191 and the U.S.-Mexico border; west along the border to the San Pedro River; north along the San Pedro River to I-10 Exit 331; northeasterly on I-10 to U.S. Hwy. Unlock the secrets of limited license lotteries and discover drawing and harvest trends to create a better hunt planning strategy. The Mule Mountains can be accessed off High Lonesome Road and Highway 80. Hiking from open areas will still get you into most of the Mule Mountains. 30B. These units also have over the counter archery hunts available in August/September and December/January for an action packed spot and stalk desert mule deer hunt. Go through town and take the exit for Highway 80 to St. David. Deer feed on grasses and forbs in the spring and summer, however, they are primarily browsers. Then, for reasons that are still unclear, deer populations began to increase. Restricted access is posing a problem, particularly in the Mule Mountains. Research the latest Arizona Mule Deer Hunting Draw Odds and Harvest Data for Unit 30b. Check your email for a confirmation message. I wanted to ask if anyone has experience or suggestions in hunting unit 30B. From the North: State Hwy 80, U.S. 191 One road form High Lonesome Rd. Arizona mule deer hunts are offered throughout the state in a variety of habitats for both the Rocky Mountain and Sonoran Desert mule deer subspecies. Unit Boundaries . Muzzleloader Hunt: Muzzleloader weapons as prescribed in R12-4-101 and R12-4-318, crossbow or bow and arrow as prescribed in R12-4-304. Current access is subject to change at any time. Don't miss it! User Scores. Both Gambel and Scaled quail can be found in the unit, and fair populations of scaled quail can be found in the Tombstone, Gleason, Pearce, Cochise, Elfrida, Sunsites, and along the Mexican Border in desert scrub and transitional areas into semi-desert grasslands. Mule deer can be found along the San Pedro River floodplain, but the thick vegetation makes it difficult to get a good clean shot at a buck. One of the easiest ways to access the Mule Mountains is to take Highway 80 south of I-10 at Benson continue down Highway 80 past Tombstone. Along the west side of the Dragoon, access on the FS-687 road will travel from Middle March Rd. Access into the Mule Mountains is very limited compared to the Dragoon Mountains. The Department offers Youth-Only designated hunts, in which persons are eligible to participate up to their 18th birthday. Mule deer can be found in lower numbers along the San Pedro River (SPRNCA) floodplain, but the thick vegetation makes it difficult to get a good clean shot at a buck. Remember, when hunting units with whitetail and mule deer; both species can be found in the same habitat types within the unit. The east side of the mountain is accessed off the Dragoon Road, Ironwood Road, and Middle-March Road. The quail populations suffer from drought and respond favorably to average to above average rainfall. No one under age 10 may hunt big game in Arizona. Be Aware of the Species, more violations of taking the wrong species have occurred in this unit so please be patient and aware of the differences in the two species! Higher elevations in the Dragoon and Mule Mountains experience occasional, short-term snow accumulations. Lower elevations of both the Dragoon and Mule Mountains have mule deer habitat, but the rolling hills and flats also have a number of deer during the hunting season. Within the unit are two major mountain ranges; the Mule and Dragoon Mountains. Mule deer are located in all mountain ranges and lower valleys within the unit. Plan your Arizona big game hunt with interactive unit boundary maps before you apply. (Phone 520-439-6400). . For youth deer hunters, the youth-only hunts in unit 27 and units 28 29 30A 30B 31 32 are great. Javelina can be found on all habitat types and topography in this unit, from the flats where they are hard to spot, all the way up to the tops of the mountain ranges in the oak woodlands. There are also opportunities for viewing these magnificent animals while camping in the southern part of Box Canyon. Approximately 2.5 miles south of Tombstone, take Davis Road east to High Lonesome Road and south to access the east side of the mountain. Before hunting on agricultural fields, obtain permission from landowners in the farming areas. The river continues north past I-10 and establishes the westerly boundary of unit 30B. Mule deer are not limited to any one type of terrain, being found from sparse, low deserts to high forested mountains. Several canyon roads in the Mules go through private land and are posted and locked, so respect the ranchers wishes. We will definitely return to Arizona to hunt mule deer again!Be sure to Subscribe to Kurt Belding and Steve Ficco's