Unit 9, Arizona

Elevation ranges from approximately 5,800 to 7,600 feet. The unit is largely flat to gently rolling plateau country dominated by wide pinyon-juniper tablelands with limited relief. Notable exceptions include cinder cones in the southern portion, canyon-cut terrain along the western edge (Cataract Canyon and the Havasupai Reservation boundary), and a broad basin area in the northeast. Vantage points for glassing are scarce; thick, flat cover is the norm across most of the unit.

The unit lies mainly within Kaibab National Forest (Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts; Williams office: 928-635-5600, Tusayan office: 928-638-2443). Additional land includes Arizona State Trust parcels and scattered private ranches; some private ranches restrict access while others allow it. Grand Canyon National Park borders the north — hunting is prohibited within park boundaries. The Havasupai Indian Reservation forms the western boundary; the Navajo Nation abuts the northeast corner — no hunting without tribal permission on either reservation. Primary highway access: US-180 runs along the southern unit boundary; AZ-64 (Grand Canyon Highway) bisects the unit north-south. Key interior access routes include FR 306, FR 320 (Anita Road/Forest Road 347 off AZ-64 milepost 228), FR 328, and FR 335 on the west side; the Valle-Cataract Creek Road and Wilahawa Road (AZ-64 milepost 221.8) also provide entry. A power-line/gas-line road marks the southern boundary. The Kaibab National Forest Travel Management Plan (implemented Fall 2011) restricts motorized travel to designated roads; Motor Vehicle Use Maps are available free from the Williams and Tusayan ranger stations. Four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended; ATVs are permitted on roadways only. The Red Butte area and Coconino Rim area are closed to off-highway vehicles. Camping within one-quarter mile of waterholes is prohibited. Ten X Campground south of Tusayan is open through September 30. The Arizona Trail crosses the unit with trailheads at Moqui Stage Station, Russell Tank, Grandview, and Greenway.

Primary cover is extensive pinyon-juniper woodland with grass and sagebrush openings. Lower elevations carry open grassland with cliffrose and bitterbrush. The northernmost fringe of the unit, closest to the Grand Canyon rim, transitions into ponderosa pine and Gambel oak forest with sage underbrush — the highest-density elk habitat. Riparian stringers are minimal; isolated stock tanks and developed water catchments concentrate wildlife.

Rocky Mountain elk are the signature species, with the isolated Kaibab-area herd known for exceptional genetics and age structure; bulls concentrate in the ponderosa pine and Gambel oak zones near the Grand Canyon rim. Mule deer are distributed throughout the unit, with highest densities in pine and pinyon-juniper transition zones; rut typically runs late October through late December. Pronghorn occur in the central and southern portions on state and private grasslands. Desert bighorn sheep are present in the canyon country along the unit's western periphery (hunt area shared with Unit 10). Merriam's turkey inhabit the ponderosa pine-oak zones on Kaibab National Forest; populations have been declining since the mid-1990s. Javelina are present in scattered populations, at the northern fringe of their range in Unit 9. Black bear are present unit-wide, primarily in the forested northern sections. Mountain lion range throughout. Non-game species include coyote, bobcat, and a variety of raptors.

1. Correction from draft: the forest is 'Kaibab National Forest (Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts)' — there is no separate 'South Kaibab National Forest.' 2. Elk permit quotas and unit-specific draw odds are from the 2026 Elk and Pronghorn Hunt Draw Information booklet (separate AZGFD publication); the PDF did not render readable text, so elk success figures (~69% archery, ~100% early rifle, ~35% late rifle) are sourced from GoHunt's 2026 application strategy article — treat as third-party estimates. 3. Mule deer tag quota of 1,220 is the sum of permits for Hunts 1009 (1,200) and 1010 (20), both for Units 7 AND 9 combined — Unit 9-only counts are not separated in the regulations. 4. Archery OTC deer harvest limit of 140 applies to Units 7 and 9 combined. 5. Pronghorn season dates are in the separately published Elk and Pronghorn Draw booklet which could not be rendered. 6. Turkey: Merriam's turkey are known to be present in ponderosa pine zones (populations declining since mid-1990s per huntnowarizona.com); no draw or nonpermit-tag hunt was offered for Unit 9 in the 2026-27 regulation cycle. 7. Public land percentage of 77% confirmed by HuntScore (48% USFS); GoHunt reports 76.6% — figures are consistent. 8. Unit size of 1,067 square miles confirmed by HuntScore.