Arizona Pronghorn Turkey Elk

Unit 5B (Sitgreaves - Show Low)

Arizona Hunting Guide — Pronghorn, Turkey, Elk

Unit 05B pronghorn tags are a limited-opportunity Arizona draw. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) issues tags through a weighted random system with bonus points, and low annual tag numbers make this a multi-year points-building goal for most hunters.

View Draw Odds Arizona Hunting Guide

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 5B

Where to Find Pronghorn in Unit 05B

Pronghorn use open grassland parks and sagebrush flats bordered by scattered pinyon-juniper.

Open Parks

Large grassland openings are primary feeding and traveling habitat. Glass from elevated ridgelines that overlook the parks.

Sage Flats

Sagebrush-dominated flats hold pronghorn during warmer days; water sources nearby concentrate animals.

PJ Edges

Pinyon-juniper edges are rare bedding and shade — check these when animals move off the open parks midday.

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Unit 05B

Focus on glassing, then cover ground efficiently once the right animal is located.

Glassing

Scout before the opener to locate bucks; use high vantages to find animals and track movement patterns.

Stalks

Use rolling terrain to close distance; pronghorn eyes are sharp, and any skyline movement will blow the stalk.

Water

Active water sources can anchor pronghorn during hot spells — consider setting up on travel lanes between water and feed.

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Pronghorn Success Rates

Recent draw and success trends are in the Draw Odds chart on this page.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Rifle— Early Rifle	4	32	6.3%
Archery— Early Archery	8	448	1.6%
Archery— General Archery	2	2	50.0%

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

AZGFD uses a weighted random draw with bonus points. Pronghorn tag numbers are small in most units, so expect multi-year points-building. Review the Draw Odds chart on this page for recent trends.

Turkey Hunting in Unit 5B

Unit 5B on the Coconino National Forest south of Flagstaff includes the Mormon Lake country, Anderson Mesa, and the Munds Park area. This is classic Merriam's turkey country — ponderosa pine roosts, oak-mast benches, and open meadow parks. The unit produces reliable bird numbers and accessible tag draws, making it a popular choice for Arizona turkey hunters. Spring and fall seasons are offered, with quality gobbler opportunity from Mormon Lake to Stoneman Lake.

Where to Find Turkey in Unit 5B

Unit 5B Merriam's use the mixed ponderosa-meadow country south of Flagstaff.

Mormon Lake Basin

Mature ponderosa around Mormon Lake holds roost-ready birds and feed-rich meadow edges.

Anderson Mesa

The mesa's pine-oak edges produce strut activity and fall flocking.

Stoneman Lake Area

Oak benches and mature timber around Stoneman concentrate birds, especially in acorn years.

How to Hunt Turkey in Unit 5B

Unit 5B is accessible Merriam's country — perfect for foot-hunters.

Spring Strategy

Roost birds at dusk near meadow edges. Set up before dawn and call softly. Mid-morning run-and-gun through oak benches looking for lonely toms.

Fall Strategy

Locate feeding flocks in oak benches, bust them, and call survivors back. Or ambush along travel routes.

Access

Excellent road network — FR 90 (Lake Mary Road), FR 213, and numerous side roads.

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Turkey Success Rates

Unit 5B turkey success typically runs 25–45% in spring and similar in fall. Merriam's gobblers commonly sport 8–10 inch beards. Review the Success chart for current data.

Turkey Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Shotgun— Early Shotgun	100	116	37.9%	0

Data from 2023 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit 5B turkey tags are accessible. AZGFD issues tags through the weighted bonus-point system with Hunter Education bonus. Spring tags typically draw within 1–2 years of consistent application; fall is easier still. A great unit for new Arizona turkey hunters.

Elk Hunting in Unit 5B

The Unit 5B (Hopi) elk hunt is a special partitioned-lands hunt on Hopi Tribal lands within the GMU 5B footprint of northern Arizona. AZGFD coordinates a limited number of tags each year under a cooperative agreement with the Hopi Tribe, giving drawn hunters access to ponderosa and pinyon-juniper country that would otherwise be closed to non-tribal hunters. With about 55 tags over three years against 142 applicants, this is a moderate-difficulty draw for a rare tribal-lands elk opportunity.

Where to Find Elk in Unit 5B (Hopi)

The hunt zone sits on Hopi Partitioned Lands within the broader GMU 5B footprint south of Leupp and east of the San Francisco Peaks. Elk use a patchwork of ponderosa benches, pinyon-juniper flats, and open grassland draws.

Ponderosa Benches

Mature ponderosa stands at 6,500 to 7,200 feet hold feeding elk at first and last light. Look for fresh rubs on sapling pines and well-used cattle-trail corridors along bench edges.

Pinyon-Juniper Transition

Mid-elevation PJ country funnels elk between feeding parks and bedding timber. The ecotone where pinyon-juniper meets grassland is prime evening ambush territory.

Stock Tanks and Seasonal Water

Water is scarce in this country. Active stock tanks and the rare natural spring concentrate elk for multiple days in a row during dry stretches. Scout tanks during the week before the hunt and set up where tracks and dropping density say elk are using water daily.

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 5B (Hopi)

This hunt runs under a cooperative agreement with the Hopi Tribe. We coordinate tribal permits and access rules ahead of the hunt; there is no public walk-on access.

Permit and Access Coordination

We contact the Hopi Tribe Wildlife Office well before the season to secure any required tribal-side permits, confirm access gates, and review guide or escort requirements. Missing a tribal permit step will void your hunt even with a valid AZGFD tag.

Glassing-Forward Tactics

We glass open benches and grassland draws at first and last light from high vantage points along two-track roads. Elk feed in the open during low light and retreat into PJ pockets by mid-morning.

Water-Centric Setups

We scout active stock tanks and set up wind-right ambushes when animals are watering daily. In dry years this strategy often outperforms walking the timber.

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Elk Success Rates

Unit 5B (Hopi) elk success rates run strong — typically 45 to 60 percent for rifle hunters — driven by limited competition and the partitioned-lands access arrangement. Bull quality is solid with regular 270 to 310 bulls in the harvest. Check AZGFD hunt summaries for year-specific figures.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Rifle— Early Rifle	1	34	2.9%
Rifle— Late Rifle Dec	25	30	46.7%
Rifle— Late Rifle Nov	28	55	36.4%

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Arizona uses a weighted bonus-point draw: 20 percent of tags go to the maximum-point applicants and the remaining 80 percent go to a weighted random draw in which each applicant receives one chance plus one additional chance for each bonus point. A Hunter Education bonus point is available to hunters who complete Arizona's accredited Hunter Ed course, and a loyalty bonus rewards consecutive annual applications. Unit 5B (Hopi) with 55 tags against 142 three-year applicants draws as a mid-tier hunt — most successful applicants hold 2 to 5 bonus points.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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RV Sites

Developed campgrounds are available on nearby Forest Service lands.

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Camp Sites

Dispersed camping is allowed on most National Forest lands subject to travel rules.

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Trailer Access

Paved access handles trailers; interior grassland roads are graded in most places.

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Water

Plan to carry water for camp and daily use.

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Road Conditions

Primary roads are generally passable with 2WD; secondary roads may require high clearance.

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Terrain Difficulty

Easy to moderate — open country with rolling terrain.

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Hunting Pressure

Limited tags keep hunter density low.

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Weather

Early season can be hot and windy; late-season hunts are cooler.

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Cell Service

Spotty coverage; plan on a satellite communicator.

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Nearest Town

Regional service towns provide fuel, groceries, and lodging.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How competitive are pronghorn tags in Unit 05B?

Pronghorn tags in most Arizona units are highly competitive due to low quotas. AZGFD uses a weighted random draw — review the Draw Odds chart on this page for recent applicant and tag counts.

When should I apply for an Arizona pronghorn tag?

Application deadlines are set annually by AZGFD. Review the AZGFD Hunt Guidelines for the current cycle's schedule.

Is Unit 5B good for a first Arizona turkey hunt?

Yes. Tags are accessible under the weighted bonus-point system with Hunter Education bonus, the country is easy to navigate, and Merriam's populations are reliable. A popular choice for new Arizona turkey hunters.

When is the best time to hunt Unit 5B turkeys?

Spring season in late April and early May offers the peak gobbling and strut. Fall hunts in September and October provide good flocking activity with less pressure.

Do I need a Hopi tribal permit in addition to the AZGFD tag?

Usually yes. The cooperative agreement between AZGFD and the Hopi Tribe typically requires drawn hunters to coordinate access, permits, or an escort with the Hopi Tribe Wildlife Office. Always confirm the current year's access rules before the hunt.

How many bonus points are typically needed for Unit 5B (Hopi) elk?

Most successful applicants hold 2 to 5 bonus points. With 55 tags issued against ~142 three-year applicants, Unit 5B (Hopi) is a mid-tier draw and not a max-point hunt.

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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 Hunt Guidelines — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Season structure and hunt guidelines for Arizona big game, Unit boundary descriptions and hunt codes · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Hunt Regulations — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Legal weapons, bag limits, and tag requirements, License, tag, and draw application rules · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Draw Results & Bonus Points — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Weighted random draw with bonus points, Loyalty and hunter education bonus points · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Turkey Species Page — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Merriam's turkey distribution, Coconino plateau populations, Season framework · accessed 2026-04-17
Coconino National Forest — Mogollon Rim Ranger District — USDA Forest Service · supports: Forest access, Mormon Lake and Anderson Mesa, Dispersed camping rules · accessed 2026-04-17
2026 Arizona Pronghorn and Elk Regulations — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 5B (Hopi) hunt structure, Tag quotas and season dates, Tribal-lands access conditions · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Draw Portal — Hunt Drawing Information — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: 5B (Hopi) elk draw odds, Weighted bonus-point system, Applicant history · accessed 2026-04-17
GMU 5B — Unit Landing Page — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: GMU 5B habitat summary, Ponderosa and pinyon-juniper coverage, Adjacent landownership notes · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 5B (Sitgreaves - Show Low)

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 5B

Where to Find Pronghorn in Unit 05B

Open Parks

Sage Flats

PJ Edges

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Unit 05B

Pronghorn Success Rates

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Turkey Hunting in Unit 5B

Where to Find Turkey in Unit 5B

Mormon Lake Basin

Anderson Mesa

Stoneman Lake Area

How to Hunt Turkey in Unit 5B

Turkey Success Rates

Turkey Draw Odds

Elk Hunting in Unit 5B

Where to Find Elk in Unit 5B (Hopi)

Ponderosa Benches

Pinyon-Juniper Transition

Stock Tanks and Seasonal Water

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 5B (Hopi)

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

Unit 5B — Elk

Unit 5A — Turkey

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification