Arizona Bighorn Sheep Mule Deer Coues Whitetail Deer

Unit 24B (24B)

Arizona Hunting Guide — Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer, Coues Whitetail Deer

Unit 24B is an Arizona desert bighorn sheep hunt area managed under AZGFD hunt guidelines. Sheep tag quotas are extremely limited and set annually based on population surveys. Draws use Arizona's weighted random bonus point system.

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Access roads, campgrounds, elevation, monthly weather, stock tanks, cell coverage, and nearest-town services for Unit 24B.

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Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 24B

Where to Find Bighorn Sheep in Unit 24B

Desert bighorns in Unit 24B hold on steep, rocky desert ranges with escape terrain, forage, and seasonal water. Focus glassing on rim rock, south-facing slopes, and saddles between feeding and bedding areas.

How to Hunt Bighorn Sheep in Unit 24B

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Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Rifle75%

Arizona desert sheep hunts typically produce very high success rates given conservative tag numbers. Review the AZGFD annual hunt arizona report for current Unit 24B harvest statistics.

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General Rifle	3	662	0.5%	0
Rifle— Late Rifle Dec	2	766	0.3%	0

Data from 2023 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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Sheep tags in Unit 24B are among the hardest draws in Arizona. The weighted random bonus point system rewards long-term point building. Residents receive 90 percent of sheep tags.

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 24B

Unit 24B covers the southern Tonto National Forest around Four Peaks, Roosevelt Lake, and the Mazatzal foothills east of the Phoenix metro. The unit is a mix of saguaro-studded desert bajadas, chaparral-covered ridges, and pine-oak woodland up in the Four Peaks high country. Mule deer use the low desert and mid-elevation chaparral, with bucks often pushing into the oak pockets at 4,500–5,500 feet. Proximity to Phoenix drives moderate hunting pressure, but the terrain absorbs it effectively.

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 24B

Unit 24B mule deer use the chaparral-oak transition zones around Four Peaks and the desert bajadas near Roosevelt Lake.

Four Peaks Wilderness Fringe (4,500–6,000 ft)

The chaparral and oak-pine pockets on the flanks of Four Peaks hold bedding bucks. Access from FR 143 (Four Peaks Road) or from the south via the Pigeon Trail.

Desert Bajadas (2,500–4,000 ft)

The saguaro bajadas east of Roosevelt Lake and along the Salt River canyon produce classic Sonoran mule deer. Glass from high desert points at first and last light.

Chaparral Ridges

Mid-elevation chaparral ridges between the desert and the oak country hold deer year-round. Bucks bed in manzanita pockets and feed on browse edges.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 24B

Unit 24B rewards glassing-focused hunters who are willing to work through chaparral.

Glass from FR 143

Four Peaks Road gains elevation quickly and provides glassing points over the chaparral slopes below. Pre-dawn setups with a tripod and spotting scope are high-percentage.

Chaparral Still-Hunts

Once deer are located in chaparral, approach slowly with wind in your face. Mature bucks bed in thick pockets — expect shots under 100 yards.

Water Ambushes

Stock tanks and Roosevelt Lake shoreline draws concentrate deer in dry seasons. Set up downwind of active tanks in the afternoon.

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Rifle22%

Unit 24B issues roughly 400 tags over three years against 1,141 applicants, making it a moderate-opportunity unit. Rifle success rates typically run 20–35%, with the late-season December hunts posting the higher numbers. Archery success is around 10–15%.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Late Rifle Nov	200	547	24.1%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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Unit 24B is a moderate-draw mule deer unit near Phoenix. Arizona's weighted bonus-point draw sends 20% of tags to max-point holders first; 80% go through a random weighted draw. Residents typically draw early hunts with 2–4 bonus points and late-season hunts with 5–7 points. The December rut hunt is the most competitive. Nonresidents face a 10% cap.

Coues Whitetail Deer Hunting in Unit 24B

Unit 24B covers the north side of the Santa Catalina Mountains and the Oracle Ridge area of Pinal County, drawing nearly 3,000 cumulative Coues whitetail applicants. The unit's Coronado National Forest oak woodland and rocky ridges on the Catalina back-country side produce quality bucks in a less-pressured setting than the Tucson-side units. The Oracle and Catalina State Park access points provide entry into productive terrain.

