GMU 45A Unit 45A — Yuma
Western Kofa: rugged refuge sheep country and a quiet, quality desert mule deer sleeper
Southwestern Arizona low desert — Kofa National Wildlife Refuge · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
323
sq mi
Public land
98%
approx.
Elevation
900–4,200
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Unit 45A takes in the western portion of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge south of Quartzsite, part of the combined 45A/45B/45C mule deer unit. It is classic desert-bighorn ground — the Kofa complex is one of Arizona's premier desert sheep strongholds — and its interior rolling country historically held the refuge's highest deer densities. Terrain is rugged with limited vehicle access, and much of the sheep habitat sits within designated wilderness. Hunting is allowed on the refuge, but scouting is essential.
Terrain
Flat to rolling low desert broken by steep, rocky ranges; elevation changes sharply over short distances in the mountains.
Cover: Creosote-bursage and paloverde–ironwood–saguaro bajadas, with denser vegetation in wash bottoms and interior high country.
Landmarks: Kofa Mountains · Livingston Hills · Kofa National Wildlife Refuge · El Paso Natural Gas Pipeline road · MST&T road
Access
Almost entirely federal refuge and BLM. Refuge wilderness limits vehicles to existing designated roads, and travel must stay within 100 feet of those roads. For the 45A permitted sheep hunt, the open area is the portion of 45A south of the El Paso Natural Gas Pipeline. No tribal land in this unit.
Managers: Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS), BLM, Wilderness
Access points: El Paso Natural Gas Line Road (about 8 miles south of Quartzsite off Highway 95) · MST&T road off milepost 92.7 on Highway 95 · Interior Kofa Mountains roads off the pipeline road
Species notes
Bighorn Sheep
common trophyThe Kofa refuge is a benchmark desert-bighorn range. For the 45A permitted hunt, the open unit is south of the El Paso Natural Gas Pipeline; pre-hunt scouting is critical, with the Livingston Hills a good area to start.
- →Scout the Livingston Hills via the MST&T road off milepost 92.7 on Highway 95
- →Glass steep, rocky faces at dawn and dusk from opposing ridges
- →Expect physically hard, cliffy country — plan foot routes off the designated roads
Mule Deer
common qualityPart of the 45A/B/C combined unit, which has a reputation for quality desert mule deer. The interior high rolling country of the Kofa Mountains historically held the highest deer densities on the refuge, but rugged terrain and limited vehicle access mean success takes work.
- →Push into the interior high country where deer densities are best
- →Find high points and glass the flats and wash mouths at first light
- →Hunt the vegetated drainages spilling out of the Kofas for cover-holding bucks
Pro tips
- →Know exactly where the El Paso Natural Gas Pipeline runs — it defines the open sheep area in 45A
- →Scout multiple days; the refuge's best deer are in hard-to-reach interior country
- →Stay within 100 feet of designated roads when driving in refuge wilderness
- →Glass from high points over the flats — some very large, very smart bucks live here
- →Carry all your own water and plan self-recovery
Watch out for
- !Kofa NWR wilderness — vehicles restricted to designated roads, within 100 ft
- !No water, fuel, or services on the refuge
- !Steep, cliffy sheep terrain — real fall and injury risk
- !Extreme desert heat on early hunts
- !Verify the open sheep-hunt boundary (south of the pipeline) before hunting
Logistics
Quartzsite (about 8 miles north via Highway 95) is the last reliable stop for fuel and supplies. There is no water and no services on the refuge — pack in everything, run high-clearance, and give yourself scouting days before a hunt. Camp on designated roads per refuge rules.
Nearest towns: Quartzsite, Yuma
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Arizona sources:
Research sources: AZGFD — Unit 45A · Kofa NWR Public Use and Hunting Regulations (USFWS) · Hunt Now Arizona — Unit 45A
FAQ
- How big is GMU 45A in Arizona?
- GMU 45A (Unit 45A — Yuma) covers about 323 square miles, ranging from roughly 900 to 4,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 45A?
- Approximately 98% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS), BLM, Wilderness. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 45A?
- Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Arizona agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 45A on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.