Hunting

Game Management Unit 38M

Species within this unit:

Javelina, Mule Deer, Mountain Lion, Dove, Quail, Predators/Furbearers
Unit Boundaries:

Unit 38M — Beginning at the junction of I-10 and Tangerine Rd. (Exit 240); southeast on I-10 to Avra Valley Rd. (Exit 242); west on Avra Valley Rd. to Sandario Rd.; south on Sandario Rd. to the San Xavier Indian Reservation boundary; south and east along the reservation boundary to I-19; south on I-19 to Sahuarita Rd. (Exit 75); east on Sahuarita Rd. to AZ Hwy 83; north on AZ Hwy 83 to I-10 (Exit 281); east on I-10 to Marsh Station Rd. (Exit 289); northwest on Marsh Station Rd. to the Agua Verde Rd.; north on the Agua Verde Rd. to its terminus, then north 1/2 mile to the Coronado National Forest boundary; north and west along the National Forest boundary, then west, north, and east along the Saguaro National Park boundary; continuing north and west along the Coronado National Forest boundary to the southern boundary of Catalina State Park; west along the southern boundary of Catalina State Park to AZ Hwy 77; north on AZ Hwy 77 to Tangerine Rd.; west on Tangerine Rd. to I-10.

Tucson Mountain Wildlife Area:

The Tucson Mountain Wildlife Area shall be that area lying within the following described boundary: Beginning at the northwest corner of Section 33; T13S, R11E on the Saguaro National Monument boundary; due south approximately one mile to the El Paso Natural Gas Pipeline; southeast along this pipeline to Sandario Road; south on Sandario Road approximately two miles to the southwest corner of Section 15; T14S, R11E, east along the section line to the El Paso Natural Gas Pipeline; southeast along this pipeline to its junction with State Route 86, also known as the Ajo Highway; easterly along this highway to the Tucson city limits; north along the city limits to Silverbell Road; northwest along this road to Twin Peaks Road; west along this road  to Sandario Road; south along this road to the Saguaro National Monument boundary; west and south along the monument boundary to the point of beginning, all in G&SRB&M, Pima County, Arizona.

*New Legislation* Effective 7/20/2011 – Arizona Senate Bill 1334 prohibits municipalities and counties from enacting any ordinance, rule or regulation limiting the take of wildlife during an open season established by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. SB1334 also amends state law (Arizona Revised Statutes 13-3107) by permitting the discharge of a firearm within the limits of any municipality while lawfully taking wildlife during an open season established by the Game and Fish Commission.

These new laws leave the decision making of where people can legally hunt in the experienced hands of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. The Arizona Game and Fish Commission has opened up many areas that were previously closed. Open areas do not include municipal (city) parks, municipal (city) preserves, county parks, county preserves, airports, golf courses, or posted water treatment facilities except as specifically opened by the Commission, or any area closed to hunting under ARS Sections 17-303 and 17-304 or Commission Rules R12-4-321, R12-4-801, R12-4-802, and R12-4-803.

All restrictions in Arizona Revised Statutes Title 17 (the state game laws) still apply, such as not hunting within ¼ mile of an occupied building and not shooting from or across a roadway or railroad. Unit 38M is closed to hunting with centerfire firearms. Please refer to specific species hunting regulations (orders) for more information on legal method of take in Unit 38M.

Species Information

Javelina

Overview: Unit 38M has an archery only javelina hunt in late December and January each year. Consult the current year’s Arizona Spring Turkey, Javelina, and Bear Regulations for exact season dates. Javelina hunters in Unit 38M are required to have a valid hunting license and an archery-only non-permit tag which may be purchased over the counter at any licensed dealer or Department office.

Areas: Hunting archery javelina and deer at the same time is popular in Unit 38M. When hunting with modern archery equipment in urban areas, hunters need to be especially safety conscious to avoid hunting accidents. Nuisance urban javelina can be also be taken with archery equipment in season by properly licensed hunters with a valid javelina tag for Unit 38M.

Tucson Mountain Park is open for the archery-only non-permit tag javelina hunt during specified season dates. However, hunting is not permitted within ¼ mile of developed picnic area, developed camp ground, shooting range, occupied building, boat ramp, or golf course. Developed areas do not include trails, but the Department asks hunters to use caution when hunting near the highly utilized trail system.

All archery hunters who plan on hunting in Tucson Mountain Wildlife Area are required to register online.

Open areas do not include any municipal (city) parks, municipal (city) preserves, county parks, county preserves, airports, golf courses, or posted water treatment facilities except as specifically opened by the Commission, or any area closed to hunting under ARS Sections 17-303 and 17-304 or Commission Rules R12-4-321,, R12-4-801, R12-4-802, and R12-4-803.

Saguaro National Park is closed to all hunting. The boundary of Saguaro National Park is not always fenced and/or signed (especially in the southeastern portion of the park). Hunters should have a map or a GPS unit with land status to determine where the park boundary is located.

Mule Deer

Overview: Unit 38M has an archery-only deer hunt in late December and January. Consult the current year’s Arizona Hunting Regulations for exact season dates. Hunters are required to have a valid hunting license and a non-permit archery deer tag. Archery deer tags for Unit 38M can be purchased over the counter at any license dealer or Department office.

Areas: Hunting archery javelina and deer at the same time is popular in Unit 38M When hunting with modern archery equipment in urban areas hunters need to be especially safety conscious to avoid hunting accidents.

Tucson Mountain Park is open for the archery-only non-permit tag mule deer hunt during specified season dates. However, hunting is not permitted within ¼ mile of any developed picnic area, developed camp ground, shooting range, occupied building, boat ramp, or golf course. Therefore hunters need to be ¼ mile away from all of the residences that are on the boundary of the Park. Developed areas do not include trails, but the Department asks hunters to use caution when hunting near the highly utilized trail system.

All archery hunters who plan on hunting in Tucson Mountain Wildlife Area are required to register online.

Open areas do not include any municipal (city) parks, municipal (city) preserves, county parks, county preserves, airports, golf courses, or posted water treatment facilities except as specifically opened by the Commission, or any area closed to hunting under ARS Sections 17-303 and 17-304 or Commission Rules R12-4-321, R12-4-801, R12-4-802, and R12-4-803. Saguaro National Park is closed to all hunting. The boundary of Saguaro National Park is not always fenced and/or signed (especially in the southeastern portion of the park). Hunters should have a map or a GPS unit with land status to determine where the park boundary is located.

Mountain Lion

Overview: Unit 38M has an archery-only mountain lion hunt from August to May. Consult the current year Arizona Hunting and Tapping Regulations for exact season dates. Hunters are required to have a valid hunting license and an archery-only non-permit mountain lion tag. Archery mountain lion tags for Unit 38M can be purchased over the counter at any license dealer or Department office. Any hunter that kills a lion must contact the Department in person or by telephone at 1-877-4-0447 within 48 hours of taking a lion.

Areas: Currently, there is very little remaining mountain lion habitat in Unit 38M due to the expanding human population, increased development, and decreasing prey sources. When hunting with modern archery equipment in urban areas hunters need to be especially safety conscious to avoid hunting accidents.

Tucson Mountain Park is open for the archery-only non-permit tag mountain lion hunt during specified season dates. However, hunting is not permitted within ¼ mile of any developed picnic area, developed camp ground, shooting range, occupied building, boat ramp, or golf course. Developed areas do not include trails.

Open areas do not include any municipal (city) parks, municipal (city) preserves, county parks, county preserves, airports, golf courses, or posted water treatment facilities except as specifically opened by the Commission, or any area closed to hunting under ARS Sections 17-303 and 17-304 or Commission Rules R12-4-321, R12-4-801, R12-4-802, and R12-4-803.

Areas of private property within the municipal (city) boundaries are closed to mountain lion hunting.  This includes all private property within the municipal boundaries of Tucson, Oro Valley, Marana, and Sahuarita.

Saguaro National Park is closed to all hunting. The boundary of Saguaro National Park is not always fenced and/or signed (especially in the southeastern portion of the park). Hunters should have a map or a GPS unit with land status to determine where the park boundary is located.

Dove

Overview: Unit 38M has two dove hunts with the exception of Eurasian collared doves which may be taken year around and have no bag or possession limit. During the early season, usually September 1-September 15, mourning dove, white-winged dove, and Eurasian collard dove are in season. During the late season, late November thru early January, only mourning dove may be taken. Shooting hours run from 1/2 hour before sunrise until sundown for both seasons. Hunters 10 years of age and older are required to have a valid hunting license. Hunters 16 years of age and older are required to have a valid migratory bird stamp. Lawful methods for taking dove include: shotgun shooting shot, bow and arrow, falconry, or crossbow. Please consult the Dove and Band-tail Pigeon Regulations or our Dove Hunting in Arizona webpage for further details.

