Arizona Pronghorn Turkey Elk

Unit 3C (St. Johns – Concho Plains)

Arizona Hunting Guide — Pronghorn, Turkey, Elk

Unit 3C covers the St. Johns and Concho grassland country in Apache County, east-central Arizona. Terrain is open short-grass prairie and juniper savanna at 5,500–6,500 feet elevation, broken by shallow drainages and volcanic outcrops. The unit is a patchwork of state trust, BLM, Apache-Sitgreaves NF, and private ranch inholdings. Pronghorn use the open grassland and hay meadow margins — this is one of Arizona's most sought-after pronghorn draws for trophy quality.

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Logistics & Planning Guide →

Access roads, campgrounds, elevation, monthly weather, stock tanks, cell coverage, and nearest-town services for Unit 3C.

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Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 3C

Where to Find Pronghorn in Unit 3C

Unit 3C pronghorn concentrate on the open grassland and irrigated hay meadow edges.

Concho Plains

The rolling grasslands north and east of Concho hold the primary buck groups. Glass from county road elevation before pushing off-road.

Hay Meadow Margins

Private hay meadows draw pronghorn during summer and early fall. Public access on adjoining state trust and BLM typically gives us shots at pronghorn entering or exiting private pivots.

Volcanic Outcrops

Small volcanic cones and rimrock outcrops provide elevated glassing vantages across otherwise-flat terrain. Mature bucks hold in specific draws for days at a time.

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How to Hunt Pronghorn in Unit 3C

3C is classic open-country pronghorn hunting.

State Trust Land Permit

Arizona state trust land requires a separate recreation permit. Carry proof during the hunt — much of 3C is state trust checkerboard.

Stalk Planning

Mature bucks in this kind of terrain demand 400–600 yard crawls. Use every inch of topography — we've made stalks off 18 inches of rolling cover. Bring good rain gear — monsoon tail-end storms are common.

Rancher Relationships

Many 3C hunts benefit from rancher goodwill for crossing access or locating pronghorn on hay ground. We approach private landowners early and respectfully.

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Pronghorn Success Rates

Unit 3C pronghorn tags are very limited — only ~2 across three recent years against ~831 applicants. Success rates on AZ pronghorn draws are high — most hunters who draw commit serious effort and typically exceed 80%. Trophy quality in 3C is consistently strong.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Early Rifle	3	592	0.5%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

3C pronghorn is one of Arizona's hardest draws. With only ~2 tags against ~831 applicants over three years, odds per applicant run far under 1%. Arizona's weighted bonus-point system routes 20% to max-point holders first. Realistic competitiveness requires maximum or near-maximum bonus points. A hunter-ed bonus point is available to applicants who complete AZGFD-recognized hunter education.

Turkey Hunting in Unit 3C

Unit 3C on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest holds one of Arizona's premier Merriam's turkey populations in the pine-oak-meadow country of the White Mountains. Escudilla Mountain and the surrounding drainages provide classic Merriam's habitat with ponderosa roosts, oak-mast benches, and open parks. Spring and fall hunts are offered by AZGFD with relatively accessible tag draws. The unit produces mature long-bearded toms in scenic country with reliable bird numbers.

Where to Find Turkey in Unit 3C

Merriam's in Unit 3C use classic White Mountains pine-oak country.

Ponderosa Roosts

Mature ponderosa stands near water and meadows anchor nightly roosts. Locate roosts before opener.

Oak Benches

Gambel oak benches with acorn mast pull birds in fall and support spring strut activity.

Meadow Parks

Open parks like those around Nutrioso and Alpine attract morning strut displays.

How to Hunt Turkey in Unit 3C

White Mountains Merriam's hunting is classic run-and-gun work with calling.

Spring Tactics

Roost birds at dusk, set up within 100 yards before dawn, and call softly. Mid-morning cover ground looking for lonely gobblers.

Fall Tactics

Bust flocks and call them back together; or locate feeding birds in oak benches and ambush.

Access

Plenty of Forest Service access via FR 249, FR 112, and the Nutrioso-Alpine corridor.

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Turkey Success Rates

Unit 3C turkey success is high for Arizona, typically 30–50% in spring and similar in fall. Merriam's gobblers regularly sport 9–11 inch beards with bucks occasionally scoring on slam-quality toms. Review the Success chart for current data.

Turkey Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Shotgun— Early Shotgun	50	81	25.9%
Shotgun— Early Shotgun	50	73	63.0%
Rifle— Early Rifle	50	79	62.0%

Data from 2023 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit 3C turkey tags are reasonably accessible. AZGFD issues tags through the weighted bonus-point system with Hunter Education bonus. Spring hunts typically draw in 1–3 years of consistent application; fall hunts are even easier. A great tag for residents and non-residents alike.

Elk Hunting in Unit 3C

Unit 03C covers the southern portion of the Kaibab Plateau and the country south and east of the Grand Canyon's North Rim, including portions of the Kaibab National Forest (Tusayan and North Kaibab Ranger Districts). The unit features ponderosa pine parklands and mixed-conifer habitat at 7,000–9,000 feet. Elk are well-distributed across the plateau with seasonal movements that carry animals close to the South Rim corridor. Tags are extremely limited and highly coveted — plan on accumulating 15–25+ bonus points for a realistic draw.

Where to Find Elk in Unit 03C

Unit 03C elk are spread across the broad ponderosa and mixed-conifer plateau south and east of the Grand Canyon's North Rim.

Kaibab Plateau Ponderosa Parks (7,000–8,500 ft)

The extensive open ponderosa parks east of Tusayan and around Valle are classic feeding habitat. Glass from plateau overlooks and forest road high points at first light — large herds can be spotted grazing the open parks well into mid-morning during archery and early rifle season.

Mixed Conifer and Aspen Pockets

Where the plateau rises toward the rim, spruce-fir and aspen pockets hold bulls during the heat of the day and through the rut. Use topography to approach these timber patches from above and downwind.

Water Sources

Natural water on the Kaibab south of the rim is limited. Stock tanks along the Tusayan area forest roads and developed water sources near Grand Canyon Village draw elk predictably — particularly after dry monsoon seasons.

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 03C

Unit 03C rewards hunters with patience and quality optics — the open plateau parks allow long-range glassing and planned stalks on mature bulls.

Spot-and-Stalk on Open Parks

Drive the Tusayan area forest roads and US-64 corridor at first light, stopping at elevated pull-offs to glass the parks with a spotting scope. Once you identify a target bull, note his direction of travel and plan a stalk that keeps terrain and thermals in your favor.

Archery Rut Tactics

September archery season overlaps the peak rut. Bulls bugle actively on the plateau's open parks — locate bulls by sound at first light, and use cow calls and aggressive bugles to close the distance to archery range. The rim edge drainages concentrate rutting activity.

Managing NPS Boundary

Grand Canyon National Park borders Unit 03C — hunting is prohibited within the park boundary. Know the boundary precisely before your hunt and avoid pursuing elk across the park line. Elk commonly cross in and out of the park.

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Elk Success Rates

Unit 03C elk hunts typically produce rifle success rates of 50–65% and archery success around 20–30%. The Kaibab elk population is healthy and well-managed, and the limited tag allocation ensures minimal competition for each successful hunter. Trophy quality is high — 300+ inch bulls are taken regularly from the plateau.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Rifle— Early Rifle	75	1,625	3.6%
Rifle— Late Rifle Dec	275	1,095	12.9%
Rifle— Late Rifle Nov	200	1,247	11.9%
Rifle— General Rifle Oct	150	481	19.3%
Rifle— General Rifle Oct	15	166	5.4%
Rifle— Late Rifle Nov	250	1,142	10.6%
Rifle— General Rifle Oct	150	463	18.4%
Rifle— General Rifle Oct	15	124	7.3%
Archery— Early Archery	100	2,065	3.2%
Archery— Early Archery	35	45	31.1%

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit 03C elk tags are extremely hard to draw — similar demand profile to 03BN. Most successful applicants hold 15–25+ Arizona bonus points. Apply every year to avoid losing the loyalty bonus and to steadily climb the weighted draw. A drawn 03C tag represents years of patient annual applications rewarded.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Road Conditions

US-60, US-191, and SR 61 paved. County and BLM roads are maintained gravel to dirt — high-clearance recommended, 4WD after rain.

