Unit 23, Arizona

Elevation ranges from approximately 2,200 feet at Roosevelt Lake to 7,733 feet at Aztec Peak in the Sierra Ancha range. The northern portion features steep canyon terrain immediately below the Mogollon Rim, while the central and southern areas consist of rough, rocky desert mountains dissected by major drainage systems including Tonto Creek, Salome Creek, Coon Creek, Cherry Creek, Colcord Canyon, and Canyon Creek. The Salt River bounds the unit's southern edge. Terrain transitions from open Sonoran desert flats near Roosevelt Lake to narrow slot canyons in the Hellsgate and Salome wilderness areas, then to ponderosa and mixed conifer ridges along the Rim.

Unit 23 is approximately 98% public land, dominated by the Tonto National Forest (Pleasant Valley and Tonto Basin ranger districts). The unit contains four designated wilderness areas: Hellsgate Wilderness (37,440 acres along Tonto Creek at the Rim base), Salome Wilderness (Sierra Ancha range, accessible via Jug Trail off FR 60), Sierra Ancha Wilderness (20,850 acres, centered on Aztec Peak at 7,733 ft), and Salt River Canyon Wilderness (32,115 acres along the lower Salt River). Highway access: State Route 288 (unpaved south of Young, roughly 27+ miles from SR 188 near Roosevelt Lake to Young) is the primary north-south spine through the unit; SR 188 provides paved access along the Roosevelt Lake corridor from the south. Key forest roads include FR 60 (A-Cross Road, 27.7 miles one way from SR 288 to SR 188 in Tonto Basin; high-clearance vehicle required; note the original Tonto Creek wash crossing is permanently closed — use the Tonto Creek Bridge; do not attempt after heavy rain), and FR 203 (Cherry Creek Road, extending from SR 288 toward the Sierra Ancha; a 10.05-mile segment through wilderness is under active review for decommissioning by Tonto NF Travel Management Planning — verify current access status with Tonto NF before entry). FR 71 provides access near Punkin Center. Seasonal road closures exist in the northern portions of the unit during December–March to protect roads from snow and rain damage — verify with the Tonto National Forest before entry. The Fort Apache Indian Reservation (White Mountain Apache Tribe) borders the unit to the east; no hunting access without tribal permit. Tonto Apache Tribe and Fort McDowell Mohave-Apache Community sovereign lands within the unit boundaries are excluded from public hunting. Nearest service towns: Payson (~74 miles northwest), Young (interior, no services), Punkin Center (interior, limited), and Globe (~50 miles south). Lodging and supplies at Payson, Globe, Miami, and Roosevelt Lake marina area.

Five distinct vegetation zones stack with elevation. The lowest desert fringe (below 3,500 ft) carries high Sonoran desert scrub — saguaro, prickly pear, cholla, desert grasses. Mid-slopes (3,500–5,500 ft) transition through chaparral, manzanita, Gambel oak thickets, and pinyon-juniper woodland. The primary white-tailed and mule deer band (5,000–6,500 ft) supports dense pine-oak and mixed broadleaf riparian forest. Upper slopes into the Sierra Ancha and Mogollon Rim country (above 6,500 ft) carry ponderosa pine with fir and spruce mix at the highest elevations. Riparian corridors along Tonto Creek, Salome Creek, and Cherry Creek provide dense deciduous cover year-round. The Rodeo-Chediski Fire created post-burn regeneration habitat in portions of the Canyon Creek drainage, now producing heavy browse and elk forage.

Elk: A resident Rocky Mountain elk herd estimated at approximately 650 animals (per most recent aerial survey), with a bull:cow ratio of approximately 45:100 and 45 calves per 100 cows; the unit is managed as an Alternative Management Unit targeting older age-class bulls. Unit 23 is divided into North and South management zones for elk; Unit 23 North holds higher elk densities and has easier terrain. Bulls in the 340–380+ inch (gross B&C) class are documented annually, with animals occasionally migrating in from the adjacent Fort Apache Reservation. Coues White-tailed Deer: Present throughout virtually the entire unit from desert-scrub hills above Roosevelt Lake to dark timber in the Sierra Ancha; concentrations in the Cherry Creek–Tonto Creek corridor between 3,500–6,000 ft; trophy bucks of 110–120+ inches harvested annually. Population status described as static to improving despite drought. Mule Deer: Present but at low levels relative to long-term averages as of the most recent AZGFD assessment, attributed to drought; improving with recent precipitation. Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep: A small population is documented within the unit. Javelina: Huntable populations in desert scrub and chaparral zones; highest densities in desert scrub north of Roosevelt Lake. Merriam's Turkey: Present with documented surveys showing approximately 2.3 poults per hen; found in ponderosa-pine zones in the Sierra Ancha and along the Mogollon Rim; Rodeo-Chediski Fire affected Canyon Creek turkey populations. Black Bear: Huntable population split into North and South management zones with different season-opening dates. Mountain Lion: Average approximately 11 lions harvested annually; over 80% taken with hounds. Small game: Abert's (tassel-eared), Arizona gray, and red squirrels; Gambel's and scaled quail; band-tailed pigeon; white-winged and mourning dove. Trout in perennial creeks within Hellsgate Wilderness.

1. Tag quotas not publicly confirmed for any species — see annual AZGFD Elk/Pronghorn and Deer/Sheep/Bison Hunt Draw booklets at azgfd.com. 2. Elk success rate updated to 92% for Unit 23 North early rifle (2025, bookyourhunt.com); draft figure of 87% was also cited in some sources — treat as approximate. Late rifle draw requires 13+ resident / 22+ nonresident bonus points (2024 data, chasentheking.com). 3. FR 60 Tonto Creek crossing: original wash crossing is permanently closed; Tonto Creek Bridge now provides passage (Arizona Highways). Draft language about impassability after rain removed for this crossing. 4. FR 203 decommissioning: 10.05-mile section confirmed through TMP process (GCCGA source); road access may change — verify before hunting. 5. SR 288 mileage corrected: Arizona Highways cites 27.7 miles one way for FR 60 portion; SR 288 runs through Young which is in the unit interior. 6. Elk herd 650 animals, 45:100 bull:cow, 45 calves/100 cows confirmed from Hunt Now Arizona (survey year not specified). 7. Coues deer population described as static to improving (Discover Gila County/Hunt Now Arizona); draft claim of no tag reductions not independently confirmed and omitted. 8. Salome Wilderness acreage not confirmed from available public sources; description retained without acreage figure. 9. No pronghorn documented for Unit 23 in any source reviewed. 10. Mountain Lion added as species_data entry based on documented annual harvest data.