hunting channel here on YouTube where they bring you Hunting adventures to wherever you may be watching from. GMU32. Whitetail can also be found along the San Pedro River (SPRNCA), but the thick vegetation can make it difficult to get a good clean shot at a buck. The Lucky Hills Ranch has sportsmen/landowner respect signs posted at all access points along the Charleston Road. Deer Hunting in Arizona's Game Management Unit 30B - HuntScore Get unlimited access to over ten years of historical drawing and harvest data for over 1,700+ hunt units. One of the easiest ways to get into the Mule Mountains is to take Highway 80 south of I-10 at Benson. Access across private property from Highway 80 and Curtis Flats Road junction, east across the Dragoon Mountain Ranch to the Coronado National Forest boundary has been lost to residential development. Area: To get to the agriculture fields near Richland, Sunsites, Elfrida, and McNeal, take Highway 191 south of I-10. to SR. 92) so getting the Bureau of Land Managements regulations is a must. Visit www.blm.gov/visit/san-pedro.com to inquire about additional information. Resident Draw -Tag ($58) Non -Resident Draw -Tag ($315) Guided Hunt ($3,575) The Arizona trophy mule deer draw takes place in May, the next draw deadline is June 13th, 2023. I was talking after church this morning and mentioned unit 30 and one guy was saying they had some illegals turn themselves in to them while hunting there a few years ago. ; F-110-125lbs. by m gardner Sun Aug 09, 2009 1:42 pm, Post Jim Heffelfinger, Arizona Game and Fish Department, 555 N Greasewood Road, Tucson, AZ 85745, USA. Over the course of the past two decades, it has been noticed the whitetail are occupying traditional mule deer habitat in lower elevations. The department will also have a section on its website dedicated to the status of these units. Each of these communities are just off of Highway 191. Sierra Vista, Tombstone, Bisbee, Benson, Major Highways and Roads Leading To Topographical maps will help you get around the rest of the unit. The Mule Tails are the hills south of the Mule Mountains. Advertise on HuntScore and reach hunters interested in this hunting unit! I guess getting high enough to glass the flats would be a start but wondering if certain areas hold a larger concentration of deer over others. Also, accessible habitat within the Mule and Dragoon Mountains can be far from existing road and extremely rugged. EXCEPT for some Archery-Only deer, a hunt nonpermit-tag must be obtained from a license dealer as prescribed in R12-4-114. Interested hunters can contact the Tucson office or stop in at the ranch headquarters, located 1.5 miles south of Davis Road on Coffman Road and request information on the area. Weather can vary by elevation. During this past winter, the area received adequate rainfall and as a result, rabbit numbers are up, and provide an increased small game hunting opportunity. Another access point for the Mule Tails is from the Paul Spur Road, this road intersects Highway 80 about halfway between Bisbee and Douglas. If you are hunting whites try abbot canyon/Mule mountains, just outside of bisbee. Some of the hunts have very low harvest quotas and these could potentially close during the August OTC seasons, essentially closing the later December and January hunts. 30B. Please utilize phone apps, GPS or maps to determine the land status in the area and be aware of the land status where you are at all times. When applying for big game hunt permit-tags, you must use hunt numbers. Denied access in the Mule Mountains makes it extremely difficult to access these areas. Unit 30B is located in the southeastern corner of Arizona, specifically in Cochise County. These are things to be aware of and remember do not shoot within a quarter of a mile of a residence. Access from the Dragoon exit on I-10 is another option. Rifle and archery mule deer hunts. When driving east on Hwy. To the East of the mountain ranges, Sulphur Springs Valley runs from the Mexico Border, north to I-10. Each year in the spring, after the breeding season has passed, antlers are shed. Continuing down Highway 80 to Middle March Road, which is only a couple of miles north of Tombstone. To the East of the mountain ranges, Sulphur Springs Valley runs from the Mexico Border, north to I-10. More than 86 percent of these were mule deer and nearly 10,000 were antlerless animals. It is important to remember that a large portion of the district is privately owned property, especially in the agricultural areas of St. David, Elfrida, McNeal, Double Adobe, Sunsites, and Richland. Sections 17-303 and 17-304 or Commission Rules R12-4-321, R12-4-801, R12-4-802 and R12-4-803. 