Willcox Playa Wildlife Area: hunting rules and access
Willcox Playa Wildlife Area is 558 acres, measured from AZGFD's boundary, in game management unit 30A, Cochise County, AZGFD Region 5. AZGFD's rule for hunting here: "Open to all hunting in season as permitted under R12-4-304 and R12-4-318, except posted portions closed to hunting from October 15 through March 15 annually."
Data updated October 2026. Rules: AZGFD's wildlife area layer, rules dated 2014. Boundary: AZGFD. Hunts: AZGFD's 2026 booklets.
BLMState trust landAZGFD landCity, county and otherWillcox Playa Wildlife AreaUnit lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 558 acres (measured from AZGFD's boundary) |
|---|---|
| Units | Unit 30A |
| AZGFD region | Region 5, Tucson |
| County | Cochise |
| Hunting | Open to all hunting in season as permitted under R12-4-304 and R12-4-318, except posted portions closed to hunting from October 15 through March 15 annually. |
| Camping | Overnight public camping allowed in designated areas only, for no more than five days within a 14-day period. |
| Nearest towns | Willcox (7 mi), Sunsites (14 mi) and Dragoon (17 mi) |
What are the rules on Willcox Playa Wildlife Area?
AZGFD lists 6 rules for the area:
- Open fires allowed in designated areas only.
- No firewood cutting or gathering.
- Overnight public camping allowed in designated areas only, for no more than five days within a 14-day period.
- Motorized vehicle travel permitted on designated roads, trails, or areas only.
- Posted portions closed to public entry from October 15 through March 15 annually.
- Open to all hunting in season as permitted under R12-4-304 and R12-4-318, except posted portions closed to hunting from October 15 through March 15 annually.
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 Willcox Playa Wildlife Area?
Willcox Playa is an ancient closed basin lakebed with an elevation range from 4,100 feet to 4,500 feet. Annual temperatures range from 29┬░F in the winter to 105┬░F in the summer. Precipitation is 11.8 inches annually.
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 Willcox Playa Wildlife Area's unit?
Unit 30A: AZGFD's 2026 lists have 0 elk hunts, 7 deer hunts and 2 pronghorn hunts that include it, 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 30A | 558 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 45.9% |
How do you get to Willcox Playa Wildlife Area?
From Willcox, take Highway 186 approximately five miles. Turn right (south) on the Kansas Settlement Road for about three to five miles.
Highways within 8 miles: AZ 186, US 191 and I-10. Nearest towns: Willcox (7 miles), Sunsites (14 miles), Dragoon (17 miles) and Sunizona (19 miles). AZGFD names Willcox as the nearby city. Vehicles: Motorized vehicle travel permitted on designated roads, trails, or areas only.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Willcox Playa Wildlife Area?
Open to all hunting in season as permitted under R12-4-304 and R12-4-318, except posted portions closed to hunting from October 15 through March 15 annually. That is AZGFD's rule for the area; seasons and permits follow the regulations for Unit 30A.
Can you camp on Willcox Playa Wildlife Area?
AZGFD's rule: "Overnight public camping allowed in designated areas only, for no more than five days within a 14-day period."
Which unit is Willcox Playa Wildlife Area in?
All of it is in Unit 30A.
What town is near Willcox Playa Wildlife Area?
Willcox (7 miles), Sunsites (14 miles) and Dragoon (17 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.