Arizona Elk Mule Deer Turkey

Unit 6B

Arizona Hunting Guide — Elk, Mule Deer, Turkey

Unit 06B is an Arizona elk 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 6B.

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Elk Hunting in Unit 6B

Where to Find Elk in Unit 06B

Elk distribute across public land within the unit boundary. Scout transition zones between meadow feeding and timbered bedding, active water sources in dry stretches, and glassing ridges that open at first and last light. Use AZGFD unit pages and USFS/BLM maps to plan access.

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 06B

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Elk Success Rates

AZGFD publishes harvest and success-rate data by hunt code. Expect variation across weapon types and season timings. Multi-year averages are more reliable than any single year for Unit 06B elk.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Rifle— Late Rifle Dec	175	577	17.2%
Rifle— Late Rifle Dec	300	422	35.5%
Rifle— Early Rifle	155	558	18.5%
Rifle— Late Rifle Nov	175	748	12.0%
Archery— Early Archery	155	507	15.2%
Archery— Late Archery Nov	30	20	70.0%
Archery— Early Archery	75	66	45.5%

Data from 2023 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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Arizona's weighted-random bonus-point system rewards persistence without guaranteeing a tag. Apply every year and lean on AZGFD's historical draw results to model realistic point ranges for Unit 06B elk.

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 6B

GMU 6B encompasses the Anderson Mesa plateau and Lake Mary basin south of Flagstaff, covering the ponderosa pine and pinyon-juniper transition zone of the southern Colorado Plateau. The unit borders Coconino National Forest lands and sits adjacent to the Mogollon Rim escarpment. AZGFD manages mule deer in 6B through limited-draw bonus point tags; the elevated terrain, moderate precipitation, and pine-grassland habitat support strong mule deer numbers compared to lower desert units.

Where to Find Mule Deer in GMU 6B

Mule deer in GMU 6B use the ponderosa pine plateaus and open grass parks of Anderson Mesa, shifting between feeding in the open and bedding in the timber throughout the fall season.

Ponderosa Pine Parks and Meadows

The open grass parks within the ponderosa forest on Anderson Mesa are classic mule deer feeding habitat. Glass from the park edges at first and last light when deer move from timber to grass. The elevated mesa terrain gives good visual range across open areas from road vantages.

Pinyon-Juniper Edges and Draws

As the season progresses into November, deer move from the high ponderosa zone into the pinyon-juniper belt on lower mesa slopes and in canyon heads. The PJ draws hold bucks during the peak rut in mid-November.

How to Hunt GMU 6B Mule Deer

GMU 6B's plateau terrain allows vehicle-accessible glassing combined with foot-stalk opportunities across the mesa's open parks and forest edges.

Early Season Mesa Glassing

Drive the Anderson Mesa forest roads at first light, stopping at every clearing overlook to glass thoroughly before moving on. The plateau's relatively flat terrain allows you to cover many potential deer areas in a morning. Mark locations of bucks seen on your first days and return for targeted stalks once patterns are established.

Rut Hunting in PJ (November)

November rut activity brings bucks out of timber and into pinyon-juniper draws and saddles. Walking slowly through the PJ draws and calling with a grunt call can work on pre-rut bucks checking doe groups. The Lake Mary area access roads give good entry into productive PJ country during the rut.

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Anderson Mesa units in the Flagstaff-area Colorado Plateau typically produce solid mule deer harvest success, supported by good habitat quality and limited hunter pressure from the draw. Check AZGFD harvest reports for current GMU 6B-specific data.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Rifle— Late Rifle Nov	225	401	28.9%
Rifle— General Rifle Oct	0	141	26.2%
Rifle— Late Rifle Dec	10	407	2.2%
Rifle— General Rifle Oct	200	206	65.0%
Muzzleloader— General Muzzleloader Oct	200	214	72.4%

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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GMU 6B mule deer draws competitive interest from Flagstaff-area hunters and metro Phoenix applicants. The unit's accessible location and quality habitat make it a popular draw choice. Consistent annual applications build bonus points toward a successful draw — check draw.azgfd.com for current odds.

Turkey Hunting in Unit 6B

Unit 6B covers the Mingus Mountain, Black Hills, and Sedona-area Rim country between Cottonwood, Prescott, and Camp Verde. Merriam's turkeys use the ponderosa-juniper transition on Mingus Mountain and the oak-ponderosa pockets of the Black Hills. Prescott National Forest access is excellent. With ~239 tags against 224 applicants over three years, Unit 6B is a near-guaranteed draw with solid bird populations. We treat 6B as a high-opportunity Merriam's unit with easy road access from central Arizona.

