Cibola National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1964 as mitigation for the straightening, channelization, and armoring of the banks of the Colorado River by the Bureau of Reclamation to prevent flooding. The purpose of the 18,444-acre refuge is to protect and recreate the marshes, backwaters, and meanders that historically provided wintering grounds for migratory waterfowl and other wildlife that natural flooding would have formed.�
2025-2026 Cibola Hunt Season

Hunt Dates November 29th, 2025 â€� January 31st, 2026. Up to four, 2-day reservations blocks (Tuesday/Wednesday or Saturday/Sunday) may be requested by a hunter for inclusion in the lottery drawing. Hunters will be selected for a maximum of one, 2-day block. No reservations will be available during the Youth Waterfowl Camp (December 13-14, 2025). The final weekend hunt, January 31, will only be for Saturday, as that is the last day of the waterfowl season.   

To download a copy of the 2025-2026 Cibola Hunt Application/Permit, head on over to our library page or click HERE.

Visit Us

The lower Colorado River flowing through Cibola NWR.
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National wildlife refuges offer us all a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings. Visitors have an opportunity to connect with nature in multiple ways. The lower Colorado River and its backwaters provide numerous outdoor recreational opportunities as well as a vital resource: water! 

For updated information regarding 2025 Cibola water resources, click HERE.

Location and Contact Information

      Our Species

      Flock of pintail on a spit of land next to the marsh.
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      Migratory birds, wintering waterfowl, and endangered and threatened species can be found at Cibola National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge contains several miles of historic river channels and backwaters that provide key habitats in a changed environment. Because of the river's life-sustaining water, wildlife thrives in this environment where temperatures reach 120 degrees in the summer and the average rainfall is two inches per year. 

      Our Library