Beginning at I-19 and Grand Avenue in Nogales; northeast on Grand Avenue (U.S. Hwy. 89) to AZ Hwy 82; northeast on AZ Hwy 82 to AZ Hwy 83; northerly on AZ Hwy 83 to the Sahuarita road; west along the Sahuarita road alignment to I-19 Exit 75; south on I-19 to Grand Avenue (U.S. Hwy 89).
Overview: The black bear population is generally in the upper reaches of the Santa Rita Mountains, however bears are often observed at lower elevations. When the bears come out of the dens their paw pads are soft. They prefer to use cleared trails until the pads become callused. There is a good population of bears in the area but it will take some planning and scouting for a hunter to be successful.
The archery hunt is longer and takes place when bears are more active. During this hunt bears are observed in the lower elevations foraging on prickly pear fruits working in the creek bottoms, and along trails. This is the best opportunity to observe bears but it is still a challenging hunt and requires planning and scouting for the hunter to be successful. Most successful hunters begin early in the morning. Using a predator call can also prove useful but be aware that the bear may come in close your call and it may come in close and fast.
Area: There are several areas to look at for this hunt. The first is the Gardner Canyon and Cave Canyon Areas. To get there take Highway 83 to the Gardner Canyon turn off (four miles north of Sonoita). The area is well signed, using a Forest Service or Topo map to navigate should be easy. Once you get into the area there is good foot trail access into bear country. Walk the trails and look for fresh bear sign and trails.
Another area to consider is Temporal Canyon. To get there take Highway 82 to Patagonia. Once in Patagonia you want to take First Street north. First street will take you north into the Temporal Canyon area. Once there you can take the 72A road into the Mansfield canyon area or continue north on 72 to Walker Basin.
The Squaw Gulch area is another place to look for bears. To get there take Highway 82 to Forest Road 143 (Approx. mile marker 15) and head north. When you get to Forest Road 144 turn to the east and follow the road on back. Squaw Peak is along the way and is an area to look at as well.
Josephine Canyon is another area to explore when looking for bears. You can get there from the Patagonia or the Mount Hopkins side. To get there from the Patagonia side take Highway 82 to Forest Road 143 go north to the Josephine Canyon turn off and then go the east. To get there from the Mount Hopkins road take I-10 to the Canoa Exit and go south on the frontage road to the Elephant Head road. Go east to the Mount Hopkins road and follow it to the Bull Springs road (approx. 6 miles). Follow this road south to the Josephine Canyon turn off.
There has been bear activity on the north side of the Mountain range as well. However it is against Federal and State rule for any person to enter the Madera Canyon area with a weapon (including bow and arrow) capable of operating. In other words the Madera Canyon area to within 1/4 mile of the closure area is illegal to hunt in. To get more details on the closure area contact the U.S.D.A. Forest Service. There is an alternative for the archer. The Florida Canyon Work Center has a trailhead just before entering the work center area. This trail head allows the hunter foot access to several trails on the north side of the Santa Ritas. To get there take I-10 to the Continental road turnoff. Follow the road east to Forest Road 481. Take the 481 road south to the trailhead parking area.
Melendrez pass is another option. The area can be accessed from Highway 83. Take Highway 83 south from I-10 to the Gardner Canyon turn off. Go approximately 1 mile to the Fish Canyon road. Take Forest Road 163 to Forest Road 165 west to Melendrez pass. From here you can access trail systems that take you south to Sawmill Springs or work the country to the west.
Summary: This bear population is healthy and bears are seen through out the spring and summer. Pick up a U.S. Forest Service map or topographic maps before you go. Also, don't forget to get a copy of the hunt regulations. Pre-season scouting will help the hunter get familiar with the area and sign that is present. Try to work along trails looking for sign. Also, watch the roads for bear tracks. Bears will also turn rocks and tree trunks along trails looking for grubs. Springs and waters are other areas to look for bear sign. Also be aware that weather can change rapidly at higher elevations during this time of year, and the temperature can vary by as much as forty degrees. Always take plenty of water and let someone know where you will be hunting and when to expect you home.
Overview: This unit has a fair to good javelina population with a few notable areas. The Santa Rita Experimental Range (SRER) has good numbers but can be difficult to hunt due to the flat topography. Be aware that SRER is leased by the University of Arizona for research purposes and research personnel are frequently in the field. Use caution while hunting and remember it is illegal to disturb any research plots marked or otherwise.
