GMU 26M Unit 26M — Mesa
The desert donut around the Valley — archery muleys and abundant javelina where the city thins into farmland and washes.
Phoenix metro fringe — Sonoran Desert · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
2,093
sq mi
Public land
21%
approx.
Elevation
1,000–4,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 26M is the ring of urban, suburban, and open Sonoran Desert that surrounds Phoenix and the smaller Unit 25M. About 21% of it is public, with the rest private, developed, or tribal — the Gila River Indian Reservation covers a large central-southern block and is closed to general hunting without permission. Farmland is common in the south. Desert mule deer are present but few mature, while javelina are abundant; deer and javelina hunting here is archery-only. It rewards hunters who pin down the scattered public parcels near farm edges and desert foothills.
Terrain
Low desert basins and foothills interlaced with farmland, canals, and braided washes, transitioning to open Sonoran Desert on the outer margins.
Cover: Sonoran Desert scrub — saguaro, palo verde, mesquite bosques, ironwood, creosote and cholla; irrigated cropland and thick mesquite along washes and field edges in the south.
Landmarks: Gila River Indian Reservation (closed) · Buckeye Hills · Salt and Gila River corridors · Desert farmland of the southern unit · Sonoran Desert National Monument margins
Access
The Gila River Indian Reservation occupies a major central-southern portion and is not open to AZGFD hunting without tribal permission — do not count it as public. Hunting is prohibited on incorporated lands and near homes or buildings; deer and javelina are archery-only. State Trust land requires a State Land recreation permit. Best public access is BLM and State parcels near the desert-farmland interface on the unit's outer edges.
Managers: BLM, AZ State Trust, Tribal — Gila River (closed), Private/agricultural
Access points: Buckeye Hills · BLM desert north and west of the metro · Sonoran Desert National Monument boundary areas · State Trust parcels along farm edges
Species notes
Mule Deer
limited opportunityDesert mule deer are scattered through the outer foothills and wash systems; mature bucks are limited but present. Archery-only, and success hinges on finding legal open desert away from development.
- →Focus the open BLM and State desert on the unit's outer ring, away from the metro core and the closed Gila River Reservation.
- →Glass bajadas and wash mouths at dawn where desert meets farmland — deer feed field edges and retreat to wash cover.
- →Hunt water in early archery season; desert deer key on the few reliable tanks and stock ponds.
- →Still-hunt thick mesquite bosques along the Gila and Salt River corridors midday.
Pro tips
- →Map the Gila River Reservation boundary first and stay off it — it swallows much of the unit's apparent open ground.
- →The desert-farmland edge on the outer ring is your best deer and javelina country.
- →Hunt water sources and stock tanks during the hot early archery window.
- →Neighboring public units offer more contiguous ground if the metro parcels feel too broken up.
- →Javelina are abundant here and a strong secondary archery target while deer hunting.
Watch out for
- !Gila River Indian Reservation is closed to general hunting — a large closed block inside the unit.
- !Archery-only for deer and javelina; no hunting on incorporated land or near buildings.
- !State Trust land requires a State Land Department recreation permit.
- !Extreme desert heat and scarce water — carry your own.
- !Fragmented private/agricultural land — verify ownership before hunting field edges.
Logistics
Full services throughout — this is greater Phoenix. Fuel, lodging, and outfitting are everywhere; the work is boundary research. Carry mapping that clearly shows BLM/State parcels versus the Gila River Reservation and private farmland.
Nearest towns: Buckeye, Goodyear, Queen Creek, Apache Junction, Casa Grande
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Arizona sources:
Research sources: AZGFD GMU 26M unit page · GOHUNT Arizona Unit 26M profile · TAGZ Arizona Unit 26M
FAQ
- How big is GMU 26M in Arizona?
- GMU 26M (Unit 26M — Mesa) covers about 2,093 square miles, ranging from roughly 1,000 to 4,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 26M?
- Approximately 21% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, AZ State Trust, Tribal — Gila River (closed), Private/agricultural. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 26M?
- 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 26M on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.