GMU 17B Unit 17B — Kingman
Prescott's chaparral and the Bradshaw Mountains — a strong central-Arizona mule deer unit with pronghorn and elk
Central Arizona — Prescott National Forest / Bradshaw Mountains · Last reviewed 2026-07-13
Area
673
sq mi
Public land
65%
approx.
Elevation
3,000–7,900
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 17B wraps the south and west sides of Prescott, spanning the Bradshaw Mountains, Peeples and Skull valleys, and the chaparral country toward Yarnell and Kirkland. It is one of the more productive central-Arizona deer units, with desert/chaparral mule deer harvested in solid numbers and comparatively good success. Pronghorn hold in the valley grasslands, black bear inhabit the forested Bradshaws, and a limited elk population uses the high timber. Public forest is extensive but braided with private ranch and mining ground.
Terrain
Dramatic relief from low chaparral valleys and grasslands up into the steep, forested Bradshaw Mountains, topping out near Mount Union — dense brush on the mid-slopes and pine on the crest.
Cover: Interior chaparral (manzanita, scrub oak, mountain mahogany) blanketing the mid-elevations, semi-desert grassland in Peeples and Skull valleys, and ponderosa pine with mixed conifer on the Bradshaw high country.
Landmarks: Bradshaw Mountains · Mount Union · Skull Valley · Peeples Valley · Yarnell · Prescott National Forest
Access
Large blocks of Prescott National Forest cover the Bradshaw Mountains, with BLM, Arizona State Trust and private ranch/mining land in the valleys and foothills. State Trust parcels require a recreation permit. The Bradshaws have an extensive but rugged forest-road network; valley approaches often cross private land, so verify access before crossing.
Managers: USFS Prescott NF, BLM, AZ State Trust, Private
Access points: Senator Highway (FR 52) south from Prescott into the Bradshaws · Walker Road / Ponderosa Park · SR 89 through Peeples Valley and Yarnell · Skull Valley Road and Kirkland-area county roads · Crown King / Bradshaw backcountry roads
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityChaparral mule deer are the headline species and the unit produces well by Arizona standards — the largest deer harvest of the three neighboring units with success around 40%. Bucks live in the thick manzanita and scrub-oak breaks off the Bradshaws and in the foothill chaparral.
- →Glass chaparral hillsides and openings at first and last light from opposing ridges
- →Hunt the brush-line and grassland/chaparral edges where deer feed
- →Work cold fronts and the late-season rut when bucks move and chase in daylight
- →Be ready to still-hunt slowly through dense manzanita where deer hold tight
Pronghorn
limited qualityPronghorn use the open grasslands of Peeples and Skull valleys. Tags are very limited-draw and success is high — a quality but hard-to-draw opportunity on a small permit pool.
- →Glass the valley grasslands at dawn and pattern bucks to specific pastures
- →Use washes and terrain to stalk within range across open country
- →Nail down private-vs-public boundaries in the valleys before the hunt
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited opportunityA limited elk herd uses the ponderosa high country of the Bradshaw Mountains. Draw-only with modest success; fewer elk than Arizona's marquee northern units.
- →Hunt ponderosa parks, springs and wallows on the Bradshaw crest
- →Bugle to locate rutting bulls at dawn during the archery season
- →Focus on water in dry early hunts
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bear inhabit the forested and chaparral slopes of the Bradshaws. A secondary species with low recent harvest, best pursued opportunistically alongside deer.
- →Glass chaparral and oak brush for feeding bears in early fall
- →Key on drainages with acorn and manzanita-berry mast
- →Cover ground and glass — densities are low
Pro tips
- →This is one of the better central-AZ deer units — put in glassing time on the chaparral breaks off the Bradshaws
- →Late-season cold fronts plus the rut are the highest-odds window for a mature buck
- →Map public vs. private in Peeples/Skull valleys before hunting the flats
- →Dense manzanita hides deer at close range — glass thoroughly and still-hunt into the wind
Watch out for
- !Private ranch and mining land braided through the valleys and foothills — verify boundaries to avoid trespass
- !Arizona State Trust parcels require a recreation permit
- !Steep, rough Bradshaw Mountain roads; snow can close high country in late season
- !Dry chaparral means fire restrictions are common in summer and early fall
- !Limited surface water in the lower elevations — pack your own
Logistics
Prescott sits right on the unit's edge with complete services, fuel and outfitters, and SR 89/SR 89A plus the Senator Highway give quick access. Bradshaw Mountain roads are steep, rocky and slow — high-clearance and often 4WD are wise, and snow can close the high roads in late season. Carry water; the chaparral and valleys are dry.
Nearest towns: Prescott, Prescott Valley, Yarnell, Wilhoit, Skull Valley
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Arizona sources:
Research sources: AZGFD Game Management Unit information · USFS Prescott National Forest · BLM Arizona — Hassayampa Field Office
FAQ
- How big is GMU 17B in Arizona?
- GMU 17B (Unit 17B — Kingman) covers about 673 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,000 to 7,900 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 17B?
- Approximately 65% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Prescott NF, BLM, AZ State Trust, Private. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 17B?
- Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Rocky Mountain Elk, 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 17B on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.