Areas: The southern portion of Unit 38M offers decent populations of small game on State Trust Land. Hunt areas near stock tanks and along washes. Hunters need to ensure that they are more than 1/4 mile from all occupied buildings when hunting. Areas of private property within the municipal boundaries are closed to hunting.

The Tucson Mountain Wildlife Area is closed to discharge of all firearms see Commission Rules R12-8-802 and R12-4-803.  Tucson Mountain Park is closed to dove hunting.

Saguaro National Park is closed to all hunting. The boundary of Saguaro National Park is not always fenced and/or signed (especially in the southeastern portion of the park). Hunters should have a map or a GPS unit with land status to determine where the park boundary is located.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission has opened up many areas that were previously closed. Open areas do not include any municipal (city) parks, municipal (city) preserves, county parks, county preserves, airports, golf courses, or posted water treatment facilities except as specifically opened by the Commission, or any area closed to hunting under ARS Sections 17-303 and 17-304 or Commission Rules R12-4-321, R12-4-801, R12-4-802, and R12-4-803.

Quail

Overview: Quail season in Unit 38M is usually open from early October until early February.  Consult the current year’s Arizona Hunting Regulations for exact season dates. Hunters 10 years of age and older are required to have a valid hunting license. Lawful methods for taking quail include: shotguns shooting shot, handguns shooting shot, bow and arrow, crossbow, pneumatic weapons, and falconry.

Areas: The southern portion of Unit 38M offers decent populations of small game on State Trust Land. Hunt areas near stock tanks and along washes. Hunters need to ensure that they are more than 1/4 mile from all occupied buildings when hunting. The Tucson Mountain Wildlife Area is closed to discharge of all firearms see Commission Rules R12-8-802 and R12-4-803.  Tucson Mountain Park is closed to quail hunting, and all small game hunting.

Saguaro National Park is closed to all hunting. The boundary of Saguaro National Park is not always fenced and/or signed (especially in the southeastern portion of the park). Hunters should have a map or a GPS unit with land status to determine where the park boundary is located.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission has opened up many areas that were previously closed. Open areas do not include any municipal (city) parks, municipal (city) preserves, county parks, county preserves, airports, golf courses, or posted water treatment facilities except as specifically opened by the Commission, or any area closed to hunting under ARS Sections 17-303 and 17-304 or Commission Rules R12-4-321, R12-4-801, R12-4-802, and R12-4-803.

Predators/Furbearers

Overview: The populations of coyotes, bobcats, and raccoons are especially enhanced in urban areas. They can be hunted by using either hand calls or electronic calls. Predator hunting is an easy type of hunting since the animals come to you. Physically challenged people may find predator calling a more enjoyable method of hunting since very little walking is required. Coyotes can be hunted year around, but other furbearers can only be hunted between August 1 and March 31. Centerfire firearms cannot be used in Unit 38M, but shotguns shooting shot, bow and arrow, and crossbow are allowed. No discharge of firearms within a ¼ mile of an occupied building.

Areas: Nuisance coyotes, bobcats, and raccoons can be taken by archery in residential neighborhoods by licensed hunters. When hunting with archery equipment in urban areas, hunters need to be especially safety conscious to avoid hunting accidents. It is recommended to hunt predators/furbearers with archery equipment in open space common areas away from vehicle traffic and pedestrians.

There are some large areas of undeveloped State Trust Lands in the southern part of Unit 38M suitable for shotguns. Open areas do not include any municipal (city) parks, municipal (city) preserves, county parks, county preserves, airports, golf courses, or posted water treatment facilities except as specifically opened by the Commission, or any area closed to hunting under ARS Sections 17-303 and 17-304 or Commission Rules R12-4-321, R12-4-801, R12-4-802, and R12-4-803.

The Tucson Mountain Wildlife Area is closed to discharge of all firearms see Commission Rules R12-8-802 and R12-4-803.  Tucson Mountain Park is closed to all predator, furbearer, and small game hunting.

Saguaro National Park is closed to all hunting. The boundary of Saguaro National Park is not always fenced and/or signed (especially in the southeastern portion of the park). Hunters should have a map or a GPS unit with land status to determine where the park boundary is located.

Tohono O’Odham Indian Reservation
For hunting and fishing opportunities on the Tohono O’Odham Indian Reservation contact:

Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation
P.O. Box 837
Sells, AZ 85634
(520) 383-2221