Unit 6A, Arizona

Unit 6A spans an elevation range of approximately 4,000 to 8,000 feet. The unit is dominated by the Mogollon Rim — a dramatic escarpment that drops up to 2,000 feet along its edge — and a vast ponderosa pine forest dissected by steep canyons. The northern portion contains gentle rolling terrain around Mormon Lake (elevation ~7,100 ft) and Anderson Mesa, while the southern portions give way to rugged canyon systems including West Clear Creek and Wet Beaver Creek. Apache Maid Mountain is a prominent landmark in the southern unit. The canyon topography requires high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles to reach remote sections, especially in wet conditions, and late-season elk move deep into canyon bottoms.

Unit 6A lies almost entirely within the Coconino National Forest (administered by the Flagstaff Ranger District and the Mogollon Rim Ranger District). The AZGFD Flagstaff Regional Office (Region II, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86005, 928-774-5045) administers the unit. Public land is approximately 94.7% of the unit; scattered private inholdings exist throughout. Primary highway access: Interstate 17 provides the western corridor (Flagstaff to Camp Verde). Arizona State Route 89A runs through the northwestern portion. State Route 260 provides east-west access along the Mogollon Rim. State Route 87 accesses the eastern side. Key forest road access: Stoneman Lake Road (FR 213) departs I-17 at Exit 306 (~19 miles north of Camp Verde) and traverses 14 miles to Stoneman Lake, connecting to FR 230 toward Apache Maid Mountain. Forest Roads 230 and 229 cover the Apache Maid area. FR 214 leads to Cedar Flat. FR 618 leads to the West Clear Creek trailhead area; FR 215 accesses Bull Pen Ranch trailhead (lower West Clear Creek Wilderness). Upper West Clear Creek is accessed via FR 81 and FR 81E. Wilderness areas: Wet Beaver Wilderness (Bell Trail No. 13 primary access; Apache Maid Trail No. 15 also enters), West Clear Creek Wilderness (Trail No. 17), Munds Mountain Wilderness, and Fossil Springs Wilderness. Two motorized-travel quiet areas exist: Pine Grove Quiet Area and Rattlesnake Quiet Area, where ATVs and other motorized vehicles are prohibited. Motorized cross-country travel is prohibited throughout the unit except for game recovery. Dispersed camping available along designated forest roads.

The unit transitions through four distinct vegetation zones with elevation. High-elevation plateaus (above ~7,000 ft) support dense ponderosa pine and Gambel oak forest. Mid-elevations (approximately 5,500–7,000 ft) carry pinyon-juniper woodland mixed with cliffrose and bitterbrush, transitioning to chaparral on steeper south-facing slopes. Lower canyon floors (below ~5,000 ft) feature juniper-grassland with prickly pear cactus and touch the fringes of the Sonoran Desert. The Verde River tributaries — Wet Beaver Creek and West Clear Creek — support riparian corridors with cottonwood, willow, and sycamore. Stoneman Lake sits in a volcanic depression at 6,719 ft within the pine forest. Overall habitat is among Arizona's richest for big game: the ponderosa forest and canyon interface supports large elk herds, while the pinyon-juniper and oak zones provide cover for Coues deer and mule deer.

Elk (Rocky Mountain) are the flagship species; approximately 20% of Arizona's entire elk hunting opportunity is allocated in unit 6A, indicating one of the largest herds in the state. The Interstate 17 herd (residing primarily in GMU 6A south of Flagstaff) was estimated at approximately 6,500 animals in 2019. The rut typically begins in the first week of September and runs approximately one month. Bull:cow ratio approximately 21:100 (reported by outfitter sources; GoHunt 2024 app strategy cited 30:100 for an earlier survey year — treat as a range). Mule deer occupy the unit broadly at mid to lower elevations in pinyon-juniper and grassland zones. Coues white-tailed deer are present at the northern fringe of their Arizona range; populations are sufficient to support draw hunts. Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep occupy cliff and rocky canyon habitat; the population has declined significantly and the 2026 quota is 1 permit (residents only). Pronghorn antelope are present in open grassland and juniper areas. Black bear range throughout, particularly in oak and canyon zones; the combined 5B/6A female harvest limit is 12 bears per year. Merriam's turkey are present in ponderosa pine and oak habitat. Javelina occupy lower-elevation desert-transition and chaparral areas in the southern portions. Mountain lion are present throughout; unit 6A falls within Mountain Lion Management Zone G2 (units 6A/6B/8/19A) with a combined annual harvest threshold of 17.