Beginning on I-17 at the Verde River; southerly on the southbound lane of I-17 to the New River Road (Exit 232); east on New River Road to Fig Springs Road; northeasterly on Fig Springs Road to the Tonto National Forest boundary; southeasterly along this boundary to the Verde River; north along the Verde River to I-17.
Overview: The pronghorn antelope in Unit 21 inhabit the Agua Fria grasslands, which is high desert grassland with native grasses and forbs dominating the flats, swales, and mesas. A juniper/grassland mosaic is found at the upper end of the watershed. Juniper and catclaw grow on hillsides at higher elevations while catclaw and mesquite are found at the lower elevations. Factors that affect the antelope population in Unit 21 are habitat loss, predation, fencing, and urban expansion.
Areas: Antelope are found in the northern half of Unit 21. Antelope habitat ranges from Black Mesa (east of Sunset Point rest area off Interstate 17) north to the Squaw Peak Road.
Starting in the north, Reimer Draw is a great place to start scouting. Antelope can be found using the large basins in and around Reimer Draw. Reimer Draw can be accessed by traveling north on the Reimer Road (Forest Road 68D) from the Dugas Road (Forest Road 68). Glass the surrounding areas carefully, as antelope will often seek the shade of the junipers during the heat of the day, and may not emerge until late in the evening.
Marlow, Yellowjacket, and Cottonwood Mesas are a complex of mesas that are excellent antelope habitat. Access to these mesas from the west side involves hiking up about 300-400 feet of elevation change from Yellowjacket Spring or Cottonwood tank, located just east of the Reimer Road. Access to these mesas can also be found through Horner Mountain Ranch, located a couple miles east of Dugas, look for the brown signs. The road that goes from the ranch to the mesas is located just east of the corrals through an old wooden gate.
The Dry Creek area just north of the Dugas Road and east of I-17 is also excellent antelope habitat. There are no access roads off of I-17 in this area, hunters can use the roads that travel north from the Dugas Road or west from the Reimer Road to get there. There are plenty of buttes and hills hunters can climb up to get a good vantage point to glass from.
Towards the south, Perry Mesa is the largest area of antelope habitat in Unit 21. Perry Mesa is located on the north and south sides of the Bloody Basin Road (Forest Road 269) about 7-8 miles east of I-17. The main portion of Perry Mesa can be accessed by traveling south on the 14 Road from the Bloody Basin Road. There are several roads that go west off of the 14 road hunters can use to travel across the mesa. Hunter crowding issues have been an issue in the past on Perry Mesa when permit numbers were higher, so please be courteous to other hunters in the area and be patient. Antelope are sometimes pushed by other hunters, so waiting for antelope to move into the area you are hunting will sometimes work.
Black Mesa is the most southern area of antelope habitat in Unit 21. Black Mesa is located just east of I-17 across from Sunset Point Rest Area. A fire burned across Black Mesa in 2005, and it may take many years for the grassland plant species to recover. However, small herds of antelope have been observed using the area even with the less than desirable habitat conditions.
Overview: Elk sightings in Unit 21 began to be reported in the early 80’s. There is currently a small number of elk that reside in Unit 21. Other elk in Unit 21 may move back and forth to Units 6A, and 19A.
Most of the country that elk can be found in is extremely rugged. Road access is limited, and travel by vehicle to a harvested elk is not an option most of the time. Successful elk hunters should be prepared to pack the animal using friends with backpacks or pack animals such as mules. Temperatures during the early season hunts can be very high during the day, so hunters should plan on having help to pack out meat before it spoils. It is unlawful to allow any edible portion of a game animal to go to waste.
The most productive time to scout for elk in Unit 21 is during the rut which usually starts in early September. However, scouting before this time period will allow hunters to become familiar with roads and the lay of the land, which can pay off big when the hunt rolls around. Quality optics are a must for Unit 21 elk hunters, and the use of a tripod is highly recommended.
Areas: Elk can be located in Unit 21 in the Black Hills. Towards the north, scout the area around Squaw Peak. Squaw Peak can be accessed by traveling east on the Squaw Peak Road (FR 732) from I-17 at exit 278.
