Arizona Mule Deer Pronghorn Bighorn Sheep

Unit 15A/15B/15C/15D (Arizona Strip Mule Deer)

Arizona Hunting Guide — Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Bighorn Sheep

The Arizona Strip compound deer hunt covers Units 15A, 15B, 15C, and 15D — a vast expanse of BLM and state-trust land west of the Kaibab Plateau, reaching to the Nevada border. The Strip is legendary for producing giant mule deer bucks in broken PJ, desert, and mountain habitats around Mount Trumbull, the Virgin Mountains, and the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument. Tags are among the toughest to draw in Arizona. AZGFD's weighted bonus-point system rewards patient applicants with a chance at one of the West's premier mule deer experiences.

View Draw Odds Arizona Hunting Guide

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 15A/15B/15C/15D

Where to Find Mule Deer on the Arizona Strip

The Strip's mule deer use vast habitat across the compound unit.

Mount Trumbull / Mount Logan

High-elevation ponderosa and mixed oak country above 7,000 ft holds summer and early-archery bucks.

Virgin Mountains

The Virgin range in 15A produces some of the Strip's biggest bucks in rugged PJ and oak brush.

Parashant / Whitmore Country

The broken canyons leading toward the Grand Canyon rim hold bucks in every season.

How to Hunt Mule Deer on the Arizona Strip

This is a hunt worth investing heavy scouting and optics in.

Pre-Season Scouting

Start scouting in summer. Cover ground, run trail cameras on water, and catalog bucks by drainage.

Glassing

Pick vantage points and glass for hours. Top-tier 10x42 binoculars and a quality spotting scope are mandatory.

Access

The Strip is remote — plan for long drives on BLM roads and pack all supplies. High-clearance 4WD is essential.

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Muzzleloader18%

Rifle22%

Arizona Strip mule deer success typically runs 35–55% with exceptional buck quality. The Strip regularly produces Boone & Crockett entries and is considered one of the top mule deer destinations in North America. Review the Success chart for current data.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Muzzleloader— General Muzzleloader Oct	100	107	58.9%
Muzzleloader— Late Muzzleloader Nov	100	63	87.3%
Muzzleloader— General Muzzleloader Oct	25	8	62.5%
Rifle— General Rifle Oct	25	17	88.2%
Rifle— Late Rifle Nov	100	36	91.7%
Rifle— Late Rifle Dec	15	162	6.2%

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

The Strip compound mule deer tag is one of Arizona's toughest draws. Under AZGFD's weighted bonus-point system with Hunter Education bonus, successful applicants typically hold 20+ bonus points. Maximum-point residents may still miss due to the random component, and non-resident odds are effectively lottery-level. Apply every year without exception.

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 15A/15B/15C/15D

The combined GMU 15A/15B pronghorn hunt covers the Arizona Strip country north of the Grand Canyon, spanning the BLM Arizona Strip Field Office lands and portions of the Kaibab National Forest. AZGFD issues a combined tag valid across both units, giving hunters access to a wide swath of high-desert grassland, pinyon-juniper mesas, and sage flats that support a resident pronghorn population. With only 6 tags issued over three years against 208 applicants, this is a premium limited-draw hunt for anyone targeting Arizona Strip pronghorn.

Where to Find Pronghorn in Units 15A/15B

Pronghorn on the Arizona Strip distribute across the open sage and grassland benches between the Kaibab Plateau and the Utah line. Herds concentrate where summer monsoon rains produce the best grass growth.

Open Sage Benches

Glass the broad sage flats north of House Rock Valley and the benches along the BLM road network. Pronghorn use these open areas for feeding and bedding; high points along the road system give long-distance glassing advantages.

Water Tanks and Playas

Water is scarce on the Strip. Pre-scout every stock tank, playa, and wildlife water development on public land using BLM maps. Pronghorn travel long distances to water — sitting a reliable tank mid-day in warm weather can be highly productive.

How to Hunt Units 15A/15B Pronghorn

The Arizona Strip is big, remote country — plan for multi-day backcountry camping and long travel days between glassing points.

Long-Range Glassing

We work this unit by driving the main BLM road network between glassing points at dawn and dusk, then committing to longer stalks once a target buck is located. A tripod-mounted spotting scope is essential — pronghorn distance-spotting at 1,000+ yards is routine.

Pre-Season Water Mapping

Spend a pre-season scouting weekend mapping every verified public-land water source. During the rut, bucks guard waterholes — a confirmed water source with fresh sign is often worth more than ten miles of glassing in empty country.

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Pronghorn Success Rates

Arizona Strip pronghorn success rates for 15A/15B tag holders are typically high — 70% or better — given the limited tag allocation and solid pronghorn numbers on well-managed BLM rangeland. Buck quality is among the best in the state. Check AZGFD harvest reports for current data.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Muzzleloader— Early Muzzleloader	1	47	2.1%
Archery— Early Archery	1	26	3.8%
Rifle— Early Rifle	1	47	2.1%

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

The 15A/15B combined pronghorn draw is a premium Arizona Strip tag. With roughly 6 tags issued against 208 applicants over three years, odds hover near 3% per application year. Arizona uses a weighted bonus-point system with Hunter Education bonus — 20% of tags to max-point holders, 80% to a random weighted draw. Build points every year to improve your lifetime odds.

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 15A/15B/15C/15D

The combined GMU 15A/15BE (Eastern) bighorn sheep hunt covers the Arizona Strip desert bighorn management zone between the Vermilion Cliffs and the Grand Canyon rim — some of the most remote public land in the Lower 48. AZGFD manages a small, carefully tracked desert bighorn population in the sandstone rim breaks and cliff country. With only 2 tags issued over three years against 177 applicants, this is a premier once-in-a-lifetime Arizona desert bighorn draw.

