Hunting

Game Management Unit 13A

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Species within this unit:

Antelope, Bighorn Sheep, Merriam’s Turkey, Mule Deer, Chukar, Quail

Unit Boundaries

Beginning on the western edge of the Hurricane Rim at the Utah state line; southerly along the western edge of the Hurricane Rim to Mohave County Rd. 5 (the Mt. Trumbull Rd.); west along Mohave County Rd. 5 to the town of Mt. Trumbull (Bundyville); south from the town of Mt. Trumbull (Bundyville) on Mohave County Rd. 257 to BLM Rd. 1045; south on BLM Rd. 1045 to Cold Spring Wash; south along the bottom of Cold Spring Wash to Whitmore Wash; southerly along the bottom of Whitmore Wash to the Colorado River; easterly along the Colorado River to Kanab Creek; northerly along Kanab Creek to the Utah state line; west along the Utah state line to the western edge of the Hurricane Rim; except those portions that are sovereign tribal lands of the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians.

Species Information

Antelope

Overview: Pronghorn typically occupy the grassland/desert scrub habitats in the northern and central portions of unit 13A. They also occupy transition habitats into pinyon/juniper communities. This population is the result of transplant efforts in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s with animals originating from Arizona, Montana, and Colorado.

In recent years the pronghorn population in 13A has been healthy but has experienced very low fawn production. The Department is currently partnering with the BLM and various public land permittees on improving water distribution and improving fence structure throughout the district.

The area is one of the most unpopulated in Arizona, and hunters should be prepared to camp in remote areas with no services available, bring shelter and plenty of food, water, extra fuel, and extra spare tires. The nearest full service communities are Colorado City and Fredonia, Arizona, both on Highway 389. Gas and a convenience store are available at Pipe Springs. Roads in the unit can become extremely muddy and slippery when wet. The use of 4WD vehicles may be required to negotiate the roads.

Your big game hunter questionnaire will no longer be mailed to you. The hunter questionnaire link is located on the back of your tag. Use the link, or scan code to get to this page and select the questionnaire for your hunt.  https://www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Questionnaires/

Areas: Generally, higher densities of pronghorn are found in Antelope Valley, southern end of the Uinkaret Plateau, Little Clayhole Valley, Sunshine Ridge, and the Bulrush area. Areas to consider include the Antelope Knoll, Seven Knolls, Deadman Knoll, Hat Knoll, and Heaton/Findlay Knolls areas.

Yellowstone Mesa, Pipe Valley, and some areas south and east of Colorado City also have pronghorn, but at low density.  Be aware private land exists in this area.

Bighorn Sheep

Overview: Desert Bighorn were transplanted into Hack Canyon in 1985 and 1987. In 1995 bighorn were released into the northern portion of Kanab Creek in the vicinity of Gunsight Point. Additional releases took place in 1999 in the Jumpup Point area and in 2005 north of Bulrush Point. Bighorn occupy much of the Kanab Creek watershed; however, population densities are generally higher in the vicinities of Hack Canyon, Sunshine Point, Water Canyon Point, and Chamberlain Canyon. Population densities from Bulrush Point north typically fluctuate with water availability. Three new water developments have been constructed from Bulrush Point north in an effort to improve water distribution in this otherwise suitable habitat. It is anticipated occupation of this area by bighorn will increase in future years as bighorn develop a fidelity to these sites.

In 2018, the Department added the 13AN hunt unit for. This hunt unit encompasses the area of 13A north of HWY 389 and west of the Kaibab Paiute Indian Reservation. Recent surveys in the area indicate a bighorn sheep population distributed throughout the Cottonwood Points Wilderness and adjacent cliff habitat. Access is relatively open with access from Utah as well as points along the Rosy Canyon Road. The lower portion of Potters Canyon also holds bighorn sheep.

It is critical that hunters in 13AN familiarize themselves with private land and tribal boundaries. Hunting is not permitted on the Kaibab Paiute Indian Reservation that shares its boundary with this new hunt unit.

