Arizona Unit 23 Elk Guide: Central Rim

Unit 23 is where central Arizona elk hunting happens. It covers the heart of the Mogollon Rim between Payson and Heber-Overgaard, across the Tonto National Forest and into the Coconino NF boundary country. The elk density here is among the highest in the state, the country is genuinely attractive — pine, oak, rim-edge canyons, and high meadows — and the draw odds for Unit 23 put the unit within reach of hunters with moderate points.

This is the practical guide to a 2026 Unit 23 application.

Quick Facts: Unit 23

Detail	Info
Location	Gila and Coconino counties, central Mogollon Rim country
Core Habitat	Ponderosa, mixed oak, chaparral transition, rim-edge pockets
Elevation Range	4,500 to 7,600 feet
Primary Seasons	Archery (Sept), Muzzleloader (Oct), Rifle (late Oct / Nov)
Typical NR Points — Rifle	4–8 depending on hunt number
Typical NR Points — Archery	2–5
Public Land	Tonto NF and Coconino NF dominate

Disclaimer: Unit 23 has multiple rifle and archery hunt numbers. Specific hunt numbers can shift in quota year to year. Verify at azgfd.com in the 2026 Hunt Booklet.

The Country

Unit 23 spans the Mogollon Rim edge and the country both above and below it. The top of the rim — the “Rim country” proper — is ponderosa and high-meadow terrain at elevations between 7,000 and 7,600 feet. Below the rim, the country drops into oak-chaparral transition at 5,500 feet and continues into the Tonto Basin.

The rim itself is the elevation break that structures everything about the hunt. Elk use the top of the rim in the warmer months and migrate down or hold at the rim-edge in colder weather. The vertical relief creates consistent daily movement patterns that hunters who understand them can exploit.

FR-300 (the Rim Road) runs along the top of the rim for hundreds of miles and provides the main east-west access to the unit. Dozens of spur roads drop into productive canyons on both sides of the rim.

Access

Payson is the southern staging town — a full-service community at the base of the rim with abundant lodging and all logistics support. Heber-Overgaard and Forest Lakes serve as more rural staging options in the eastern and northern parts of the unit. The Tag-to-Trail Planner is useful for mapping the Rim Road spur roads and canyon access points before you arrive.

From Phoenix, Unit 23 is accessible as a weekend-drive hunting unit, which creates more pressure on accessible spots than more remote units see. The rim-road corridor and the most obvious access points fill up in good weather during peak seasons.

The Elk

Unit 23 carries high elk density. Bull quality is moderate — 300-to-340-inch bulls are the norm, with occasional animals exceeding 350. This isn’t Unit 27 territory for trophy potential, but the sheer number of bulls and the reliability of finding legal animals make 23 one of the highest-opportunity elk units in the state.

Population management in Unit 23 includes significant cow harvest to keep numbers in balance with forage. Bull-to-cow ratios are moderate, and bulls don’t age as reliably as they do in Units 27 or 1 — meaning the 380+ bull is genuinely rare here, not just because the genetics produce smaller animals but because the harvest pressure takes bulls before they reach maximum antler potential.

Season Timing

Archery (September): Productive in the ponderosa and rim-edge transition country. Bulls bugle and respond to calling, though the unit sees enough archery pressure that call-shy bulls are common after the first week.

Muzzleloader (October): Post-rut to cool-weather transition. Bulls grouped, patternable around food and water.

Rifle (late October / early November): Primary hunt window. Weather-driven movement becomes important, and mature bulls drop off the rim edge during cold snaps into the lower oak-mast country.

Productive Zones

Rim Road corridor east of Payson — spur roads drop into Tonto Creek, Haigler Creek, and Canyon Creek drainages. Glass from rim vantage points at dawn for bulls feeding up from lower bedding.

Blue Ridge Reservoir area — high-elevation country north of the rim edge, productive early-season archery and through the muzzleloader window.

Heber / Overgaard country — northern part of the unit, mixed ponderosa with good oak-mast pockets. Lower pressure than the Payson-accessed zones.

Canyon Creek drainage — productive canyon system for rifle hunters willing to work the terrain. Bulls hold in the side drainages and migrate between elevations with weather.

Point Reality

Unit 23 sits in the accessible middle of the Arizona elk application landscape. For 2026:

Archery: Two to five points for most hunts; premium dates six to eight.

Muzzleloader: Four to seven points.

Rifle: Four to eight points for standard hunts; some premium hunt numbers require more.

This is an ideal burn-your-points-and-actually-hunt unit. Hunters holding Arizona elk points at five or six should be drawing Unit 23 hunts consistently.

Use the Draw Odds Engine to pull specific Unit 23 hunt numbers against your point total.

DIY Versus Outfitter

Unit 23 is DIY-dominant territory. Road access is excellent, terrain is varied but manageable, and staging logistics in Payson are straightforward. Most nonresident Unit 23 hunters handle the hunt independently.

Local outfitters exist, with services ranging from short pre-scouting consultations to full multi-day guided hunts. Rates $3,500 to $6,500 for most offerings. For first-time Arizona elk hunters, a pre-hunt scouting consult (half-day to full-day with a local guide) can accelerate the learning curve significantly without committing to a full guided hunt.

The Honest Assessment

Unit 23 is a high-opportunity, moderate-trophy unit. You’re likely to see elk, likely to have shot opportunities, likely to take a bull. You’re not likely to take a record-book bull — the mature-age-class animals that produce 370+ antler are rare here due to consistent harvest pressure.

For hunters prioritizing the hunt experience, reliable action, and reasonable draw odds, Unit 23 is one of the strongest Arizona elk applications available. For hunters prioritizing trophy class above all else, holding for Unit 1, Unit 9, or Unit 27 is the better play.

The Hunt Unit Finder lets you compare Unit 23 against other candidates based on your priorities — reliability of hunt, trophy ceiling, terrain type, and staging logistics.

Related Arizona Articles

• Unit 22 (Tonto Basin)
• Unit 6A

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a 330-inch bull in Unit 23? Yes, regularly. Bulls in that class are normal in the unit, particularly during rifle seasons.

How’s the camping? Excellent. Extensive dispersed camping on both National Forests within the unit. Some developed campgrounds with amenities near Payson and Heber.

What about cell service? Spotty. Expect coverage in Payson, Heber, and near the Rim Road; limited or none in side canyons and remote areas.

Is Unit 23 a good first Arizona elk hunt? Arguably the best first-unit choice. Access is easy, elk numbers are high, success rates are good, and point requirements are moderate.

Do elk migrate out of the unit? Some movement across unit boundaries happens, particularly along the rim, but most Unit 23 elk remain in the unit year-round.

Is there wilderness in the unit? Limited. Hellsgate Wilderness and Mazatzal Wilderness are outside Unit 23 but in adjacent units.