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Hunting Pressure

Minimal. Tag caps keep the unit very quiet.

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Weather

August–September hunts see 70–90°F days and 45–60°F nights. Afternoon thunderstorms common during monsoon.

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Cell Service

Coverage in St. Johns and along highways. Drops off in interior grasslands.

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Nearest Town

St. Johns (basic services — fuel, grocery, lodging). Show Low (full services, ~45 min). Springerville (moderate services, ~30 min).

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Permit Notes

AZGFD tag plus Arizona State Land Department recreation permit required. Respect private ranch boundaries.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a state trust land permit for Unit 3C?

Yes. Arizona state trust land is pervasive in 3C and requires an Arizona State Land Department recreation permit on top of your AZGFD tag. Buy it online before the hunt and carry proof.

How many bonus points for a Unit 3C pronghorn tag?

With only ~2 tags per year across ~831 applicants, expect to need maximum or near-maximum bonus points. Arizona's draw includes a random weighted component, so even max points do not guarantee a tag.

What's the best base town for 3C?

St. Johns is central to the unit and has basic services. For full services, Show Low or Springerville are 30–45 minutes away.

Is Unit 3C good for first-time Arizona turkey hunters?

Yes. The White Mountains produce reliable Merriam's populations, tags are accessible under the weighted bonus-point system with Hunter Education bonus, and forest access is excellent.

When does the spring turkey season open in Unit 3C?

Arizona's spring turkey season typically opens in late April with hunt codes running through May. Check the current AZGFD Hunt Regulations for this year's exact dates and tag codes.

Can elk escape into Grand Canyon National Park during my hunt?

Yes — elk move freely across the park boundary. You cannot pursue or take elk once they cross into Grand Canyon NP. Know the boundary location precisely and do not stalk animals that are trending toward the park line. AZGFD GMU maps and the NPS boundary maps on CalTopo are your best planning tools.

How does Unit 03C differ from Unit 03BN?

Unit 03C is on the south side of the Kaibab Plateau, providing more accessible ponderosa parkland and proximity to Tusayan services. Unit 03BN is farther north and more remote with denser conifer habitat. Both are extremely premium tags with similar draw odds.

What is the best access point for Unit 03C elk hunting?

The Tusayan area via US-64 is the primary gateway. FR 302 and FR 307 give east-west access across the plateau. Use the Kaibab NF Motor Vehicle Use Map to plan legal routes to your hunting areas.

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Sources & Verification

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

GMU 3C — Unit Landing Page — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 3C boundaries, Land ownership mix, Pronghorn distribution · accessed 2026-04-17
2026 Arizona Pronghorn and Elk Regulations — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Pronghorn season structure, Unit 3C tag allocation, Hunt area boundaries · accessed 2026-04-17
Arizona State Land Recreation Permits — Arizona State Land Department · supports: State trust land recreation permit required, Access rules, Closure notices · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Draw Portal — Hunt Drawing Information — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Weighted bonus point draw, 3C pronghorn historical odds · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Turkey Species Page — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Merriam's turkey distribution, White Mountains populations, Season structure · accessed 2026-04-17
2026 Arizona Hunt Regulations — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 3C turkey hunt codes, Spring and fall season dates, Tag quotas · accessed 2026-04-17
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests — USDA Forest Service · supports: Forest road access, Escudilla Wilderness, Dispersed camping rules · accessed 2026-04-17
Kaibab National Forest — Tusayan Ranger District — USDA Forest Service · supports: Road network, Dispersed camping, MVUM · accessed 2026-04-18

Unit 3C (St. Johns – Concho Plains)

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 3C

Where to Find Pronghorn in Unit 3C

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Unit 3C

Pronghorn Success Rates

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Turkey Hunting in Unit 3C

Where to Find Turkey in Unit 3C

Ponderosa Roosts

Oak Benches

Meadow Parks

How to Hunt Turkey in Unit 3C

Turkey Success Rates

Turkey Draw Odds

Elk Hunting in Unit 3C

Where to Find Elk in Unit 03C

Kaibab Plateau Ponderosa Parks (7,000–8,500 ft)

Mixed Conifer and Aspen Pockets

Water Sources

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 03C

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Sources & Verification