Arizona Mule Deer

Unit 7/9 (Mogollon Rim Southwest Combined)

Arizona Hunting Guide — Mule Deer

The 7/9 combined mule deer hunt draws nearly 3,700 cumulative applicants, covering the southwest Mogollon Rim country of the Tonto National Forest. The combined unit spans the transition from the ponderosa plateau to the chaparral-canyon country of the Tonto Basin — a landscape that produces heavy-bodied desert mule deer with strong antler genetics. The combined geography gives hunters access to both the accessible high country and the less-pressured lower canyon terrain.

View Draw Odds Arizona Hunting Guide

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 7/9

Where to Find Mule Deer in the 7/9 Combined Unit

The 7/9 combined unit mule deer range across the Mogollon Rim plateau and the Tonto Basin canyon country below.

Rim Country Meadows (Unit 7)

The ponderosa parks and meadow systems on the upper Mogollon Rim in Unit 7 hold deer feeding in open areas at dawn and dusk. Glass from the rim edge looking north into the drainages below, or use elevated forest roads above the meadow systems.

Tonto Basin Canyon Country (Unit 9)

The chaparral-oak canyon terrain of Unit 9 produces older-class bucks with less pressure than the rim country. The thick brushy cover requires close-range hunting — follow fresh tracks and work drainage fingers slowly into the wind.

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How to Hunt Mule Deer in the 7/9 Combined Unit

The 7/9 combined unit offers both open-country glass-and-stalk on the rim and close-range canyon hunting below.

Rim Glass-and-Stalk

In Unit 7, glass from forest road vantage points and rim edges at first and last light. The open ponderosa parks allow long-distance identification of quality bucks — glass at maximum magnification before committing to a stalk.

Canyon Brush Hunting

In Unit 9, still-hunt slowly through brushy drainages with careful wind management. The rough chaparral terrain limits glassing to short ranges — focus on fresh tracks and buck sign to locate animals before the encounter.

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Rifle22%

The 7/9 combined mule deer hunt yields 50–70% rifle success. The combined geography provides options regardless of conditions — rim country when weather is stable, canyon country after pressure builds on the rim.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Rifle— General Rifle Oct	50	287	14.3%
Rifle— General Rifle Oct	10	49	12.2%
Rifle— General Rifle Oct	1150	3,297	26.5%

Data from 2024 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Nearly 3,700 cumulative applicants. Expect 10–16 bonus points for rifle mule deer tags in the 7/9 combined unit.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Water

Moderate. Rim lakes and stock tanks in Unit 7. Limited in Unit 9 — scout tanks before season.

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Road Conditions

Hwy 260 and the Young Road provide access. Interior roads range from good gravel to rough 4WD tracks.

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate (rim country) to difficult (Unit 9 canyon terrain). Overall moderate trip planning.

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Weather

October–November hunting weather. Frost on the rim from late September. Canyon country warmer than the plateau.

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Cell Service

Moderate near Payson. Limited throughout most of the combined unit.

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Nearest Town

Payson (full services, 25 mi west). Young (limited services). Globe (full services, 45 mi east).

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are Units 7 and 9 different from the separately hunted units 07 and 09?

Yes — Arizona's draw system uses different unit ID formats for different hunt types. The '7/9' combined hunt is a specific draw hunt that grants access to both units simultaneously. The separately numbered '07' and '09' hunts grant access to individual units only. Always check your tag against the exact hunt number in the draw booklet.

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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 Big Game Draw — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Applicant counts, Draw odds · accessed 2026-04-18