Arizona · Payson / Mogollon Rim
Arizona Unit 23 — Elk Hunting
Free hunting map and unit guide for Arizona Unit 23 in the Payson / Mogollon Rim region.
Why hunters search for Unit 23
- •Trophy elk country along the Mogollon Rim with classic ponderosa habitat
- •Roadless canyons and steep country reward backpack-style hunters willing to go deep
- •Holds mature bulls that rarely see pressure once you get off the roads
Draw odds & tags
Limited-entry elk. Hard draw with few tags — a legwork unit where the deep country is where the big bulls live.
Draw odds change yearly — check the Arizona wildlife agency for current statistics before applying.
How to e-scout Unit 23
Open Arizona Unit 23 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 elk feed at first and last light.
For elk, look for north-facing timbered benches near water, and check the historic fire perimeters layer: 2 to 10 year old burns grow the feed elk key on. Wetlands and stream layers mark the water sources that anchor September patterns. Drop pins on every candidate spot — they sync when you sign in, and they export as GPX for your GPS.
When to hunt Unit 23
Archery seasons typically run September, overlapping the rut — bugling bulls, but pressured. Rifle seasons generally fall in October, when post-rut bulls feed hard and cold snaps push elk off the high country. Late limited-entry seasons can be trophy hunts if migration timing lines up. 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 23 on the free map
Public land boundaries, hunt unit overlays, wildlife sightings, and GPS collar tracks — all free, no subscription.
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