Base and Meridian Wildlife Area: hunting rules and access
Base and Meridian Wildlife Area is 622 acres, measured from AZGFD's boundary, in game management units 39 and 26M, Maricopa County, AZGFD Region 6. AZGFD's rule for hunting here: "Open to all hunting in season as permitted under R12-4-304 and R12-4-318."
Data updated October 2026. Rules: AZGFD's wildlife area layer, rules dated 2013. Boundary: AZGFD. Hunts: AZGFD's 2026 booklets.
BLMState trust landAZGFD landNational wildlife refugeTribal land (tribal permit)City, county and otherBase and Meridian Wildlife AreaUnit lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 622 acres (measured from AZGFD's boundary) |
|---|---|
| Units | Unit 39, Unit 26M |
| AZGFD region | Region 6, Mesa |
| County | Maricopa |
| Hunting | Open to all hunting in season as permitted under R12-4-304 and R12-4-318. |
| Camping | No overnight public camping. |
| Firearms | Closed to discharge of rifled firearms. |
| Nearest towns | Maricopa Colony (4 mi), Avondale (4 mi) and Tolleson (5 mi) |
What are the rules on Base and Meridian Wildlife Area?
AZGFD lists 7 rules for the area:
- No open fires.
- No firewood cutting or gathering.
- No overnight public camping.
- Motorized vehicle travel permitted on designated roads, trails, or areas only.
- Closed to discharge of rifled firearms.
- No target or clay bird shooting.
- Open to all hunting in season as permitted under R12-4-304 and R12-4-318.
From AZGFD's wildlife area layer. R12-4-304 and R12-4-318, named in the rules, are the Commission's rules on lawful methods and seasons. Posted signs on the ground and AZGFD's current regulations come first.
What is Base and Meridian Wildlife Area?
Beginning in 1973, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission acquired approximately 200 acres of river and adjacent riparian habitat at the confluence of the Salt River and Gila River just west of the Phoenix metropolitan area.
AZGFD's description of the area, from its wildlife area detail layer (2016). Acres quoted in AZGFD's text can differ from the measured size above.
Which hunts include Base and Meridian Wildlife Area's units?
Unit 39 and Unit 26M: AZGFD's 2026 lists have 0 elk hunts, 2 deer hunts and 0 pronghorn hunts that include them, each for the whole hunt area, not the wildlife area alone.
| Unit | Area acres in the unit | Elk hunts | Deer hunts | Pronghorn hunts | Public land in the unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 39 | 408 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 72.6% |
| Unit 26M | 214 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17.7% |
How do you get to Base and Meridian Wildlife Area?
Highways within 8 miles: I-10, AZ 202, AZ 303 and AZ 101. Nearest towns: Maricopa Colony (4 miles), Avondale (4 miles), Tolleson (5 miles) and St. Johns (7 miles). AZGFD names Avondale as the nearby city. Vehicles: Motorized vehicle travel permitted on designated roads, trails, or areas only.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Base and Meridian Wildlife Area?
Open to all hunting in season as permitted under R12-4-304 and R12-4-318. That is AZGFD's rule for the area; seasons and permits follow the regulations for Units 39 and 26M.
Can you camp on Base and Meridian Wildlife Area?
AZGFD's rule: "No overnight public camping."
Which unit is Base and Meridian Wildlife Area in?
Unit 39 (408 acres) and Unit 26M (214 acres), by AZGFD's boundaries.
What town is near Base and Meridian Wildlife Area?
Maricopa Colony (4 miles), Avondale (4 miles) and Tolleson (5 miles), by straight-line distance from the area's boundary.
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Where these facts come from
- Rules and boundary: AZGFD wildlife areas; description and nearby city: AZGFD wildlife area details (2016).
- Hunts: AZGFD's 2026 booklets. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee managers).
- Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places.
FilledTag is not part of the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Numbers are copied from AZGFD's published reports or measured from AZGFD and USGS maps; nothing here is estimated by FilledTag. AZGFD's regulations are the final word on every rule.