Where to Find Coues Whitetail in Unit 24B

Unit 24B Coues deer concentrate in the north-facing Catalina terrain and the Oracle Ridge oak woodland.

Oracle Ridge Zone

The Oracle Ridge area north of Mt. Lemmon provides open oak woodland terrain with good glassing visibility. Deer density is solid and pressure is lower than the Tucson-side units. Access from Oracle via FR 38.

Catalina North Slopes

The back-country north slopes of the Catalinas accessible from the American Flag Ranch area hold deer in rocky terrain. Less pressure than the south-facing Tucson-side landscape.

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How to Hunt Coues Whitetail in Unit 24B

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Coues Whitetail Deer Success Rates

Success rate data not yet available for this species in this unit.

Unit 24B rifle Coues success typically runs 40–58%. The north Catalina terrain is less pressured than Units 22 and 23, providing more consistent mature buck encounters for hunters who explore beyond road-accessible areas.

Coues Whitetail Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Rifle— General Rifle Oct	200	377	40.8%
Rifle— Late Rifle Nov	275	254	58.3%
Rifle— Late Rifle Dec	40	421	6.9%

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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Nearly 3,000 cumulative applicants. Expect 6–11 bonus points for Unit 24B Coues rifle tags.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Unit 24B bighorn sheep once-in-a-lifetime?

Arizona desert bighorn sheep is typically once-in-a-lifetime. Verify current rules in the AZGFD hunt regulations before applying.

How hard is the Unit 24B sheep draw?

Extremely competitive. Plan on building bonus points for many years under the weighted random system.

Can I hunt Unit 24B from a day-trip base in Phoenix?

The northern edges of the unit are 90 minutes from east Phoenix. Day-trip hunts are doable but cut into first-light opportunities. Spike out or base in Payson or Punkin Center for better access.

Is Four Peaks really hunt-able or just scenery?

Four Peaks is hunt-able but demanding. The Four Peaks Wilderness requires foot/horseback travel, and the terrain punishes hunters. Most 24B success comes from the chaparral foothills rather than the summit ridges.

Which hunt period is best in Unit 24B?

The late-December rut hunt (when offered) is the best. Cooler temperatures make the terrain manageable, and rutting bucks cruise daylight.

How does Unit 24B compare to Unit 23 for Coues hunting quality?

Unit 24B (north Catalinas) typically draws fewer applicants than Unit 23 (south Catalinas) and sees less hunting pressure. Trophy quality is comparable — the north-side terrain produces mature bucks. Hunters willing to do additional research and access work find excellent opportunities in 24B with slightly better odds than the more famous Tucson-side units.

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-18.

AZGFD Hunt Guidelines — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Hunt structure, Sheep tag allocations · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Hunt Regulations — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Season dates, Unit boundaries · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Draw Results & Bonus Points — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Bonus point balances, Sheep draw outcomes · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Game Management Units — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 24B boundaries, Tonto NF Tonto Basin and Mesa Ranger Districts, Four Peaks Wilderness inclusion, Roosevelt Lake shoreline · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Draw Portal — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 24B historical draw odds, Tag allocation, Bonus points · accessed 2026-04-17
Tonto National Forest — Tonto Basin and Mesa Ranger Districts — USDA Forest Service · supports: Four Peaks Wilderness, Forest road access, Motor Vehicle Use Map · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Big Game Draw — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Applicant counts, Draw odds · accessed 2026-04-18

Unit 24B (24B)

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 24B

Where to Find Bighorn Sheep in Unit 24B

How to Hunt Bighorn Sheep in Unit 24B

Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 24B

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 24B

Four Peaks Wilderness Fringe (4,500–6,000 ft)

Desert Bajadas (2,500–4,000 ft)

Chaparral Ridges

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 24B

Glass from FR 143

Chaparral Still-Hunts

Water Ambushes

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Coues Whitetail Deer Hunting in Unit 24B

Where to Find Coues Whitetail in Unit 24B

Oracle Ridge Zone

Catalina North Slopes

How to Hunt Coues Whitetail in Unit 24B

Oracle Ridge Access

Coues Whitetail Deer Success Rates

Coues Whitetail Deer Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

Road Conditions

Cell Service

Nearest Town

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification