Arizona · North Kaibab
Arizona Unit 9 — Elk Hunting
Free hunting map and unit guide for Arizona Unit 9 in the North Kaibab region.
Why hunters search for Unit 9
- •A large unit of about 1,600 square miles, mostly Kaibab National Forest on the north end
- •Managed for a high bull-to-cow ratio with good numbers of older bulls
- •The Grand Canyon National Park sits on the north end where hunting is prohibited — know the fenced boundary
- •Relatively flat, thick ponderosa country that makes glassing difficult — water and patience matter
Draw odds & tags
Limited-entry elk. Hard draw on bonus points. Access onto state lands can change year to year, so verify before your hunt.
Draw odds change yearly — check the Arizona wildlife agency for current statistics before applying.
How to e-scout Unit 9
Open Arizona Unit 9 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 9
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 9 on the free map
Public land boundaries, hunt unit overlays, wildlife sightings, and GPS collar tracks — all free, no subscription.
Open the hunting map →