GMU 11M Unit 11M — Flagstaff
Compact ponderosa-and-mesa elk unit south of Flagstaff
Coconino high country — Anderson Mesa / Mormon Lake · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
282
sq mi
Public land
85%
approx.
Elevation
6,500–7,800
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 11M is a small unit just south of Flagstaff covering the Anderson Mesa and Mormon Lake country on the Coconino National Forest. It is primarily an elk unit — Rocky Mountain elk make up nearly all the harvest — set in classic northern Arizona ponderosa pine, mesa grasslands, and shallow lake basins. Mule deer and a few pronghorn on the grassy mesas round out the opportunity, with the occasional black bear in the timber. Its small size and largely public forest make it easy to learn but tightly hunted.
Terrain
Gently rolling volcanic mesa and forested tableland incised by shallow lake basins and grassy parks south of the San Francisco Peaks.
Cover: Ponderosa pine forest interspersed with grassland parks, cinder-soil meadows, oak brush, and seasonal lakes and stock tanks; wetland fringe around the lakes.
Landmarks: Anderson Mesa · Mormon Lake · Ashurst Lake · Lake Mary country · Coconino NF plateau south of Flagstaff
Access
Almost entirely Coconino National Forest with a dense, well-mapped forest road network and easy access from the Lake Mary Road corridor. State Trust parcels require an Arizona State Land recreation permit. Small unit — expect other hunters, and mind private inholdings around Mormon Lake and the lakes.
Managers: USFS Coconino NF, AZ State Trust, Private (small mesa/lake inholdings)
Access points: Lake Mary Road (FR 3 / Forest Highway 3) from Flagstaff · Mormon Lake Road · Ashurst Lake Road · Anderson Mesa forest roads (FR 125 and network)
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityThe dominant species and nearly the entire harvest — a well-known Anderson Mesa/Mormon Lake elk unit with good bull potential on limited tags despite its small footprint.
- →Glass mesa grassland parks and lake edges at first and last light
- →Sit water — stock tanks and lake fringes — in dry early seasons
- →Work the ponderosa-to-meadow transition for feeding elk
- →Call the September rut near park-timber edges
- →Pattern movement between open mesa feed and timber bedding
Mule Deer
limited opportunityA modest mule deer presence through the ponderosa and oak brush; a low-density opportunity hunt in a small unit.
- →Glass park edges and openings at dawn
- →Still-hunt oak brush and timber pockets midday
- →Check water sources
- →Hunt storm fronts that concentrate deer in the parks
Pronghorn
limited opportunityA few pronghorn use the open grassland mesas; tags are minimal and it is a marginal, low-harvest opportunity.
- →Glass the larger open mesa grasslands
- →Spot-and-stalk using cinder rises and timber edges
- →Watch morning feeding movement in the parks
Black Bear
transient opportunityBlack bear pass through the ponderosa and oak brush but are scarce here — an incidental encounter, not a target species.
- →Focus oak brush and mast concentrations in early fall
- →Work drainages and timber edges
- →Glass openings at dawn and dusk
Pro tips
- →It's an elk unit first and foremost — build the trip around Anderson Mesa parks and lake-edge feed
- →Sit water in dry early seasons; the shallow lakes and tanks concentrate elk
- →Small unit near Flagstaff means competition — get away from roads and glass edges others skip
- →Buy a State Trust recreation permit for scattered state parcels
- →Watch private inholdings around Mormon Lake and the developed lake areas
Watch out for
- !State Trust land requires an Arizona State Land recreation permit
- !Private inholdings around Mormon Lake and the lakes
- !High-elevation cold and early snow; roads soften and rut when wet
- !Steady hunting pressure in a small, road-accessible unit
- !Fire restrictions and possible closures in dry years
Logistics
Flagstaff provides full services just north of the unit, with a short drive down Lake Mary Road to the hunting country. Developed campgrounds around Mormon Lake and Ashurst Lake plus abundant dispersed camping on the Coconino NF. Water is available at the lakes but plan for cold, high-elevation conditions.
Nearest towns: Flagstaff, Mormon Lake, Munds Park
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Arizona sources:
Research sources: AZGFD Hunt Arizona / Unit 11M elk guidelines · Coconino NF Mormon Lake Ranger District maps · Arizona State Land Department recreation permits
FAQ
- How big is GMU 11M in Arizona?
- GMU 11M (Unit 11M — Flagstaff) covers about 282 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,500 to 7,800 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 11M?
- Approximately 85% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Coconino NF, AZ State Trust, Private (small mesa/lake inholdings). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 11M?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Arizona agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 11M on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.