Where to Find Turkeys in Unit 6B

Unit 6B Merriam's cluster in Mingus Mountain and the Black Hills oak-ponderosa belt.

Mingus Mountain Top

The ponderosa ridges around Mingus Campground hold strong roost flocks. Glass meadow edges at dawn and listen from FR 104.

Black Hills / FR 413 Corridor

The oak-ponderosa pockets along FR 413 between Cottonwood and Jerome produce consistent turkey sign. Side drainages with big pines are prime roost country.

Sedona Rim Fringe

Where the Mogollon Rim approaches Sedona, oak-pine benches above 5,500 ft hold scattered flocks. Less-traveled forest roads off SR-89A access this country.

How to Hunt Turkeys in Unit 6B

6B rewards classic roost scouting and flexible morning tactics.

Roost at Dusk

Drive FR 104 (Mingus Mountain) or FR 413 (Black Hills) at last light and listen for wing-flap and gobble. Mark the tree, set up before first light.

Call-and-Move

After fly-down, move between ponderosa benches and call softly. 6B birds respond well to soft yelps and clucks mid-morning.

Meadow Edge Setup

Strut zones in grass parks become predictable mid-morning. Hen-jake decoy pairs in the open draw cruising toms within bow range.

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Turkey Success Rates

Unit 6B spring Merriam's success typically runs 35–50%. Mingus Mountain produces strong bird populations and access is easy from Cottonwood and Prescott. Fall hunts (when offered) run 15–25%.

Turkey Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Shotgun— Early Shotgun	70	36	41.7%
Shotgun— Early Shotgun	50	31	100.0%
Rifle— Early Rifle	49	39	100.0%

Data from 2023 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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Unit 6B turkey is one of the easiest draws in Arizona — tag supply exceeds applicant demand in most years. Arizona uses a weighted bonus-point system with Hunter Education bonus, but with ~239 tags against 224 applicants over three years, Unit 6B residents typically draw with 0 bonus points. Nonresidents face the 10% cap and still see favorable odds. A great unit for new hunters building bonus points.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Road Conditions

Mix of paved highways, maintained gravel, and unmaintained forest/BLM roads. High-clearance recommended; 4WD useful after weather.

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Hunting Pressure

Tag-limited, so pressure is defined by permit counts. Opening weekends are busiest.

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Weather

Hot dry early-season days to freezing mornings and possible snow in late seasons.

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Cell Service

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for an Arizona Unit 06B elk 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.

Is Unit 06B elk a good first-choice or second-choice pick?

Hunt-code choice strategy depends on your point total and draw goals. Review AZGFD's published draw results and bonus-point pass detail to decide where to slot Unit 06B in your application.

How do I apply for a mule deer tag in GMU 6B?

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.

Is Unit 6B turkey a good first draw for a new Arizona applicant?

Yes — Unit 6B regularly has leftover tags after the main draw. Residents commonly draw with 0 bonus points. Bird populations and road access are both excellent for newcomers.

Can I base out of Sedona for a Unit 6B turkey hunt?

You can, but lodging is expensive. Most hunters base in Cottonwood or Prescott and drive to the Mingus or Black Hills hunt areas. Dispersed camping on the Prescott NF is the cheapest option.

Are there leftover Unit 6B tags after the main draw?

Often yes — check the AZGFD leftover list after the spring draw results. Unit 6B regularly has surplus turkey tags available first-come-first-served.

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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: 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
AZGFD Draw Portal — Hunt Drawing Information — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Bonus point draw, Historical draw data for 6B · accessed 2026-04-17
Coconino National Forest — Recreation and Road Information — USDA Forest Service · supports: Forest road access on Anderson Mesa, Motor Vehicle Use Maps, Lake Mary area · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Turkey Hunting — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Merriam's turkey distribution in the Prescott NF, Unit 6B Mingus and Black Hills habitat, Tag allocation and draw rules, Spring and fall seasons · accessed 2026-04-17
Prescott National Forest — Verde and Bradshaw RDs — USDA Forest Service · supports: Mingus Mountain road network, Dispersed camping, Motor Vehicle Use Map · accessed 2026-04-17