Hunters should be aware this is a large, remote and rugged hunt area with limited road access. Many areas occupied by bighorn in unit 13A are designated as wilderness. Access into wilderness areas is limited to foot travel and/or use of horses/mules. The use of motorized vehicles and mechanized equipment is prohibited in wilderness designated areas. Hunters can access the rim of Kanab Creek and many associated side canyons via 2-track roads and can examine much of the area with good optics. Kanab Creek can be accessed via Hack Canyon on BLM road 1123. This road terminates at the Kanab Creek Wilderness boundary prior to the confluence of Hack Canyon and Kanab Creek. Hunters should also be aware portions of the Grand Canyon National Park exists within the unit where hunting is prohibited. Hunters must familiarize themselves with these boundaries to ensure they do not cross them.

Overall, 13A is one of the most unpopulated areas in Arizona, and hunters should be prepared to camp in remote areas with no services available. Bring shelter and plenty of food, water, extra fuel, and extra spare tires. The nearest full service communities are Colorado City and Fredonia, Arizona, both on Highway 389. Gas and a convenience store are available at Pipe Springs.

Your big game hunter questionnaire will no longer be mailed to you. The hunter questionnaire link is located on the back of your tag. Use the link, or scan code to get to this page and select the questionnaire for your hunt.  https://www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Questionnaires/

Areas for 13A Kanab Creek: Population densities are generally higher in the vicinity of Hack Canyon, Sunshine Point, Water Canyon Point, and Chamberlain Point. Hunters can glass these areas via the rims, or parts of it from the bottom of Hack Canyon. Population densities typically fluctuate in the central to northern portion of the Kanab Creek watershed. With this being said, hunters should not overlook the Bulrush Point, Grama Canyon, and Water Canyon areas in the north as sheep are present at varying densities.

Areas for 13AN Cottonwood Points Wilderness: Cottonwood Points Wilderness area, Potters Canyon, and Lone Butte.

Mule Deer

Notice: Archery deer hunters – Unit 13A is not an open area for over-the-counter tag holders as of April, 2008. To hunt Unit 13A you must obtain a permit-tag through the big game draw process.

Overview: Mule deer generally occupy sagebrush, pinyon/juniper, interior chaparral and pine/oak woodlands in this unit. Deer densities are generally low throughout the unit even in high quality habitat areas. Access into most hunting areas is good with over 80 percent of the unit in federal or state ownership.

Although deer densities are generally low, the unit provides quality hunt opportunities for those who draw a permit. The unit is managed according to the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Alternative Mule Deer Management Guidelines, which provides for low hunter densities and management for older age-class bucks. Hunters should expect an extremely challenging yet rewarding hunt and be prepared for the possibility of going some days without locating deer. The unit produces large antlered deer, however they are not everywhere and can be extremely difficult to locate. Don’t give up!

Hunters should be aware portions of the Grand Canyon National Park exists within the unit where hunting is prohibited. Hunters must familiarize themselves with these boundaries to ensure they do not cross them.

Weather in the unit during the deer hunt is generally unpredictable. Hunters should be prepared for inclement weather. Many of the roads in the unit can become extremely muddy if wet, and can only be negotiated with 4WD vehicles.

The area is one of the most unpopulated in Arizona, and hunters should be prepared to camp in remote areas with no services available, bring shelter and plenty of food, water, extra fuel, and extra spare tires. The nearest full service communities are Colorado City and Fredonia, Arizona, both on Highway 389. Gas and a convenience store are available at Pipe Springs.

Your big game hunter questionnaire will no longer be mailed to you. The hunter questionnaire link is located on the back of your tag. Use the link, or scan code to get to this page and select the questionnaire for your hunt.  https://www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Questionnaires/

Areas: Deer are present throughout the unit in suitable habitat. Depending on time of year and weather conditions, deer densities are generally higher at higher elevations in the Mt. Trumbull and Mt. Logan areas.

During the archery hunt, water availability influences success drastically. Concentrate your efforts is areas near waterholes/catchments (not necessarily on the water) as the unit is often dry at this time of year. Hunters who chose to hunt the Mt. Trumbull and Mt. Logan areas will see more deer than anywhere else in the unit, but they will also share the area with the majority of hunters in the unit.

Opting to hunt the lower elevation areas of the unit in the pinyon/juniper sagebrush communities will likely result in fewer deer observed, but typically means fewer hunters as well.

General hunt: As mentioned above, deer can be located throughout the unit in varying densities in suitable habitat. Below are reference areas for consideration.

