Unit 32 - Arizona - Hunt Now Arizona

Unit 32 – Arizona

Species Information

Pronghorn Antelope

Overview: Pronghorn antelope can be found in two major areas within the unit. On average around 100-125 animals are observed during annual surveys. The continuous drought conditions are taking its toll on the pronghorn population with very low fawn survival and decreasing pronghorn observations.

Preseason scouting and diligent use of binoculars and a spotting scope are a must. Time spent scouting, looking at and comparing different antelope bucks will increase the chances of harvesting a good buck. During the last few years, bucks in this unit have averaged in the 13-14 inch range.

Areas:
Allen Flat and Steele Hills
This area consists of two vegetation types. Steele Hills has fairly open rolling hills dotted with mesquite and yucca. Allen Flat is typical of open grassland. Access into these areas is along the Three-Links Road off of Pomerene Road from the San Pedro River or from Airport Road out of Willcox. The Pronghorn antelope population in this area appears to have suffered more from the recent drought conditions then in other areas of the Unit and consequently fewer animals are seen.

SPECIAL NOTICE: Johnson Road off of I-10 has been closed on Private Property. There is no longer access to the Little Dragoon Mountains and Tres Alamos Wash from Johnson Road.

Bonita Area
This area can be access from Fort Grant road out of Willcox or SR 266 from SR 199 south of Safford. A good portion of the Bonita area is private land interspersed with State Trust lands. Many of the land owners do not allow hunting, permission to hunt on private land should be obtained in advance during preseason outings. Recommend obtaining a Forest Service map of the Coronado National Forest Service’s Safford Ranger District or a BLM map from the Bureau of Land Management to familiarize yourself with the land status of the area. You may notice areas with recent mesquite grubbing/removal in this area. These are ongoing habitat improvement projects to restore native grasslands for Pronghorn Antelope and Scaled Quail in the Bonita Area in cooperation with local land owners, AZ State Land Department, Natural Resource Conservation Service and the AGFD.

RESPECT the wishes of private landowners; obtain permission to hunt on private land. Citations will be issued for trespassing on posted private land.

Black Bear

Overview: Black bears are found in most of the drainages of the Galiuro Mountains and to a lesser degree in the Winchester Mountains. Higher concentrations of bears may occur in the drainages on the eastside of the Galiuro Mountains during times of normal to above normal forage productions with high concentrations of bears occurring on the Westside during times of low to below normal forage production. During high fruit years, try the prickly pear areas and canyons on the Westside of the Galiuro Mountains east of Mammoth.

Bear activity during the fall is related to food supplies. Bear activity and distribution can change quickly depending upon the seasonal abundance of food sources. During high fruit years and low mast producing years, bears can concentrate in the prickly pear areas during mid to late summer and in the upper mountain drainages during early too late fall.

Legal bears are only those without cubs, care should be taken in determining whether a bear is a female with cubs. Small bruins are not always readily visible. They do not always stay next to their mother and may be nearby, hidden by vegetation. Taking time to observe a bear lessens the chances of harvesting a female with cubs. When judging a bear’s size and age, larger bears will appear to have very small ears in relation to their head size. Smaller younger bears will appear to have large ears in comparison to their head size.

Areas: North and South Ask Creek, High Creek, Paddy’s River, Upper Four-Mile Canyon, Upper Turkey Creek, Rattlesnake Canyon and Redfield Canyon.

NOTICE: The interior of the Galiuro Mountains contain excellent bear habitat and consequently supports a good number of bears. There has been high bear activity reported in the Powers Garden area along Rattlesnake Canyon. This area is remote within the Galiuro Wilderness and requires backpacking or horseback. There are two major access points into this area, Deer Creek and Powers Hill. The most popular access is Deer Creek that has a primitive campsite with horse corrals. Access to Powers Garden from Deer Creek involves approximately a 6 hour hike of 8-10 miles along a moderately difficult trail. Access to Powers Garden from Powers Hill involves approximately a 3 hour hike of 4 miles up the Rattlesnake Canyon trail. The road to Powers Hill involves a difficult 2-hour drive (4WD ONLY NO TRAILERS) from Klondyke along FS road 96.

Javelina

Overview: Javelina numbers in Unit 32 appear to be stable. Javelina can be found throughout most of the unit in the 3,000 – 5,000 foot elevation range. Most hunters seem to have the most success in the western and southern portions of the Unit. Normally between 12 and 16 herds are observed during post-hunt surveys with an average herd size of 8-10 animals. Hunt success during the general and HAM seasons averages 15-20 percent.

Javelina activity is dictated more by temperature, wind and rain or snow than any other game animal. When temperatures are warm, javelina are moving early and late. When the mercury drops or a storm moves through the state, javelina activity is limited to the warmer hours of the day. A good pair of binoculars and long hours of glassing will improve the chances of a successful javelina hunt. Prompt cooling of the carcass is a must for maintaining the quality of the meat.

NOTICE: Due to land ownership patterns, many access routes leading to public and State Trust Lands in Southeastern Arizona cross privately owned lands. Through the sportsman/Landowner Access Program, the AGFD is actively working to minimize conflicts between private landowners and outdoor recreationalists in an attempt to keep many areas open to recreation. Access to private, state and public lands can only be maintained through the cooperation of landowners/lessees and outdoor recreationalists. Please do your part by obeying all laws and signs and utilize sign/in out posts. To aid in identifying land status and land marks, I recommend obtaining a Forest Service Map of the Coronado National Forest’s Safford Ranger District or a BLM map from the Bureau of Land Management.

Areas:
Klondyke
Javelina can be found in the Klondyke area, although not in the numbers that occurred 20 years ago. The majority of this area has a higher vegetation density; therefore the hunter may have to glass a little harder and longer. Recommend glassing the side drainages along Rattlesnake, Squaw and Bottle Canyons. Upper Turkey Creek and South side of Aravaipa Canyon may also produce a few Javelina. The bottomlands along upper Aravaipa Creek is privately owned, permission is required before hunting these areas.

SPECIAL NOTICE: There is no longer public access to State Trust or Forest Service lands through the Long Hollow or Rattlesnake Mesa access point.

Winchester Mountains
The west side of the Winchester Mountains is a good bet for this mountain range. The areas between Caruthers and N-O Canyons have been productive in the past, but this area also receives high hunting pressure especially during the archery season. Access into this area is along the Muleshoe Road. There are several 4wd roads up the canyons and along the ridge tops from the Muleshoe Road.

SPECIAL NOTICE: There are few to no public access routes on the east side of the Winchester Mountains.

Muleshoe Ranch
The Muleshoe Ranch is owned and operated by The Nature Conservancy (TNC). There are several drainages that provide excellent habitat for javelina in this area. Be aware of and follow the designated hunting and nonhunting areas on the ranch.

Little Dragoon Mountains
There are several ways to access this area. One is the Tres Alamos Wash, a 4wd road via the Pomerene road or off of the 3-Links Ranch Road. Sibyl Road along I-10 provides access through the ZR Hereford Ranch. The ZR Hereford Ranch is a private ranch and hunters are required to sign in when entering.

SPECIAL NOTICE: Johnson Road off of I-10 has been closed on Private Property. There is no longer access to the Little Dragoon Mountains and Tres Alamos Wash from Johnson Road.

Teran Basin
The Teran Basin area provides some excellent opportunities for the javelina hunter. There are two ways to access this area; a 4wd road up Teran Wash across from the Sunset Station Store in Cascabell or for the hearty hiker, head west of the Muleshoe Road towards Riggs Seep. Access to upper Teran Basin is granted to foot travel only. RESPECT the wishes of private property owners.

Soza Mesa
There are several drainages and breaks in this area in which to glass from. Upper Hot Springs Canyon, Cherry Springs and Eureka Canyon are some excellent places to start. Access into this area is via Gamez Road along the San Pedro River.

Redington

Access to State Trust and Public lands is very limited in the Redington area.

SPECIAL NOTICE: Access to the north side of Redfield Canyon through private land on the Carlink Ranch is no longer available.

Agriculture fields in the Redington area are private land and have been posted to hunting and trespassing. Be RESPONSIBLE sportsmen and RESPECT the wishes of private landowners. Citations will be issued for trespassing on private lands.

NOTICE: Privately owned Russian boars inhabit the Redington area near the agriculture fields and brushy areas along the river bottom, they are private stock and are illegal to shoot. Russian boars have long course hair similar to javelina, but are much bigger than javelina. Positively identify the species before harvesting an animal.

Mammoth
The area east of Mammoth is choked with prickly pear cactus; excellent javelina habitat. Areas to check would be Copper Creek Road, Bunker Hill Road (Mercer Road) and Rhodes Ranch Road. Access to all three of these roads is along River Road east of the San Pedro River.
SPECIAL NOTICE: Due to vandalism and lack of respect for private property, public access through private lands on the Mercer Ranch (Bunker Hill Road) is now denied.

Mule Deer

Overview: Mule deer can be found throughout most of the unit. On average 400 mule deer are observed during post-hunt surveys with a buck to doe ratio of 8-10 bucks for every 100 does. Hunt success averages around 20 percent. Preseason scouting and use of good optics will definitely improve a hunter’s changes of harvesting a mule deer buck.

NOTICE: Due to land ownership patterns, many access routes leading to public and State Trust Lands in Southeastern Arizona cross privately owned lands. Through the Sportsman/Landowner Access Program, the AGFD is actively working to minimize conflicts between private landowners and outdoor recreationalists in an attempt to keep many areas open to recreation. Access to private, state and public lands can only be maintained through the cooperation of landowners/lessees and outdoor recreationalists. Please do your part by obeying all laws and signs and utilize sign/in out posts. To aid in identifying land status and landmarks, I recommend obtaining a Forest Service Map of the Coronado National Forest’s Safford Ranger District or a BLM Map from the Bureau of Land Management.

As always, areas with high deer numbers also have the highest number of hunters. To find an area with fewer hunters, you may have to settle with an area with lower deer numbers or be willing to hike a long ways.

REMEMBER, a successful hunt is sharing good times with friends and relatives, enjoying the outdoors and an opportunity to view wildlife. A successful hunt should not be based exclusively upon harvesting an animal.

Areas:
Sunset Loop
The Ash Creek and High Creek areas are popular mule deer and whitetail hunting areas. These areas experience high hunter densities. Some good areas to locate mule deer include the Mesas, the lower elevations along Ash Creek and between High Creek and the Eureka Black Hills. Most of the land adjacent to the Forest is private property; RESPECT PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS and ALWAYS ask before entering private property.

Allen Flat
This is another popular area for mule deer and consequently has some of the higher hunter densities. Some of the areas to locate mule deer are Davis, Caruthers, Polecat and N-O Canyons and don’t overlook Bald Ridge. Access into the area is through the 3-Links Road from the San Pedro River or Airport Road from Willcox, then turn north on Muleshoe Road.

Klondyke
Areas to locate mule deer include Turkey Creek and the lower elevations of Long Hollow and Rattlesnake Mesa. Try glassing the drainages from the ridge tops. Access into Turkey Creek is through Aravaipa Creek or 4-Mile Canyon. Long Hollow and Rattlesnake Mesa are accessed from the Aravaipa-Klondyke Road between the Safford turnoff and the Klondyke Store.
There is a BLM campground with restrooms in Klondyke.

SPECIAL NOTICE: There is no longer public access to State Trust or Forest Service lands through the Long Hollow or Rattlesnake Mesa access point.

Redington

Access to State Trust and Public lands is very limited in the Redington area.

SPECIAL NOTICE: Access to the north side of Redfield Canyon through private land on the Carlink Ranch is no longer available.

Mammoth
Many local hunters hunt this area by driving in for the day then driving home at night. Areas to look for mule deer include Dry Camp Canyon, Copper Creek and Mulberry, Clark and Scanlon Wash. Access to these areas include Cowboy Miller Road, Copper Creek Road and Bunker Hill (Mercer) Road. All access roads are from River Road, east of the San Pedro River.

SPECIAL NOTICE: Due to vandalism and lack of respect for private property, access through private lands on the Mercer Ranch (Bunker Hill Road) is denied.

Teran Basin and Ridge
Fewer mule deer numbers are found in this area, but there will also be fewer hunters. Areas to look for mule deer include Palomas and Teran Wash and Kelsey and Sierra Blanca Canyons. Palomas and Kelsey areas can be accessed by a dirt road 1 mile north of the 3-Links turnoff along the San Pedro or Tres Alamos Wash north of the 3-Links Ranch. Teran and Sierra Blanca can be accessed through Teran Wash, across from the Sun Station Store near Cascabell.

Little Dragoon Mountains
Fewer mule deer numbers will also be found in this area along with fewer hunters. Look for mule deer in the higher elevations on the west side of the range and out in the flats on the east side of the range. Access includes the Tres Alamos wash from Pomerene road or south of the 3-Links Ranch; Sibyl road from I-10 through the ZR Hereford Ranch will access the west side and Tres Alamos wash. The ZR Hereford Ranch requires hunters to sign in prior to crossing private lands.

