Arizona Mule Deer Pronghorn

Unit 13B (Arizona Strip - South)

Arizona Hunting Guide — Mule Deer, Pronghorn

Unit 13B is part of the Arizona Strip region and is recognized as a trophy mule deer destination. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) issues tags through a weighted random draw with bonus points, which typically requires many years of applications to draw.

View Draw Odds Arizona Hunting Guide

Logistics & Planning Guide →

Access roads, campgrounds, elevation, monthly weather, stock tanks, cell coverage, and nearest-town services for Unit 13B.

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Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 13B

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 13B

Bucks use pinyon-juniper benches, sagebrush flats, and the broken country around canyon rims.

Pinyon-Juniper Benches

Broad PJ benches with browse species hold feeding deer early and late in the day.

Sagebrush Flats

Open sagebrush country provides forage and is best glassed from high points at first and last light.

Canyon Rims and Breaks

Broken country near rims gives bucks secure bedding; glass the shade in the heads of drainages.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 13B

This is classic glass-and-stalk country — hunt with quality optics and patience.

Glassing

Work high vantages at first and last light. Big bucks in this country are often spotted by movement that only good glass will reveal.

Stalking

Use terrain and shadow on approach; keep the wind in your favor and move slowly through the final stretch.

Weather

Cold fronts can push deer to different aspects — be prepared to adapt plans if a storm rolls through.

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Rifle22%

Archery15%

Recent draw and success trends are in the Draw Odds chart on this page.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Rifle— Late Rifle Nov	70	6,870	1.0%
Rifle— Early Rifle	20	1,030	1.7%
Archery— Early Archery	20	1,092	1.1%

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

AZGFD uses a weighted random draw with bonus points for this unit. Review the Draw Odds chart on this page for recent applicant and tag trends.

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 13B

Unit 13B on the Arizona Strip sits west of Unit 13A, covering the Kanab Creek drainage and the grassland flats north of the Kaibab. Pronghorn habitat is scattered but productive, with ~25 tags against ~569 recent 3-year applicants — still a deep draw but shallower than 13A. Horn quality is strong (78-82 inch bucks typical), though overall herd density trails 13A. Per AZGFD, hunts run in October with rifle, HAM, and youth codes. The Strip's remoteness and lack of cell service make this a true backcountry pronghorn hunt.

Where to Find Pronghorn in Unit 13B

13B pronghorn concentrate on three main grassland systems divided by PJ ridges and canyon breaks.

Jacob Canyon and Kanab Creek Flats

The grasslands along Kanab Creek's upper drainages hold the unit's densest pronghorn pockets. Glass from the rim above the creek for mid-day bedded groups.

Antelope Valley

The aptly named valley west of Pipe Spring historically holds good numbers. Public/private mix requires careful land-ownership work.

Clayhole Valley

North-central 13B grassland that produces steady action in wet years with robust winterfat forage.

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Unit 13B

We approach 13B as a scouting-intensive hunt — the unit is big, herds are scattered, and finding the target buck requires covering ground.

Pre-Season Drive

We budget 3-4 days of pre-hunt driving to cover the main grassland blocks. Multiple 80-class bucks may be holding within a few miles of each other in a productive pocket.

Glassing and Stalking

Standard pronghorn glass-and-stalk methods apply. The Strip's long horizons mean patience and wind management decide most hunts. We avoid skylining on the PJ ridgelines during approaches.

Land-Ownership

13B is a patchwork of BLM, state trust, and private. We run onX Hunt with Arizona state trust and BLM layers enabled for every stalk.

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Pronghorn Success Rates

Rifle82%

Unit 13B pronghorn success averages 75-85% for rifle hunters. Horn quality trails 13A but still produces 78-82 inch bucks in most years. A few 80+ inch animals show up each season. Dedicated scouting is the single biggest predictor of success here.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Early Rifle	20	516	1.6%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

13B pronghorn draws via the weighted bonus-point system with Hunter Education bonus. With ~25 tags and ~569 applicants, this is a high-point hunt but typically draws faster than 13A. Plan on 15-20+ bonus points for the main rifle code; HAM and youth codes draw with fewer points.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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RV Sites

Very limited developed facilities on the Arizona Strip; dispersed camping is the norm.

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Camp Sites

Dispersed camping is broadly allowed on BLM-administered portions subject to posted rules.

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Trailer Access

Main roads can handle trailers in dry conditions; interior roads are slow and rough.

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Water

Natural water is scarce across the Arizona Strip — plan to haul all water for camp and daily use.

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Road Conditions

Primary routes are graded; secondary roads require high clearance or 4WD and become impassable when wet.

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate to challenging — broken country with canyon rims and long travel distances between access points.

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Hunting Pressure

Limited tags produce very low hunter density across a vast area.

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Weather

Early fall is warm and dry; late-season hunts can see freezing mornings and wind.

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Cell Service

Nearly none across the unit; satellite communicator is essential.

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Nearest Town

Service towns are a significant drive away — plan supply trips accordingly.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for a Unit 13B mule deer tag?

Apply through the AZGFD draw during the published application window. AZGFD uses a weighted random system with bonus points.

Where can I see draw trends for this unit?

The Draw Odds chart on this page shows recent applicant and tag counts so you can gauge relative competitiveness by hunt code.

How does 13B pronghorn compare to 13A?

13B is shallower on draw odds and horn quality. 13A produces more 80+ inch bucks and has higher herd density, but 13B remains a strong desert pronghorn hunt with 78-82 inch bucks typical and far less pressure after opening weekend.

What are the best resources for pre-hunt scouting in 13B?

AZGFD's annual hunt recommendations, BLM Strip Field Office road status, and onX Hunt for land-ownership are the three primary tools. Budget 3-4 days of pre-hunt driving to cover the main grassland blocks.

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-17.

AZGFD Hunt Guidelines — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Season structure and hunt guidelines for Arizona big game, Unit boundary descriptions and hunt codes · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Hunt Regulations — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Legal weapons, bag limits, and tag requirements, License, tag, and draw application rules · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Draw Results & Bonus Points — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Weighted random draw with bonus points, Loyalty and hunter education bonus points · accessed 2026-04-17
GMU 13B — Unit Landing Page — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Strip boundary, Pronghorn habitat, Access routes · accessed 2026-04-17
2026 Arizona Pronghorn and Elk Regulations — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Pronghorn season structure, Tag allocation, Hunt codes · accessed 2026-04-17
BLM Arizona Strip Field Office — Bureau of Land Management · supports: Strip public land access, Road network, Camping regulations · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 13B (Arizona Strip - South)

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 13B

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 13B

Pinyon-Juniper Benches

Sagebrush Flats

Canyon Rims and Breaks

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 13B

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 13B

Where to Find Pronghorn in Unit 13B

Jacob Canyon and Kanab Creek Flats

Antelope Valley

Clayhole Valley

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Unit 13B

Pronghorn Success Rates

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

Unit 13A — Pronghorn

Unit 13B — Mule Deer

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification