GMU 27 Unit 27 — Pinetop
Remote Blue Range wilderness where big bulls, trophy Coues bucks, and desert-to-alpine bighorn all share one of Arizona's wildest units.
Eastern high country — Apache-Sitgreaves NF / Blue Range · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,357
sq mi
Public land
94.6%
approx.
Elevation
3,400–9,355
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 27 is one of Arizona's premier backcountry big-game units, lying almost entirely within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest along the New Mexico line. Roughly 95% public, it stacks life zones from high-desert Gila River grasslands up through pinyon-juniper and ponderosa pine to spruce-fir on the highest peaks. It holds quality Rocky Mountain elk, both mule deer and marquee Coues whitetail, Rocky Mountain bighorn along the Blue River, and good black bear and mountain lion. The rugged, roadless Blue Range Primitive Area and Bear Wallow Wilderness make much of it a walk-in trophy proposition. The 2011 Wallow Fire reshaped forage across a large share of the unit.
Terrain
Dramatic relief from high-desert Gila River basin grasslands up steep canyon country to forested ridges and near-alpine peaks. Remote backcountry with large roadless wilderness cores.
Cover: Spruce-fir and mixed conifer on the highest ground, extensive ponderosa pine, dropping through pinyon-juniper belts into oak-chaparral canyons and high-desert grassland along the Gila and Blue River basins. Wallow Fire burn mosaic drives elk and deer forage.
Landmarks: Blue Range Primitive Area (~174,000 acres) · Bear Wallow Wilderness (~11,000 acres) · Blue River · Wallow Fire burn scar · Gila River basin · Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
Access
The vast majority is Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, with small private inholdings and some BLM and State land to the south. The San Carlos Apache Reservation forms the western boundary and is closed to AZGFD hunting — stay east of it. The Blue Range Primitive Area and Bear Wallow Wilderness prohibit any mechanized travel (no vehicles, bikes, or chainsaws), so those cores are foot/horseback only. Forest roads reach the margins; interiors are deep backcountry.
Managers: USFS Apache-Sitgreaves NF, BLM, AZ State Trust, Tribal — San Carlos Apache (closed, western edge), Private (small inholdings)
Access points: US-191 (Coronado Trail Scenic Byway) · Blue River Road (FR 281) · Hannagan Meadow · Alpine and Nutrioso trailheads · Forest roads off US-180
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityA strong Rocky Mountain elk unit — the Wallow Fire burn regenerated forage and elk use it heavily. Bulls hold in the mixed-conifer and ponderosa benches; a coveted limited-draw hunt.
- →Work the Wallow Fire burn edges where new browse meets standing timber for feeding bulls.
- →Hunt high mixed-conifer and north-slope pockets midday, dropping to meadow and burn edges at first and last light.
- →During the rut, bugle the ponderosa parks and canyon heads around Hannagan Meadow and the Blue.
- →Glass big country from the Coronado Trail (US-191) vantage points and hike in to isolated basins.
Whitetail Deer
common trophyCoues whitetail here are outstanding — Unit 27 is cited as one of the best places in Arizona to find a trophy Coues buck. They favor the oak-chaparral canyons and pinyon-juniper transition.
- →Glass oak-chaparral and pinyon-juniper hillsides at dawn and dusk with quality optics on a tripod — Coues hunting is a spotting game.
- →Focus mid-elevation canyon country in the southern and eastern breaks of the unit.
- →Hunt the rut in the cooler post-storm windows when bucks move and chase.
- →Be patient and cover ground with glass rather than boots; grey ghosts hold tight.
Mule Deer
common qualityDesert and mountain mule deer occupy the higher pinyon-juniper and ponderosa country and the grassland breaks, offering a solid secondary deer opportunity alongside the Coues.
- →Glass pinyon-juniper ridges and grassland pockets in the northern and higher portions of the unit.
- →Hunt the ecotone where juniper meets open parks at first light.
- →Check the burn regrowth areas that also draw elk.
- →Work canyon rims where muleys transition between bedding and feeding.
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyRocky Mountain bighorn inhabit the rugged Blue River canyon country — a rare, highly coveted once-in-a-lifetime tag with very high success for those drawn.
- →Hunt the steep, rocky Blue River corridor and its canyon breaks where sheep hold.
- →Glass rimrock and bluffs from across canyons at first and last light.
- →Plan a physically demanding backcountry effort — much of the sheep country is roadless.
- →Work with the department's sheep guidance; tags are extremely limited.
Black Bear
common qualityBlack bear are well distributed through the forested high country and oak canyons, with good hunting in the ponderosa and mixed-conifer belts.
- →Hunt oak and canyon bottoms during acorn fall when bears concentrate on mast.
- →Glass burn-regrowth slopes and forest openings morning and evening.
- →Check drainages and berry patches in the higher mixed-conifer.
- →Cover ground along Blue River tributaries and canyon heads.
Cougar
limited opportunityMountain lions follow the strong deer and elk numbers through the canyon and timber country; an opportunistic add-on for hunters covering the backcountry.
- →Focus deer-dense canyon country and rimrock travel corridors.
- →Look for tracks in fresh snow along forest roads and drainages in winter.
- →Hunt where Coues and mule deer concentrate — lions follow the prey.
- →Glass rocky breaks and saddle crossings.
Pro tips
- →Bring the best optics you can afford and hunt from glass — both Coues and elk reward patient long-distance spotting.
- →Learn the Wallow Fire burn mosaic; regenerating forage there concentrates elk and deer.
- →The Blue Range Primitive Area and Bear Wallow Wilderness are foot/horseback only — plan a true backcountry effort for those cores.
- →Stay east of the San Carlos Apache Reservation boundary on the west side of the unit.
- →Time deer around post-storm cold fronts when Coues bucks are on their feet.
- →Have a snow contingency — high roads can turn nasty late in the fall.
Watch out for
- !San Carlos Apache Reservation on the western edge is closed to AZGFD hunting — do not cross the boundary.
- !Blue Range Primitive Area and Bear Wallow Wilderness prohibit vehicles, bikes, and chainsaws.
- !State Trust parcels to the south require a State Land recreation permit.
- !Remote, rugged terrain with limited services and spotty communications — be self-sufficient.
- !Early snow and monsoon flash flooding can close roads and canyons.
- !Fire history (Wallow Fire) means deadfall, erosion, and changing access on some roads.
Logistics
Small mountain towns of Alpine, Springerville, and Eagar offer fuel, lodging, and basic supplies on the northern side; Clifton/Morenci anchor the south. Stock up before heading into the Blue — services thin fast. Dispersed camping on the national forest is the norm. High-clearance and 4WD strongly recommended for interior forest roads.
Nearest towns: Alpine, Springerville, Eagar, Nutrioso, Clifton
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Arizona sources:
Research sources: AZGFD GMU 27 unit page · GOHUNT Arizona Unit 27 profile · Hunt Now Arizona — Unit 27 · Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest (USFS)
FAQ
- How big is GMU 27 in Arizona?
- GMU 27 (Unit 27 — Pinetop) covers about 1,357 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,400 to 9,355 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 27?
- Approximately 94.6% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Apache-Sitgreaves NF, BLM, AZ State Trust, Tribal — San Carlos Apache (closed, western edge), Private (small inholdings). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 27?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep, Black Bear, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Arizona agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 27 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.