Unit 5B - Arizona - Hunt Now Arizona

Unit 5B – Arizona

Species Information

Antelope

Overview: Antelope can be found in just about any open grassland area of Unit 5B and many areas that are sparsely to moderately forested. The population is divided between Anderson Mesa and the lower country between the Mesa and I-40 with approximately 2/3 of the population being on Anderson Mesa during hunting seasons. The antelope population decline that took place in the 90’s to early 2000’s appears to have reversed itself in the last several years. The 5A and 5B pronghorn herds were previously managed under alternative management guidelines that called for higher than normal buck to doe ratios until 2008. From 2009 to 2012 hunts were structured to reduce the buck to doe ratio to within standard guidelines. This objective was met and in 2013 permits were reduced to stabilize the buck : doe ratio. For the foreseeable future permits should be relatively stable.

Areas: Antelope can be found on Anderson Mesa from Vail Lake south to Long Lake, Melatone Mesa and Duke Tank Mesa near Jack’s Canyon. There are many large and small open areas within this area and though pronghorn aren’t always in every one of these areas they do use them all at some point. The area between Kinnikinick Lake and Ashurst Lake is probably the most well-known habitat in the unit but it gets the most hunting pressure and often has the lowest buck to doe ratio on the Mesa. While a little more difficult to hunt, it is advisable for hunters to at least scout the areas south of the Sawmill Hills, the area between Willow Valley Dam and Tremaine Lake and south of Yaeger Lake. At lower elevations, antelope are found throughout the grassland between the Winona and Meteor Crater roads (including the Hopi Three Canyon, Flying M and Bar T Bar Ranches). In recent years pronghorn have been seen increasingly in the area burned by the Jacket Fire which is located between the power lines near Winona and approximately Twin Arrows Road.

Whether a person chooses to hunt the Mesa or the low country they should focus on areas that receive good monsoon precipitation. These areas will have significant green up and more water available. The pronghorn will seek them out and spend most of their time there. Scouting just a week or two before the hunt will allow the hunter to locate these areas better than early scouting will.

The privately owned land sections of the Hopi Three Canyon Ranches are now Hopi Trust Lands. This effectively means that they have the same status as reservation lands. The Game and Fish Department and the Hopi Tribe have entered a cooperative agreement which allows the Department to manage wildlife on these lands. Access is granted to hunters on Hopi Trust Lands and all Game and Fish rules and laws apply. Please treat these lands with respect.

Black Bear

Overview: The current fall hunt structure for Unit 5B black bears consist of one general firearms hunt starting in early October. This hunt season has non-permit tags that can be purchased over the counter.

Areas: In the fall, bears are frequently found in or near Gambel Oak thickets when acorns are available. In 5B North, hunters should concentrate on the canyons coming off of the North and East sides of Anderson Mesa. These include, but aren’t limited to, Walnut, Cherry, Mormon, Padre, Grapevine and Diablo. In 5B South look around Jack’s Canyon and the Hutch Mountain area.

Special Regulations: Legal animals include any bear, except a sow with cubs. This restriction requires hunters to study located animals prior to harvesting them, and establish that cubs are not nearby and simply out of sight. Studying bears prior to the kill allows hunters to select for mature animals.

Female harvest limits are in place in Unit 5B, and may vary annually. The female harvest limit is also affected by female bears destroyed by the Department by policy because of human-wildlife conflicts. Hunters are responsible for calling 1-800-970-BEAR to determine if Unit 5B, or any other desired hunt unit, is still open. Bear hunt seasons in Unit 5B will close on the Wednesday immediately following a completed female harvest limit.

All hunters must contact an Arizona Game and Fish Department office in person or by telephone at 1-800-970-BEAR (2327) within 48 hours of taking a bear. The report shall include the hunter’s name, hunting license number, tag number, sex of the bear taken, management unit where the bear was taken, and telephone number at which the hunter can be reached to obtain additional information. Within 10 days of taking a bear, the hunter shall present the bear’s skull, hide, and attached proof of sex for inspection. If a hunter freezes the skull or hide before presenting it for inspection, the hunter shall prop the jaw open to allow access to the teeth and ensure that the attached proof of sex is identifiable and accessible. A premolar tooth will be removed during the inspection. Successful hunters are encouraged to contact the nearest Department office by telephone to coordinate inspections.

Elk

About 5B Elk: If you haven’t hunted 5B before (or even if you have) here are some things that should answer some of the common questions I get about elk in this unit.

