Arizona Unit 22 Guide: Tonto Basin

Unit 22 is the quietly productive central Arizona unit. It runs from the rim country north of the Salt River across the Tonto Basin and into the Mazatzal Wilderness country, spanning Sonoran desert to 7,000-foot ponderosa in a single unit. The result is a multi-species hunting opportunity at point costs that most applicants ignore because Unit 22 isn’t on anyone’s highlight reel.

Here’s the full breakdown.

Quick Facts: Unit 22

Detail	Info
Location	Gila County, central Arizona — Roosevelt Lake to the Mogollon Rim
Core Habitat	Sonoran desert, chaparral, oak transition, ponderosa at elevation
Elevation Range	2,200 to 7,100 feet
Primary Species	Elk, javelina, mule deer, bear
Typical NR Points — Elk Rifle	3–7
Typical NR Points — Javelina Archery	0–2
Typical NR Points — Mule Deer Rifle	2–6
Public Land	Tonto National Forest dominates

Disclaimer: Hunt numbers within Unit 22 vary significantly in draw difficulty by species and weapon type. Verify current-year specifics in the 2026 AGFD Hunt Booklet.

The Country

Unit 22 is vertical in a way few Arizona units are. The southern end, near Roosevelt Lake and the Salt River, sits in classic Sonoran desert — saguaros, palo verde, creosote, and volcanic rock. The northern end rises up toward the Mogollon Rim with pine and oak country at 6,500+ feet. The middle of the unit is chaparral and oak transition — the “dry mid-elevation” country that holds javelina, desert mule deer, and bear.

This elevation range creates distinct hunting zones, and the species concentrate at the elevations they prefer. Elk occupy the high northern country; javelina the mid-elevation chaparral; mule deer span the middle zones; bear uses the oak-pine transitions.

Access

Staging options:

Payson — northern access to Unit 22, full services, closest town to prime elk hunting country.

Globe — southern and eastern access, full-service mining town, useful base for desert-zone hunts.

Roosevelt Lake area — multiple camping and limited lodging options near the Salt River.

State Route 188 runs through the unit north-south, connecting Globe to Payson via Roosevelt. SR-88 (the Apache Trail) provides additional access on the southwestern side. Tonto National Forest roads network through the interior.

Four-wheel-drive is helpful, particularly in the desert zones where BLM and forest roads can be rough.

The Species

Elk — The northern Unit 22 country holds a respectable elk herd in the rim-edge ponderosa. Bulls aren’t the Unit 27 trophy class, but 310-340-inch bulls are normal, with draw requirements lower than more famous units.

Javelina — Unit 22 is one of the better javelina units in central Arizona. Fall archery javelina draws at essentially zero points; HAM and general seasons follow in winter. The desert and chaparral zones hold high javelina density.

Mule Deer — often overlooked. The middle elevations and oak-transition country hold solid desert mule deer populations. Bucks in the 150-170-inch range are normal, with exceptional animals pushing 180. Draw requirements moderate.

Bear — fall bear hunts in the oak-ponderosa transitions produce bears with solid color-phase representation.

Strategy

Unit 22 is a multi-species flexibility unit. Low-to-moderate point applicants can apply across species with realistic draw probability on several.

For guaranteed action: Archery javelina. Near-zero-point draw, fun desert hunt, meat if you want it.

For elk at value point cost: Rifle or muzzleloader elk in the northern part of the unit. Three to seven points.

For desert mule deer: Two to six points, depending on hunt number. Under-hunted trophy potential for hunters who work the oak country during pre-rut.

For bear: Moderate points. Fall hunts in oak-mast country.

Productive Zones

Northern Unit 22 (ponderosa country) — elk and bear concentration. Rim Road access via FR-300 spur roads.

Middle elevations (oak chaparral) — mule deer and javelina. Focus on water sources and oak-mast production.

Southern desert zones — javelina primary, with some desert mule deer. Water-based scouting is mandatory.

Mazatzal Wilderness periphery — limited road access, foot or horse travel. Lower pressure, unique hunts for hunters willing to work.

DIY Versus Outfitter

Unit 22 is DIY country. Most nonresident hunters here handle the unit independently. Outfitter services exist for specific species (javelina guided hunts are most common) but aren’t necessary for reasonable success.

Applying for 2026

Unit 22 deserves serious consideration in any Arizona application strategy, particularly for multi-species applicants. Use the Hunt Unit Finder to pull Unit 22 alongside your other candidates. The Application Timeline sequences pronghorn, javelina, bear, bighorn, and bison applications through the June 9 deadline.

Related Arizona Articles

• Unit 23
• Unit 24A/24B javelina

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hunt multiple species on one trip? Only with valid tags for each. Season overlap is limited — most trips are single-species.

How hot is desert javelina? Morning temps pleasant in late August; midday can top 100. Water and heat management are real planning factors.

What’s the elk trophy ceiling? Realistic 330-345 bulls with occasional larger animals. Not a 370+ unit.

Is the mule deer hunt worth the points? For the right applicant — yes. Fewer hunters pursue Unit 22 mule deer than Unit 9 or the Kaibab, and the bucks are quality.

Camping options? Extensive dispersed camping on Tonto NF. Multiple developed campgrounds near Roosevelt Lake.

Is there public-land access to everywhere? Mostly. Some private inholdings and ranch lands require awareness. NF and BLM cover the bulk of huntable ground.