SPECIAL NOTICE: Johnson Road off of I-10 has been closed on Private Property. There is no longer access to the Little Dragoon Mountains and Tres Alamos Wash from Johnson Road.

White-tailed Deer

Overview: Whitetail deer can be found in the higher elevations throughout the unit. On average 275-300 whitetail deer are observed during post-hunt surveys with a buck to doe ratio of 18-20 bucks for every 100 does. Hunt success averages around 24 percent.
There continues to be a downward trend in the number of whitetail deer in Unit 32, attributed mostly to the drought conditions during the past few years. There are whitetail bucks to be found by the persistent hunter. During the October and November hunts, whitetail activity is generally restricted to the early morning and late evening hours. Hunting activity should be concentrated at these peak hours of activity. A successful hunter will be in position to begin glassing before sunup and during the last minutes before sundown. Midday activity is more common during the rut in late December and January. Whitetail deer blend in very well with their surroundings and can be difficult to spot; scouting and persistence in glassing are key factors to success. A quality pair of binoculars mounted on a tripod should be as equally an investment for Whitetail deer hunters as a good rifle and quality riflescope.

Areas:
Sunset Loop
The Ash Creek and High Creek areas are popular whitetail and mule deer hunting areas. These areas experience high hunter densities. Some areas to find whitetail deer include the higher elevations of North and South Ash Creeks, North and South Oak Creeks, High Creek, upper Wood and Black Canyon and try upper and lower Paddy’s River. Access into North and Sough Ash Creek is through FS 660 and FS659. Access into High Creek and North Oak Creek is through FS 159. Access into Wood Canyon, Black Canyon and Paddy’s River is through FS 693.

China Peak
This area includes Paddy’s River north to China Peak. This area generally has good densities of whitetail deer. Access into China Peak is from the Deer Creek road. Deer Creek generally receives high hunter densities. A long hike or an overnight camp is the best bet to hunt the China Peak area.

SPECIAL NOTICE: Popular camping sites along lower Deer Creek Road are now closed to camping due to private property.

Klondyke
Some of the best areas for whitetail in the Klondyke area are Horse Mountain, Fourmile Peak, Black Butte and Turkey Creek. The Rattlesnake Mesa Road can access Horse Mountain. The Long Hollow Road accesses Fourmile Peak. Black Butte is adjacent to Oak Grove Canyon and Turkey Creek. Turkey Creek can be accessed through 4-Mile Canyon or Aravaipa Canyon.
Rattlesnake Mesa and Long Hollow roads are accessed from the Klondyke-Bonita road, between the Safford turnoff and Klondyke store. Rattlesnake Mesa (FS 96) is strictly 4wd only and inaccessible for camp trailers or horse trailers.

SPECIAL NOTICE: There is no longer public access to State Trust or Forest Service lands through the Long Hollow or Rattlesnake Mesa access point.

There is a BLM campground with restrooms in Klondyke.

Winchester Mountains
The west side of the range provides some whitetail hunting in upper Davis, Caruthers, Rattlesnake and Javelina Canyons. These areas can be accessed through the Muleshoe Road.

SPECIAL NOTICE: There are few to no public access routes on the east side of the Winchester Mountains.

Muleshoe Ranch
The Muleshoe Ranch provides some whitetail deer hunting opportunities. The areas around Pride Ranch and Jackson Cabin are the best bet. For the backpacker or horseback hunter, Redfield Canyon north of Jackson Cabin toward Hooker Cabin provides an excellent opportunity to get away from the crowds. The road north of the Muleshoe Ranch is strictly 4WD. Access to the Muleshoe Ranch is through the 3-Links Road from the San Pedro River or Airport Road north of Willcox.

Redington

Access to State Trust and Public lands is very limited in the Redington area.

SPECIAL NOTICE: Access to the north side of Redfield Canyon through private land on the Carlink Ranch is no longer available.

Upper Redfield and Cherry Spring Canyons do not have high densities of whitetail deer, but a few bucks can be located. Other areas to look for whitetail are the canyons and drainages along the west side of the Galiuros between Redfield and Kielberg Canyons. Roads on the north and south side of the canyon can access Redfield Canyon. Cherry Spring Canyon can be accessed by South Redfield Canyon Road or the Soza Mesa (Gamez) Road.

