Arizona Unit 19A: Chino Valley Multi-Species

Unit 19A is the central Arizona multi-species unit that gets lost between the flashier names. It covers the Chino Valley grasslands north of Prescott, running up toward Seligman and the edges of the Coconino Plateau, with mixed grassland, juniper-pinyon, and ponderosa transitions that support pronghorn and elk in quantities most hunters don’t expect from a unit this accessible. The draw math is moderate, the country is pretty, and the multi-species application flexibility makes 19A a genuinely smart target.

Quick Facts: Unit 19A

Detail	Info
Location	Yavapai and Coconino counties, north of Prescott
Core Habitat	Grassland valleys, juniper-pinyon benches, ponderosa transitions
Elevation Range	4,500 to 7,000 feet
Primary Species	Pronghorn, elk, some mule deer
Typical NR Points — Pronghorn Rifle	5–9
Typical NR Points — Elk Rifle	3–7
Public Land	Prescott National Forest + significant state trust and BLM

Disclaimer: Hunt numbers within Unit 19A vary in draw difficulty. Verify current year’s specific hunt numbers in the 2026 AGFD Hunt Booklet.

Geography

The Chino Valley runs north-south between the Black Hills on the west and the Mogollon Rim escarpment on the east. It’s classic mid-elevation grassland — big open valleys with grass, scattered juniper on the benches, and ponderosa pine holding the higher ridges. The valley floor sits around 4,800 feet; the surrounding ridges push to 7,000 feet.

Unit 19A connects the valley floor to the higher country via a series of bench and ridge transitions. Pronghorn use the open valley floor and lower benches; elk use the juniper-pinyon and ponderosa country at higher elevation, moving onto benches and valley margins during colder weather.

Access

Prescott is the southern staging town — a full-service community with abundant lodging and retail support. North of Prescott, Chino Valley and Paulden are the smaller communities adjacent to prime 19A hunting country.

Access across the unit is extensive. Prescott National Forest roads, BLM roads, and state trust access all provide routes to productive hunting areas. Four-wheel-drive is helpful but not required for most of the unit.

The Species

Pronghorn — Unit 19A’s signature species. The Chino Valley grasslands hold a solid pronghorn population, with bucks routinely pushing 75 inches and occasional animals exceeding 80. This isn’t the trophy ceiling of Unit 10, but the draw requirements are roughly half what Unit 10 demands, and the hunts deliver real pronghorn experiences in classic open-country terrain.

Elk — often overlooked in 19A. The higher-elevation country in the northern and eastern parts of the unit holds a stable elk herd. Bulls typically in the 290-to-320-inch class, with occasional animals to 340. This isn’t a trophy elk unit, but the draw requirements are low and the hunts are productive for opportunity hunters.

Mule Deer — some mule deer hunts are allocated in Unit 19A, primarily in the higher-elevation juniper and ponderosa country. Lower population density than deer-focused units elsewhere in the state.

Seasons

Pronghorn (late August – early October): Archery first, then muzzleloader, then rifle. Late-August archery catches rut activity and bucks on water.

Elk (September archery, October muzzleloader, late October / early November rifle): Standard Arizona elk season structure.

Productive Zones

Chino Valley floor — the core pronghorn hunting zone. Glass from the benches on either side at dawn and dusk.

Drake Road corridor and surrounding BLM — accessible pronghorn country, productive for rifle hunters.

Ponderosa transitions in the north — elk concentration zone, particularly in colder months. Glass from vantage points into drainages below.

State trust lands scattered throughout — require AZ recreational use permit, often less hunted than NF ground.

Strategy

Unit 19A is a flexibility unit. Moderate-point hunters can apply for pronghorn and elk simultaneously with realistic draw probability on both, and drawing one doesn’t cancel the other.

For 2026 applicants:

Pronghorn archery: Two to four points draws in most years. Probable hunt.

Pronghorn rifle: Five to nine points. Realistic for most moderate-point hunters.

Elk archery: One to three points. Reliable draw.

Elk rifle: Three to seven points. Strong mid-tier draw.

DIY Versus Outfitter

Unit 19A is DIY-friendly. Good access, moderate terrain, full-service staging from Prescott. Outfitter services exist but most hunters handle the unit independently.

For first-time applicants, half-day or full-day guided scouts can accelerate the learning curve — particularly for locating productive pronghorn water sources and identifying current-year elk concentrations in the higher country.

The Practical Case

Unit 19A is the pragmatic mid-tier Arizona unit. It’s not trophy-ceiling territory for any single species, but it delivers consistent hunts at draw difficulties most hunters can meet. For a hunter building toward premium units while wanting active hunting years, 19A belongs on the application rotation.

Use the Hunt Unit Finder to compare 19A against other candidate units based on species, point totals, and terrain preference. The Draw Odds Engine shows specific hunt numbers within the unit.

Related Arizona Articles

• Unit 10 antelope
• Antelope draw odds

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Unit 19A better for pronghorn or elk? Both are solid. Pronghorn is probably the higher-quality species for the unit; elk is the better draw-odds play.

Can I hunt both species on the same trip? Only if you drew tags for both and seasons overlap. Some tag combinations allow this; others don’t.

What’s the trophy pronghorn ceiling? Realistic 80-inch bucks; occasional 83+. Lower than Unit 10.

What’s the elk trophy ceiling? Realistic 320-340 bulls; occasional 350+.

Access to state trust land? Requires AZ recreational use permit, modest annual cost. Widely available within the unit.

Camping? Dispersed camping on Prescott NF and BLM is widely permitted.