Elk can also be found south from this area along the Verde Rim to Pine Mountain. Pine Mountain is where the highest concentration of elk can be found. Pine Mountain can be accessed by traveling east on the Dugas Road (FR 68) from I-17 at exit 268. Elk are normally found using the drainages and ridges coming off of Pine Mountain. A good topographical map comes in handy while navigating this terrain.
Elk have also been located as far south as the 44 Road off of the Bloody Basin Road. If a hunter is able to locate elk in this area, hunter densities will most likely be low, but so will elk densities.
Overview:
Javelina population in Unit 21 has declined
due to habitat degradation and the drought.
When scouting, check areas that may
have retained water during this drought.
A couple examples are Tangle Creek and
Red Creek on the Tonto National Forest.
Try hunting the hills around these drainages.
Use forest maps to locate other creeks
and springs in the unit; these are good
places to look for javelina.
Area: The Dugas
exit off I-17 accesses good javelina
habitat. I would glass drainages that
come off Yellow Jacket Mesa. I like
to hunt areas off the Bloody Basin
Road East of I-17. Take Forest Service
road 677 and hunt any place, it is
all good javelina habitat. Closer
to the valley, take Forest Service
Road 24 (7-Spring Road) and scout
areas just north of the campgrounds.
Also try hunting off Forest Service
Road 41; it will put you into good
javelina country. Scouting is essential
for a successful hunt. Good luck and
be safe.
Overview:
The mule deer population in Unit 21
has declined over the past several years.
Hunters will need to do some pre-scouting
to locate areas deer are currently using.
Unit 21 includes Prescott National Forest
to the north, Tonto National Forest
in the central portion and southeastern
corner. BLM Lands occur near the Dugas
Road south to Black Canyon City, and
State Trust Lands occur south of Black
Canyon City and around Cordes Junction.
Private in-holdings occur throughout
Unit 21 but mostly in the southern end
of the unit. Here are some suggestions
of places where deer have been seen
on a regular basis. Remember you are
not the only person reading this information.
Deer do and will respond to hunt pressure
and can move long distances to avoid
disturbances by people.
Area:
On the Prescott National Forest take
the Dugas exit off Interstate 17,
this is Forest Service Road 68. Travel
to FS Road 68D and go north. As you
drive, look west and you will see
open hills that are great for glassing
mule deer. Do not confuse mule deer
with antelope: Both species use the
same habitat in that area. Continuing
down FS Road 68D, known as the Reimer
Springs Road, hunters will see drainages
to the east (Cottonwood and Yellow
Jacket). These are mule deer travel
corridors between the upper and lower
mesas. Reimer Spring Road continues
north into juniper thickets. Avoid
this area, but hunt the edges where
the grasslands and the juniper meet.
The Cherry Road off Interstate 17
is a good place to hunt. The area
is mixed juniper woodland. It is recommended
that hunters glass the open slopes
early in the morning and again in
the late evening as deer enter these
areas to browse. The Cherry Road will
end at Squaw Peak. This area does
have some mule deer, but it is predominately
inhabited by white-tailed deer and
a small population of elk.
South of the Dugas Road (FS Road
68) are several small creeks that
have intermittent perennial water.
These include Little Ash Creek, Sycamore
Creek, and Dry Creek. Hunt surrounding
drainages, glass hill sides and cuts
that lead into creeks. Scout and locate
wildlife trails leading to and from
these riparian areas.
When hunting on BLM Land, glass and
hunt all drainages that lead into
the Agua Fria River system. White-tailed
deer utilize these drainages along
with mule deer, so species identification
is very important. Look for mule deer
at the head of drainage cuts early
in the morning as they return to bed
sites on the thick brushy slopes.
Further south near Black Canyon City
try hunting the desert canyons. This
is rough county and not for the weak
of heart. Access is limited, so be
prepared to do lots of up and down
hiking. Locate and hunt around springs
and try to glass hillsides in these
areas. Be careful not to trespass
on the private ranches in the area.
The Tonto National Forest encompasses
the majority of Unit 21. Access points
along Interstate 17 include the Bloody
Basin and the Table Mesa roads. Both
roads will lead hunters into good
mule deer country. From the Bloody
Basin Road, try hunting north on the
677 Road. Hunt and glass the area
to the east. It is thick chaparral
interspersed with open slopes. The
Bloody Basin Road will take you to
the Verde Rim where there are some
mule deer but this is mainly white-tailed
deer habitat. Continue to drive down
the Rim since both sides of the road
are good areas to glass for mule deer.
