Unit 37A, Arizona

Elevation ranges from approximately 1,500 feet on the desert flats to over 4,200 feet at high points such as Ragged Top Mountain in the Silver Bell Range (confirmed via BLM Ironwood Forest NM page: 'elevations ranging from 1,800 to more than 4,200 feet'). The unit is characterized by relatively flat desert plains, broad bajadas, major washes (Brawley Wash, Santa Cruz River corridor), and a series of isolated small mountain ranges rising from the desert floor: Silver Bell, Waterman, Sawtooth, Tortolita, Picacho, Roskruge, Samaniego, and Durham/Suizo Hills. Terrain is generally easy to navigate on foot, though interior mountain roads require high-clearance or four-wheel-drive vehicles.

Public land is approximately 69–73% of the unit (BLM 128,400 acres within Ironwood Forest NM + Arizona State Trust land balance; HuntScore reports 69%, GoHunt reports 73%). Private land is concentrated in the eastern portions near the Casa Grande-Marana agricultural corridor. The BLM Tucson Field Office (520-258-7200, 3201 E. Universal Way, Tucson) manages Ironwood Forest National Monument. Official boundary per 2026-27 regulations: begins at I-10 and Tangerine Rd (Exit 240); southeast on I-10 to Avra Valley Rd (Exit 242); west on Avra Valley Rd to Sandario Rd; south on Sandario Rd to AZ Hwy 86; southwest on AZ Hwy 86 to the Tohono O'odham Nation boundary; north, east, and west along that boundary to Battaglia Rd; east on Battaglia Rd to Toltec Rd; north on Toltec Rd to I-10 (Exit 203); southeast on I-10 to AZ Hwy 87 (Exit 211); north on AZ Hwy 87 to AZ Hwy 287; east on AZ Hwy 287 to AZ Hwy 79 at Florence; southeast on AZ Hwy 79 to its junction with AZ Hwy 77; south on AZ Hwy 77 to Tangerine Rd; west on Tangerine Rd to I-10. Key access roads include I-10 exits at Marana/Tangerine (Exit 240), Avra Valley Rd (Exit 242), and Red Rock (Exit 226); AZ Hwy 79 (Florence Highway); AZ Hwy 86; AZ Hwy 87. Interior access via Sandario Road, Silver Bell Road, Avra Valley Road, Sasco Road, Marana Road, and Deep Well Ranch Road. No developed trailheads required; dispersed vehicle access on existing routes is allowed on BLM/State land. Note 22 (2026-27 regs): City of Tucson Water Properties in Avra Valley open to hunting on foot at designated entry points with sign-in required — Bowden-west, Buckalew, Cactus Avra, Ed Anway, Flying E Bar, Kai, Nichols, Tucker, and Trust 205 parcels in Unit 37A. Note 23: Town of Marana area (Sanders Rd/Avra Valley Rd/Santa Cruz River/CAP Canal corridor) is closed to hunting. Note 86: Marana state lands south of Cochie Canyon Trail subject to temporary February closures for special events. Commission Order: Bee Ranch, Mordka Ranch, Buckelew Ranch, Carpenter Ranch, Cochie Canyon Ranch, Lords Ranch, and Tortolita Mountain Park in Unit 37A are opened to hunting; Tortolita Mountain Park (and all opened County Parks) not within 1/4 mile of developed areas. Western boundary abuts Tohono O'odham Nation — closed to non-tribal hunting.

Lower Sonoran desert scrub dominates: saguaro, palo verde, ironwood, creosote, catclaw, hackberry, and mesquite. The Ironwood Forest National Monument is named for its exceptional density of ironwood trees and contains the Nichols turk's head cactus, lesser long-nosed bat, and cactus ferruginous pygmy owl. Mid-elevation bajadas transition to upper Sonoran desert grassland with mesquite bosques along drainages. Riparian corridors follow the Santa Cruz River and its tributaries. No ponderosa, pinyon-juniper, or sky-island chaparral communities exist at these elevations; the unit is entirely Sonoran Desert biome.

Desert mule deer inhabit the unit at low densities, concentrated in the foothills of the Silver Bell, Waterman, Tortolita, Picacho, Roskruge, Sawtooth, and Samaniego mountain ranges and along brushy washes. Desert bighorn sheep occupy the mountain ranges of both the north (north of I-10) and south (south of I-10) sub-units; BLM states the Ironwood Forest population represents 'the last viable population indigenous to the Tucson basin.' Note 87 (2026-27 regs) states javelina numbers in units 37A and 37B are very low and hunt success is expected to be low. Javelina are concentrated in the Picacho Mountains, Durham Mountains, and Suizo Hills. Mountain lion are present — Zone M (Units 28/31/32/33/37A/37B/38M) annual harvest threshold is 46. Gambel's quail and dove are common. Coyotes, bobcats, kit fox, and gray fox are resident predators and furbearers. No resident elk or pronghorn populations exist in this unit. The Central Arizona Project canal corridor and wildlife water catchments (approximately 6 near Newman Peak area per GoHunt) provide important water sources that concentrate wildlife.

1. The archery OTC deer season for 37A runs Dec 11–Dec 31, 2026 and Jan 1–Jan 31, 2027 only — there is NO August archery window for this unit per the 2026-27 regulations PDF. 2. Javelina in 37A is exclusively youth-only draw (hunts 5511/5512 per regs PDF section header 'YOUTH-ONLY (GENERAL) JAVELINA'); Note 87 confirms very low javelina numbers and expected low success. 3. Hunter success rate and reported harvest figures are unavailable; AZGFD harvest reporting portal returned HTTP 403. HuntScore shows 0 harvest/0% success for 2021 — treat with caution. 4. Public land: HuntScore reports 69%, GoHunt reports 73%; using 73 as primary figure. 5. Bighorn total quota of 9 rams confirmed from PDF: 3 hunts x 1 ram (37A North) + 3 hunts x 2 rams (37A South). 6. No elk, pronghorn, or black bear hunts exist for 37A.