Where to Find Bighorn in Units 15A/15BE

Desert bighorn on this portion of the Arizona Strip use the Vermilion Cliffs and the rim breaks along the north edge of the Grand Canyon. Animals favor sandstone cliff bands with seeps and line-of-sight escape terrain.

Vermilion Cliffs Escarpment

The Vermilion Cliffs rising above House Rock Valley hold small bands in the sandstone ledges. Glass from House Rock Valley Road looking up and east; rams bed on shaded ledges midday.

Grand Canyon Rim Breaks

The rim breaks dropping off the north side of the Grand Canyon toward the river hold additional desert bighorn. Access is limited and requires long approaches on foot from plateau trailheads.

How to Hunt Units 15A/15BE Bighorn

This is remote, vertical, and physically demanding country — plan for a multi-week effort and full backcountry logistics.

Long-Range Glassing

We use high-power spotting scopes from rimrock and road-side vantage points, glassing the cliff bands methodically. Ram density is low — finding the right animal is the hardest part of the hunt.

Pack-In Support

Most tag holders book an Arizona-licensed sheep outfitter with backcountry pack support. Horse or llama pack-in reduces the physical penalty of approach, saving legs for glassing and final stalks.

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Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Arizona Strip bighorn hunts produce rams for committed hunters, but effort is the price of admission. Expect 10–21 days of serious hunting. Check AZGFD harvest reports for the most current data on success and ram quality.

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General Rifle	1	67	1.5%	0
Rifle— Late Rifle Nov	2	151	0.7%	0

Data from 2023 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Units 15A/15BE bighorn is a near-lottery draw. With roughly 2 tags issued against 177 applicants over three years, odds sit near 1% per application year. Arizona uses a weighted bonus-point system with Hunter Education bonus — 20% of tags to max-point holders, 80% to a random weighted draw. Apply every year and let the loyalty bonus compound.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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RV Sites

No developed campgrounds on the Strip. Kanab and Fredonia offer RV parks.

⛺

Camp Sites

Dispersed camping widely available on BLM ground. Stage near Mount Trumbull, Nixon Springs, or St. George-area access roads.

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Trailer Access

Main Strip roads (Main Street, County 5, County 103) are graded gravel, passable by smaller trailers in dry conditions.

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Water

Very limited. Haul all water from Kanab, Fredonia, or St. George.

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Road Conditions

BLM graded roads in dry conditions; clay impassable when wet. High-clearance 4WD essential for backcountry.

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate to difficult. Vast distances; rugged terrain in mountain areas.

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Hunting Pressure

Low. Tag scarcity and remoteness keep hunters spread thin.

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Weather

Warm October (60–85°F). November cooler with freezing mornings and possible snow in high country.

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Cell Service

None across most of the Strip. Satellite communicator required.

🏘️

Nearest Town

Fredonia/Kanab (basic services), St. George UT (full services, 2 hrs for western units), Colorado City (limited services).

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to draw an Arizona Strip mule deer tag?

Most successful applicants wait 15–25+ years. Arizona's weighted bonus-point system with Hunter Education bonus gives max-point applicants a strong edge but does not guarantee a tag due to the random component. Non-residents face even longer waits.

Should I hire a guide for an Arizona Strip hunt?

Most hunters do. Given the scarcity of the tag, the vast country to cover, and the trophy potential, a quality Arizona Strip guide with scouting history and access knowledge substantially improves your odds of taking a mature buck.

Does the 15A/15B pronghorn tag let me hunt both units?

Yes. The combined-unit tag issued through AZGFD's draw is valid across both GMU 15A and GMU 15B for the designated season, letting you move freely between both halves of the Arizona Strip pronghorn range.

Is the 15A/15BE bighorn tag once-in-a-lifetime?

Yes. Arizona desert bighorn tags are once-in-a-lifetime — drawing the 15A/15BE tag disqualifies you from future Arizona desert bighorn applications.

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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 Mule Deer Species Page — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Arizona Strip mule deer management, Trophy unit designation, Age-class objectives · accessed 2026-04-17
2026 Arizona Hunt Regulations — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 15 compound hunt codes, Season dates, Tag quotas · accessed 2026-04-17
Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument — Bureau of Land Management / National Park Service · supports: Public land and access, Road network, Wilderness areas · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Draw Portal — Hunt Drawing Information — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Bonus point draw, Applicant history for 15A/15B pronghorn, Tags issued · accessed 2026-04-17
BLM Arizona Strip Field Office — Bureau of Land Management · supports: Arizona Strip public land access, Road conditions on BLM routes, Surface management layer · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Desert Bighorn Sheep Management — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Arizona Strip desert bighorn population, Once-in-a-lifetime tag rule · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 15A/15B/15C/15D (Arizona Strip Mule Deer)

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 15A/15B/15C/15D

Where to Find Mule Deer on the Arizona Strip

Mount Trumbull / Mount Logan

Virgin Mountains

Parashant / Whitmore Country

How to Hunt Mule Deer on the Arizona Strip

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 15A/15B/15C/15D

Where to Find Pronghorn in Units 15A/15B

Open Sage Benches

Water Tanks and Playas

How to Hunt Units 15A/15B Pronghorn

Pronghorn Success Rates

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 15A/15B/15C/15D

Where to Find Bighorn in Units 15A/15BE

Vermilion Cliffs Escarpment

Grand Canyon Rim Breaks

How to Hunt Units 15A/15BE Bighorn

Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification