Overview: Bears are found in all drainages of the Pinaleno Mountains. The bears will be found mid-range on all sides of the mountain and a little higher on the south side. Hunting conditions are tough as the terrain is steep, rough, with heavy vegetative cover and very limited access from the bottom of the mountain complex.

Recommended hunt locations are more dependent on the hunter's limitations, physical abilities bear hunting skills and hunting style than on bear use areas. Efforts should not be concentrated entirely to the prickly pear regions of the unit, generally the prickly pear fruit is gone before this season opens. Explore the upper reaches of the mountain complex drainages.

A US Forest Service map and topographic maps would be useful to those hunters headed for the more remote areas. Trails are not generally well maintained or marked.

Areas: A very serious bear hunter should hunt from the bottom of the mountain, end of access, to the middle reaches. This will be physically demanding with high daily temperatures and should only be attempted by the more experienced hunters.

Inexperienced hunters should hunt from the top of the mountain along the Swift Trail (366) where the chance of success will only be slightly decreased and weather conditions greatly improved. Usual hunting style is to find a vantage point and use a quality optic to glass the area during the early morning and late evening hours. The middle of the day should be used for finding new areas that might be productive.

Overview: The Department implemented Elk hunting seasons in Unit 31.  Elk hunting in this Unit can be extremely difficult due to the terrain; the areas they frequent and they can be very mobile. For the 2007 fall hunting seasons a total of 75 permits will be offered for Units 28-31-32.

Areas: Areas where Elk have been observed are but are not limited to:

O/O Ranch (Bonita): Take SR 266 west towards Ft. Grant State Prison, just past the Forest boundary on the south side of 266 the department has installed a Landowner sign-in station to access the area across private property.

Mt. Graham complex (Pinaleno’s): Elk have been observed on top of the mountain complex near Riggs Flat Lake. This area offers limited visibility and the terrain can be very rugged. Also, from November 15th to April 15th of each year the road closes to vehicular traffic at the end of the pavement near Shannon campground.

Pre-season scouting and obtaining a USFS map of the area will be very beneficial in efforts to hunt Elk in Unit 31.

Overview: Javelina numbers in Unit 31 remained stable in 2007. With a slight decrease in average herd size and percent juveniles in the population, javelina hunting should be fair this season. Permit numbers have remained constant for the last four hunting seasons. Permit numbers will remain the same and be distributed between the fall 2006 and spring 2007 hunting seasons. Hunting efforts should be concentrated along ridgelines and drainages that contain prickly pear cactus and shrubs that javelina utilize for food and moisture. A quality pair of optics is very important for javelina hunting, since these animals seem to appear out of nowhere because of their size and coloration. Pre-season scouting will greatly improve odds of having a successful hunt in the upcoming season.

Areas: S. Pinaleno's South of SR. 266 - Hunt the lower drainages and ridges in the Dyl Canyon, O-Bar-O and Oak Draw Round Mountain area.

Pinaleno Mountain Complex (Mt. Graham) - Hunt the lower elevation around the mountain complex that contains prickly pear cactus flats. Areas to begin in would be P. Ranch, Gillespie Wash, lower Tripp Canyon and Taylor Canyon.
Santa Teresa Mountains and Aravaipa Canyon – At the present time access is very limited in these areas. Buford Canyon, Forest Service road #94 and the Sand Tank road are the only points available. It would beneficial to scout these locations prior to the hunt. 

Pre-season scouting and quality optics are essential. Also, obtain a United States Forest Service map for the Coronado National Forest that covers the Pinaleno Mountains, Winchester and Galiuro Mountains.

Overview: Deer numbers are fair with pre-scouting being highly recommended for a successful hunt. Mule deer are not found in the timber and high elevations of the Pinaleno mountains along Hwy 366. Greasewood Mtn located in the Southern Pinaleno’s between Willcox and SR. 266 (Stockton Pass Rd.) is a recommended area. Some deer are concentrated around the apple orchards south of Bonita and on the flats leading to the mountainous areas along Hwy 191. The lower elevations between Bonita and the Aravaipa area are also popular mule-deer hunting localities. In 2007 only one Mule Deer season will be offered in Unit 31.

Areas: Southern Pinaleno’s (Greasewood Mtn.) Hunt in lower elevations around mountain complex. Access into this area can be obtained from SR 191 and the gasline road that travels north from I-10. The O-Bar- O canyon and Bar X canyon areas are accessed from SR 266 through the O-Bar-O Ranch where the Department has a Sportsman Landowner sign in box, you must sign in before entering the area. These areas along the foothills and lower elevations would be places to begin.
Pre-season scouting and a good pair of binoculars are very important when hunting mule deer in Unit 31.

Durkee and Battle Mountain Area: Take Bonita-Klondyke road northwest to FS 672 road. Follow this road to foothills and hunt the drainages and bottoms that run north and south from Mt. Graham.

Lower Tripp Canyon and Bear Springs: There are two ways to access these areas. Take Tripp Canyon road out of Pima from SR 70. This is also FS road 286. Follow FS 286 to intersect FS 351. Hunt the lower drainage and elevations. Or follow SR 70 to Klondyke road approximately 5 miles west of Pima. Follow Klondyke road t FS 351. This will access the same area as above.

Overview: These deer are found throughout the mountainous areas of the unit and in the lower elevations north of the Aravaipa Canyon and NE of Klondyke. The rough, limited access areas of the Santa Teresa’s Mts. and Pinaleno Mts. offer some remote hunting opportunities. Early season hunting is possible in the cool timbered areas along Hwy. 366 (Swift Trail) for those hunter skilled in hunting the timber types. This area is very steep and the 8000'+ elevation makes hiking difficult but provides a lightly hunted deer resource. Still-hunting and glassing are the most successful hunting techniques for all units.

Areas: Tripp Canyon - Take SR 70 to west of Safford between Pima and Ft. Thomas. Go southwest on Klondyke road to FS 351, follow FS 351 and hunt side canyons and upper reaches.
The Eureka Springs Ranch was sold and several new roads have been placed throughout the ranch. Several of these roads are located on private property and are not accessable to the public. If you have hunted this area in the past it is recommended to do some pre-season scouting.
Klondyke Area - Take SR 70 to Klondyke road between Pima and Ft. Thomas. Follow to intersection of Bonita road. Go North towards Aravaipa Canyon Area. Access has changed since the 2006 seasons. If you plan to hunt these areas in 2007 it is recommended that you visit the area prior to you hunt opening.

Pre-season scouting and good pair of optics are essential to success when hunting whitetail. Also, obtaining a Coronado National Forest map for the Safford district would be very beneficial. This map will provide you with access points and land status throughout the Unit.

Overview: The early dove season is generally not good in this unit. Late summer storms usually move white-winged doves south before the opening day. Most dove hunting that occurs in this unit is around the desert stock tanks.

Areas: There are a few agricultural fields located in the Gila Valley, south of Hwy 70 and west of Pima and Ft. Thomas, that occasionally provide hunting over harvested fields but the only consistent dove use areas are in association with desert stock tanks and mesquite trees. These sites vary in location with summer rains etc. and pre-hunt scouting is a definite pre-requisite to a successful hunt.

Bonita Valley: Areas West of S.R. 191 and North of I-10 where stock water and mesquite bosques are located. During the early season dove hunting will be best in the early morning. Late season hunting early a.m. and late p.m. around desert stock tanks and Mesquite bosques. Black Rock Wash, SW of Ft. Thomas adjacent to the San Carlos Reservation.

Overview: Quail hunting in Unit 31 should be fair this year due to the moisture and habitat condition. Both Scaled and Gambels quail are found in the unit.

Areas: Areas to hunt will include but not limited to:
Bonita Valley (Sulphur Springs): Take Ft. Grant North from Willcox to Bonita. Follow Bonita-Klondyke road northwest. Any side roads that lead north to Mt. Graham, FS Road 672 near Durkee hill, Cedar Springs road. Lindsey road directly across from Deer Creek in Unit 32. Hunt lower elevations in grasslands and Mesquite bottoms:

Greasewood Mountains: Take I-10 East to SR 191. Follow 191 North. Take roads off 191 that go West into lower drainages. Any areas in lower elevations around Greasewood Mountains should be fair for quail hunting. Numerous stock waters are located throughout the area. Access is not limited in this area except on the SW side from Willcox.

Obtaining maps and pre-season scouting will help locate areas in the unit that are accessible.