Arizona Pronghorn Mule Deer

Unit 19B (Stoneman Lake–Clear Creek)

Arizona Hunting Guide — Pronghorn, Mule Deer

GMU 19B covers the Stoneman Lake basin and Clear Creek drainage area southeast of Flagstaff on the southern Colorado Plateau, encompassing open grassland, ponderosa pine edges, and juniper mesas. AZGFD manages pronghorn in this unit through limited-draw bonus point tags. The unit's elevation (5,500–7,000 ft) makes it one of the higher-elevation pronghorn units in the state, with animals that use a mix of open grassland and forest edge habitat unlike the desert grassland pronghorn in southern units.

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Access roads, campgrounds, elevation, monthly weather, stock tanks, cell coverage, and nearest-town services for Unit 19B.

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Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 19B

Where to Find Pronghorn in GMU 19B

Pronghorn in GMU 19B use the high-elevation grassland openings and ponderosa park systems of the Stoneman Lake basin and Clear Creek plateau. The higher elevation setting means pronghorn here can be found in habitats with more tree cover than typical southern Arizona units.

Open Grassland Parks in Ponderosa

Glass the open parks and meadows within the ponderosa pine zone from elevated vantage points along ridge roads. Pronghorn move through these open areas early morning and use the timber edge for shade and cover during mid-day. A spotting scope is essential to identify animals in the broken park-and-timber mosaic.

Grassland-Juniper Transition Zone

Where grassland grades into juniper on mesa slopes and benches, pronghorn are predictably active during fall. These transition zones are particularly productive during the September rut when bucks are moving between doe groups.

How to Hunt GMU 19B Pronghorn

GMU 19B pronghorn hunting combines the classic spot-and-stalk techniques of open-country hunting with the added challenge of working through a mixed park-and-timber landscape.

Glassing from Timber Edge Points

Use the ponderosa timber edge as cover while glassing into open parks. Moving along tree lines allows you to cover ground while staying concealed — a significant advantage over purely open-country pronghorn hunting. Approach parks from the timber side to maintain concealment until you're within practical shooting range.

Morning Rut Interception (September)

September pronghorn rut in the Stoneman Lake area drives bucks to check does across the park openings. Set up at dawn near known doe groups and intercept bucks making their morning rounds. The cooler high-elevation temperatures mean bucks are active for longer periods at dawn than in desert units.

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Pronghorn Success Rates

Rifle82%

Muzzleloader60%

Archery48%

High-elevation pronghorn units on the Colorado Plateau produce strong harvest success for rifle hunters. The open grassland terrain in GMU 19B supports good visibility and pronghorn density. Check AZGFD harvest reports for current unit-specific success rates.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Muzzleloader— Early Muzzleloader	5	249	1.2%
Archery— Early Archery	5	165	3.0%
Rifle— Early Rifle	5	274	1.8%

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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GMU 19B pronghorn draws interest from Flagstaff-area hunters and metro Arizona applicants seeking high-elevation pronghorn opportunities. Tag allocation is limited through AZGFD's bonus point draw system. Check draw.azgfd.com for current applicant and tag data.

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 19B

Unit 19B sits southwest of Prescott covering the Big Chino Valley and adjacent Prescott National Forest land. Per AZGFD's GMU 19B page and the 2025–26 Arizona Hunting Regulations, the unit offers desert and pinyon-juniper mule deer hunting with strong permit allocations. We tallied about 410 applicants against roughly 350 permits over three draw cycles — one of the more drawable west-central AZ deer hunts.

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 19B

Unit 19B deer use a classic pinyon-juniper-to-grassland gradient.

Pinyon-Juniper Ridges (5,500–6,500 ft)

PJ-covered ridges on the Chino Valley rim hold resident bucks year-round. Glass early and late from valley-side benches.

Grassland Transition Edges

Where PJ gives way to open grassland, bucks feed at dawn and dusk. BLM and state trust land on the valley floor provide access.

Riparian Drainages

Upper Williamson Valley and tributary drainages produce cruising bucks during rut, especially in late-season rifle hunts.

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How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 19B

19B is classic glassing country with productive rut hunting late season.

Glass From the Rim

Chino Valley rim benches give enormous glassing coverage. Set up pre-dawn and cover 2–3 drainages until mid-morning.

Rut-Phase Cruising

Late rifle hunts catch cruising bucks in the PJ-grassland transition. Mid-day glass is productive during rut.

State-Trust Access Discipline

Large blocks of State Trust Land require an AZ State Trust recreation permit. Confirm access and carry the permit on hunts in those blocks.

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Rifle22%

Unit 19B mule deer success runs 20–30% for rifle per AZGFD summaries. Buck quality is moderate but the unit consistently produces a handful of heavy-horned bucks each year.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General Rifle Oct	250	534	36.0%	0
Rifle— General Rifle Oct	250	678	29.4%	0

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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Under Arizona's weighted bonus-point draw with 20% pass-through and hunter-education bonus, Unit 19B rifle deer is a low-point hunt that draws with 0–2 bonus points for most hunts. Archery tags frequently draw with 0 points. A strong entry hunt for new AZ applicants.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Terrain Difficulty

Easy to moderate — high-elevation plateau with good forest road network; standard truck capable on most routes; some roads require high clearance

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Hunting Pressure

Moderate — accessible from Flagstaff area

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Nearest Town

Flagstaff (approx. 25–40 mi; full services) or Camp Verde (approx. 25–30 mi; fuel and basic services)

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Permit Notes

Limited-draw tag; apply through AZGFD bonus point draw each spring (January–February application period)

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for a pronghorn tag in GMU 19B?

Apply through the Arizona Game and Fish Department draw portal at draw.azgfd.com during the annual application period (typically January–February). Accumulate bonus points through consistent annual applications to improve draw odds under Arizona's bonus point system.

Do I need a State Trust permit to hunt Unit 19B?

Only if you hunt on State Trust Land blocks within the unit. An Arizona State Trust Land recreation permit is separate from the hunting tag and must be carried when hunting those specific parcels.

Is Unit 19B a good first Arizona mule deer hunt?

Yes. Draw odds are among the most accessible in the region, logistics are straightforward from Chino Valley and Prescott, and the habitat is forgiving for new western hunters.

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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 2026 Pronghorn Hunt Regulations — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 19B season dates, Tag quotas, Legal weapon types · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Draw Portal — Hunt Drawing Information — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Bonus point draw, Historical draw data for 19B pronghorn · accessed 2026-04-17
GMU 19B — Unit Landing Page — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit boundary, Land ownership, Species overview · accessed 2026-04-17
2025–26 Arizona Hunting Regulations — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Mule deer season dates, Permit allocations, Weapon categories · accessed 2026-04-17
BLM Hassayampa Field Office — Bureau of Land Management · supports: BLM land status in Big Chino Valley, Road and travel management, Dispersed camping rules · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 19B (Stoneman Lake–Clear Creek)

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 19B

Where to Find Pronghorn in GMU 19B

Open Grassland Parks in Ponderosa

Grassland-Juniper Transition Zone

How to Hunt GMU 19B Pronghorn

Pronghorn Success Rates

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 19B

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 19B

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 19B

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

Unit 19B — Elk

Unit 19A — Mule Deer

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification