GMU 2C Unit 2C — Pinetop
One of the state's best pronghorn draws, plus population-reduction elk southwest of St. Johns
Little Colorado high plateau — Concho / Vernon grasslands · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
316
sq mi
Public land
40%
approx.
Elevation
5,900–7,400
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 2C is a compact block of high-desert grassland and pinyon-juniper southwest of St. Johns, taking in the Concho and Vernon country along Highway 60 and Highway 61. Pronghorn habitat blankets almost the entire unit and the herd is stable, giving up excellent buck success — this is a top-tier antelope tag. Elk are managed for population reduction, so antlerless hunts still generate strong harvest numbers even though it is not a trophy-bull destination. Mule deer are scarce and scattered, and the western edge is increasingly subdivided, making legal access the key planning problem.
Terrain
Rolling high grassland plateau with juniper-studded rises and shallow drainages, climbing toward the forested Mogollon Rim country on its southern edge.
Cover: Great Basin grassland with rabbitbrush and snakeweed, pinyon-juniper on the higher and rockier ground, grading to ponderosa pine along the southern rim.
Landmarks: TV Knoll · Concho area · Vernon turn-off (Highway 60) · Highway 60 / Highway 61 junction country · Little Colorado River drainages
Access
Ownership is a checkerboard of private mixed with State Trust and BLM sections, with a strip of State Trust land along the southern border. Hunting is legal on State Trust and BLM ground but access is not guaranteed, and a State Land recreation permit is required on State Trust sections. The southwest and western portions (Vernon turn-off west toward Highway 61) are increasingly subdivided into private parcels — verify boundaries carefully.
Managers: BLM, AZ State Trust, Private ranch, USFS Apache-Sitgreaves NF (southern edge)
Access points: Apache County Road 4365 off Highway 60 near milepost 383 · ACR 3000 off Highway 61 near milepost 365 · Highway 60 / Highway 61 corridors
Species notes
Pronghorn
common qualityThe marquee species and one of the better pronghorn opportunities in the region — habitat covers nearly the whole unit, the herd is stable, and buck success on the limited tags runs high, with the best densities in the southern half.
- →Glass wide from high ground and roads at dawn and dusk
- →Hunt the southern half where pronghorn density is highest
- →Use drainages, rolls and fencelines to stalk into range
- →Sit stock tanks in hot, dry early conditions
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityElk move through the unit and are managed for population reduction, so antlerless/limited-opportunity hunts post solid harvest at moderate success. A good meat and opportunity hunt, not a trophy-bull unit.
- →Glass grassland openings early and late for feeding herds
- →Hunt juniper edges and drainages where elk bed midday
- →Cover ground — elk range widely across the checkerboard
- →Prioritize legally accessible State Trust/BLM blocks
Mule Deer
limited opportunityScarce and patchy, with small pockets near TV Knoll, the southern border, west of Highway 191 and around Concho. A secondary opportunity rather than a reason to draw the tag.
- →Focus on the known pockets: TV Knoll, Concho, the southern border
- →Still-hunt juniper cover and drainage heads
- →Work juniper-to-grassland edges at first and last light
Pro tips
- →Nail down legal access before the season — the checkerboard and new subdivisions are the real obstacle
- →Buy a State Land recreation permit before hunting State Trust sections
- →Hunt the southern half for the best pronghorn density
- →Carry a boundary-mapping app to avoid the subdivided western parcels
- →Keep a wet-weather plan for the dirt roads
Watch out for
- !State Trust access requires a recreation permit and is not guaranteed
- !Growing private subdivision on the southwest/west edge
- !Checkerboard private inholdings — verify before crossing
- !Clay roads impassable when wet
- !Limited water and services off the highways
Logistics
St. Johns to the northeast and Springerville/Eagar to the southeast cover fuel, food and lodging; Concho has limited services. The unit is a grid of ranch and county roads that get slick and impassable when wet. Cell coverage is unreliable off the highways.
Nearest towns: St. Johns, Concho, Vernon, Springerville
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Arizona sources:
Research sources: AZGFD — GMU 2C · Hunt Now Arizona — Unit 2C
FAQ
- How big is GMU 2C in Arizona?
- GMU 2C (Unit 2C — Pinetop) covers about 316 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,900 to 7,400 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 2C?
- Approximately 40% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, AZ State Trust, Private ranch, USFS Apache-Sitgreaves NF (southern edge). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 2C?
- Pronghorn, Rocky Mountain Elk, 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 2C on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.