Arizona · Arizona Strip
Arizona Unit 13A — Mule Deer Hunting
Free hunting map and unit guide for Arizona Unit 13A in the Arizona Strip region.
Why hunters search for Unit 13A
- •One of the most famous mule deer units in North America — the Arizona Strip
- •Managed under Arizona's Alternative Mule Deer Management Plan for low hunter density and older age-class bucks
- •Over 80 percent of the unit is in federal or state ownership, so access is mostly wide open
- •Extremely challenging hunt — deer densities are low and the big bucks are hard to find, but 200-inch-class deer live here
Draw odds & tags
Limited-entry. One of the hardest deer draws in the West — plan on stacking Arizona bonus points for years. Check current permit numbers and odds on the AZGFD site.
Draw odds change yearly — check the Arizona wildlife agency for current statistics before applying.
How to e-scout Unit 13A
Open Arizona Unit 13A on the HuntTrack map and work it in layers. Start with public vs. private land so every glassing knob and stalk route you mark is on ground you can actually hunt, then add land cover to find habitat edges — timber meeting meadow, shrubland meeting ag — where mule deer feed at first and last light.
For mule deer, migration corridor and winter range data show where deer travel and yard up; pair that with land cover to find the bitterbrush and mountain mahogany slopes bucks favor. Wetlands and stream layers mark water in dry country. Drop pins on every candidate spot — they sync when you sign in, and they export as GPX for your GPS.
When to hunt Unit 13A
Archery seasons typically run late August through September. Rifle seasons generally fall in October, and the November rut — when mature bucks move in daylight — is the highest-odds window in most western states. Exact dates, weapon restrictions, and antler-point rules are set by Arizona each year, so confirm them with the state wildlife agency before you apply or hunt.
Field guides for this unit
Scout Unit 13A on the free map
Public land boundaries, hunt unit overlays, wildlife sightings, and GPS collar tracks — all free, no subscription.
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