The elk herd was historically more dense in 5B south than in 5B north and there used to be a higher bull to cow ratio in 5B north, but that is no longer the case as the elk populations and bull:cow ratio seems to be fairly equal across the north and south.
There is more elk consistently staying year round in the low elevations below the mesa and south of I-40.
Generally speaking there are bigger bulls in 5B north than 5B south although some of the large 5B north bulls will come into 5B south for the rut and be available to archers.
Every inch of 5B south is elk country so generally there are no “bad” spots.
The herd has been reduced by approximately 50% in the last decade to account for drought and existing habitat conditions. As of 2011 the strategy is to stabilize the population and not let it drop any further.
Elk use open grasslands and sparsely forested areas more than most people think, and since these areas usually have fewer roads it is much easier to escape hunting pressure in these areas.
If you draw a “general season” bull elk tag for 5B you may hunt both units 5B north and 5B south. This was done to let elk availability determine hunter densities and allow hunters to pursue elk wherever they can be found.
If you’ve hunted 5B in the past and found a spot that had elk, it will most likely still have elk. There have been no major changes in the habitat and elk are still elk so they don’t move from an area unless they’re forced out by other hunters.
The best area for elk hunting is where YOUfind elk. I can’t name every place where elk hang out because they hang out everywhere. I’ve done my best to highlight some key areas but part of the fun of hunting is getting out and discovering things on your own. Be patient, be observant, be smart and ethical about how you hunt and you should have a good experience even if you don’t get to fill your tag.
Overview: Elk can be found throughout the unit. An increasing number of resident elk persist in traditional winter range, which is mostly on state trust and private lands. These lands are not public land, but they are open to hunting. Concern over the forage base (from elk residing year-round) and hunter distribution, led to the creation of the Twin Arrows, Two Guns, Grapevine, and Diablo Combined Hunt Area in Unit 5B North.This has allowed us to increase hunting pressure on the resident elk population in this area. Hunters need to pay close attention and be knowledgeable of their hunt unit boundary during each hunt. Three large private ranches occur on the winter range: the Flying M, Bar T Bar and Hopi Three Canyon Ranches. Please be respectful of these landowners. Close gates, stay on roads and pack out all of your trash.

The elk population in 5B is healthy and is currently being managed for the current forage conditions to prevent damage to habitat and to minimize competition with other species.

Areas: 5BN
After opening morning of a rifle season it is unlikely to catch any elk out in the open areas on Anderson Mesa during daylight hours. If you are not lucky enough to fill your tag first thing then it is time to look a little harder. Travel corridors to and from feeding areas are a good start. Elk will still use the open grasslands but primarily at night. Being on a travel route to or from a bedding area in the morning or evening is a good bet. Look for trails that connect a mountain or canyon bedding area to a feeding area. The area above and below the Anderson Mesa rim from Chavez Pass to Walnut Canyon has numerous well used travel corridors.

Early Seasons: Elk will be found throughout Anderson Mesa. As noted above they will not likely be in the wide open areas for very long after daylight. Look around the rim of Anderson Mesa. If water is a critical factor elk will likely be found within a mile of standing water both early and late in the day. Some areas to check out include the stretch from Jaycox Mountain to Kinnikinick Lake, Ashurst Run, and the area between Ashurst Lake and Marshall Lake. There are also good numbers of elk below Anderson Mesa. Elk tend to concentrate around the canyons on the east side of the mesa. Elk can be found anywhere from Walnut Canyon on the north side to Diablo Canyon in the south. There are also scattered bands of elk between Winona and Padre Canyon out near I-40.

Late Seasons: Elk locations don’t change a lot during the hunting season unless there is significant snowfall on Anderson Mesa. If the mesa has a fair amount of snow on it then most elk will move to lower elevations. If there is little to no snow then all of the above mentioned areas will still be viable places to hunt. The possible exception would be for mature bulls. After the rut many of the adult bulls will head to lower elevations whether there is snow on the ground or not. The canyons on the north and east side of Anderson Mesa are a good place to find bulls. In the late season one can expect to find spikes or raghorn bulls still running with the cows but the mature bulls will be off by themselves or in bachelor herds. Generally one should look for rugged country with few roads and very little disturbance.

Areas: 5BS
This unit is approximately half as large as 5B north but the elk population is estimated to be almost double that of 5B north. There is no part of the unit that is not elk habitat and as such elk can be found just about everywhere. 5B south consists primarily of national forest land but there are a few residential areas in the unit. Hunters should be aware of the locations of these developed areas and be cautious not to trespass on private property and not to shoot within ¼ mile of any structure.

Early Season:
The early season hunter has numerous options. Since elk can be found throughout the unit the hunter only has to decide how many people they want to deal with. Most hunters will be in the vicinity of Hutch Mountain, Pine Mountain and Duke Tank Mesa. Those looking to get away from others should look at areas such as the Sawmill Hills, Sawmill Wash, Turkey Mountain and the area around Hay Lake. In areas of high road density the elk will tend to stay away from roads during daylight hours. Often only a short hike away from the roads is all it takes to find elk. Be sure to move slowly and keep the wind in your face. Many hunters also find success by sitting on game trails or water tanks. In areas with high hunter pressure elk will often get “pushed around” and by sitting on or near an “escape” trail a person can let others push the elk to them.