Mammoth
Limited opportunity exists for the whitetail hunter in the Mammoth area. Places to look for whitetail deer would be upper Copper Creek, Sombrero Butte-Mercer Ranch, Maverick Mountain and Rhodes Peak. Sombrero Butte-Mercer Ranch is accessed by the Bunker Hill (Mercer) Road. Maverick Mountain and Rhodes Peak can be accessed through Rhodes Ranch Road (Schoenholzer Canyon).

SPECIAL NOTICE: Due to vandalism and lack of respect for private property, access through private lands on the Mercer Ranch (Bunker Hill Road) is denied.

Galiuro Wilderness
Opportunities for a wilderness hunting experience exist in the Galiuro Mountains. Access is restricted to backpacking or packing in on horseback. Pack trips usually involve packing into Redfield or Rattlesnake canyons. Few people pack into these areas, therefore hunter densities are fairly low. Access to the wilderness area includes Rattlesnake Mesa, Deer Creek, High Creek, North and South Ash Creeks, Redfield Canyon and YLE Canyon. Powers Garden in Rattlesnake Canyon and Hooker’s Cabin in Redfield Canyon are the most popular camping spots. Having an alternative camping spot is advisable. Whitetail deer densities vary from canyon to canyon, but chances of locating a nice whitetail buck are good.

This is a rugged mountain range, planning is a must. Water is often a limited resource, plan ahead and follow all safety precautions for wilderness travel. Topographic and Forest Service maps are recommended. For further information on the Galiuro Wilderness, contact the Safford Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest.

Elk

Overview:
Unit 32 is included in an over-the-counter elk season. There are very to no elk in this unit. A few elk had been observed and harvested around the North and South Ash Creek area and around the Mesa’s between the Winchester and Galiuro Mountain Ranges in past years. No reports of elk have been reported in these areas or in the Unit over the last several years.

Cottontail Rabbit

Overview: Cottontails are most active early in the morning and late in the evening. Hunters should concentrate their efforts at these times.

Cottontails provide an excellent opportunity and challenge to sharpen the bowhunter’s skills with equipment familiarization, arrow flight and judging distance and they provide a fun day in the field.

For another challenging hunting excursion, try hunting cottontails with a small caliber black powder rifle. Hunting cottontails provides an opportunity for a scouting trip for other big game species.

Hunters will improve their rabbits as table fare by skinning, cleaning and icing them down quickly after bagging them.

Areas: Cottontail rabbits are found throughout the unit. Hunters should hunt along washes with good mesquite cover or in mesquite thickets.

Dove

Overview: Dove populations are not as high in this Unit as they are around grain fields in other parts of the state. Hunter numbers will be considerably lower than in the high dove density areas. This unit may be a good choice for hunters trying to get away from the crowd. Check regulations for legal hunting times, as they vary from year to year. When hunting near stock tanks, be sure to watch for cattle and allow them access to water.

Areas:
Sulphur Springs Valley
A moderate area is the upper portion of the Sulphur Springs Valley north of Willcox. Hunters should look for stock tanks on the surrounding State lands. A Forest Service map of the Winchester and Galiuro Mountains would be helpful in determining land status.
Most of the land in this area is private property. Hunters must RESPECT PRIVATE PROPERTY rights and always ask before entering private property.

San Pedro River
Hunters will need to obtain permission from private property owners to hunt along the San Pedro River. Look for stock tanks on State land east of the river. Most promising areas will be between Pomerene and Cascabell or north of Mammoth.

Quail

Overview: All three species of quail can found in this unit; Gambel’s, Scaled and a few Mearns in limited areas. Gambel’s quail are by far the most common. Scaled quail can be found in the lower elevations northwest of Willcox around the Steele Hills and Allen Flat areas. A few Mearns quail can be found in the oak canyons in the higher elevations.

NOTICE: Due to land ownership patterns, many access routes leading to public and State Trust Lands in Southeastern Arizona cross privately owned lands. Through the Sportsman/Landowner Access Program, the AGFD is actively working to minimize conflicts between private landowners and outdoor recreationalists in an attempt to keep many areas open to recreation. Access to private, state and public lands can only be maintained through the cooperation of landowners/lessees and outdoor recreationalists. Please do your part by obeying all laws and signs and utilize sign in/out posts. To aid in identifying land status and land marks, I recommend obtaining a Forest Service Map of the Coronado National Forest’s Safford Ranger District or a BLM map from the Bureau of Land Management.

Areas:
Allen Flat and Steele Hills
The area between Willcox and the Three-Links Ranch usually produces fair quail hunting. Access into this area is along the Three-Links Road off of the Pomerene Road along the San Pedro River or Airport Road north of Willcox.

Bonita
The area north and west of Bonita have produced good quail hunting in the past. Access into this area is along Fort Grant Road north of Willcox or west along Rt. 266 south of Safford.
Much of the Bonita area is interspersed with state trust and private land. Be a responsible sportsman, know the area you are hunting and respect the wishes of private landowners. Due to irresponsible behavior by a few, new areas of private land have been posted against Hunting. Recommend contacting local landowners and obtaining a US Forest Service map of the Safford Ranger District or a BLM map from the Bureau of Land Management to familiarize yourself with the land status in this area.

Klondyke
This area has produced fair numbers of quail during wet years. Recommend hunting a minimum of 1 to 2 miles from the Klondyke-Bonita road. Hunt the side drainages of major canyons and washes. Try the lower slopes of Rattlesnake Mesa, Long Hollow and Deer Creek. For an extended hunt, the south side of Aravaipa Canyon; Parsons and Virgus may be productive, camping equipment and 4-wd vehicle definitely required.

SPECIAL NOTICE: There is no longer public access to State Trust or Forest Service lands through the Long Hollow or Rattlesnake Mesa access point.

Much of the private land along upper Aravaipa creek and the Klondyke-Bonita road has been posted against hunting. RESPECT the wishes of private property owners.

Redington

Access to State Trust and Public lands is very limited in the Redington area.

SPECIAL NOTICE: Access to the north side of Redfield Canyon through private land on the Carlink Ranch is no longer available.

Sandhill Crane

Overview: The Unit provides some opportunities for hunting of Sandhill Cranes. Cranes can be difficult to pattern where they will be so scouting before the season is crucial. The hunt includes several different units so hunters may also want to scout in the surrounding units as well. Cranes will typically roost at night at either the Department’s Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area, on the Willcox Playa Wildlife Area or a few birds may roost in large, shallow dirt tanks located throughout the unit. At first light the birds will leave their roost sites and go to feed. Typically Cranes will feed on cut corn fields but will often be found on alfalfa fields and the surrounding desert feeding on insects.

Be sure you are familiar with areas on and around the Willcox Playa and Whitewater Draw Wildlife Areas that are closed to Crane hunting. For the Willcox Playa, the closure is: bbeginning at Willcox; southeast on AZ Hwy 186 to the Kansas Settlement Road; south on the Kansas Settlement Road to Kimzey Road which runs west from K-S Store (formerly Brown’s store) and the cotton gin at the northeast corner of Section 11, Township 16 South, Range 25 East; west along this road alignment to AZ Hwy 191; north on AZ Hwy 191 to Interstate 10; northeast on Interstate 10 to Willcox (see Map). For the Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area, please see the attached map for areas closed to Crane hunting.

The sandhill crane hunting closure in the Whitewater Draw area is within the following described boundaries: beginning at the junction of Coffman and Davis roads; south on Coffman Road to Bagby Road; west along the Bagby Road alignment to the intersection of Bagby and posted portions of the Alamo Ranch; north to the boundary with that portion of the Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area in Section 30, Township 12 South, Range 26 East; west along the posted portion of the Wildlife Area to Frontier Road; north on Frontier Road to Davis Road; east on Davis Road to the point of origin.

Areas: Due to the large number of farm fields it can be difficult to predict where the birds will go to feed, scouting a day or two before your hunt is a must. One way to locate areas is to follow birds as they leave their roost to fields where they may currently be feeding. Once their feeding locations are determined, get permission from the landowner to hunt the field then set up in that field before dawn the following morning. A good landownership map is extremely useful in locating state land sections on the edges of farm fields, there are also landownership programs available for use in handheld GPS units (Global Positioning Systems). Local Wildlife Managers do not keep a list of the landowners that provide access as these can change from year to year and it is the hunter’s responsibility to obtain landowner permission prior to hunting on private property. Some Cranes will also roost on stock tanks after feeding and before returning to their night-roost sites so some hunters have found success in “puddle jumping” the tanks or setting on those tanks waiting for them to come in. This style may also provide hunters the opportunity to take other waterfowl.