GMU 25M Unit 25M — Mesa
A metro archery-only unit where a few mature desert muleys hide in the washes between subdivisions.
Greater Phoenix metro — Sonoran Desert · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,261
sq mi
Public land
16.5%
approx.
Elevation
990–3,900
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Unit 25M wraps the core of the Phoenix metropolitan area, blending city, suburbs, and low Sonoran Desert foothills. Only about 16.5% of the unit is public and huntable — the rest is incorporated cities, private property, and developed land closed to hunting. Opportunity is archery-only for desert mule deer and javelina, concentrated in the desert parks and preserves at the metro's edges. This is a scout-heavy, know-exactly-where-you-can-legally-hunt unit rather than a backcountry destination.
Terrain
Mostly flat urban landscape rimmed by low desert hills, foothills, and braided desert washes. Legal huntable ground is fragmented into a handful of desert parks and preserves.
Cover: Sonoran Desert — saguaro, palo verde, mesquite, ironwood, creosote, cholla and bursage; denser cover along dry washes and arroyos.
Landmarks: McDowell Sonoran Preserve · White Tank Mountains Regional Park · Estrella Mountain Regional Park · Lake Pleasant Regional Park · Salt River corridor
Access
A large share of the unit is inside city limits and closed to hunting — no hunting on incorporated lands or private property within municipal boundaries unless opened by Commission Order. Mule deer and javelina are archery-only and you may not hunt near homes or buildings. Legal ground is largely the Maricopa County regional parks and preserves that allow archery seasons; State Trust access requires a State Land recreation permit.
Managers: Maricopa County Regional Parks, AZ State Trust, BLM, Private/incorporated (closed)
Access points: McDowell Sonoran Preserve trailheads · White Tank Mountains Regional Park · Estrella Mountain Regional Park · Lake Pleasant Regional Park · Buckeye Hills
Species notes
Mule Deer
limited opportunityA thin population of desert mule deer holds in the foothills and washes at the metro fringe; a few mature bucks exist but numbers are low and legal ground is fragmented. Archery-only.
- →Hunt the desert parks and preserves at the edges of the developed core — McDowell Sonoran Preserve, White Tank and Estrella Mountains.
- →Glass the braided washes and bajadas at first and last light; deer bed in the thicker wash cover during the day.
- →Confirm exactly where hunting is legal before season — most of the unit is closed incorporated land.
- →Set up on saguaro-lined draws and water near the mountain parks in early season.
Pro tips
- →Treat this as an access-research unit first — spend your scouting time confirming legal-to-hunt parcels, not just finding deer.
- →The regional parks (McDowell Sonoran Preserve, White Tank, Estrella) are your realistic hunt areas; learn their specific archery rules.
- →Hunt weekday mornings to avoid heavy park recreation traffic.
- →Neighboring Unit 26M mostly surrounds 25M and offers more open desert ground if 25M feels boxed in.
Watch out for
- !Most of the unit is closed incorporated/city land — hunting there is illegal.
- !Archery-only for deer and javelina; no discharge near homes or buildings.
- !State Trust land requires a State Land Department recreation permit.
- !Extreme heat and no reliable water in the desert — carry your own.
- !Heavy non-hunting recreation in the parks; be aware of trail users.
Logistics
Full metro services everywhere — this is downtown Phoenix. The challenge is not lodging or fuel but legal access. Buy detailed maps, mark unit and park boundaries, and know which regional parks permit archery seasons before you go afield.
Nearest towns: Phoenix, Scottsdale, Peoria, Surprise, Buckeye
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Arizona sources:
Research sources: AZGFD GMU 25M unit page · GOHUNT Arizona Unit 25M profile · Maricopa County Regional Parks
FAQ
- How big is GMU 25M in Arizona?
- GMU 25M (Unit 25M — Mesa) covers about 1,261 square miles, ranging from roughly 990 to 3,900 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 25M?
- Approximately 16.5% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Maricopa County Regional Parks, AZ State Trust, BLM, Private/incorporated (closed). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 25M?
- 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 25M on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.