Area: To get to the SRER drive south on I-19 to the Sahuarita exit. Turn east past the Old Nogales Highway to Santa Rita Road (F.S. 505). This will take you to the Range. Javelina herds occur throughout the range and commonly work in the washes. This is particularly true if there is a green-up during the hunt due to good winter precipitation. This also makes it harder to locate javelina. Look for fresh sign such as tracks, fresh rooting and foraging to help locate herds.
Another good area is the southwest side of the Santa Ritas. Take the Amado exit of I-19, get on the east side of the freeway and take the frontage road north about 1/2 mile. Turn east at the Elephant Head road and take the Mount Hopkins road to the south. After about 5 miles you will see the Bull Springs road (FR 143) then head south. Glass and hike the canyons on both sides of the road all the way to Josephine Canyon. Pick up a U.S. Forest Service map to help you find the roads; they are invaluable. Also be aware of any private property and obey all postings.
Summary: During the archery hunt, the weather can be very cold. Remember that javelina don't like cold anymore than you so they will get on the warmest slopes first. During the Primitive weapons and firearms hunt the weather can range from cold to warm. The spring growth is starting to come up so many times the javelina will be feeding in the bottoms making them hard to spot. Don't forget to listen for them; they can be pretty vocal when feeding. You may want to try a predator call but be warned, if another hunter has used this technique in the past and broken up the herd, you may be alerting the javelina and telling them where they should not go. The call is best used if you have already busted the herd up. It seems to imitate a young javelina's distress call. At times you can get the javelina in pretty close.
Pre-season scouting is the best way to increase your hunt success.
Overview: The mule deer population in the unit Is stable or decreasing at this time. Although there are not as many bucks as there used to be there still are a few good areas to find them.
Remember to pick up a Forest Service map to help you with the road system and locating water holes. Also, don't forget to take a copy of the hunt regulations with you. The first hunt will be warm so the deer will be bedding down early. You'll need to get out of camp early and glass feeding areas. The second hunt should find the deer a little more active.
Area: The Santa Rita Experimental Range has a good population of mule deer. The Range is relatively flat country that makes for easy walking but it does not have many high points to glass from. The best ways to hunt deer on the range are to either get up on the hills on the far east side or to walk the high edges of the major river beds that cut across the Range. Getting out for some pre-hunt scouting will greatly improve your chances of success. Get a hold of a U.S. Forest Service map and locate water sources in the country.
Another area to try for mule deer is south of the old road going from Amado up to Mt. Hopkins from I-19. This is F.S. road 184. When this road gets close to the mountains there is F.S. road 143 turning south. All the country between 143 west to the river and from 184 south to Mavis Wash has fair numbers of mule deer. There are deep canyons that you can walk along to get a good view. There are some very good mature bucks in this area. Water is limited in the area so it would benefit the hunter to locate them, as mule deer must use them. Also be sure to reference a map to know private land status as nearly all land south of Tubac to Nogales and into the mountains is private and hunting is by permission only.
Mule deer are also frequently seen in the Gardner Canyon area. You will want to get up on the hillsides and glass on the north and south sides of the Canyon. Be careful to respect private property owner's rights and look out for occupied structures that dot the area. Be aware the two species of deer overlap so be sure to identify the deer before you shoot.
Overview: Unit 34A has an average population of whitetail this year. The majority of bucks seen will be in the one to two year age classes but there are older class bucks available to the hunter that puts in the effort at pre-season scouting. There are average densities of whitetail in many areas of the Santa Rita Mountains and the foothills.
Get out for some scouting to sharpen your eyes and to find the hideouts of those wily old bucks. It is a good idea to do some pre-season scouting not only to find the deer but also to also check and make sure access is still available for your favorite hunting grounds.
Area: The best numbers are in the southern end of the mountains but you can also expect a lot of hunters in small amounts of area between private property as the area is popular. The Squaw Gulch area on the southwest corner of the mountain is also good. If you hike in at least 1/2 mile away from the road you will get away from most hunters. The country on the west side of the Temporal drainage has good numbers of deer. The 72 road goes past the trailhead at the Arizona trail parking lot and accesses Temporal Gulch or the Mansfield canyon area via the 72A road . The thicker cover areas from Mansfield Canyon and south harbor a few older age class bucks.
The Fort and Hog Canyon areas are favorites of many hunters. The traditional entrance off of Highway 82 is not public access and has been posted by the homeowner's association. Please respect landowner rights and use the alternative access. Access is through Garner Canyon. To get there, exit Highway 83 at Gardner Canyon. Follow this road to the west to Forest Road 795. Take the 795 Road to Forest Road 4111. The 4111 road will take you south into Hog Canyon. You can glass some good habitat along the way.
