| Willcox
Playa Wildlife Area |
| |
| A visit to
the Willcox Playa Wildlife Area offers a
rich experience in an otherwise desert environment.
Bird-watching at the playa and associated
habitats is a fantastic way to spend a day
or a weekend. Birds that can be seen range
from shorebirds to the always enjoyable flocks
of sandhill cranes that are the focus of
the annual Wings over Willcox birding festival. |
| |
| Recreational
Opportunities |
Bird-watching
and photography: Each
winter, hundreds of species of birds visit
the Willcox Playa
Wildlife Area. Growing interest in viewing
this wildlife sparked an annual event, Wings
over Willcox. The festival features education,
food, and crafts, as well as tours to see
the sandhill cranes and other wildlife.
Wings
over Willcox
Sandhill Crane
Hunting: Typically
thought of as the best sandhill crane hunting
spot in the state, this area offers excellent
waterfowl opportunities
as well. During wet
years, numerous waterfowl can be found around the Playa. The Willcox Playa Wildlife
Area is located within Game Management Unit 30A.
Note: The sandhill crane hunting season is very
limited. It usually takes place in November. Be advised that posted portions
of the area are closed
to hunting.
Restrictions:
| a. |
Open fires allowed in designated sites
only. |
| b. |
No firewood cutting or gathering. |
| c. |
Overnight public camping allowed in designated
areas
only, for no more than five days within a 14-day period. |
| d. |
Motorized vehicle travel permitted on designated
roads, on designated trails, or in designated
areas only. |
| e. |
Posted portions closed to public entry from Oct.
15 through March
15 annually. |
| f. |
Open to hunting in season, except posted portions
closed to hunting
from Oct. 15 through March 15 annually. |
|
| |
| Location |
Willcox Playa
Wildlife Area is located seven miles south
of Willcox in Cochise County,
Arizona.
Directions:
From Willcox, take Highway 186 approximately
five miles. Turn right (south) on the Kansas
Settlement Road for about three to five miles.
Turn right (west) into the wildlife area parking
area.
- View a map of this location |
| |
| Wildlife |
Birds: Migratory
waterfowl and sandhill cranes rely on this
wildlife area for roosting and loafing habitat.
Private farms surrounding the wildlife area
provide feeding habitat for these non-resident
visitors. Other birds that visit the area
include Swainson's hawk and black-necked stilt, as well as many different migratory songbirds.
Mammals: Javelina and mule deer use this wildlife
area.
Amphibians and Reptiles: Plains leopard frog, western
green toad and Mexican hog-nosed snakes inhabit the area.
| Special Status Species - Species
Abstracts | Status
Codes |
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Status |
| Amphibians |
| Chiricahua Leopard Frog |
Rana chiricahuensis |
LT, S, WSC |
| Plains Leopard Frog |
Rana blairi |
WSC |
| Reptiles |
| Texas Horned Lizard |
Phrynosoma cornutum |
SC, S1 |
| Birds |
| Western Burrowing Owl |
Athene cunicularia hypugaea |
SC, S1 |
| White-faced Ibis |
Plegadis chihi |
SC, S1 |
| Plants |
| Chiricahua Mountain Tansy-aster |
Machaeranthera riparia |
S1 |
|
|
|
| |
| Area
Description |
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. Most rainfall occurs from July through September.
Soil is from sedimentary deposits (primarily alluvial gravel, sand and silts
in the flood plains, terraces, fans and pediment capping), and also dune sand,
lake deposits and landslide masses.
Plant Life
Desert riparian plants are found here. Desert riparian habitat consists of:
- saltcedar (Tamarix sp.)
-
saltgrass (Distichlis spicata)
-
cottonwood (Populus sp.)
-
sacaton grass
- willows (Salix spp.) |
| |
| Management
History, Objectives and Goals |
The Willcox
Playa Wildlife Area is about 595 acres, including
120 acres of deeded land, 320 acres of land
patented from the Bureau of Land Management,
a 115-acre perpetual right-of-way from the
Arizona State Land Department, and a 40 acre
donation from a private land owner.
Management emphasis for the Willcox Playa
Wildlife Area is to support the best wildlife
habitat possible on the wildlife area for
present and future generations. This emphasis
includes keeping opportunities available for
public hunting and other wildlife-oriented
recreation.
|
| |
| back
to top |
|
|
|
| Related
AZGFD Info |
 |
|
|
| |
|
| External
Resources [More] |
|
|
|
 |
| NOTE:
External sites will open in a new browser
window. |
|
| |
|