In the northern part of the unit, Rosy Canyon, Cedar Ridge, Lost Spring Mountain, and Yellowstone Mesa are all areas to consider. This area is influenced by deer migrating from Utah. The timing of the migration is influenced largely by weather conditions and hunting pressure in Utah.

The Kanab Creek rim including Bulrush, Sunshine Point, Grama Canyon, Water Canyon Point, and adjacent canyons are good places to look in the eastern portions of the unit. Depending on the weather and hunting pressure, a limited migration occurs from unit 12B on the northern end of Kanab Creek. Deer from this limited migration are typically located from the Bulrush Point area.

The Kanab Plateau contains good mule deer habitat. June Tank, Broad Canyon, Hancock Knolls, and areas east should be considered.

The Mt. Trumbull, Mt. Logan, Mt. Emma, Slide Mountain, and Whitmore Canyon areas contain excellent deer habitat. . Depending on weather conditions, deer may stay at higher elevations such as Mt. Trumbull and Mt. Logan. Tuweep Valley should be considered as well. An early morning hunt will put the sun at your back as you glass across the valley to the west. This hunt will also give you glassing opportunities into Broad and Paradise Canyons. Whitmore Canyon, Pa’s Pocket and Cold Spring Point areas are good places to hunt as well. The plateaus above the Bar 10 Ranch hold pockets of residence deer.

Hunting along the Hurricane Rim can be productive although the deer population is at low densities. Recent habitat treatments in the area have greatly improved vegetative production for mule deer, and also improved glassing opportunities for the area. Mule deer can be found along the entire Hurricane Rim from County road 5 to Cottowood Canyon. Densities diminish as you move north.

Mountain Lion

Overview: Mountain lions can be found throughout the entire unit,  following closely with big game animal populations.  Mountain Lions main prey base are Mule Deer and Big Horn sheep.  Please refer to the regulations on new rules and laws that will be applicable for this unit.

Hunters are required to report their mountain lion harvest information to the Arizona Game and Fish Department within 48 hours of taking a mountain lion. Hunters can report their mountain lion harvest in person, by telephone at 1-877-438-0447, or online.

In addition to the 48-hr reporting requirement, the hunter (or their designee) needs to present the mountain lion’s skull and hide with attached proof of sex to a designated Arizona Game and Fish Department employee for inspection within 10 days of taking the mountain lion.

New Harvest Thresholds – When the number of harvested mountain lions reaches the threshold, that zone closes to the additional harvest of mountain lions at sundown the Wednesday immediately following.  Before each hunting trip, verify that the zone is still open, by calling 877-438-0447 or checking online: view harvest thresholds and zone closures. A map of the zones can be found at mountain lion management zones map.

Hunters should be aware portions of the Grand Canyon National Park exists within the unit where hunting is prohibited. Hunters must familiarize themselves with these boundaries to ensure they do not cross them.

Weather in the unit during the deer hunt is generally unpredictable. Hunters should be prepared for inclement weather. Many of the roads in the unit can become extremely muddy if wet, and can only be negotiated with 4WD vehicles.

The area is one of the most unpopulated in Arizona, and hunters should be prepared to camp in remote areas with no services available, bringing shelter and plenty of food, water, extra fuel, and extra spare tires. The nearest full service communities are Colorado City and Fredonia, Arizona, both on Highway 389. Gas and a convenience store are available at Pipe Springs.

Areas: Mt. Trumbull, Mt. Logan, Mt. Emma, Slide Mountain, Whitmore Canyon, cottonwood wilderness, Hurricane Rim, Hacks Canyon, Bullrush, Water Canyon,  Yellowstone Mesa, Lost Springs, and any other location that might see high concentrations of deer and sheep.

Merriam’s Turkey

Overview: Turkey occupy ponderosa pine/oak woodlands on and in the vicinity of Mt. Trumbull and Mt. Logan. In 1961, turkeys were transplanted to the unit, and several augmentations from the North Kaibab have occurred since.  Turkey habitat in the unit is limited therefore a relatively low number of spring permits are offered.