Forest Road 143 on the southwest side of the Santa Rita Mountains goes through some excellent whitetail habitat. Also, Josephine and Bond Canyons are good but be prepared for steep country. For those wanting a little more level hunting, try the State land southwest of Josephine Canyon and F.S. road 143. But be aware that white-tail and Mule deer can occupy the same habitat in these lowland areas.
Upper Sawmill Canyon, east of Madera Canyon has some good whitetail hunting. A good way to get to the high country there is to come in on the east side of the mountains to F.S. road 165 into Melendrez Pass and hunt down into Sawmill. This method provides excellent glassing opportunities. To get to the 165 road you will need to take Highway 83 south to the Gardner canyon turnoff (forest road 92) and go west. Take the Fish Canyon road number 163 and follow it past Kentucky camp. The road will continue west and then north, intersecting forest road 165 which will take you west to Melendrez Pass.
A new access road was constructed in 1997. This road provides legal access into the Big Casa Blanca and Wood canyon areas. To get there take State Highway 82 to mile marker 25.5 (approximately 5 miles east of Patagonia), and follow the Casa Blanca Canyon road to the northwest. After about 3.5 miles look for a road heading to the north. Follow this road to the crest of the ridge. The road will then travel east and take you into Wood Canyon.
Summary: Two key things are to be remembered. First, pick up a Forest Service map to find the above-mentioned roads and canyons. Second, don't forget your binoculars. For whitetail hunting they are as important as your rifle.
The early hunt will be pretty warm so get out early in the morning to catch them before they bed up. They will begin to bed shortly after the sun comes up unless we get some cool weather during the hunt.
The middle hunt will be cooler and the deer should stay up later but you still will increase your chance of success if you are heading out of camp at the first hint of light or sooner. Remember that deer also have a mid-day flurry of activity around noon to 1:00 p.m. It's a good time to be on a high point glassing.
The late hunt will be cool to cold weather. The bucks will be starting to chase the does and will be more visible. It is always a high hunt success time as the bucks are moving more. You will not find high hunter densities during this hunt.
Overview: Cottontail are being seen in good numbers. The population appears to be on a slow rise with several being observed while driving through the Santa Rita Experimental Range (SRER). The SRER has fair numbers in mostly the eastern half. New for 2006 is the SRER being designated as a wildlife area from March 1st through August 31st. This means that SRER is closed to the taking of wildlife by firearms for 6 months during the spring and summer months.
Area: To get to the SRER go south on I-19 to the Sahuarita exit. Turn east and go past the Old Nogales Highway to Santa Rita Rd. Turn south and it will take you to the SRER. Pick up a U.S. Forest Service map before you go. It is up to date on the road system on the Range and is very helpful. The best concentrations of cottontails are found up near the hills on the east side of the Range. Good numbers are also found between Sahuarita Rd. and the north end of the Santa Rita Mountains and also between the northeast side of the mountains and State Highway 83. Remember there are lots of new houses in the area and it is illegal to discharge a firearm within ¼ mile of an occupied structure.
Overview: Dove hunting should be close to average this year. Water is abundant and key to doves. Be aware of livestock and water use at these precious sites. Remember to pick up a copy of the Dove Hunting Regulations before you go and a Migratory Bird Stamp is required. The stamp can be purchased at any license dealer. Also make sure you pick up your shotgun hulls as well. Littering can lead to the closure of private lands, access losses and be detrimental to livestock and wildlife, and is a revocable offense.
Area: To get to the Santa Rita Experimental Range take I-19 south to the Sahuarita exit. Drive east past the Old Nogales Highway and take the 505 road south onto the Range (it would be helpful to obtain a U.S. Forest Service map as it shows the road numbering system in the area and the stock tanks are indicated). Any of the roads on the Range go to or past stock tanks. When hunting around stock tanks be cognizant of any livestock in the area. You may be on the only water in the pasture and they need water too. Also be aware of any research activity that may be in progress by the University of Arizona. Be cautious of research personnel and do not disturb any research plots marked or otherwise.
Some dove are also in the Gardner Canyon area of the Santa Rita Mountains. To get to Gardner Canyon, take State Route 83 south from I-10. The turnoff is approximately 20 miles south of I-10 and it is marked. Then drive west to Forest Land and hunt the river bottom. There are a few small pieces of private property in the area so keep an eye out for those.
