Unit 3A, Arizona

Elevation ranges from approximately 5,000 to 7,000 feet. The landscape is predominantly flat to gently rolling high-desert plateau with some broken and hilly terrain in the southwestern quadrant near the National Forest boundary. Two perennial drainages — the Little Colorado River and Silver Creek — bisect the eastern half of the unit, providing riparian corridors in an otherwise open environment. Slopes are generally mild; the majority of the terrain allows practical cross-country movement. Wetlands are limited to stock tanks, river corridors, and agricultural irrigation ponds near Snowflake, Taylor, Woodruff, and Concho.

Public land access is constrained by a checkerboard pattern of private, State Trust, BLM, and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest ownership totaling approximately 30 percent public (USFS ~4%, BLM ~7%, remainder State Trust and other public; source: HuntScore). Under Arizona law, unposted private land may be accessed for hunting unless signed otherwise, but hunters are encouraged to identify ownership before entering. The unit is administered by AZGFD Region I (Pinetop office, 928-367-4281) and the Apache-Sitgreaves NF Black Mesa Ranger District (Overgaard office, 928-535-7300). Unit boundary roads: AZ Hwy 77 forms the western boundary (from junction with US Hwy 180 near Holbrook, south to AZ Hwy 377); AZ Hwy 377 forms the southern boundary; AZ Hwy 277 connects southeast to Snowflake; Snowflake-Concho Road and US Hwy 180A define the southeastern edge; US Hwy 180 forms the northern boundary back to AZ Hwy 77. I-40 provides a northern approach from Holbrook (Exit 292 at Hwy 77). Key interior roads: In the eastern half, Old Woodruff Road, Woodruff-Hay Hollow Road, and Hay Hollow Road provide access between Hwy 180 and the riparian bottoms. In the western half, the Zeniff Road and the old Holbrook Highway connect Hwy 277 to Hwy 377 via graded dirt. Four-wheel-drive or high-clearance vehicles are recommended for interior roads in wet seasons. Special access areas: The Wengert Ranch (between Hwy 180 and the Little Colorado River, east of Woodruff) has been reported to offer sign-in access during August and September through the AZGFD Landowner Compact Program — verify current status with AZGFD Region I before relying on it, as this could not be confirmed in the 2026-27 official regulations. The Zeniff Hunt Area (that portion of 3A north and east of the Apache-Sitgreaves NF boundary, excluding the Winslow-Holbrook overlap) and the Winslow-Holbrook Hunt Area (portions of units 2A, 3A, 4A, and 4B, roughly in the northwestern corner of 3A along I-40) are both open to general nonpermit-tag elk seasons. No designated wilderness exists within 3A. Cross-country motorized vehicle travel is prohibited; a quarter-mile setback from occupied structures is required.

Dominant cover is high-desert grassland with scattered juniper (juniper savannah/woodland) transitioning to pinyon-juniper woodland in the southwestern section near the Apache-Sitgreaves boundary. Cliffrose and various browse shrubs occur in the broken terrain. Riparian strips along the Little Colorado River and Silver Creek support cottonwood and willow. Agricultural lands — irrigated hayfields and dryland pastures — are interspersed in the central and southern portions near Snowflake, Taylor, Concho, and Woodruff, providing important seasonal forage for pronghorn and mule deer. There is no ponderosa pine component in this unit; the forest type begins south and west in adjacent 3C and 3B.

Pronghorn are the flagship species; the unit is described as being comprised almost entirely of suitable pronghorn habitat, with a stable to slightly increasing population trend. Mule deer are present but at scattered, sparse densities — AZGFD characterizes the deer population as not ideal for first-time or novice hunters. Elk are present in the unit's grassland-juniper mosaic and in adjacent forest habitat accessible via the southwestern NF block; glassing is effective in the open terrain while calling and still-hunting work in the juniper stands. The unit also supports mountain lion (statewide general nonpermit-tag season Aug 21, 2026 – May 31, 2027; Zone H comprising units 2A/2B/2C/3A/3B/3C with a harvest threshold of 7) and year-round HAM nonpermit javelina. Mourning dove hunting is rated fair, composed entirely of mourning doves. Black bear and Merriam's turkey are absent from 3A's open habitat (both occur in adjacent 3B and 3C). Coyote, badger, and pronghorn jackrabbit are common non-game wildlife. Bald eagles and great blue herons use the Little Colorado River corridor seasonally.