GMU 13A Unit 13A — Flagstaff
The eastern Arizona Strip — remote, empty desert that grows some of the world's biggest muleys.
Arizona Strip — BLM & Kanab Creek country · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,944
sq mi
Public land
85%
approx.
Elevation
2,800–6,700
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Unit 13A makes up the eastern half of the storied Arizona Strip, a vast, remote stretch of BLM desert and canyon country north of the Grand Canyon and west of the Kaibab. Deer densities are genuinely low, but the unit is managed under AZGFD's Alternative Deer Management Plan for very low hunter numbers and old-age-class bucks — and it produces true world-class mule deer nearly every year. It also holds desert bighorn in the Kanab Creek watershed and pronghorn on the open mesas. Drawing a tag here is one of the hardest odds in the country.
Terrain
Rugged high-desert plateau and canyon country, from the Colorado River gorge near 2,800 ft up to mesas and the Kanab Plateau around 6,700 ft. Deeply incised drainages — Kanab Creek and Hack Canyon among them — cut the terrain.
Cover: Sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, interior chaparral and pine/oak woodlands on the higher benches; blackbrush and desert scrub down low; grassland flats on the mesas.
Landmarks: Kanab Creek / Kanab Creek Wilderness · Hack Canyon · Yellowstone Mesa · Pipe Valley · Kanab Plateau · Colorado City (north edge)
Access
Over 80% public, but remote with limited, rough dirt-road access; much of the bighorn country in the Kanab Creek Wilderness is designated wilderness — foot or horse travel only, no vehicles. The Kaibab-Paiute Indian Reservation (around Pipe Spring) is tribal land, closed to general AZGFD hunting. Grand Canyon NP forms the southern boundary and is closed. State Trust parcels need an Arizona recreation permit.
Managers: BLM (Arizona Strip / Grand Canyon-Parashant NM, Kanab Creek Wilderness), USFS Kaibab NF (small), Grand Canyon NP (closed to hunting), Kaibab-Paiute Reservation (tribal, closed), AZ State Trust
Access points: Hwy 389 (Fredonia–Colorado City corridor) · BLM roads south off Hwy 389 toward Kanab Plateau · Hack Canyon Road · House Rock / Kanab Creek access tracks
Species notes
Mule Deer
limited trophyLow density but exceptional quality — managed for old-age-class bucks under a low-hunter-number plan, and among the best odds anywhere at a true 190+ desert giant (success ran high, ~68%, on very few tags).
- →Glass sagebrush and pinyon-juniper basins and chaparral pockets from high vantage points at dawn and dusk
- →Cover enormous country — bucks are scattered; be prepared to hunt hard and far
- →Focus higher-quality habitat benches and mesa edges
- →Late hunts and rut timing help concentrate mature bucks
Pronghorn
common qualitySolid pronghorn distributions on the open mesas — Yellowstone Mesa, Pipe Valley and flats south and east of Colorado City — with strong success (~73%) on limited tags.
- →Glass the open grassland flats of Yellowstone Mesa and Pipe Valley
- →Spot-and-stalk across the wide sage and grass country
- →Sit water sources during dry, hot stretches
- →Use terrain folds to close the gap on wary bucks
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyDesert bighorn occupy the Kanab Creek watershed, concentrating around Hack Canyon, Sunshine Point, Water Canyon Point and Chamberlain Canyon — a rare, physically demanding once-in-a-lifetime tag.
- →Hunt the cliff, ledge and rimrock country of the Kanab Creek drainages
- →Long-range glassing of canyon walls at first and last light
- →Expect wilderness, foot/horse-only access — plan a backcountry effort
Pro tips
- →This is a bucket-list, hardest-of-the-hard draw — build maximum points; there is no OTC deer here.
- →Success is a spotting game: get high, glass the huge basins, and be willing to walk miles.
- →Haul all your own water — much of the Strip is dry, and desert heat is a real hazard early.
- →Bighorn country in Kanab Creek is wilderness — no vehicles; plan a foot/horse backcountry hunt.
- →Carry recovery gear and don't travel dirt roads wet; a stuck truck out here is a serious problem.
Watch out for
- !Kaibab-Paiute Reservation (Pipe Spring area) is tribal land, closed to general AZGFD hunting.
- !Kanab Creek Wilderness is closed to motorized/mechanized travel — foot or horse only.
- !Grand Canyon National Park (southern boundary) is closed to hunting.
- !No reliable water and severe early-season desert heat — carry ample water.
- !Extremely remote with little to no cell service; rough roads impassable when wet.
- !State Trust parcels require an Arizona State Land recreation permit.
Logistics
Deep backcountry — services are minimal. Fuel and full resupply in Fredonia, Colorado City, Kanab or St. George before heading in. There is no water in much of the unit: haul all your own. Dirt roads are rough and impassable when wet; carry recovery gear, extra fuel and communication (cell coverage is largely absent).
Nearest towns: Fredonia, Colorado City, Kanab, UT, St. George, UT
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Arizona sources:
Research sources: AZGFD — GMU 13A · Outdoors International — The Arizona Strip: Units 13A & 13B · GoHunt — Arizona Unit 13A Profile
FAQ
- How big is GMU 13A in Arizona?
- GMU 13A (Unit 13A — Flagstaff) covers about 1,944 square miles, ranging from roughly 2,800 to 6,700 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 13A?
- Approximately 85% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM (Arizona Strip / Grand Canyon-Parashant NM, Kanab Creek Wilderness), USFS Kaibab NF (small), Grand Canyon NP (closed to hunting), Kaibab-Paiute Reservation (tribal, closed), AZ State Trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 13A?
- Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Bighorn Sheep. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Arizona agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 13A on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.