friday after check-in. A meeting is held and several topics are covered such as gun safety, clay pigeon shoot, bird identification, hunting regulations, and history. A raffle for prizes is held, dinner is served, and the mentors draw for their hunting blinds.

On Saturday morning, the hunters are up about 4:30 am, and are treated to breakfast at 4:45 am. After breakfast the hunters convoy to Pintail Slough, where the young hunters are given their shotguns. Decoys are set up by the mentors by 6:15 am; the temperature can be very cold, they have even experienced  ice needing to be broken to set up the decoys. The young hunters sit quietly in their blinds with one young hunter's parent and one mentor until the hunt begins at approximately 7:15 am. 

The hunt ends at 12 Noon, at which time the blinds are cleaned up, the hunters checked out with federal officers, and the mentors retrieve the ducks. After the hunt, the group returns to the school where lunch is served. After lunch, the young hunters have an opportunity to practice archery on a range set up by Havasu NWR Staff. A raffle, dinner, and a drawing for blinds is held after the hunt.

A similar schedule is followed for the Sunday hunt. By then, the hunters have better accuracy and know what to expect. The second young hunters' parent is allowed in the blind with the two hunters and mentor. 

The hunt ends at noon, the mentors retrieve the waterfowl and the group returns to the school for lunch and other activities.

The event has been very well received by the young hunters, their parents, and the mentors. 

Participants are chosen by lottery  in September prior to the January event.  More information is available on the AZ Game & Fish site.

The following link with take you to the current hunting regulations: AZ Game & Fish 2020-21 Hunting Regulations.

Kayak fishing is one of today's fastest growing outdoor sports, combining the peaceful serenity of a quiet paddle with the excitement  [kayak bass] of the possibility of hooking and landing a trophy game fish.

While you can fish from either a sit-inside or sit-on-top kayak, sit-on-top kayaks are preferred by most for their stability, space for gear storage, and for ease of access to your equipment. 

For a relatively modest expense, you can rig a sit-on-top kayak with a fishing crate and a few fishing rod holders and off you go.

As you get more involved in the sport, you can add an anchor trolley with anchor, a rudder, and even a fish finder with GPS. Many kayak manufacturers are now making kayaks developed specifically for the sport. There is nothing quite like the thrill of getting a free tow in your kayak from a striped bass or other game fish.

Kayak Fishing in the Refuges

The Bill Williams River and Havasu National Wildlife Refuges both offer a variety of opportunities to fish the type of water you prefer. Species of note are Small-mouth Bass, Large-mouth Bass, Striped Bass, Flathead Catfish, Channel Catfish, and various pan fish. Lake Havasu is rapidly becoming known as one of the best Small-mouth bass fisheries in the west. Some details about the Refuges:

The Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge includes the southern reaches of Lake Havasu and the long, narrow channel of the Bill Williams River. You can fish in the wide open spaces of Lake Havasu or among the reeds and flooded tree structures in the Bill Williams River. This area is a NO WAKE ZONE for boaters, so this is a perfect place for kayaking and fishing.  The area is easily accessible using a motorless boat launching ramp located at the Bill Williams River NWR Headquarters. Click here to link to the official Bill Williams River NWR Website

The Havasu National Wildlife Refuge offers multiple opportunities for kayak fishing. Topock Marsh, in the northern portion of the Havasu NWR, is a shallow marsh featuring reeds and the skeletal remains of a long-ago flooded mesquite forest. Further south, you can drift the current of the Colorado River from Topock Marina south through the Topock Gorge, or fish the northern portion of Lake Havasu from the gently flowing Colorado River at Castle Rock to the expanse of Lake Havasu at Mesquite Bay. Click here to link to the official Havasu NWR Website

Please note that some areas are closed to all access during certain migration and nesting periods. Please check the specific Refuge website for boating regulations, areas restricted to access, and other rules that may apply. In addition, there are several businesses in the area where you can rent boats, canoes, and kayaks; consult your local telephone directory or our sponsor page.