GMU 24A Unit 24A — Mesa
Trophy Coues whitetail in rugged manzanita country ringed by the San Carlos Reservation
Central Arizona — Tonto NF around Globe, San Carlos border · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
815
sq mi
Public land
72%
approx.
Elevation
2,000–7,800
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 24A wraps the Globe-Miami-Superior mining country, bounded by AZ Hwy 177, the Gila River, the San Carlos Apache Reservation on the east, and the Salt River on the north. It is best known as a Coues whitetail unit, with some bucks reaching trophy size across hundreds of square miles of steep, manzanita-choked mountains. Desert mule deer are scattered through the lower elevations, black bear inhabit the higher ranges, a very small Rocky Mountain bighorn herd is shared with Unit 23 along the Salt River, and a handful of elk drift through. The San Carlos Reservation forming the eastern boundary is closed to general AZGFD hunting.
Terrain
Rugged, steep desert-mountain terrain rising from the Gila and Salt River bottoms to forested peaks — the Pinal Mountains south of Globe top 7,800 ft. Dense manzanita brush makes cross-country travel slow and physical.
Cover: Sonoran and semidesert scrub at low elevation, extensive interior chaparral and manzanita on the mid-slopes, pinyon-juniper woodland, with pine and mixed conifer on the high Pinal Mountains.
Landmarks: Pinal Mountains · Dripping Springs Mountains · Mescal Mountains · Apache Mountains · Timber Camp Mountains · Salt River canyon · Gila River
Access
The eastern boundary is the San Carlos Apache Reservation, which is NOT open to general AZGFD hunting — do not treat reservation ground as public land. Most huntable country is Tonto National Forest with good forest-road access. State Trust sections require an Arizona recreation permit. Expect active and patented mining claims and private parcels around Globe, Miami and Superior.
Managers: USFS Tonto NF, Tribal — San Carlos Apache Reservation (closed), AZ State Trust, Private (Globe-Miami-Superior mining/urban)
Access points: US Hwy 60 (Superior–Globe) · AZ Hwy 177 (Superior) · AZ Hwy 88 / 288 corridor · Pinal Mountains / Icehouse Canyon Road (FR 112) south of Globe · Forest roads off US 60
Species notes
Whitetail Deer
common trophyThe marquee species — a well-known Coues whitetail unit that produces trophy-class bucks. Deer are spread through the chaparral and manzanita mountains across the whole unit. A strong OTC-archery and draw option for gray ghosts.
- →Glass steep manzanita and chaparral slopes at dawn and dusk from opposing ridges
- →Hunt the December rut when bucks move and chase mid-day
- →Grid brushy basins slowly with a tripod and high-power optics
- →Focus on the Pinal, Mescal and Dripping Springs ranges
Mule Deer
limited opportunityDesert mule deer occur in lower numbers than Coues, scattered through the lower-elevation desert and juniper flats and sometimes overlapping with whitetail — be sure of your target before shooting.
- →Glass desert washes, ridges and juniper benches at low elevation
- →Watch the mule deer / Coues overlap zone and identify species carefully
- →Hunt water in hot early seasons
- →Cover ground glassing broad, open desert country
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bear inhabit the higher forested ranges, especially the Pinal Mountains, with modest harvest each fall. A secondary opportunity for a glassing-based hunt.
- →Glass oak and manzanita-berry slopes in the Pinals in fall
- →Work canyon bottoms with mast and water
- →Check the female harvest closure status before hunting
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyA very small Rocky Mountain bighorn herd shared with Unit 23 along the Salt River. Once-in-a-lifetime, extremely limited draw — a bucket-list tag rather than a plannable hunt.
- →Glass the Salt River canyon rims and rugged side drainages
- →Lean on local knowledge if you draw the rare tag
Rocky Mountain Elk
transient lowOnly a few elk drift through the unit — essentially incidental, not a resident herd to plan a hunt around.
- →Treat any elk as incidental to a deer hunt
- →Check higher pine pockets and the Salt River fringe if pursuing at all
Pro tips
- →Know exactly where the San Carlos Reservation boundary runs — it is closed and it forms the whole east side
- →The Pinal, Mescal and Dripping Springs ranges are the proven Coues cores
- →Carry a state land recreation permit before crossing State Trust sections
- →Manzanita is brutal — plan short, steep glassing loops rather than long push-throughs
- →Watch for mule deer / Coues overlap and confirm species before shooting
Watch out for
- !San Carlos Apache Reservation (entire east boundary) closed to general hunting
- !State Trust sections need a recreation permit
- !Active/patented mining claims and private ground around Globe-Miami-Superior
- !Dense manzanita and steep terrain
- !Desert heat and scarce water early season
Logistics
Globe and Miami provide full services — fuel, groceries, lodging and gear; Superior sits on the western edge. The Pinal Mountains south of Globe have forest campgrounds and roads. Roads range from paved highways to rough forest and mining tracks; carry water, and expect limited cell coverage in the backcountry.
Nearest towns: Globe, Miami, Superior, San Carlos, Mesa
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Arizona sources:
Research sources: AZGFD GMU 24A · AZGFD Hunt Arizona / hunt guidelines · Arizona State Land Department — recreation permits · USGS The National Map — Globe/Pinal Mountains topography
FAQ
- How big is GMU 24A in Arizona?
- GMU 24A (Unit 24A — Mesa) covers about 815 square miles, ranging from roughly 2,000 to 7,800 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 24A?
- Approximately 72% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Tonto NF, Tribal — San Carlos Apache Reservation (closed), AZ State Trust, Private (Globe-Miami-Superior mining/urban). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 24A?
- Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Black Bear, Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Elk. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Arizona agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 24A on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.