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Drone Rules for Kofa National Wildlife Refuge

Yuma, Arizona (AZ) • Estados Unidos
Palm Canyon Rd, Yuma, AZ 85365, EUA
Lat: 33.2376 • Lng: -114.011
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 28, 2026
Summary
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Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Kofa National Wildlife Refuge under U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service regulations, controlled by USFWS. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without an explicit Special Use Permit from the refuge manager.

Authorization Status

  • Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
  • Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without USFWS Special Use Permit
  • Military Layer: ⚠️ Yuma Proving Ground restricted airspace (R-2303 series) on eastern refuge boundary — DoD overlap for eastern units
  • Wildlife Layer: ⚠️ Desert bighorn sheep — largest NWR population in U.S.; drone harassment = federal wildlife offense
  • Wilderness Layer: ⚠️ ~516,200 acres designated wilderness

Geographic Boundaries

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is located in Yuma and La Paz Counties, Arizona, administered by USFWS.

  • Total area: ~665,400 acres
  • Coordinates: 33.3700° N, 114.0800° W
  • Nearest city: Quartzsite, AZ (~30 miles north); Yuma, AZ (~60 miles south)
  • Terrain: Kofa Mountains; Castle Dome Mountains; Signal Mountain; Palm Canyon (only native palm grove in Arizona — 11 California fan palms in a granite canyon); bajadas; volcanic ridges; Sonoran Desert uplands
  • Desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) — ~800 individuals; largest population on any NWR in the United States; established population basis for reintroductions throughout SW
  • ~516,200 acres federally designated wilderness (P.L. 101-628, 1990)
  • Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) restricted airspace R-2303 series on eastern boundary — active military weapons testing range
  • Palm Canyon: seasonal high visitation; California fan palms (Washingtonia filifera) in only native AZ palm population
  • Airspace: Class G at surface; R-2303 immediately adjacent east; Class E above 700 ft AGL

Regulations

  • 50 CFR § 27.34 — Prohibits use of aircraft and drones within National Wildlife Refuges
  • USFWS UAS Policy — blanket prohibition within refuge
  • 14 CFR § 73.3 — Yuma Proving Ground restricted airspace R-2303; eastern refuge operations must verify boundary proximity; any incursion = federal criminal violation
  • Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — ~516,200 acres wilderness; motorized prohibition; covers most of refuge
  • Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — Sonoran Desert avifauna; LeConte's thrasher; gilded flicker; elf owl; peregrine falcon winter presence
  • Arizona state wildlife regulations — concurrent state layer for bighorn sheep disturbance under A.R.S. § 17-301
  • Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 470aa) — prehistoric and historic Quechan and Mohave cultural sites
  • FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide

Penalties

  • USFWS fines up to $5,000 per violation under 50 CFR § 27.34
  • Arizona bighorn sheep harassment: state wildlife violation under A.R.S. § 17-301; fines + potential license revocation
  • Wilderness Act violations: fines up to $5,000 + 6 months
  • R-2303 military airspace incursion: federal criminal charges under 49 U.S.C. § 46307; DoD security enforcement
  • ARPA violations: fines up to $20,000 + 2 years imprisonment
  • MBTA violations: fines up to $15,000 + 6 months imprisonment
  • FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
  • Equipment confiscation by USFWS refuge officers

Special Permissions

  • USFWS Special Use Permit required; Wilderness compliance plan mandatory (~516,200 acres)
  • Yuma Proving Ground Range Control coordination required for any eastern refuge operations within 5 miles of R-2303
  • Bighorn sheep lambing season (January–March) — additional seasonal restrictions on mountain unit operations
  • Palm Canyon: high visitor density area; permit timing must avoid peak visitation windows (October–April) Submit requests to: Kofa NWR Refuge Manager, 9300 E 28th Street, Yuma, AZ 85365 YPG Range Control: Yuma Proving Ground, 301 C Street, Yuma Proving Ground, AZ 85365
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Rule sources
  • https://www.fws.gov/media/unmanned-aircraft-systems-uas-policy — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, FAA R-2303 Yuma Proving Ground military restricted airspace (14 CFR § 73.3), Wilderness Act ~516,200-acre designation (16 U.S.C. § 1131), Arizona bighorn sheep harassment statute A.R.S. § 17-301 for largest NWR bighorn population in U.S., MBTA Sonoran Desert avifauna protections, and ARPA Quechan/Mohave cultural site protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-107 — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, FAA R-2303 Yuma Proving Ground military restricted airspace (14 CFR § 73.3), Wilderness Act ~516,200-acre designation (16 U.S.C. § 1131), Arizona bighorn sheep harassment statute A.R.S. § 17-301 for largest NWR bighorn population in U.S., MBTA Sonoran Desert avifauna protections, and ARPA Quechan/Mohave cultural site protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-E/part-73 — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, FAA R-2303 Yuma Proving Ground military restricted airspace (14 CFR § 73.3), Wilderness Act ~516,200-acre designation (16 U.S.C. § 1131), Arizona bighorn sheep harassment statute A.R.S. § 17-301 for largest NWR bighorn population in U.S., MBTA Sonoran Desert avifauna protections, and ARPA Quechan/Mohave cultural site protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://faa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9c2e4406710048e19806ebf6a06754ad — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, FAA R-2303 Yuma Proving Ground military restricted airspace (14 CFR § 73.3), Wilderness Act ~516,200-acre designation (16 U.S.C. § 1131), Arizona bighorn sheep harassment statute A.R.S. § 17-301 for largest NWR bighorn population in U.S., MBTA Sonoran Desert avifauna protections, and ARPA Quechan/Mohave cultural site protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-27/section-27.34 — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, FAA R-2303 Yuma Proving Ground military restricted airspace (14 CFR § 73.3), Wilderness Act ~516,200-acre designation (16 U.S.C. § 1131), Arizona bighorn sheep harassment statute A.R.S. § 17-301 for largest NWR bighorn population in U.S., MBTA Sonoran Desert avifauna protections, and ARPA Quechan/Mohave cultural site protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
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