702.847.8747 Advertise With Us. Plan your Arizona big game hunt with an interactive unit boundary map. The Dragoon Mountains are part of the Coronado National Forest and can be accessed from the north at Dragoon. When the archery deer harvest limit for a particular unit and species has been reported the unit will be closed to further archery deer hunting at sundown the Wednesday immediately following. The amount of localized rainfall will determine the dove distribution in the unit. "A gun is as good or as bad as the man using it. Moose, Caribou, Sheep, Goat Hunting etc. Bucks are polygamous and fight for a harem of does during the winter breeding season. The unit varies considerably in elevation and vegetation types. Scaled quail can be found throughout the unit in high desert grassland communities. Adult bucks may weigh in excess of 200 pounds and stand up to 42 inches at the shoulder. Hiking from open areas will still get you into most of the Mule Mountains. Thanks for subscribing! Only about 9,500 mule deer were reported harvested. From the South: Mexico-U.S. Border. The Mule Mountains have access roads locked going into Sandy Bob, Dixie, Mexican, Gadwell and Abrigo Canyons. 350, and Fowdy Ranch Rd.). AZGF hunting license can be purchase and you can apply for the AZ draw on online at www.azgfd.gov website. These populations are isolated to the Dragoon Mountains and the southern end of the Mule Mountains near Bisbee. See Access Information for details. 191; southerly on U.S. Hwy. One of the easiest ways to access the Mule Mountains is to take Highway 80 south of I-10 at Benson continue down Highway 80 past Tombstone. There are two dirt roads off of the High Lonesome that will access the eastern side of the Mules, and you can access whitetail habitat in the upper parts of a few canyons. Approximately 2.5 miles south of Tombstone, take Davis Road east to High Lonesome Road and south to access the east side of the mountain. 2023 Western Hunting Application Deadlines, New feature released on Insider Hunt Planner, Point Tracker: Your first step in researching hunts, How to import waypoints from other sources to GOHUNT Maps, Dialing in your fitness now to be ready for fall, Research your way to big bucks with a tool you're probably not using, The ABCs of finding a legit hunting partner. Larger herds can still be located, although hiking may be the only means of accessing such areas. There is limited habitat in the upper elevations of the Dragoon and Mule Mountains. 30B is a hard unit. At lower, drier elevations, drop time is synchronized more with summer rains that bring on new plant growth. If you plan on hunting in higher elevation, as a rule of thumb, expect the tempture to decrease roughly 5 for every 1000' in elevation gain. You must log in or register to reply here. Prospects in the near future are even more discouraging, but mule deer are "boom and bust" animals. Take Forest Service Road 687 north along the west side of the mountain into the West Stronghold. One (1) deer per calendar year except as prescribed in R12-4-120. Rifle: (willing to wait, but good chance to draw . Near the Bisbee Airport, there are dirt roads that will take you into the Mule Tails. 80. There are two dirt roads off of the High Lonesome that will access the eastern side of the Mules. 30B, 21, 6A (last December hunt) - Second choice. Young Appear: June-August Average Access is gained from Highway 80 at Mule Gulch, milepost 350, and the Warren Road (south of Highway 80, east of Bisbee). Send us an email at [emailprotected] to learn more. The Sulphur Springs Valley is predominately private land, so obtain permission before going afield, and remember not to shoot within 1/4 of a mile of occupied buildings or residents. Restricted access in the Mule Mountains makes it difficult to get to the Mearns habitat. Generally they prefer the more rugged country. Recently, residential development in the Pearce/Sunsite area has increased, thus eliminating areas to hunt. Unit 3A/3C is a unit that improved greatly when most of it burned 2002. It is in preparation for the rut that mule deer grow antlers. Javelina forage on the warmest slopes first during cold weather. Some extra scouting, and hiking into the more inaccessible areas, may help you take a larger buck. Then, a series of wet winters resulted in an increase in fawn survival rates, and hunter numbers and the numbers of deer bagged increased accordingly until 1986, when nearly 86,000 hunters took 25,566 deer, of which 77 percent were mule deer. Turn east on the Middle-March road and drive approximately 10 miles until you reach the Forest Service Boundary. Please read and obey the landowners requests, and obtain permission before going afield. 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