Unit 18B, Arizona

Highly diverse topography ranging from approximately 1,700 feet in the lower Sonoran desert washes to 7,490 feet at Mohon Peak. The landscape is characterized by basalt mesas, associated deep canyons including the Burro Creek canyon system, and open rocky mountains. Rough, rocky terrain dominates throughout; four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended on most interior roads, which become impassable in wet clay conditions. The Upper Burro Creek Wilderness contains nine miles of perennial stream with bedrock pools and small waterfalls.

Unit 18B boundary: Beginning at Bagdad; southeast on AZ Hwy 96 to the Santa Maria River; southwest along the Santa Maria River to US Hwy 93; northerly on US Hwy 93 to Cane Springs Wash; easterly along Cane Springs Wash to the Big Sandy River; northerly along the Big Sandy River to Trout Creek; northeasterly along Trout Creek to the Davis Dam-Prescott power line; southeasterly along the power line to the west boundary of Prescott National Forest; south along the forest boundary to the Baca Grant; east, south and west along the forest boundary; south along the west boundary of Prescott National Forest to the Camp Wood-Bagdad Rd.; southwesterly on the Camp Wood-Bagdad Rd. to Bagdad; except those portions that are sovereign tribal lands of the Hualapai Indian Tribe. Land ownership is approximately 60% public (BLM dominant, with state trust land east of Burro Creek) and approximately 40% private (including large cattle ranches). The 27,440-acre Upper Burro Creek Wilderness (foot and horseback access only) has four documented access roads: Upper Burro Creek, Six-Mile Crossing, Sycamore Camp, and Goodwin Mesa; all require 4WD and become impassable after heavy rain due to high clay content. The BLM Burro Creek Campground is accessible via a 1.25-mile paved road off US Hwy 93 at milepost 140.2. The Fort Rock Ranch in the northern portion of 18B is subject to a Landowner Compact Agreement with AZGFD (Note 42); drawn hunters for elk or deer in 18A/18B may request access through azgfd.gov/fortrockranch. No tribal land is within 18B boundaries; the boundary specifically excludes Hualapai Tribe sovereign lands to the west.

Vegetation transitions through five distinct zones with elevation. Low desert washes and flats (below ~3,000 ft) support Sonoran desert scrub with saguaro, palo verde, and various cacti. Mid-elevations carry expansive semi-desert grassland and oak-chaparral woodlands. Transitional zones feature large open areas of chaparral and shortgrass interspersed with cliffrose patches. Upper elevations support pinyon-juniper woodland with isolated stands of ponderosa pine near the Prescott National Forest boundary (Mohon Peak area). Riparian corridors along Burro Creek and the Santa Maria River provide willow, cottonwood, and water-loving shrubs. Large open cattle ranches occupy much of the flat grassland terrain.

Mule deer are the primary big game species and occupy all elevation zones, with the highest densities in the transitional chaparral and pinyon-juniper zones. Coues white-tailed deer also occur in the unit, particularly in oak-chaparral habitats at mid-elevations near the Prescott National Forest boundary. Elk are present in lower numbers compared to larger Arizona elk units; the unit is part of a six-unit multi-management area (17A/17B/18B/19B/20A/20C). A small desert bighorn sheep herd occurs in the rocky canyon terrain along the Burro Creek drainage. Pronghorn antelope occupy the open grassland and semi-desert flats in limited numbers. Black bear range through the unit, with highest activity in brushy chaparral and along riparian corridors. Javelina are present throughout the lower and mid-elevation desert scrub and chaparral. Mountain lion are confirmed residents. Gambel's quail are abundant; Merriam's turkey is absent from the unit. The Big Sandy River and Burro Creek support riparian bird diversity.

1. Elk tag quota of 35 is for the multi-unit group (17A/17B/18B/19B/20A/20C combined) for both general (hunt 3073) and archery (hunt 3190) bull seasons; per-unit allocation is not specified in official documents. 2. Mule deer general rifle quota of 225 is from 2026-27 regulations, hunt 1027 (note 42). 3. Javelina hunt 5504 is designated YOUTH-ONLY in 2026-27; same unit/dates previously open to adults — verify before adult application. 4. Bear is a nonpermit-tag (OTC) system in 2026-27, not a draw; the draft incorrectly characterized it as draw with 5 permits. 5. Pronghorn archery (hunt 2035) dates are Sep 4-13 and general (hunt 2022) dates are Sep 11-17, 2026. 6. No turkey hunts are designated for Unit 18B. 7. Bighorn sheep herd in 18B is small; hunt 6014 combines 18B with 16A South for 2 any-ram permits. 8. Unit boundary confirmed from 2026-27 regulations text; Hualapai tribal sovereign lands are explicitly excluded. 9. Fort Rock Ranch Landowner Compact (Note 42) applies to deer and elk draws in 18A and 18B.