GMU 20B Unit 20B — Mesa
Steep, rough country from the Hassayampa and Lake Pleasant desert up into the southern Bradshaws — a desert mule deer unit of washes, chaparral ridges and ghost-town backroads.
Central Arizona — southern Bradshaw Mountains & Hassayampa country · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
757
sq mi
Public land
55%
approx.
Elevation
1,700–6,500
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 20B covers the rugged southern flank of the Bradshaw Mountains as they drop toward the Hassayampa River, Wickenburg and the north arm of Lake Pleasant. It's steep, broken country that runs from saguaro desert and washes in the south up through dense chaparral to a small pocket of ponderosa on the northeast edge. Desert mule deer are the featured big-game species, holding in the mid-elevation chaparral and mountain slopes rather than the open desert, with the best densities in the rougher northern country. Land ownership is a patchwork of BLM, state trust and private, with only a small Prescott NF corner — and the unit's proximity to Phoenix means the easy-to-reach areas see pressure.
Terrain
Very steep, rough terrain grading from low Sonoran desert and the Hassayampa corridor up through chaparral foothills into the southern Bradshaw Mountains, with wilderness canyons (Castle Creek, Hells Gate) and a small ponderosa pocket in the northeast.
Cover: Saguaro-palo verde Sonoran desert and desert wash in the south; dense chaparral of manzanita, scrub oak and juniper through the mid slopes; scattered pinyon-juniper and a pocket of ponderosa pine on the high northeast edge.
Landmarks: Southern Bradshaw Mountains · Hassayampa River · Lake Pleasant (north arm) · Castle Creek Wilderness · Hells Gate Wilderness · Crown King · Wickenburg
Access
A mix of BLM, state trust and private land with only a small pocket of Prescott National Forest in the northeast. A State Trust recreation permit is required for state land, and private parcels — often clustered around water, stock tanks and old mining/ranch sites — break up access. Two wilderness areas (Castle Creek, Hells Gate) are non-motorized. Getting away from the popular roads generally means better, less-pressured hunting.
Managers: BLM, AZ State Trust, Private, USFS Prescott NF
Access points: US-93 / Wickenburg corridor · Castle Hot Springs Road · Crown King Road (from the south) · Lake Pleasant access roads · BLM and Prescott NF roads off the Hassayampa
Species notes
Mule Deer
common opportunityDesert mule deer are the unit's featured big game, holding in the mid-elevation chaparral and rough mountain slopes with the higher densities in the northern country. Steep terrain and pressure near the easy roads make it a work-for-it opportunity hunt.
- →Glass chaparral ridges, canyon heads and slope breaks at first and last light
- →Hunt the steeper, farther-from-road country in the northern half for better numbers
- →Watch water sources and washes in the dry desert country
- →Be ready to climb — deer use the rough, brushy slopes to escape pressure
Pro tips
- →Get well off the popular roads — the easy-access country near Phoenix gets hunted hard
- →Concentrate on the steeper, higher northern chaparral for the best mule-deer densities
- →Glass at first and last light and watch desert water sources in dry years
- →Carry a State Trust permit and an ownership map — BLM/state/private break up quickly
- →Respect the Castle Creek and Hells Gate wilderness boundaries (non-motorized)
Watch out for
- !Patchwork BLM / state trust / private ownership — verify boundaries constantly
- !State Trust recreation permit required on state land
- !Desert heat and scarce water — carry your own and know reliable sources
- !Very steep, rough terrain that punishes poor planning
- !Castle Creek and Hells Gate Wildernesses are non-motorized; Phoenix-edge road pressure elsewhere
Logistics
Wickenburg is the nearest real hub for fuel, food and lodging on the west side, with Black Canyon City and the Phoenix metro close on the east/south. Access ranges from paved corridors (US-93, I-17 nearby) to rough desert and mountain two-tracks; Castle Hot Springs and Crown King roads are slow and rugged. Summer-into-fall heat in the low desert is a real hazard — carry ample water and plan around temperatures.
Nearest towns: Wickenburg, Black Canyon City, Crown King, Morristown
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Arizona sources:
Research sources: AZGFD — Where to Hunt / GMU information · Hunt Now Arizona — Unit 20B · Adventure iDIAZ — Arizona Hunt Unit 20B
FAQ
- How big is GMU 20B in Arizona?
- GMU 20B (Unit 20B — Mesa) covers about 757 square miles, ranging from roughly 1,700 to 6,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 20B?
- Approximately 55% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, AZ State Trust, Private, USFS Prescott NF. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 20B?
- Mule Deer. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Arizona agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 20B on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.