Unit 4B, Arizona

Elevations range from approximately 5,000 feet in the northern desert grasslands to 7,600 feet along the Mogollon Rim escarpment in the south, with high points such as Larson Ridge and Weimer Point in the southwestern section. The southern rim country is characterized by steeply ridged, heavily forested canyons. Chevelon Canyon forms a deep, rocky gorge along the WESTERN boundary of the unit — Unit 4A lies to the west across Chevelon Canyon (the draft incorrectly placed 4A to the east). The east boundary follows AZ-277 and AZ-377 northward. Northern areas flatten into relatively open desert grassland and pinyon-juniper plateaus. The Rim Lakes area (Woods Canyon Lake, Chevelon Canyon Lake, Willow Springs Lake, Black Canyon Lakes, Bear Canyon Lake) sits at the southern high elevations, managed by the Black Mesa Ranger District with visitor facilities.

AZ-260 forms the southern boundary and main entry to the national forest — key forest road spurs include FR 504, FR 210, FR 122, FR 174, FR 178, FR 99, and FR 237. I-40 (Winslow, Joseph City, Holbrook exits) and AZ-377, AZ-277, and AZ-77 access the unit from north and east. FR 300 (Rim Road) is a 45-mile gravel route along the Mogollon Rim between AZ-260 and AZ-87, passing Al Fulton Point, Rim Visitor Center, and Crook/Rim/Mogollon campgrounds (open mid-May to late October). General Crook National Recreation Trail (Trail 140, 58.9 miles across Black Mesa Ranger District) with major trailheads at Military Sinkhole and Al Fulton Point. Horse Trap Wildlife Habitat Area around Willow Springs Lake is non-motorized only. Northern access via FR 504 south from Heber or AZ-99 south from Winslow. Duck Lake Road and Hutch Ranch Road off AZ-377 access the Limited Elk Zone. Dry Lake Farms is private. Chevelon Ranches is a significant private holding. Land managers: Apache-Sitgreaves NF Black Mesa RD, 2748 Hwy 260 Overgaard AZ 85933, (928) 535-4481 [note: some sources list (928) 535-7300 — verify current]; BLM Holbrook Field Office; AZGFD Region I Pinetop (928) 367-4281. No federally designated wilderness. Seasonal road closures and fire restrictions apply — contact Black Mesa RD for current status.

Three distinct vegetation zones occur south to north. The southern third (above approximately 6,500 feet) is dominated by ponderosa pine mixed with Gambel oak, alligator juniper, and scattered aspen near the rim edge. The central belt transitions to pinyon-juniper woodland with scattered grassland openings. The northern third is high desert grassland and scrub with pronghorn habitat in pinyon-juniper openings and open flats near Holbrook and Winslow. Riparian corridors along Chevelon Canyon support mixed conifer with ponderosa, oak, and willow at canyon-bottom seeps. State Trust land checkerboard patterns predominate northern pronghorn range.

Elk concentrate in ponderosa pine and mixed conifer of the southern third around canyon rims and timbered draws. Bulls in the 280-330 inch class typical; 360-inch class documented. A Limited Elk Zone north of Hutch Ranch Road discourages resident herds — elk there are typically transients managed through population and OTC harvest hunts. Mule deer at low densities through mixed conifer and pinyon-juniper zones. Coues deer occur occasionally in southern mixed conifer near Chevelon Canyon. Pronghorn occupy the northern half in stable numbers in pinyon-juniper openings and high desert grasslands. Black bear throughout with higher concentrations in the southern forested half; females with cubs protected. Mountain lion unit-wide with higher density in southern canyon country. Merriam turkey in southern ponderosa pine. Abert squirrel fluctuates with mast production. Javelina not a documented game population in 4B — core range sits south of the Mogollon Rim. Waterfowl (Canada geese, mallards, teal) use the Rim Lakes. Non-game: northern goshawk, peregrine falcon, Mexican spotted owl, golden eagle, belted kingfisher along Chevelon Canyon riparian areas.

FACT-CHECK CORRECTIONS: (1) Boundary corrected: Chevelon Creek/Canyon is the WESTERN boundary; Unit 4A is to the WEST not east as draft stated. (2) Hunt 3002 corrected from archery to early rifle/muzzleloader per Chase n the King. (3) Elk hunter success pct removed from structured data (44%/23% from paywalled GoHunt unverifiable). (4) Bull-to-cow ratio 41:100 removed not confirmed in any public source. (5) Post-2008 fire reference removed not corroborated. (6) Black Mesa RD phone: AZ Handbook lists 928-535-4481; some sources list 928-535-7300 verify current. (7) Public land 46% per HuntScore (USFS 23% BLM 5%); GoHunt says 47% treat as approximate. (8) General Crook Trail 58.9 miles confirmed by USFS. (9) Pronghorn draw odds flagged as indicative from GoHunt 2025 only. (10) AZGFD GMU 4B page returns HTTP 403 could not access primary source.