GMU 16A Unit 16A — Kingman
A forested sky-island elk herd above the desert, plus bighorn and a hard-won mule deer hunt south of Kingman
Northwest Arizona — Hualapai Mountains sky island & desert ranges, Mohave County · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
2,475
sq mi
Public land
85%
approx.
Elevation
900–8,417
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 16A is a huge, diverse unit that extends roughly 70 miles south from Kingman, anchored by the Hualapai Mountains — a forested sky island topping out above 8,400 feet at Hualapai Peak — and surrounded by low desert ranges, sandy washes and rocky slopes running down toward the Bill Williams River and Havasu National Wildlife Refuge. It holds three big game draws: a small, unique sky-island elk herd of roughly 40-60 animals in the Hualapais, a scattered desert bighorn sheep herd in the isolated ranges, and a declining desert mule deer herd whose tag numbers have been cut back. Most of the unit is public land managed by BLM, the State of Arizona and Havasu NWR.
Terrain
Dramatic relief from Colorado River desert floor to a pine-and-fir capped sky island; low desert mountains with sandy washes and rocky slopes give way to steep, thickly vegetated high country in the Hualapais.
Cover: Sonoran desert scrub, creosote, cholla and paloverde in the lowlands rising through juniper and pinyon to ponderosa pine, oak and thick chaparral on the Hualapai high country.
Landmarks: Hualapai Mountains · Hualapai Peak (8,417 ft) · Hualapai Mountain Park · Wild Cow Springs · Bill Williams River / Havasu NWR
Access
The majority of 16A is open public land managed by BLM, the State of Arizona and the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge. Arizona State Trust parcels require an individual recreation permit to enter. The Hualapai high country is reached via the Hualapai Mountain Road out of Kingman to Hualapai Mountain Park and Wild Cow Springs; desert portions are accessed off US-93, I-40 and BLM dirt roads. Confirm any refuge-specific hunting restrictions on Havasu NWR.
Managers: BLM, AZ State Trust, USFWS (Havasu NWR), Mohave County (Hualapai Mtn Park), Private
Access points: Hualapai Mountain Road (Kingman) · Hualapai Mountain Park / Wild Cow Springs · US-93 south of Kingman · I-40 · BLM desert roads toward the Bill Williams River
Species notes
Mule Deer
common opportunityDesert mule deer are the most-hunted big game here but the herd has declined and tag quotas have been reduced. Deer are spread across the desert ranges and lower Hualapai slopes; success is modest and improving your odds means covering ground.
- →Glass desert bajadas, washes and juniper-pinyon slopes at first and last light
- →Work the transition zone between desert and the Hualapai foothills where deer feed
- →Focus effort near water and hunt long into shade during warm early seasons
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited qualityA unique sky-island elk herd of roughly 40-60 animals (about 20-25 bulls) lives in the Hualapai Mountains — a coveted, hard-to-draw hunt. The terrain is steep, rugged and choked with vegetation, so locating elk that aren't calling is genuinely difficult.
- →Hunt the highest ponderosa, oak and chaparral pockets of the Hualapais where the herd holds
- →Locate bulls by bugling and cover-listening — visibility is poor in the thick timber
- →Be ready for steep, unforgiving terrain and physical stalks; glassing openings and meadows at dawn is key
Bighorn Sheep
limited qualityDesert bighorn are scattered through the isolated desert mountains of 16A. Hunting can be excellent once sheep are located, though the unit isn't known for producing exceptionally large rams. A once-in-a-lifetime tag.
- →Glass rugged desert peaks and rocky escape terrain from long distance at dawn and dusk
- →Key on desert water sources and guzzlers that anchor sheep
- →Plan a demanding hike-in stalk once a ram is spotted
Pro tips
- →For elk, hunt the very top of the Hualapais and rely on your ears — the herd is tiny and the timber is thick
- →Use Hualapai Mountain Park as a comfortable high-country basecamp for elk and deer
- →For deer and sheep in the desert south, map guzzlers and glass long from vantage points
- →Prepare for two totally different climates in one unit — pack for desert heat and mountain cold
- →Because tags for all three species are limited, treat a draw as a scouting-intensive, once-in-a-while opportunity
Watch out for
- !Havasu National Wildlife Refuge has its own regulations — confirm what hunting is allowed on refuge ground
- !Arizona State Trust parcels require a recreation permit to enter
- !Extreme desert heat and scarce water in the southern lowlands
- !Steep, thickly vegetated Hualapai terrain makes elk hard to find and pack out
- !Late-season snow and cold at high elevation; rough BLM roads elsewhere
Logistics
Kingman is the primary hub for fuel, lodging and supplies, with Hualapai Mountain Park offering cabins and campgrounds as a high-country base for elk hunters. The desert south sees far fewer services — Wikieup and Yucca are small stops. High-clearance 4x4 is advised on BLM two-tracks, and the Hualapai high country brings cool nights and possible snow late in the season. Water is scarce in the desert portions.
Nearest towns: Kingman, Yucca, Wikieup, Lake Havasu City
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Arizona sources:
Research sources: AZGFD GMU 16A unit information · GOHUNT Arizona Unit 16A profile · HuntScore — Elk Hunting in Arizona GMU 16A
FAQ
- How big is GMU 16A in Arizona?
- GMU 16A (Unit 16A — Kingman) covers about 2,475 square miles, ranging from roughly 900 to 8,417 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 16A?
- Approximately 85% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, AZ State Trust, USFWS (Havasu NWR), Mohave County (Hualapai Mtn Park), Private. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 16A?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, 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 16A on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.