Late Season:
As with 5B north it takes a lot of snow to get elk to move to lower ground. A couple of inches of snow in the high country will not mean that all of the elk have moved out. Snow will only make them easier to track. For antlerless elk all of the areas mentioned above will have elk. While bulls can be found throughout the unit during the late season the best places to look are going to be those that offer security. Look for areas with low road density such as the area between the Sawmill Hills and Tremaine Lake. This area is also the lowest elevation of 5B south and may serve as a “staging” area between summer and winter range. Within these areas bulls will tend to gravitate toward canyons or hills as bedding and cover areas.

Special Note: The Hay Lake property is now in public ownership and is open to hunting. However, a vehicle closure for the area is in effect and there is no vehicular retrieval of game.

Mountain Lion

Overview: Lion hunting is Unit 5B and is open all year. A hunting license and permit-tag are required and both can be purchased over the counter at any Game and Fish Department office or license dealer. Lions are taken primarily by houndsmen in this unit but it is not uncommon for hunters pursuing other species to see a lion.

Areas: Mountain lion can be found throughout the unit however, they will concentrate mostly in and along the rougher canyons, rims and mountains of the unit. 5B has a moderate but healthy lion population. The eastern rim of Anderson Mesa and the canyons extending north offer the best lion habitat. Some of the better canyons include Padre, Mormon, Cherry, Kinnickinick, Grapevine, Diablo, Anderson and Jacks Canyons.

Special Regulations:

Lion hunters should be familiar with the following laws and regulations prior to going lion hunting. All hunters must contact an Arizona Game and Fish Department office in person or by telephone at 1-877-438-0447 within 48 hours of taking a lion. The report shall include the hunter’s name, hunting license number, tag number, sex of the lion taken, management unit where the lion was taken, and telephone number at which the hunter can be reached to obtain additional information. Within 10 days of taking a lion, the hunter shall present the lion’s skull, hide, and attached proof of sex for inspection. If a hunter freezes the skull or hide before presenting it for inspection, the hunter shall prop the jaw open to allow access to the teeth and ensure that the attached proof of sex is identifiable and accessible. A premolar tooth will be removed during the inspection. Successful hunters are encouraged to contact the nearest Department office by telephone to coordinate inspections. Legal lion is any lion except spotted kittens or females accompanied by spotted kittens.

Mule Deer

Overview: The mule deer population in 5B seems to be on a slight increase over the last few years. This reversed a multi-year decline due to persistent dry conditions. Most bucks that hunters see will be young but there are some large mature bucks scattered throughout the unit. A deer’s forage needs are more specific than those of elk so hunters should familiarize themselves with deer biology to determine if the area they are scouting is likely to hold deer. The best habitat types to find deer in include mixed conifer and pine / oak woodlands. Some of the larger bucks seem to hang out in areas dominated by junipers but with browse species nearby.

Areas: Some good deer densities can still be found around the Hutch Mountain from approximately the 125 (Kinnikinick Lake) Road down to Bargaman Park. Other areas to check include the fringes of the Jacket Fire between Winona Road and Twin Arrows roads, the vicinity of Long Lake, and the western fringes of Anderson Mesa along the Lake Mary Road corridor. Areas with good patches of cliff rose and a good water source nearby, wherever you find them, will likely have deer nearby.

There are a few small populations of whitetail deer in 5B as well. They are primarily located in and around Walnut and Cherry Canyons and Jacks Canyon.

Merriam’s Turkey

Overview: Unit 5B has a moderate turkey population concentrated mostly in 5B south. Hunters trying to locate turkeys in 5B should make themselves familiar with what makes good turkey habitat and seek that out. Turkeys can be found just about anywhere where there is a hill, ridge or canyon with mature ponderosa pines and good cover and forage nearby. The small patches of mixed conifer within the unit are also good areas to find turkeys.

Areas: In 5B north the hunter is limited to the northern and northeastern rim of Anderson Mesa. Good places to find turkeys are the areas around Marshall Lake and Walnut Canyon down to Mormon Canyon. In 5B south the western portion of the unit from the 124 road all of the way down to Hwy 87 is turkey country. Hunters should probably not waste their time in the flatter areas but concentrate on the various hills and canyons scattered throughout the area. The Hutch Mountain complex and Pine Mountain are good choices as are the canyons and ridges in the southern portion of the unit.

Waterfowl

Anderson Mesa has numerous small lakes spread across it that may or may not hold water during the duck season. Following a good winter most of the lakes will hold water and therefore will hold ducks. Some lakes attract more ducks that others so scouting the water you’re interested in hunting is recommended. There are very few resident ducks on 5B waters so the hunter will primarily find migratory birds. The availability of birds is dependent upon weather in more northern states. Some lakes to look at include Marshall Lake, Vail Lake, Horse Lake, Tremaine Lake and Long Lake. Jump shooting can also be productive and there are several smaller lakes and stock ponds that lend themselves well to this technique.