GMU 32 Unit 32 — Tucson
A rugged, multi-species backcountry unit anchored by Aravaipa Canyon
Southeastern Arizona — Aravaipa, Galiuro & Santa Teresa ranges (Coronado NF / BLM) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,538
sq mi
Public land
60%
approx.
Elevation
2,800–7,900
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Unit 32 sprawls northeast of Tucson from the Gila River valley up into the Galiuro, Santa Teresa and Winchester mountains, taking in the famous Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness. Terrain ranges from gently sloping Gila River bottoms near 2,800 ft to steep, rocky canyons and forested peaks approaching 7,900 ft. It is best known as trophy Coues whitetail country and for producing quality desert bighorn out of the Aravaipa/Galiuro rimrock, with mule deer, a handful of pronghorn on the valley grasslands, black bear in the timbered highs, and a scattering of over-the-counter elk. Remote access and brutal terrain define the hunt here.
Terrain
Gradually sloping Gila River valleys rising into the steep, rocky slopes and deep canyons of the Galiuro and Santa Teresa mountains; from ~2,800 ft on the Gila to nearly 7,900 ft on the highest peaks.
Cover: Creosote, mesquite and Sonoran desertscrub along the river and bajadas; oak-juniper and chaparral on the mid-slopes; pine and Douglas-fir on the highest Galiuro and Santa Teresa ridges. Cottonwood-sycamore riparian galleries line Aravaipa Creek.
Landmarks: Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness · Galiuro Mountains · Santa Teresa Mountains · Winchester Mountains · Gila River · Mount Turnbull area
Access
A mix of BLM (including the permit-managed Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness), Coronado National Forest in the Galiuro and Santa Teresa ranges, Arizona State Trust (recreation permit required), and private ranchland along the Gila and Aravaipa bottoms. CRITICAL: the San Carlos Apache Reservation forms the northern/eastern boundary and is tribal land — it is NOT open to general AZGFD hunting; know the reservation line and do not treat it as public. Access is limited, roads are rough, and much of the best country is foot-and-horse wilderness.
Managers: BLM (Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness), USFS Coronado NF, AZ State Trust, Tribal — San Carlos Apache Reservation (closed), Private ranch
Access points: Aravaipa Road (west and east ends of the canyon) · Klondyke / Aravaipa east side · Jackson Cabin Road (high-clearance 4x4) · Galiuro access via Redington / Muleshoe Ranch · Fourmile Canyon
Species notes
Whitetail Deer
common qualityCoues whitetail are the primary big-game draw, holding the oak-brush canyons and rimrock of the Galiuro and Santa Teresa mountains. The unit has produced trophy-class Coues bucks out of its steep, lightly hunted pockets.
- →Set up on a high point and grid opposing oak-brush slopes with 15x tripod binoculars
- →Hunt the December rut when bucks are on their feet mid-day
- →Focus on rugged canyon systems away from any road
- →Glass water and mast in the oak zone during dry stretches
Mule Deer
common opportunityDesert mule deer inhabit the lower foothills, Gila River breaks and desert bajadas below the Coues zone.
- →Glass desert washes and mesquite flats at dawn
- →Work the Gila River breaks and side canyons
- →Hunt the grassland-desert transition where mule deer feed
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyDesert bighorn hold the rugged rimrock and cliff country of the Aravaipa/Galiuro complex; tags are scarce, highly coveted, and success on drawn hunts is high. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
- →Glass sheer canyon walls and rimrock from long distance
- →Focus on rugged Aravaipa and Galiuro escape terrain near water
- →Be prepared for extremely steep, technical stalks
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear use the forested Galiuro and Santa Teresa high country and the riparian canyon bottoms, with steady annual harvest.
- →Glass oak-mast slopes and prickly-pear flats in fall
- →Work canyon bottoms with berries and acorns
- →Hunt the timbered high ridges of the Galiuros
Pronghorn
limited qualityA small pronghorn herd occupies the open grassland valleys; tags are very limited but drawn hunters see high success.
- →Glass open valley grasslands from vehicle-accessible high points
- →Judge horns carefully at distance — small herd, few tags
- →Use terrain folds to close the final stalk
Rocky Mountain Elk
transient opportunityUnit 32 falls in an over-the-counter elk season, but elk are very scarce here — only a few animals around the North/South Ash Creek area and the mesas between the Winchesters and Galiuros. Treat it as a low-density backdoor hunt, not a destination.
- →Focus on Ash Creek and the Winchester-Galiuro mesa country
- →Glass isolated meadows and water at first light
- →Manage expectations — densities are extremely low
Pro tips
- →Know exactly where the San Carlos Apache Reservation boundary is — the north/east edge is tribal and closed
- →High-power tripod glass is mandatory; this is a spot-and-stalk canyon unit
- →The best Coues live in the roughest Galiuro and Santa Teresa pockets — hike past where trucks stop
- →Time deer hunts to the December rut whenever draw odds allow
- →A bighorn or pronghorn tag here is a rare prize — scout hard if you draw one
- →Rough roads demand high-clearance 4x4 and a full-size spare
Watch out for
- !San Carlos Apache Reservation borders the unit and is closed to general hunting — do not cross the line
- !State Trust parcels require an Arizona recreation permit
- !Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness is a permit-limited hike-in area
- !Water is scarce across the low desert; the high country is a long haul from any road
- !Rough, remote roads with no cell coverage — self-rescue is on you
- !Private ranchland along the Gila and Aravaipa bottoms — verify access
Logistics
Safford to the northeast and Willcox to the south are the main fuel and supply towns; Mammoth/San Manuel serve the west end. Expect long dirt approaches, high-clearance-required roads, and dispersed camping on BLM and Coronado NF. The Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness itself is a permit-limited hike-in area. Cell coverage is minimal — carry a satellite communicator.
Nearest towns: Safford, Willcox, Mammoth, San Manuel, Klondyke
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Arizona sources:
Research sources: AZGFD Hunt Arizona / Where to Hunt · Hunt Now Arizona — Unit 32 · AZ Wildlife Conservation Strategy — Pinaleño / southeastern ranges · BLM Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness
FAQ
- How big is GMU 32 in Arizona?
- GMU 32 (Unit 32 — Tucson) covers about 1,538 square miles, ranging from roughly 2,800 to 7,900 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 32?
- Approximately 60% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM (Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness), USFS Coronado NF, AZ State Trust, Tribal — San Carlos Apache Reservation (closed), Private ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 32?
- Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep, Black Bear, Pronghorn, 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 32 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.