GMU 3B Unit 3B — Pinetop
Rim-country elk and wide-open pronghorn flats on the north edge of the White Mountains.
White Mountains — Apache-Sitgreaves NF (Pinetop region) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
580
sq mi
Public land
60%
approx.
Elevation
5,000–7,600
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 3B sits on the northern flank of Arizona's White Mountains, sloping from timbered Mogollon Rim country in the south down to open juniper grasslands in the north. It is solid — not marquee — elk country that still gives up a few big bulls, and it holds the most widely distributed pronghorn of any big-game animal in the unit. Mule deer are present but modest, and a small black bear population works the forested high ground. Elk carry the unit: rutting bulls concentrate in the ponderosa parks and meadows above 6,500 feet.
Terrain
Higher in the south along the Mogollon Rim and descending to the north. Timbered ridges and open parks up high give way to rolling pinyon-juniper and broad grass-and-brush flats down low.
Cover: Mixed conifer and ponderosa pine at the highest elevations, pine mixed with oak through the mid-elevations, and juniper woodland over open grassland and brush flats in the lower north.
Landmarks: Mogollon Rim (southern rim) · Show Low (west edge) · Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest · Silver Creek country · open grassland flats of the northwest
Access
Dirt roads give good public access into the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest and adjoining state land in the timbered south. The lower northern elevations are a checkerboard of State Trust and private parcels, and some private ground restricts access — respect boundaries. State Trust parcels require an Arizona State Land recreation permit.
Managers: USFS Apache-Sitgreaves NF, AZ State Trust, Private
Access points: Highway 60 / Show Low corridor · Forest roads south off the Show Low area onto the Rim · county and ranch roads across the northern grassland flats
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityThe unit's premier hunt — a good elk population that still produces a few large bulls. Rutting bulls hold above 6,500 feet in the timbered south, using open parks and meadows next to escape cover as breeding grounds.
- →Hunt the ponderosa parks and meadow edges above 6,500 feet during the rut
- →Locate bugling bulls at first and last light near open breeding grounds
- →Glass the timber/park transitions in the southern Rim country
- →Work water and wallows in dry, warm early hunts
Pronghorn
common qualityThe most widely distributed big-game animal in the unit. Overall numbers have been declining, but the best buck-to-doe ratios and densities are in the northwest and southwest portions of 3B on the open flats.
- →Glass the open grass-and-brush flats of the northwest and southwest
- →Spot-and-stalk using terrain folds and washes to close distance
- →Sit water during dry stretches
- →Judge bucks carefully at distance with a spotting scope
Mule Deer
common opportunityPresent throughout but not a trophy unit for deer; quality has been improving on the primitive-weapon seasons. Success on general deer tags runs modest.
- →Glass juniper and oak transition zones on the mid-elevation benches
- →Hunt the ecotone where timber meets the open flats
- →Focus later, cooler hunts when bucks move more
- →Cover country — deer are scattered at low density
Black Bear
limited opportunityA small black bear population uses the forested high country; numbers rise seasonally in years with a good acorn crop.
- →Hunt oak brush and acorn flats in good mast years
- →Glass canyon heads and north slopes in the timbered south
- →Check drainages with water and berries in late summer
Pro tips
- →For elk, get above 6,500 feet in the southern timber and hunt the park-and-meadow breeding grounds at the light ends of the day.
- →Pronghorn density is best in the northwest and southwest flats — glass big and stalk with the terrain.
- →Watch the checkerboard in the north: State Trust needs a recreation permit and private parcels can cut off access.
- →Bear hunting pays off in good acorn years — key on oak mast.
- →Late Rim hunts can get snowed on; plan for mud and cold.
Watch out for
- !Lower-elevation north is a State Trust / private checkerboard — some private access is restricted.
- !Arizona State Land recreation permit required for State Trust parcels.
- !Forest roads turn to impassable mud after rain or snow.
- !Late-season cold and snow on the Mogollon Rim.
- !Pronghorn numbers have been declining unit-wide.
Logistics
Full services — fuel, groceries, lodging and outfitters — are in Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside. Forest roads are generally good but turn to slick mud after rain or snow; carry recovery gear and chains for late hunts. Cell coverage is decent near the highway corridor and fades on the backroads.
Nearest towns: Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside, Taylor, Snowflake
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Arizona sources:
Research sources: AZGFD GMU 3B · GOHUNT Arizona Unit 3B Profile · Hunt Now Arizona — Unit 3B
FAQ
- How big is GMU 3B in Arizona?
- GMU 3B (Unit 3B — Pinetop) covers about 580 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,000 to 7,600 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 3B?
- Approximately 60% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Apache-Sitgreaves NF, AZ State Trust, Private. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 3B?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Arizona agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 3B on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.