Hunting

Game Management Unit 15B

Species within this unit:

Antelope, Elk, Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Lion, Mule Deer, Dove, Quail

Unit Boundaries

Beginning at Kingman on I-40 (Exit 48); northwesterly on U.S. Hwy 93 to Hoover Dam; north and east along the Colorado River to Pearce Ferry; southerly on the Pearce Ferry Rd. to Antares Rd.; southeasterly on Antares Rd. to AZ Hwy 66; easterly on AZ Hwy 66 to Hackberry Rd.; southerly on the Hackberry Rd.; west on I-40 to Kingman (Exit 48).

Species Information

Javelina

Overview:  In 2015, a companion tag was added for junior hunters during the junior’s muzzleloader hunt in 15A and 15B.  Many of the herds observed during winter wildlife surveys are located in the higher elevations, frequently in relatively dense Pinyon-Juniper country. Hunters need to preseason scout areas to learn where javelina are present. Check as many water holes as you can. You will likely find sign around them even in the winter. Set up and hunt nearby. Depending on the vegetation type in the areas you hunt, glassing can be vital to success. Tracking javelina is another method that can get you close to a herd. Sitting on a water hole with plentiful sign can also be productive. Random calling with a predator or javelina call will sometimes produce a shot.

Areas:  Javelina can be found in the Cerbat, Peacock and Music Mountain ranges. 

Antelope

Overview: Game Management Unit (GMU) 15A/B offers both limited archery and muzzleloader hunt opportunities for pronghorn. Hunters typically use spot-and-stalk methods, as well as waterhole hunting for shot opportunities. Pronghorn are generally rutting during both hunts and there are typically good buck-to-doe ratios resulting in good stalk opportunities. Waterhole hunting can be highly productive if dry conditions exist. Hunters should pay careful attention to Kingman area moisture patterns and average daytime temperatures, as both will affect how often pronghorn frequent water sources. Also, competition exists among archers for the few select livestock waters and hunters planning on using this technique should scout early to locate alternatives.

Areas: Pronghorn can be located in four separate areas of Game Management Unit 15A/B. Truxton Flat in Unit 15A can only be accessed by using U.S. Route 66 traveling northeast from Kingman. Pronghorn numbers are highly variable in this area due to movement to-and-from the Hualapai Indian Reservation. Badger Flat is located east of the Peacock Mountains in Unit 15B and can be accessed by taking Hackberry Road either south off U.S. Route 66 or north off U.S. Highway 93. Hunters should note that pronghorn in this area often move across Hackberry Road into Unit 18A. Airport Flat is located west of the Peacock Mountains in Unit 15B and can be accessed at Petro on Interstate 40 or by taking Grounds Ranch Road behind the Kingman Airport. Pronghorn in this area can often be located between I-40 and Grounds Ranch Road. Hualapai Valley north of Kingman in Unit 15B can be accessed from both Antares Road and Stockton Hill Road. Pronghorn densities are low in this area and generally range between Long Mountain and Red Lake. Most portions of the unit are open to public access and hunters should contact the BLM in Kingman for a resource area map to determine land status, water sources, and best access routes (telephone: (928) 718-3700).

Bighorn Sheep

Overview: Unit 15B is split into two sub units for bighorn sheep. 15B West and 15B East which also includes 15A. Temple Bar Road is the boundary for the sub units. Consult the hunting regulations for exact boundary locations.

A large portion of 15B West is in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area (LMNRA). Hunting is allowed in the LMNRA, except those areas posted as no hunting zones. Target shooting is prohibited throughout the LMNRA. Please obey all signs. Hunters and other visitors need to stay on the marked roads while driving. Off-road travel is prohibited. The Park Service has maps available showing the network of backcountry-approved roads. All approved roads are signed with a yellow arrow. The black number in the center designates the road number. Vehicle camping is permitted at designated backcountry campsites. If hiking, you may camp anywhere in the backcountry. Campsites must be 500 feet off designated roads. This unit does not have a lot of roads and a four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended. Be prepared to do lots of hiking in rugged, remote terrain. It is advised to spend some time scouting and glassing the areas you will be hunting. Remember to take your trash with you when you leave.

Areas: Fortification Hill area: Take Highway 93 to Kingman Wash Road and follow this road until you come to Fortification Hill Road. Camping is allowed at Kingman Wash.

Mount Wilson Wilderness Area: Can be reached at several different access points off Highway 93. Off of Highway 93, at milepost 13.5, is Old Highway 93, which parallels the current Highway 93. This road can be taken to milepost 10 where you can get back on the current Highway 93. Milepost 9 is Boundary Mine Road, which will also provide access to Mount Wilson. You can also use Temple Bar Road to get to the Mount Wilson area. Get off of Temple Bar Road at the Mount Wilson Wilderness road and follow it until you get to the wilderness boundary.

Indian Canyon, Canyon Ridge, and Arch Mountain: These areas are all accessed from the same road. Take Temple Bar Road to Bonelli Landing Road. Once on Bonelli Landing Road find Cohenhour Loop Road. Along this road are several camping areas. Take Cohenhour Loop Road until it forks and then take Gilbert Canyon Road, which will get you close to Arch Mountain. If you take Pope Mine Road, this will get you close to Canyon Ridge and Indian Canyon. This area is extremely remote and rugged, so be prepared to do lots of hiking. Find a high spot and glass as much of the area as possible.

15B East (15A & 15B):This unit is east of Temple Bar Road. Consult the hunting regulations for exact boundaries for this unit. The sheep hunting in this unit is in the Lake Mead National Recreational Area (LMNRA). Vehicle access is limited to the approved backcountry roads. The LMNRA approved backcountry road map #4 is available to show the limited number of roads in this unit.

Areas to look for bighorn sheep include Salt Spring Wash Road, Greggs Hideout, Spring Canyon Road, Hualapai Wash, South Cove, Grapevine Wash, and the last four miles of Pierce Ferry Road.

Since this unit has very limited vehicle access, it is recommended you have a comfortable pair of hiking boots. Find a good spot to use your optics (binoculars/spotting scope) to cover as much area as you can. Be prepared for some rugged terrain and bring plenty of water.

Elk

Overview: Game Management Units (GMU’s) 15A and B were added to the limited opportunity elk hunts in 2002. Elk have expanded into these units where historically they have not been. The populations are in low densities and may be difficult to find. Hunters will find their best shooting opportunities by sitting at a watering source. Since this is part of a multi-unit hunt, hunters should pay careful attention to the Kingman area moisture patterns and daytime temperatures due to their direct effect on the increased chance that elk will be in the units looking for water. Due to the low-density populations, hunters should plan on spending a lot of time in the field scouting before the hunt.

Areas: Huntable elk populations can be found in two separate mountain ranges in Unit 15 A/B. Highest elk populations will be found in the Music Mountains along the Hualapai Indian Reservation boundary fence. There is also a population in the Peacock Mountains. Hunters can use Antares Road, U.S. Route 66, and Diamond Bar Road to access the Music Mountains. To access Unit 15A from the Hualapai Reservation, hunter must obtain a Trespass Permit from the Hualapai Wildlife Department and sign in at the sign-in boxes locates at the gates. For additional information please contact the Hualapai Wildlife Department

Hunters can use Route 66 and Hackberry Road to access the Peacock Mountains. Most portions of the unit are open to public access and hunters should contact the BLM in Kingman for a resource area map to determine land status and best access routes (telephone: (928) 718-3700).

Mountain Lion

Overview: Game Management Unit (GMU) 15A/B provides mountain lion hunting opportunities. The majority of the mountain lions harvested in this unit are taken by houndsmen. However, hunters are occasionally successful with varmint-calls. In 2007, a multi-bag limit was put in place for Unit 15B West. This is only the portion of Unit 15B west of Temple Bar Road. Consult the hunt regulations for limit information.

Areas: Mountain lions can be found in three separate mountain ranges in Unit 15A/B. Highest mountain lion densities are in the Peacock and Music Mountains, with lower densities in the Cerbat Mountains. Hunters can use U.S. Highway 93 and Stockton Hill Road to access the Cerbat Mountains and U.S. Route 66 and Hackberry Road to access the Peacock Mountains. Hunters can use Antares Road, U.S. Route 66, and Diamond Bar Road to access the Music Mountains. To access Unit 15A from the Hualapai Reservation, hunter must obtain a Trespass Permit from the Hualapai Wildlife Department and sign in at the sign-in boxes locates at the gates. For additional information please contact the Hualapai Wildlife Department

Most portions of the unit are open to public access and hunters should contact the BLM in Kingman for a resource area map to determine land status and best access routes (telephone: (928) 718-3700).

Mule Deer

Overview: Game Management Unit (GMU) 15A/B provides both archery and muzzleloader hunt opportunities for mule deer. Archers should remember they can only harvest a single deer per calendar year and a new hunting license and archery tag is required Jan. 1. Early season archers typically will find their best shooting opportunities by sitting at a watering source. Late season archers will again find success by sitting at a watering source or by spot-and-stalk methods while deer occupy themselves with rutting activity. For both early- and late-season archers planning on hunting over water, careful attention should be given to Kingman area moisture patterns and daytime temperatures due to their direct effect on how often deer will require free water. Additionally, archers can expect to experience moderate levels of hunting pressure during both seasons with the greatest concentration of hunters near Kingman.

