Arizona Unit 19A & 8

[upchurch_k]

Planning an OTC archery hunt for these units in January. I've done a ton of e-scouting and have a general idea of where we're headed within the units. This will be our first time here so I was wondering if anyone could tell me anything about the terrain, is it all sage, some oak, etc.

 

[Bigjay73]

High desert to 9000 foot ponderosa covered mountains. Anywhere there's pines, there can be deer. Water is the key. Find water, deer will be somewhere nearby.

 

[Bigjay73]

Unit 8
Areas for mule deer: Mule deer will be found throughout the Unit. Good areas to check at the higher elevations are Garland Prairie, McDougal Flat, Barney Flat, Round Mountain, Summit Mountain, McCracken Knoll, Jackass Knoll, Dutchkid Knoll, Boyd Knoll, Snyder Knoll and Bill Williams Mountain. Good access roads are Forest Service Roads 105, 108, 110, 122, 139, 140, 141, and 354. Concentrate on areas that have good acorn production. At lower elevations check the canyons that drop into the Verde river, access this country from the Verde Ranch Road, the Drake Road, and Forest Service Road 181.
Areas for white-tailed deer: White-tailed deer are by far the most difficult big game animal to harvest in Unit 8. They are found at very low densities in extremely rugged terrain. Good areas to check are Bill Williams Mountain, Dutchkid Knoll and any of the canyons from Sycamore to I-40 at the 5000 to 6500 foot elevation level. Most successful white-tail hunters either hunt over permanent water sources or glass the rugged canyon country. Good access points can be found along Forest Service Roads 12, 105, 108, 181, and 354.

 

[Bigjay73]

Unit 19A
Mule Deer
Overview: Mule deer numbers in Unit 19A have increased in recent years. The Coues whitetail deer population in Unit 19A seems more stable, although there have always been relatively few whitetail in the unit. Access to the west side of Mingus Mountain north of Hwy 89A has become limited due to housing developments – it is best to reach this area from Perkinsville Road (County Road 70) off of State Highway 89 in Chino Valley. The area immediately east of Watson Lake is private land. Obtain permission before hunting this area. On the top of Mingus Mountain is a Forest Service recreation area, which encompasses some private homes, the Forest Service’s Mingus Campground, the fire lookout tower, the Methodist Church Camp, and Mingus Lake at Elks Well. No discharge of firearms is allowed in this recreation area. Also, per state regulations, no firearms may be discharged within 1/4 mile of any building without permission of the owner.
Areas: During the fall archery hunt, and during mild weather conditions for the rifle hunt, many deer are in the Ponderosa pine habitat on top of Mingus Mountain and in the juniper habitat on the sides of Mingus Mountain. The Woodchute Wilderness Area and the west side of Mingus Mountain are good hunting areas at this time. The area near Copper Mountain and the Agua Fria River near the town of Mayer is also productive. After cold weather sets in (snow is possible at higher elevations during the opening weekend of the rifle hunt), many deer move to lower elevations, to areas north of St. Matthews Mountain and towards the Verde River, and the lower foothills of Mingus Mountain and Woodchute Mountain. ATV habitat damage has led to the Forest Service closing most of the roads leading to the Verde River. Please observe all Forest Service road closures, as identified on the Prescott National Forest’s “Motor Vehicle Use Map”. This map identifies the open roads and trails on the forest. It is free of charge, and may be obtained at any U.S. Forest Service office in the area

 

[recurveman]

It depends. That time of year you could have a bunch of snow to deal with too. I would plan on covering a bunch of ground (glassing, vehicle, boots) and not stop looking until you find deer. Don't be afraid to make large moves and change your elevation dramatically in order to find the deer. The could be anywhere from high to low depending on the year and conditions. They should be rutting that time of year so you should have a good time once you get into the deer. Good luck!!!!!!

 

[65swede]

Both units are mostly PJ along the Verde river. The pj gets thicker as you go north in unit 8 and eventually turns to ponderosa. The south part of 19a is mostly oak brush. The oak has a lot of deer but would be difficult to bow hunt.