GMU 19A Unit 19A — Kingman
Mingus Mountain forest and Verde River foothills with strong mule deer, elk, pronghorn and black bear.
Central Arizona — Prescott National Forest / Mingus Mountain (Region III) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
759
sq mi
Public land
65%
approx.
Elevation
3,200–7,800
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 19A is anchored by Mingus Mountain and the Black Hills of the Prescott National Forest, dropping east through juniper foothills to the Verde River and the Agua Fria near Mayer. It is one of the better mule deer units in the region — deer summer in the ponderosa on top of Mingus and shift to lower juniper and the Verde bottoms as cold weather sets in. The unit also carries limited-tag elk, trophy-country pronghorn on the grasslands, black bear in the higher forest and a solid Merriam's turkey population. Substantial Prescott NF ownership makes public access relatively good.
Terrain
Steep forested mountains — Mingus and Woodchute — fall away through juniper foothills to river-bottom and grassland at lower elevations; snow is possible on the peaks by the fall rifle opener.
Cover: Ponderosa pine and mixed conifer on the Mingus/Woodchute high country, pinyon-juniper and chaparral on the slopes, grassland and riparian cottonwood along the Verde and Agua Fria.
Landmarks: Mingus Mountain · Woodchute Wilderness / Woodchute Mountain · Black Hills · Verde River · Agua Fria River near Mayer · Copper Mountain
Access
Large blocks of Prescott National Forest (including the Woodchute Wilderness) provide good public access, mixed with state-trust and private in the foothills and river valleys. State-trust sections require an Arizona State Land Department recreation permit; the Woodchute Wilderness is non-motorized. The Prescott NF Motor Vehicle Use Map identifies open roads and trails.
Managers: USFS Prescott NF, AZ State Trust, BLM, Private
Access points: SR-89A over Mingus Mountain (Jerome) · Prescott NF roads onto Mingus/Woodchute · Verde River access near Clarkdale/Cottonwood · SR-69 / Mayer for the Agua Fria side
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityThe unit's strongest draw — deer summer in the Mingus ponderosa and drop to juniper slopes, the Verde bottoms and lower foothills as cold weather sets in; a productive unit with good success.
- →Early/warm seasons: hunt the ponderosa on top of Mingus and the west side and Woodchute
- →After cold or snow: work north of St. Matthews Mountain, toward the Verde, and the lower Mingus/Woodchute foothills
- →Glass juniper edges and the Copper Mountain / Agua Fria country near Mayer
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited qualityA limited-tag elk herd uses the higher forest and grassland transitions; a quality but hard-to-draw opportunity.
- →Work the ponderosa and pine-juniper transition on Mingus and Woodchute
- →Sit reliable water in dry early seasons
- →Glass forest meadows and parks at first and last light
Pronghorn
common qualityPronghorn hold on the open grasslands and valley flats; limited tags with solid success for those drawn.
- →Glass the open grass basins at first light
- →Use terrain to close during the rut
- →Pre-scout waters on the flats
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bear inhabit the higher Mingus/Woodchute forest at low density; an opportunistic add-on with modest success.
- →Hunt oak brush and mast pockets in the higher timber
- →Glass canyon slopes early and late
- →Check water and berry patches in fall
Pro tips
- →Let weather dictate elevation — deer are high on Mingus in warm early hunts and low toward the Verde after cold or snow
- →The Woodchute Wilderness and west side of Mingus are proven deer areas but are non-motorized — plan to hike
- →Check the Prescott NF Motor Vehicle Use Map to stay on legal roads
- →The Copper Mountain / Agua Fria stretch near Mayer is a productive lower-elevation option
- →Carry a State Land recreation permit for state-trust sections in the foothills
Watch out for
- !Snow on Mingus/Woodchute by the rifle opener can close roads and change deer distribution
- !Woodchute Wilderness is closed to motorized/mechanized access
- !State-trust sections require a current Arizona State Land Department recreation permit
- !Private inholdings along the Verde and in the foothills — verify boundaries
- !Fall fire restrictions and steep forest-road conditions
Logistics
Prescott Valley, Cottonwood and Prescott provide full services, fuel and lodging on the unit's edges. SR-89A and SR-69 give paved access to the high country and foothills; forest roads onto Mingus and Woodchute are seasonally rough and can be snow-affected in late fall.
Nearest towns: Prescott Valley, Cottonwood, Jerome, Mayer, Dewey-Humboldt
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Arizona sources:
Research sources: AZGFD — GMU 19A · Hunt Now Arizona — Unit 19A · USFS — Prescott National Forest (Motor Vehicle Use Map)
FAQ
- How big is GMU 19A in Arizona?
- GMU 19A (Unit 19A — Kingman) covers about 759 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,200 to 7,800 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 19A?
- Approximately 65% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Prescott NF, AZ State Trust, BLM, Private. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 19A?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, 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 19A on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.