Habitat restoration efforts in the vicinity of Mt. Trumbull, Mt. Logan, and Death Valley areas are ongoing and include, but are not limited to, activities such as the operation of chainsaws, controlled burning, and generally large number of workers associated with said activities. Although the AZGFD and BLM coordinate closely to minimize the effects of such activities, hunters and visitors to the areas should be flexible if they encounter such activities and modify their “game plan” accordingly.

The area is one of the most unpopulated in Arizona, and hunters should be prepared to camp in remote areas with no services available, bring shelter and plenty of food, water, extra fuel, and extra spare tires. The nearest full service communities are Colorado City and Fredonia, Arizona, both on Highway 389. Roads in the turkey hunt areas can become extremely muddy and slippery when wet. The use of 4WD vehicles may be required to negotiate the roads.

Your big game hunter questionnaire will no longer be mailed to you. The hunter questionnaire link is located on the back of your tag. Use the link, or scan code to get to this page and select the questionnaire for your hunt.  https://www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Questionnaires/

Areas: The ponderosa pine/oak woodlands in the vicinity of Mt. Trumbull, Mt. Logan, Slide Mountain and the Sawmill Mountains (including Death Valley area) all contain turkey populations.

Chukar

Overview: Chukar partridge are an exotic game bird introduced into various areas in Arizona. The species is native to the Middle East. Chukar can be found in unit 13A in the Kanab Creek drainage and associated side canyons.

The area is one of the most unpopulated in Arizona, and hunters should be prepared to camp in remote areas with no services available, bring shelter and plenty of food, water, extra fuel, and extra spare tires. The nearest full service communities are Colorado City and Fredonia, Arizona, both on Highway 389.

Chukar are not numerous anywhere in Kanab Creek. Birds are usually found in isolated coveys, and can (usually do) descend thousands of feet into inaccessible canyons after being flushed. In other words, after the initial flush, don’t expect to see the birds again.

Areas: Chukar are found throughout the Kanab Creek drainage and associated side canyon, but typically “concentrate” around water sources. Prospective hunters should study maps, find springs and water sources, and enjoy the perilous descents. Areas to consider include: Sunshine Point, Hack Canyon, Chamberlain Canyon and rim habitat along Water Canyon Point.

Quail

Quail populations fluctuate widely in the unit, but Whitmore Canyon, Cold Spring Wash/Point, Pas Pocket, Moriah Knoll north along the Hurricane Rim, and along the entire Kanab Creek Rim, have fair populations of gambels quail.

The area is one of the most unpopulated in Arizona, and hunters should be prepared to camp in remote areas with no services available. Bring shelter and plenty of food, water, extra fuel, and extra spare tires. The nearest full service communities are Colorado City and Fredonia, Arizona, both on Highway 389.

Unit Summary

Climate Information

Climate Information
Heavy snowfall may occur the unit during the fall and winter seasons. Carry warm clothing, food, water, and matches or other fire starters.

Cities, Roads & Campgrounds

Major Cities and Towns in or Near Game Management Unit and Nearest Gas, Food, and Lodging
Fredonia, Colorado City, Kanab, UT, Hurricane, UT

NOTE: Gas Stations are limited to towns listed. Most roads in the Unit are gravel or dirt. If you plan to hunt the unit or travel extensively, be sure to bring sufficient gas, water, and a spare tire or two.

Major Highways and Roads Leading To
From the East: State Hwy 389
From the West: None
From the North: State Hwy 59 (Utah)
From the South: None

Developed Campgrounds

Pipe springs RV Park (Kaibab-Paiute Tribe), located at Pipe Springs off State Hwy 389.

Undeveloped Campgrounds

Toroweap Campground located at Grand Canyon National Park, North Rim. Take County Route 109 (graded dirt road) south from State Hwy 389 and follow signs.

Brief Description of Terrain, Elevation, and Vegetation

Elevation ranges from approximately 1,650′ on the plateau region to 8,028′ on Mount Trumbull. Vegetation ranges from Great Basin desert scrub and desert grassland to pinyon-juniper and pine-oak woodlands.

Government Agencies and Phone Numbers

Arizona Game and Fish Department, Region II – 928 774-5045
Interagency Offices and Visitor Center (BLM and Forest Service) – 435 688-3200
Grand Canyon National Park – 928 638-7864
Arizona State Land Department – 928 774-1425