Game Management Unit 15 offers a muzzleloader hunt. General hunters should plan on spending as much time in the field as possible due to suppressed deer populations. Additionally, since the majority of hunters are local, hunt pressure is typically concentrated during weekends.

Areas: Huntable mule deer populations can be found in three separate mountain ranges in Unit 15A/B. Highest deer densities are in the Peacock and Music Mountains. Low densities of deer can be found in the Cerbat Mountains. Hunters can use U.S. Highway 93 and Stockton Hill Road to access the Cerbat Mountains and U.S. Route 66 and Hackberry Road to access the Peacock Mountains. Hunters can use Antares Road, U.S. Route 66, and Diamond Bar Road to access the Music Mountains. To access Unit 15A from the Hualapai Reservation, hunter must obtain a Trespass Permit from the Hualapai Wildlife Department and sign in at the sign-in boxes locates at the gates. For additional information please contact the Hualapai Wildlife Department

Most portions of the unit are open to public access and hunters should contact the BLM in Kingman for a resource area map to determine land status and best access routes (telephone: (928) 718-3700).

Dove

Overview: Game Management Unit (GMU) 15A/B provides dove hunting opportunity beginning September 1. Harvest primarily consists of mourning doves with only an occasional white-winged dove early in the season. Hunters typically find success during mid-morning and late-evening flights to one of the numerous livestock waters. Dove numbers typically remain strong through the end of the September season with far fewer birds being available for the second season, which opens in November. Unit 15A/B will again be open to all day shooting and should give hunters lots of opportunities to take a limit of birds.

Areas: Unit 15A/B dove hunters looking for the highest concentration of birds should focus their efforts at one of the many livestock waters found in the Golden, Sacramento, or Hualapai valleys. The Golden and Sacramento valleys can be accessed off U.S. Highway 93. Hualapai Valley can be accessed off Stockton Hill Road, U.S. Route 66, or Antares Road all north of Kingman. Most portions of the unit are open to public access and hunters should contact the BLM in Kingman for a resource area map to determine land status, water sources, and best access routes (telephone: (928) 718-3700).

Quail

Overview: Game Management Unit (GMU) 15A/B provides quail hunting opportunities during the general statewide quail season. Gambel’s quail are the only quail species found in Unit 15A/B. Hunters will find success early in the season near livestock waters and natural springs under normal warm and dry conditions. As the season progresses and weather conditions cool down, birds can be located in draws and washes with good shrub stands. Hunters can increase their odds of finding birds with pointing dogs, although dogs aren’t necessary for a good day in the field.

Areas: Good quail numbers can typically be found on the slopes and flats of any of the three mountain ranges in Units 15A/B. The Cerbat Mountains should have the best concentrations and can be accessed off U.S. Highway 93 and Stockton Hill Road north of Kingman. The Peacock Mountains can be accessed off I-40 at Petro or Hackberry Road off U.S. Route 66 north of Kingman. The Music Mountains are best accessed off Antares Road off U.S. Route 66 north of Kingman. Most portions of the unit are open to public access and hunters should contact the BLM in Kingman for a resource area map to determine land status, water sources, and best access routes (telephone: (928) 718-3700).

Unit Summary

Climate Information

Other Pertinent Climate Information
Moderately windy conditions are common throughout the year.

Cities, Roads & Campgrounds

Major Cities and Towns in or Near Game Management Unit and Nearest Gas, Food, and Lodging
Kingman, Dolan Springs, Boulder City, NV

Major Highways and Roads Leading To
From the East: I-40, State Hwy 66
From the West: I-40
From the North: U.S. Hwy 93
From the South: U.S. Hwy 93

Developed Campgrounds

Windy Point Campground off U.S. 93 (approximately 3 miles north of Chloride), administered by BLM’s Kingman Field Office; Temple Bar Campground off Temple Bar Rd. in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, administered by National Park Service, Boulder City, Nevada.

Undeveloped Campgrounds

Camping is allowed on Bureau of Land Management administered lands throughout the unit.

Brief Description of Terrain, Elevation, and Vegetation

The unit encompasses two mountain ranges, the Cerbats and the Peacocks, with a small extension of the Black Mountains in the north. The remainder of the unit is comprised of relatively flat, low elevation desert plains. Elevations range from approximately 1,490′ at Lake Mead to nearly 7,000′ in the Cerbat Mountains. Vegetation at lower elevations consists of Mohave Desertscrub transitioning to pinyon-juniper and interior chaparral. Ponderosa pine is found at the peak of the Cerbat Mountains.

Government Agencies and Phone Numbers

Arizona Game and Fish Department, Region III – 928 692-7700
Bureau of Land Management, Kingman Field Office – 928-718-3700
Natl Park Service, Lake Mead Natl Recreation Area – 702 293-8920