Unit 5BN, Arizona

Elevation ranges from approximately 5,000 ft in the northern grassland and pinyon-juniper lowlands to nearly 7,000 ft on Anderson Mesa's ponderosa-flat rim. The mesa itself is a large, high, mostly forested platform that breaks into deep canyons draining northeast toward the Padre Canyon Roadless Area and the flat country around Raymond Ranch. Terrain is rated among the most walkable in Arizona (HuntScore terrain score 93/100), but canyon rims and the roadless area present rugged backcountry conditions.

Primary highway access: I-40 (Exit 225 / Buffalo Range Road) provides the main northern entry — drive south approximately 10 miles on Buffalo Range Road (dirt, high-clearance/4WD recommended in wet conditions) to the Raymond Wildlife Area. The unit's southern boundary is defined by FH-3 (Lake Mary/Clints Well Road) and FR-125, east on FR-125 to FR-82, south on FR-82 to FR-69B, east on FR-69B to FR-69 (per AZGFD Note 50, 2026 Elk Hunt Draw booklet). FR-126 (Twin Arrows Road) runs northwest from the mesa rim to I-40 near Twin Arrows. The unit falls within the Coconino National Forest, Flagstaff Ranger District (5075 N. Highway 89, Flagstaff, AZ 86001; 928-526-0866). The nearest AZGFD regional office is Region II (3500 S. Lake Mary Rd., Flagstaff; 928-774-5045). All motorized travel is restricted to designated routes on the Coconino National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM); the Coconino NF does NOT allow cross-country motorized retrieval in Unit 5B (only Units 6A, 6B, 7, and 8 are excepted). The Padre Canyon Roadless Area in the northeast is closed to motor vehicles, requiring foot or horse access. Three private parcels require access agreements: (1) Bar T Bar Ranch and (2) Flying M Ranch in the northern portion — free Ranch Pass required via AZGFD Landowner Compact program (azgfd.gov/landownercompact); Ranch Passes for Bar T Bar also available at Meteor Crater Gas Station. Ranch Passes for Flying M also available at sign-in boxes at either of the two entrance points. (3) Hopi Three Canyon Ranch (Hart Ranch parcel in 5B): written permission required through the AZGFD Landowner Relations portal (azgfd.gov/landownercompact) or by scanning QR codes posted at approved access points; all hunters and everyone in their party must have written permission (AZGFD Note 30). Raymond Wildlife Area is closed to the public May 1 – July 29 annually for bison calving; designated camping is available at the area headquarters. Flagstaff and Winslow offer the nearest lodging, fuel, and services.

High-elevation Anderson Mesa supports open ponderosa pine forest with scattered grassland meadows — prime summer elk and pronghorn range. Mid-elevations transition through Gambel oak thickets and shaggy-bark juniper. Northern and lower elevations carry pinyon-juniper woodland with open grasslands. The Raymond Ranch Wildlife Area occupies predominantly flat grassland adjacent to Anderson Mesa. Riparian corridors are limited; isolated stock tanks and natural waterholes (dozens documented across the unit) are key water sources. No desert scrub or sky-island associations occur in this unit.

Elk (Rocky Mountain/Merriam's population) summer on Anderson Mesa's high ponderosa flats and migrate to lower pinyon-juniper and canyon country during hunting pressure and winter. Bulls in 5BN trend larger than those in 5BS, with documented 350"+ bulls; herd bulls typically score 280–330". Mule deer inhabit the mesa and surrounding canyons, with bucks using pinyon-juniper and canyon breaks. Pronghorn antelope use the open grasslands of Anderson Mesa and the Raymond Ranch flat in summer. Bison (Raymond Herd, managed by AZGFD on the Raymond Ranch Wildlife Area) are present year-round; the herd also ranges into adjacent portions of 5A. Black bear are present in the ponderosa and mixed-conifer zones on the mesa. Merriam's turkey occupy the ponderosa pine belt. Javelina numbers are limited in the pinyon-juniper lower elevations — HAM-only season applies, indicating densities too low for a general rifle season. Mountain lion inhabit the canyon country. Gunnison's prairie dogs are documented on the Raymond Ranch. Northern harrier and other raptors use the open grassland habitat.

1. The new Oct 9–15, 2026 early rifle elk hunt is 5B North only with 25 permits (confirmed from AZGFD 2026 Elk Hunt Draw booklet). The Sep 25–Oct 1 combined-5B hunt has 24 permits; the Nov 27–Dec 3 late rifle has 772 permits. 2. Hunter success rate of 47% is from a third-party source (GoHunt) citing late archery elk in 5BN specifically; verify against current AZGFD harvest summaries at azgfd.gov/harvestreports. 3. Mule deer tag_quota of 50 is the OTC archery harvest limit for combined units 5A AND 5B together, not 5BN alone. 4. Pronghorn quota of 25 is for combined Unit 5B (both 5BN and 5BS) — AZGFD hunt 2009. 5. Public land percentage of 84% is from HuntScore unit profile (67% USFS, 2% State, 1% NPS, 16% private). 6. Flagstaff Ranger District address corrected to 5075 N. Highway 89 (confirmed USFS); 3500 S. Lake Mary Rd. is the AZGFD Region II office.