Arizona Mule Deer Turkey

Unit 20A

Arizona Hunting Guide — Mule Deer, Turkey

Unit 20A is an Arizona mule deer unit managed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD). Permits are allocated through AZGFD's weighted-random bonus-point draw, where bonus points function as additional chances in the random selection rather than as guaranteed preference. Hunters applying for this unit should consult AZGFD's Hunt Guidelines, current regulations, and historical draw results to build a realistic point-building plan.

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 20A.

📋

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 20A

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 20A

Mule deer distribute by elevation, forage, and security cover. Focus on north-facing slopes and shaded draws during warm spells, on browse-heavy shrub transitions during the rut, and on saddles and ridge fingers that funnel movement between feeding and bedding.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 20A

Pro Members Only

Unlock mule deer tactics for Unit 20A

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Mule Deer Success Rates

Rifle22%

AZGFD publishes harvest and success-rate data by hunt code. Expect variation across weapon types and season timings. Use multi-year averages when setting expectations for Unit 20A mule deer.

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.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Arizona's weighted-random bonus-point system rewards persistence without guaranteeing a tag. Apply every year and use AZGFD's published draw results to model realistic point ranges for your Unit 20A mule deer hunt code.

Turkey Hunting in Unit 20A

Unit 20A covers the Bradshaw Mountains south of Prescott in central Arizona, including portions of the Prescott National Forest. Merriam's turkeys use the ponderosa and pinyon-juniper belts across the Bradshaws, with the best densities in the Crown King and Horsethief Basin areas. With about 20 tags over three years against 84 applicants, Unit 20A turkey is a moderately competitive draw close to the Phoenix metro.

Where to Find Turkey in Unit 20A

Merriam's turkeys in 20A concentrate in the upper Bradshaws. We key on the ponderosa-oak mix from Horsethief Basin up to Crown King and across Mount Union.

Horsethief Basin and Crown King

Ponderosa with Gambel oak and manzanita understory around Horsethief and Crown King hold strutting gobblers in April.

Mount Union Corridor

The highest ground in the Bradshaws holds scattered flocks — glass grassy meadows and saddles at first light.

Senator Highway Side Roads

Spur roads off the Senator Highway (FR 52) access quiet country where pressure is lower and roost trees are abundant.

How to Hunt Turkey in Unit 20A

Unit 20A rewards hunters who get off the main roads and work the side canyons. We plan around roost locations and set up tight in the morning.

Road-System Scouting

Drive the Senator Highway and Crown King road networks at dawn and dusk locator-calling. Mark each gobbler on a map.

Morning Tree Set

Slip within 100-150 yards of a roosted gobbler, place a jake-and-hen decoy set in the first open flat, and give him 30 minutes of silence after fly-down.

Cutt and Run

If no response by mid-morning, walk ridges cutting sharply with a loud box call every 200 yards. Bradshaw gobblers often shock-gobble once before shutting up again.

Pro Members Only

Unlock turkey tactics for Unit 20A

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Turkey Success Rates

Shotgun35%

Unit 20A Merriam's success runs 20-30% in typical spring seasons. Dry years push success higher as birds concentrate around water, while wet springs spread them across more habitat.

Turkey Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Shotgun— Early Shotgun	10	31	16.1%	0

Data from 2023 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Arizona's weighted bonus-point system enters your name once per bonus point (plus loyalty and Hunter Education bonuses), not squared, with a partial random draw. Unit 20A is moderately competitive — roughly 20 tags over three years against 84 applicants. A small bonus-point balance plus the Hunter Education bonus meaningfully improves odds in this close-to-Phoenix unit.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

🛣️

Road Conditions

Mix of paved highways, maintained gravel, and unmaintained backcountry roads. High-clearance recommended; 4WD useful after rain or snow.

👥

Hunting Pressure

Tag-limited, so pressure is defined by permit counts. Opening rifle weekends see the most activity.

🌦️

Weather

Temperature swings are large day-to-night. Late seasons can bring snow and freezing mornings.

📱

Cell Service

Coverage is patchy to nonexistent in the backcountry. Plan on a satellite communicator.

Pro Members Only

Unlock logistics for Unit 20A

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for an Arizona Unit 20A mule deer tag?

Apply through AZGFD's online draw portal during the published application window. Arizona uses a weighted-random bonus-point system, so applying every year — even in years you don't expect to draw — keeps your point total growing.

How does draw difficulty vary for Unit 20A hunt codes?

Draw difficulty varies across archery, rifle, and muzzleloader hunt codes within the unit. Review AZGFD's historical draw results for each specific hunt code before finalizing your application.

Can I hunt Unit 20A turkey on a weekend from Phoenix?

Yes — Prescott is about 100 miles from Phoenix and the Bradshaws are a 2-hour drive. Many drawn hunters make it a weekend trip, though pressure does spike Saturday mornings.

What turkey subspecies is in Unit 20A?

Merriam's turkey. They were reintroduced to the Bradshaws decades ago and are now well established across the ponderosa belt.

Plan Your Hunt with ProHunt Pro+AI

Unlock advanced tactics, the Tag-to-Trail Planner, AI hunt strategy assistant, and personalized camp and trip execution plans.

Upgrade to Pro+AI — $79/yr

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: Hunt structure, Permit allocation framework · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Hunt Regulations — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Season dates, Unit boundaries, Legal methods · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Draw Results & Bonus Points — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Bonus-point draw mechanics, Historical draw results · accessed 2026-04-17
2025-2026 Arizona Hunting Regulations — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 20A turkey hunt codes, Season dates, Tag caps · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Draw Portal — Hunt Drawing Information — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 20A turkey draw odds, Weighted bonus-point system, Hunter education bonus · accessed 2026-04-17
GMU 20A — Unit Landing Page — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Bradshaw Mountains habitat, Prescott NF access, Merriam's distribution · accessed 2026-04-17