Hunting

Game Management Unit 13B

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Species within this unit:

Antelope, bighorn sheep, merriam’s turkey, mule deer, quail, feral pigs

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 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; westerly along the Colorado River to the Nevada state line; north along the Nevada state line to the Utah state line; east along the Utah state line to the western edge of the Hurricane Rim.

All hunts – Your big game hunter questionnaire may 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/

Species Information

Antelope

Overview: Pronghorn generally occupy short grass plant communities in Lower Hurricane Valley, Upper Hurricane Valley, and Main street Valley in the eastern portions of unit 13B. Diamond Butte is a prominent landmark that sits about in the middle of the areas occupied by Pronghorn in 13B.

Unit 13B has had several transplants of pronghorn to augment the current population. The first sport hunt was offered in 1989 and has continued with a low number of permits being offered. Quality bucks have been harvested in unit 13B for many years. Aggressive management will help ensure that this small population will continue to grow, and produce quality animals.

Hunting antelope in 13B is a unique experience. The habitat is rolling and rocky, with many shallow canyons for the antelope to hide. In fact antelope have often been observed entering these canyons mid-morning to bed for the rest of the day. Hunters should not expect a Wyoming hunting experience where a large herd is observed and a buck is singled out for an attempted stalk/harvest. Hiking the ridges between valleys and glassing is a very effective method. Pre scout to locate areas of isolated monsoonal storms that will have the earliest green up in September.

There are few access issues in this unit, as over 90% of the lands are federally or state owned. Some of the antelope habitat near Bundyville along the Mainstreet Road is private land and hunters should always seek permission to hunt there, even if not posted.

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 closest full service community to the unit is St. George, Utah, approximately 50 miles from the central portion of the unit.

Areas: The antelope habitat in 13B is centralized in the unit north and south of Diamond Butte. The Lower Hurricane Valley, Salaratus Hills, West Mesa, Dutchman Draw, the Grandstand area, Rock Crossing, Higley Pond, lowland areas north and south of Diamond Butte, Upper Hurricane Valley, Cinder Knoll, Poverty Knoll, Red pond, and Little Hurricane Rim all hold antelope.

The rolling sage hills west of the Atkins Ranch have antelope. These are complex low-rolling hills with grass bottoms and sage/cliffrose dominated tops. This is a difficult area to hunt because of the lack of a good vantage point.

If you are not finding antelope in the “flats”, look into the side canyons, and rocky faces. Keep your eyes on the trees in areas such as the Little Hurricane Rim and the Poverty Knoll area, and think outside the box of traditional antelope behavior to locate the biggest bucks.

Bighorn Sheep 13BN – Virgin River Gorge/Virgin Mountains

13B North Hunt Unit – Beginning on the western edge of the Hurricane Rim at the Arizona-Utah state line; southerly along the western edge of the Hurricane Rim to Mohave County Road 30 (Navajo Trail); west along Mohave County Road 30 to Mohave County Road 5(Mt Trumbull Road); north along Mohave County Road 5 to BLM Road 1004; west along BLM Road 1004 to Mohave County Road 101(Mud Mountain Road); southwest along Mohave County Road 101 to the Arizona-Nevada state line; north along the Arizona-Nevada state line to the Arizona-Utah state line; east along the Arizona-Utah state line to the western edge of the Hurricane Rim.

Areas for 13B North: The entire Virgin River Gorge along I 15 contains bighorn. The BLM campground and Cedar Pockets road are good locations to spot bighorn from. There are some pull offs along I-15 that can be used for glassing as well.

Focus attention on the tops of plateaus around Sullivan’s and Mountain Sheep Canyons, as well as the low lying areas below those plateaus. The Beaver Dam Mountains and the areas between the UT state Line, and I-15 also hold good numbers of Bighorn. There are some access points coming out of Bloomington UT such as the Blake Lambing Grounds, that will allow hunters to glass this area from above.

Don’t forget about the Grey Points, and Purgatory Canyon. Access is good to these points from the Low Mountain Road. Glassing from the radio tower overlooking the gorge is very effective. Keep in mind you cannot glass this entire area from one point.

Bighorn Sheep 13BS – Grand Wash Cliffs

13B South Hunt Unit – Beginning on the western edge of the Hurricane Rim and Mohave County Road 30 (Navajo Trail); south along the Hurricane Rim to Mohave County Road 5 (Mt. Trumbull Road); west along Mohave County Road 5 to the town of Mt. Trumbull (Bundyville); south on Mohave County Road 257 to BLM Road 1045; south on BLM Road 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; westerly along the Colorado River to the Arizona-Nevada state line; north along the Arizona-Nevada state line to Mohave County Road 101 (Mud Mountain Road); northeast on Mohave County Road 101 to BLM Road 1004; east on BLM Road 1004 to Mohave County Road 5 (Mt. Trumbull Road); south on Mohave County Road 5 to Mohave County Road 30 (Navajo Trail); east on Mohave County Road 30 to the western edge of the Hurricane Rim.

Mule Deer

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

Unit 13B, heralded as the “Arizona Strip,” is managed under alternative management guidelines which focus on the harvest of older age class, mature bucks. Mule deer exist at low densities throughout the unit in all habitat types and good numbers of deer can typically be found in the higher elevations, generally over 4,000 feet.

Demand for permits is high for both the archery and rifle hunts in 13B, and the odds of drawing a tag are increasingly difficult. Increased popularity, a quality hunting experience, and consistent harvest of older age-class bucks will continue to make rifle draw odds extremely low in this unit. Those lucky enough to draw a permit/tag enjoy a high general hunt success, and typically harvest  mature  mule deer.

Current population structure, and the fact that we have been able to meet or exceed current guidelines for several years makes an archery hunt in 13B a unique and appropriate opportunity. A permitted structure will allow the Game and Fish Department to better manage this type of hunt with the general deer hunt, and allow us to continue to meet alternative mule deer management guidelines.

The archery hunt does occur earlier in the year – during the monsoon – and if the rain patterns are consistent the deer will likely be dispersed. If this is the case a spot and stalk approach may be effective. If it is dry – which it could very well be – scouting water holes will likely be productive. Keep in mind this unit is over 90% public land and no reservation exists for a water hole or hunting area. Be courteous and remember this is the chance of a lifetime. You could be stuck in an office somewhere but instead get the chance to hunt the Arizona Strip. Let’s respect our heritage.

Regarding specific areas for the Archery hunt, those listed below for the rifle hunt apply. The unit is very large and tends to be year round habitat in most of it. Black Rock (Archery), Mt. Dellenbaugh(Archery/Rifle), and Whitmore point (Rifle) tend to have the higher densities of deer. One advantage for the archery hunters is that a buck scouted in July will likely be in the general area in August during the hunt.

Regardless if you will be hunting with a bow or a rifle in the unit, keep in mind there are few access issues in this unit; over 90% of the lands are federally or state owned. 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 closest full service communities to the unit are Mesquite, Nevada and St. George, Utah, both on Interstate 15.

Weather in the unit during the general deer hunt is unpredictable; it can be anything from relatively warm and dry to snowing. All hunters, archery or general, should be prepared for inclement weather. Many of the roads in the unit become extremely muddy if wet, and can only be negotiated with 4WD vehicles.

Be aware of burn out in this unit. It is not uncommon to go many days without seeing deer, and it is easy to get discouraged. Finally, don’t try and hunt the entire unit. Pick 5 or so core areas you like and stick with them. A mature Strip mule deer may not show himself for many days.

Scouting the unit prior to hunting is highly recommended. The vastness of this unit often makes this a daunting task and hunters can feel overwhelmed. Try a systematic approach starting in the southern portions of the unit, and working your way north. General hunters remember, the deer you find in September may not be where you find them in November, especially if it snows. In addition, one glassing spot will not give you a bird’s eye view of the unit. You need to stay mobile during the hunt; willing to move around to new areas if the area you are in isn’t producing.  Below are some areas to look:

Areas: Black rock Mountain/Low Mountain, Paiute Wilderness, Seegmiller Mountain, Wolf Hole Mountain, Wolf Hole Valley, Twist Hills/Salaratus Hills, Mud Mountain, Tweedie Points, Poverty Knoll/Poverty Mountain, Little Hurricane Rim, Whitmore Point/Canyon, Grassy Mountain, Hidden Hills/ Hidden Lake, Pigeon Canyon, Grand Gulch Bench, Snap Point, Upper Snap Canyon, Mt Dellenbaugh and associated habitat treatments in the area, Penns Valley

Lion

Overview: Mountain Lions can be found throughout the entire unit.  Lion populations tend to follow closely with big game animal populations.  Mountain Lions main prey base is 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.

Regardless if you will be hunting within the unit, keep in mind there are few access issues in this unit; over 90% of the lands are federally or state owned. 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 closest full service communities to the unit are Mesquite, Nevada and St. George, Utah, both on Interstate 15.

Weather in the unit during the general deer hunt is unpredictable; it can be anything from relatively warm and dry to snowing. All hunters, archery or general, should be prepared for inclement weather. Many of the roads in the unit become extremely muddy if wet, and can only be negotiated with 4WD vehicles.

Areas: Black rock Mountain/Low Mountain, Paiute Wilderness, Seegmiller Mountain, Wolf Hole Mountain, Wolf Hole Valley, Twist Hills/Salaratus Hills, Mud Mountain, Tweedie Points, Poverty Knoll/Poverty Mountain, Little Hurricane Rim, Whitmore Point/Canyon, Grassy Mountain, Hidden Hills/ Hidden Lake, Pigeon Canyon, Grand Gulch Bench, Snap Point, Upper Snap Canyon, Mt Dellenbaugh and associated habitat treatments in the area, Penns Valley, Virgin Mountains, Grand Wash Cliffs,  Lime Kiln Mountain.

Turkey

Notice: The hunting season is now a limited weapon-shotgun shooting shot season only.

Overview: Unit 13B has two separate populations of turkeys, both the result of transplants by the AGFD. The populations are present in the Mount Dellenbaugh area in 13BS(Merriam), and the Black Rock Mountain area in 13BN(Rio). They are managed separately with hunt seasons proposed on a yearly basis based on population structure.

13BS – Merriam’s Turkey

13B South Hunt Unit – Beginning on the western edge of the Hurricane Rim and Mohave County Road 30 (Navajo Trail); south along the Hurricane Rim to Mohave County Road 5 (Mt. Trumbull Road); west along Mohave County Road 5 to the town of Mt. Trumbull (Bundyville); south on Mohave County Road 257 to BLM Road 1045; south on BLM Road 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; westerly along the Colorado River to the Arizona-Nevada state line; north along the Arizona-Nevada state line to Mohave County Road 101 (Mud Mountain Road); northeast on Mohave County Road 101 to BLM Road 1004; east on BLM Road 1004 to Mohave County Road 5 (Mt. Trumbull Road); south on Mohave County Road 5 to Mohave County Road 30 (Navajo Trail); east on Mohave County Road 30 to the western edge of the Hurricane Rim.

13BN – Rio Grande Turkeys

13B North Hunt Unit – Beginning on the western edge of the Hurricane Rim at the Arizona-Utah state line; southerly along the western edge of the Hurricane Rim to Mohave County Road 30 (Navajo Trail); west along Mohave County Road 30 to Mohave County Road 5(Mt Trumbull Road); north along Mohave County Road 5 to BLM Road 1004; west along BLM Road 1004 to Mohave County Road 101(Mud Mountain Road); southwest along Mohave County Road 101 to the Arizona-Nevada state line; north along the Arizona-Nevada state line to the Arizona-Utah state line; east along the Arizona-Utah state line to the western edge of the Hurricane Rim.

Quail

Overview: Unit 13B supports a limited Gambel’s quail population in the low desert areas, especially in the Mojave desert scrub plant communities. Quail populations in this unit are much more variable than those found further south in Arizona. Generally quail are associated with water sources in the hot desert environment and this is where hunters should begin their efforts to locate them. The populations are very dependent on the timing and the amounts of precipitation, especially winter precipitation.

In recent years, wildfires have impacted quail habitat in the Mohave Desert. Long term effects remain to be seen.

Areas: Pakoon Basin from Mud Mountain south to Lake Mead, western slope of the Beaver Dam and Virgin Mountains, areas just south St. George in Arizona.

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 13B in the western portion of the unit.

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 St. George Utah and Mesquite NV, both are found off the I-15 corridor.

Chukar are not numerous anywhere within the unit but can be found mainly in the western part of the unit.  If you focus around reliable water sources in the cliffs/sheep areas, you will bump into some chuckars. 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 can be found in 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: Virgin River Mountains, Lime Kiln mountain, Purgatory Canyon, Grey points, Black Rock Gulch, Grand wash Cliffs, Hidden Canyon, Tweeds Point, Hidden Rim, and the Pakoon Basin.