Unit 2C – Arizona
Species Information
Antelope
Overview: The pronghorn population has remained stable over the past two years. As always, scouting the unit before the hunt greatly increases your chances of success. Please remember to keep your distance and avoid disturbing pronghorn while observing them.
Land Status: There is a strip of mostly State Trust land along the southern border of this unit. Most of the remainder of the unit has a “checkerboard” land status. That is, the land ownership status of alternating sections is different. Some are private and State Trust (State) lands mixed, while others are private and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands mixed. Legal hunting is allowed on all State Trust lands and BLM lands, however, access to these lands is not guaranteed. You must have permission to cross private lands to get to these other lands. Some ranches have been closed to hunting in the past. Some access points into this unit include Apache County Road (ACR) 4365 from Hwy 60 near mile post 383 and ACR 3000 from Hwy 61 near milepost 365.
It is always recommended that hunters obtain permission to hunt on or cross over private land. This allows for good relationships to be built between the hunters and private landowners, and prevents the hunt from being interrupted by having a landowner ask the hunter to leave their property.
Various maps of the area can be purchased at map stores in Arizona. The BLM has 1:100,000 scale land status maps that are good references when hunting in these units. These maps can be purchased at BLM offices and some general map stores.
Bureau of Land Management Office – Phoenix
222 N. Central
Phoenix, AZ 85004-2208
(602) 417-9200
Bureau of Land Management Office – Safford
711 14th Ave.
Safford, AZ 85546
(928) 348-4400
Areas: Almost the entire unit is considered pronghorn habitat. The southern half may have a little greater density of pronghorn, plus better access. This unit has better access than either Units 2A or 2B.
The southern portion of the unit is also the most common area to be hunted. Scouting other areas, before the hunt, may allow a person to hunt other areas of the unit without having to worry about other hunters.
There is more land being subdivided along the southwest and western portions of the unit. This includes the area from the Vernon turn-off on Highway 60, west to Highway 61, and back northeasterly along Highway 61 to the Concho Lake area. Hunters will have to watch out for new homes, remembering that you cannot shoot within 1/4 mile of an occupied building.
Concerns: The most common complaints from landowners deal with off-road driving. It is illegal to drive off-road with any vehicle, including ATV’s, on State and BLM lands. Also, criminal charges can be filed for damages to private land from off-road driving. Please help us to keep all of these areas open to hunting by respecting both the land and the landowners. Remember, your OHV requires and OHV decal if it weighs under 1,800 pounds and will be ridden on State or Federal lands.
Mule Deer
Overview: The majority of this unit has very low-density mule deer habitat, with a few pockets of higher concentrations. Pre-season scouting is very important.
Land Status: There is a strip of mostly State Trust land along the southern border of this unit. Most of the remainder of the unit has a “checkerboard” land status. That is, the land ownership status of alternating sections is different. Some are a mix of private and State Trust (State) lands, while others are a mix of private and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands. Legal hunting is allowed on all State lands and BLM lands, however, access to these lands is not guaranteed. You must have permission to cross private lands to get to these other lands. Some ranches have been closed to hunting in the past. Some access points into this unit include Apache County Road (ACR) 4365 from Hwy 60 near mile post 383 and ACR 3000 from Hwy 61 near milepost 365.
It is always recommended that hunters obtain permission to hunt on or cross over private land. This allows for good relationships to be built between hunters and private landowners, and prevents the hunt from being interrupted by having a landowner ask the hunter to leave their land.
Various maps of the area can be purchased at map stores in Arizona. The BLM has 1:100,000 scale land status maps that are good to have when hunting in these units. These maps can be purchased at BLM offices and some general map stores.
Bureau of Land Management Office – Phoenix
222 N Central
Phoenix, AZ 85004-2208
(602) 417-9200
Bureau of Land Management Office – Safford
711 14th Ave.
Safford, AZ 85546
(928) 348-4400
Areas: Most of this hunt unit is not mule deer habitat. Some small pockets of deer occur in the TV Knoll area; along the southern border of Unit 2C; west of Hwy 191, between Lyman Lake and St. Johns (most of this deer habitat is on private land); and the Concho area (again, most of the deer habitat is on private land).
Concerns: The most common complaints from landowners deal with off-road driving. It is illegal to drive off-road with any vehicle, including ATV’s, on State and BLM lands. In addition, criminal charges can be filed for damages to private land from off-road driving. Please help us to keep all of these areas open to hunting by respecting both the land and the landowners. Remember, your OHV requires and OHV decal if it weighs under 1,800 pounds and will be ridden on State or Federal lands.
Questions? Contact the Pinetop regional office @ 928-367-4281.