Late season hunting is good in some of the major canyons on the south and southeast sides of the Santa Rita Mtns. The doves are usually found in large grassy canyon bottoms. Remember, a little pre-season scouting will vastly improve your success in hunting.
Remember to pick up your shell hulls, leave one feathered wing attached to the dove, and do not discharge a firearm within ¼ mile of any occupied structure.
Overview: Quail hunting should be fair in the unit this year. Winter rains will mostly impact the desert quail and we had average rains. The best hunting for both Gambel's and Scaled quail will be on the Santa Rita Experimental Range.
Area: To get to the Range go south on I-19 to the Sahuarita exit. Go east past the Old Nogales Highway to Santa Rita Road (F.S. 505). This road will take you to the Range. (Pick up a U.S. Forest Service map. It will show you the road system in the entire unit.) For the best success go to any stock tank and hunt out from there. To find some Scaled Quail hunt close to the hills on the east side of the Range. Major drainages off the F.S. 486 road are good bets to find quail. Be aware of any research activity that may be in progress by the University of Arizona. Be cautious of research personnel and do not disturb any research plots marked or otherwise.
Other good areas to find quail are at the north end of the Santa Rita Mountains. There are large areas of State land between the mountains and Sahuarita Rd. that have good quail numbers. There are lots of new houses in this area so be sure to maintain your ¼ mile distance.
Do a little quail scouting while you are out after dove and you will improve your hunt success.
Mearn's quail season will be good this year in the unit. Calls were noted in the oak grassland habitat that they like to inhabit. Mearn's quail populations are closely related to summer precipitation. Generally, if the monsoons are decent, quail numbers will be good. Most of the Mearns quail habitat has received above average monsoon rainfall.
All canyon systems on the southeast side of the Santa Rita Mountains from Fish Canyon to Temporal canyon will produce fair hunting. If you want to get away from the majority of the hunters, try the higher elevations and steeper slopes. For a little more solitude try upper Temporal, Squaw Gulch, and the canyons around Alto on the southwest side of the Santa Ritas. It's more work but the birds are there and the country is beautiful. Make sure you and your dog are in good shape to hunt those areas. Don't forget to pick up a copy of the hunting regulations before you go. Make sure to check the hunt regulations as the season starts later for Mearns quail than the desert quail, and the bag and possession limits are different.
A popular area for Mearns Quail hunters is Fort and Hog Canyon. The traditional entrance off of Highway 82 is not public access and has been posted by the homeowner's association. Respect landowner's rights and use the alternative access through Gardner Canyon.
Other
Pertinent Climate Information The
unit experiences
severe climatic changes
throughout the year.
The monsoon season
brings intense electrical
storms and causes
flash flooding. During
the winter, snow
and sudden temperature
drops are not uncommon.
Note: The November
opener for mule deer
saw ½" to 2" of snowfall
on the unit.
Cities,
Roads & Campgrounds
Major
Cities and Towns in or Near Game
Management Unit and Nearest Gas,
Food, and Lodging Tucson,
Nogales, Patagonia, Sonoita
Major
Highways and Roads Leading To From
the East: State Hwy 83, Gardner
Canyon Rd, Greaterville Rd From
the West: I-19, Continental Rd,
Elephant Head Rd
From the North: Sahuarita Rd, Santa Rita Rd
From the South: State Hwy 82, Temporal Canyon Rd, Forest Rd
143, Hog Canyon Rd, Adobe Canyon Rd, Big Casablanca Canyon
Rd, Patagonia Lake Rd
Developed
Campgrounds Patagonia
Lake State Park (12
miles east of Nogales),
Bog Springs (Madera
Canyon), Madera Canyon,
and Round Up (Madera
Canyon).
Undeveloped
Campgrounds Wildcat
Campsites are available
throughout the Unit.
Heavy use of sites
during the hunts
and on holidays.
Brief
Description of Terrain, Elevation,
and Vegetation
The unit rises from 2,000' on the north to 9,453' at the top
of Mt. Wrightson. Unit 34A has Sonoran desert, Arizona chaparral,
desert grassland, pine forest, and several riparian corridors.
The terrain goes from flat desert areas and washes, to steep
ridges, to tall and steep slopes.
Government
Agencies and Phone Numbers Arizona
Game and Fish Department Region
V (520) 628-5376
U.S. Forest Service (520) 281-2296
Patagonia Lake State Park (520) 287-6965
State Land Department (520) 628-6015