FS Road 16, which is off the Bloody
Basin Road, will take you north into
several good mule deer hunting locations.
Try hunting the canyons that drain
off of the Verde Rim.
From the Table Mesa Road glass and
hunt the lower slopes of the New River
Mountains. Concentrate on the south
facing slopes, but don't overlook
the cuts coming off New River Mesa,
which is to the south.
Additional access to the unit is
the Seven Springs Road (FS Road 24),
which is north of the town of Carefree.
Locate perennial springs on your Forest
Service map, as these are great places
to look for mule deer. Good luck on
your hunt!
Overview: Whitetail deer can be found in Unit 21 in a variety of different habitat types, from semi-desert grassland up to ponderosa pine. The majority of whitetail deer seem to use the typical whitetail habitat from about 3500 to 6000 feet in elevation. Whitetail can also be located in some areas that are not considered traditional whitetail habitat at elevations as low as 2500 feet.
There is a stratified hunt structure in Unit 21 that allows hunters the options of hunting in the early or late seasons. The late season hunters will generally find whitetail bucks starting to rut. During this time, bucks can be found on the move almost any time of day. There are very low numbers of hunters in the field during the late season compared to the early seasons, which can be crowded in popular areas. The drawing odds for the late hunt, however, are much lower than the earlier seasons. The early seasons can have other advantages along with better draw rates. Bucks can be much more predictable during the early seasons, as they are not on the move to seek out companionship.
Whitetail hunting in Unit 21 occurs primarily on public lands, free of access issues that affect some of the southern Arizona units. Tonto and Prescott National Forest maps can be used to identify roads that can be used to access good whitetail country.
While hunting whitetail deer in Unit 21, it is not uncommon to see mule deer using the same areas. Be certain of your target.
Areas: The areas below are meant to provide you with great places to start scouting or hunting whitetail in Unit 21. The areas are broken up into the three main land management offices.
Prescott National Forest: South of Camp Verde, whitetail can be found in the Black Hills. This complex includes Squaw Peak, the Verde Rim, and Pine Mountain. The Verde Rim is a large escarpment overlooking the Verde River drainage. Squaw Peak and Pine Mountain are both high points along the Verde Rim with elevations above 6500 feet. Drainages coming off of these areas to the east hold good numbers of whitetail. To access Squaw Peak, travel east from I-17 at exit 278 on the Squaw Peak Road (Forest Road 732). To access the Verde Rim and Pine Mountain, travel east from I-17 at exit 268 on the Dugas Road (FR 68). There are two wilderness areas on the Prescott National Forest in Unit 21. Cedar Bench and Pine Mountain Wilderness areas offer great places to pack in if a whitetail hunter wants to get away from most other hunters.
Tonto National Forest: Southwest of Pine Mountain, whitetail can be found in most of the country along the southern portion of the Verde Rim. Rugged Mesa is a good place to start. To access Rugged Mesa, travel east from I-17 at exit 259 on the Bloody Basin Road (FR 269) and travel north on the most easterly portion of the 44 Loop Road (FR 44). Hutch Mesa is also a good place to locate whitetail. To access Hutch Mesa, travel south on FR 58 from the Bloody Basin Road.
Southeast of Pine Mountain, whitetail can be found in most of the canyons that drain into the Verde River. The Red Creek area holds good numbers of whitetail. To access Red Creek, travel east from I-17 at exit 259 on the Bloody Basin Road and travel north on FR 16. This area can also be accessed by traveling north from Cave Creek on the Seven Springs Road (FR 24) to the Bloody Basin Road intersection, then going east towards FR 16.
Near the intersection of the Bloody Basin and Seven Springs Roads (FR 269 and 24) whitetail can be found in the East and West Cedar Mountain areas as well as the drainages between them and Tangle Creek.
North of Cave Creek, whitetail can be found in much of the country north of Seven Springs. The Cave Creek Fire burned much of this area in 2005, but deer have started to use habitat that has recovered from the fire. To access this country, travel north from Cave Creek on the Seven Springs Road (FR 24) and use a variety of short spur roads that go both east and west from the Seven Springs Road. Hiking a ways from the roads will decrease the probability of running into other hunters.
