Unit 3C, Arizona

The unit spans approximately 355,063 acres (555 square miles) in Navajo County. Terrain is generally rolling plateau country with gentle to moderate relief, dissected by shallow drainages such as Decker Wash and Phoenix Park Wash. Elevation rises from about 5,600 feet at the town of Taylor in the north to over 7,200 feet along the Mogollon Rim on the southern boundary. The 2002 Rodeo-Chediski Fire significantly reshaped the southern half of the unit, creating open burn areas with improved glassing terrain. Snow is common from October onward, and four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended for late-season access on forest roads.

The unit is bounded by AZ Hwy 277 (Snowflake west to AZ Hwy 260), AZ Hwy 260 (west to the Sitgreaves/Tonto NF boundary), the Apache-Sitgreaves NF boundary east to US Hwy 60 (AZ Hwy 77), and AZ Hwy 77 north back to Snowflake. The southern boundary follows the Fort Apache Indian Reservation line — hunters may not enter the Reservation to hunt or retrieve game. Most of the unit lies within the Black Mesa Ranger District (Overgaard office) and the Lakeside Ranger District (Lakeside office) of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, which together account for approximately 81% of the unit. Forest maps are available at ranger offices in Overgaard and Lakeside, and at the AZGFD Region I office in Pinetop. Key forest roads include FR 147, FR 129, FR 332, FR 139, FR 132, FR 143, FR 130, FR 131, FR 86, FR 50, FR 51, FR 107, FR 145, FR 161, FR 146, FR 300 (Rim Road), and FR 512. FR 300 (the Mogollon Rim Road) runs along the southern edge of the unit. State Trust and private land is present in the northern antelope habitat near Linden, Burton, and Show Low; private landowners in those areas occasionally permit access with prior permission. Fool Hollow Lake Wildlife Area (Show Low) is open to hunting in season but closed to discharge of firearms within its boundaries. No designated wilderness areas fall within 3C itself. Mexican wolves are present and federally protected throughout this unit. Seasonal road closures due to snow and mud are common after October.

The unit transitions through three dominant vegetation zones: open pinyon-juniper woodland across the lower northern sections (roughly 5,600–6,200 ft), ponderosa pine forest through the mid-elevation core, and mixed pine-oak (Gambel oak) and Douglas fir habitats approaching the Rim on the south. Post-fire burn areas in the southern unit now support dense Gambel oak stands and young-growth ponderosa regeneration, creating improved forage and cover for elk, deer, and bear. Riparian corridors associated with Decker Wash and other drainages provide water and shade. The Redhead Marsh–Ned Lake–Telephone Lake complex and Black Canyon Lake offer wetland habitat and waterfowl hunting.

Merriam's elk are the signature species, with a significant resident herd concentrated south of AZ Hwy 260 — particularly in the post-Rodeo-Chediski burn area west of Decker Wash — where increased forage and open ground support higher densities than the northern third of the unit. Mule deer populations have been increasing since the 2002 fire, with highest concentrations in the southern burn area south of Hwy 260. The unit is managed under Alternative Management for deer, aimed at maintaining older-age-class bucks and higher buck-to-doe ratios. Pronghorn antelope range in the northern portion of the unit in open terrain north of Hwy 260; population has declined in recent decades and archery-only antelope hunts have been eliminated. Black bears are present throughout, concentrated in the southern ponderosa and oak areas; they move to Gambel oak stands during good acorn years. Merriam's turkey populations, while reduced from post-fire peak years, remain huntable. Mountain lion are present but not at high density. Additional species include javelina (northern portions), Abert's squirrel, mourning dove, and waterfowl on the unit's lakes and marshes. Mexican wolves may be encountered anywhere in the unit.

1. Elk season dates (Hunt 3127 archery Sept 11-24 2026; Hunt 3001 early rifle Sept 25-Oct 1 2026) are sourced from secondary hunting services and outfitter sites, not directly from the official 2026 AZGFD Pronghorn & Elk Draw booklet — verify exact dates and quotas at azgfd.com before publishing. One forum source suggests Hunt 3001 may not run in 2026. 2. Elk draw bonus points (res ~14-15 for 3127, ~24-25 for 3001; nonres ~23-24 for 3127, ~29 for 3001) are based on 2025 draw data from secondary sources. 3. Mule deer quota of 70 is the combined 3A/3C total across all deer hunts from the official 2025-2026 regulations PDF, not unit 3C alone. 4. Pronghorn season data unavailable — population decline has reduced or eliminated some 3C hunts. 5. HuntScore aggregate stats (19% success, 221 hunters, 42 harvest) are dated to 2021 and cover all species combined — low-confidence aggregate indicators only. 6. Public land percentage (82%, 81% USFS) sourced from HuntScore. 7. Turkey permit quota of 200 and hunt dates not independently confirmed from official PDF — treat as secondary-source data. 8. Rodeo-Chediski Fire occurred June–July 2002 (not 2001 as cited in some secondary sources).