Located in an extremely remote area along the Mexican border, San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge is not a refuge many hunters know. In fact, during most hunting seasons, five or fewer hunters visit the refuge. This doesn't mean the hunting is restricted; nor does it mean the hunting is poor. In fact, a hunter willing to make the trip likely will be rewarded with a bag limit of the game of choice, whether dove, quail or rabbit. The dove population, which includes mourning and white-wing doves, is particularly high, and doves pass over the upland area every morning. There are also two species of quail on the refuge, Gambel's and scaled. Hunters should find birds throughout the refuge's mesquite thickets and grassland habitat. Because the refuge is along the Mexican border, hunters should be aware of the possibility of encountering illegal immigrants and drug smugglers, although no confrontations have occurred to date. Due to the heat of the desert environment, hunters are advised to get out early when game is moving and conditions are more pleasant.
All Hunting:
We allow only shotguns.
We allow only non-toxic shot.
We allow the use of retrieval dogs.
We allow hunting during daylight hours only.
Migratory Bird Hunting:
We allow hunting of mourning and white-winged dove.
Upland Game Hunting:
We allow hunting of Gambel’s and scaled quail.
We allow cottontail rabbit hunting.
Cottontail rabbit season opens on September 1 and closes, on refuge, the last day of the State quail season.