Bureau of Land Management: Northeast of Black Canyon City, whitetail can be found in some portions of the Agua Fria River drainage, such as Larry and Lousy Canyons. To access these canyons, travel east from I-17 at exit 259 on the Bloody Basin Road (FR 269) to the 14 Road (FR 14). Travel south on the 14 Road to FR 610 (the second large steel gate south of the Bloody Basin Road). Travel west on FR 610 to Larry and Lousy Canyons.
Tips: Using the very best optics in your price range will help you become a more successful whitetail hunter. Quality binoculars mounted on a tripod used systematically to glass whitetail habitat is the most effective method used to locate the elusive Coues deer. Spend most of the day out in the field behind your binoculars, not just the morning and evening. Deer are often located during midday hours, and are easier to stalk while they are not moving.
Pre-season scouting is not only a great way to spend time outdoors with friends and family, but can pay off when the hunt rolls around. Hunters who scout are not only more familiar with where the deer and deer sign are located, but are also more familiar with roads used to access areas and the lay of the land.
Overview:
The entire unit has good quail populations
except for high elevations found in
the north-central portion of the unit.
The 1997-'98 quail season was one of
the most difficult for quail hunters
due to the continuing drought over the
last several years. Quail hunting is
expected to improve for the 1998-'99
season depending on the combination
of winter rains and summer monsoons.
Since Unit 21 is so large and there
are many areas to hunt quail, it is
the hunter's choice where they like
to hunt. Quail hunters with dogs will
have better luck in the northern open
country and those without dogs might
be better off hunting the southern half
of Unit 21. One tip while on a quail
hunt is not to spend too much time in
one area. You may find that you are
more successful using this method than
hunting a single area for a long period
of time.
Areas: Here are just a few suggestions
on locations to try hunting quail in
Unit 21. In the north portion of Unit
21 take the Bloody Basin Road east and
try hunting Cornstalk Flat which is
just west of FS Road 677. Continue north
on the 677 Road and hunt the heads of
Silver and Bishop Creek. Try hunting
around the junction of FS Road 269 and
FS 24 Road, which is near Tangle Creek.
From Interstate 17 take the Table Mesa
Road east to FS Road 24, hunting along
the way. In the southern half of the
unit try hunting both sides of FS Road
205 all the way to Horseshoe Lake.
Other
Pertinent Climate Information Climate
data from Cordes
(elev. 3,790'). Conditions
vary widely depending
on elevation. Mountain
roads are muddy after
prolonged rain and
some are closed during
wet conditions. Some
roads require a high-clearance
vehicle. Check with
managing agency.
Cities,
Roads & Campgrounds
Major
Cities and Towns in or Near Game
Management Unit and Nearest Gas,
Food, and Lodging Cave
Creek, New River, Black Canyon
City, Cordes Jct., Camp Verde
Major
Highways and Roads Leading To From
the East: Forest Service Rd 24
(dirt) From
the West: State Hwy
69
From the North: I-17
From the South: I-17
Developed
Campgrounds None.
Undeveloped
Campgrounds Tonto
National Forest manages
Bartlett Lake Recreation
Area and Seven Springs,
and Prescott National
Forest manages Salt
Flat (Pine Mountain).
Camping is allowed
on Forest Service
and Bureau of Land
Management land without
a permit.
Brief
Description of Terrain, Elevation,
and Vegetation
Bounded on the north and east by the Verde River and on the
west by I-17. Varied terrain ranging from desert plains and
low rocky mountains in the south, to extensive mesas in the
west, the steep mountains of the Black Hills in the northeast,
and the Verde River valley in the east. Elevations range from
about 1,200' in the southern river valley to 6,814' on Pine
Mountain in the northeast. Vegetation is Sonoran Desertscrub
in the south, semidesert grasslands on the mesas, riparian
woodlands/marshlands along creek sides and riverbanks, and
pinyon-juniper, gambel oak, and ponderosa pine on the mountains.
Government
Agencies and Phone Numbers Arizona
Game and Fish Department, Region
VI - 480-981-9400
Tonto National Forest, Cave Creek Ranger District - 480-595-3300
Prescott National Forest, Verde Ranger District - 928-567-4121
Bureau of Land Management, Phoenix Field Office - 623-580-5500
