GMU 3C Unit 3C — Pinetop
A strong White Mountains elk unit where early antlered tags are hotly coveted.
White Mountains — Apache-Sitgreaves NF (Pinetop region) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
556
sq mi
Public land
75%
approx.
Elevation
5,600–7,400
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 3C runs across the Lakeside and Black Mesa Ranger Districts of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, from the pinyon-juniper edges near Taylor up onto the ponderosa-timbered Mogollon Rim. It is one of the region's better elk units — the 2002 Rodeo-Chediski Fire reshaped the habitat and left high antlerless permit numbers, and the early antlered hunts here are among the most sought-after in the state. Mule deer dominate the deer hunting (whitetail are historically rare), pronghorn have declined, and black bear numbers swing with the acorn crop. The unit is bounded on the south by the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, which is closed to your permit.
Terrain
Rises from about 5,600 feet at Taylor to over 7,200 feet on the Mogollon Rim, with the highest elk densities generally south of Highway 260 and west of Decker Wash.
Cover: Ponderosa pine and mixed conifer on the Rim, pinyon-juniper woodland at mid and lower elevations, and extensive brush regrowth and open parks across the 2002 Rodeo-Chediski Fire burn scar.
Landmarks: Mogollon Rim · Black Mesa Ranger District · Decker Wash · Highway 260 corridor · Rodeo-Chediski burn area · Taylor (northern edge)
Access
Most of the unit is national forest across the Lakeside and Black Mesa Ranger Districts, with generally good dirt-road access. CRITICAL: the southern boundary is the Fort Apache Indian Reservation — your Arizona permit does not allow you to enter the reservation to hunt or to recover game. Private inholdings exist throughout and are mostly accessible with permission; State Trust parcels require an Arizona recreation permit.
Managers: USFS Apache-Sitgreaves NF, Fort Apache Indian Reservation (tribal, closed), AZ State Trust, Private
Access points: Highway 260 (main east-west corridor) · Forest roads south of Highway 260 toward the Rim · access off the Taylor/Show Low area · Black Mesa district forest roads
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant qualityThe headline hunt. A strong elk herd with high antlerless permit numbers since the Rodeo-Chediski Fire and coveted early antlered tags. Densities are highest south of Highway 260 and west of Decker Wash, though this shifts with precipitation.
- →Focus the timber and burn-edge parks south of Highway 260, west of Decker Wash
- →Hunt bugling bulls in the Rim ponderosa at first and last light during the rut
- →Work the brush regrowth-to-timber transitions in the burn scar
- →Sit water and wallows during warm, dry early hunts
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer dominate the deer hunting — historically there are very few whitetail in the unit — and success on general tags has run solid. Deer use the pinyon-juniper benches and burn-regrowth edges.
- →Glass pinyon-juniper benches and burn-edge brush at dawn and dusk
- →Hunt the transition between open regrowth and standing timber
- →Cover country to locate scattered bucks
- →Time hunts to cooler, later weather for more daylight movement
Pronghorn
limited opportunityPronghorn have declined in recent years; general permits were reduced and the archery hunt discontinued. A limited-tag opportunity on the unit's open ground.
- →Glass the open grass and park country for scattered bands
- →Spot-and-stalk using terrain to close the gap
- →Sit water in dry stretches
- →Expect low tag numbers and a limited-opportunity hunt
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bear numbers dropped after the Rodeo-Chediski Fire changed the habitat, but can rebound seasonally in years with a good acorn crop.
- →Key on oak brush and acorn flats in good mast years
- →Glass canyon heads and shaded north slopes in the timber
- →Check drainages with water and forage in late summer
Pro tips
- →The early antlered elk tag is the prize here — hunt the timber and burn-edge parks south of Highway 260 and west of Decker Wash.
- →This is a mule deer unit — don't count on whitetail; glass the pinyon-juniper and burn regrowth.
- →Do not cross onto the Fort Apache Indian Reservation to hunt OR to recover game — the southern boundary is closed to your permit.
- →Bear hunting is best in good acorn years; key on oak mast.
- →Grab a Forest map in Lakeside or Overgaard to sort forest, State Trust and private ground.
Watch out for
- !Fort Apache Indian Reservation forms the southern boundary — closed to your permit for hunting and game recovery.
- !Arizona State Land recreation permit required for State Trust parcels; private inholdings need permission.
- !Forest roads become slick and impassable when wet.
- !Late-season cold and snow on the Mogollon Rim.
- !Pronghorn numbers are low and tags are limited.
Logistics
Fuel, groceries and lodging are close at hand in Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside and Taylor, with Forest Service offices in Lakeside and Overgaard. Forest roads are generally good but slick and rutted when wet; carry recovery gear for late hunts. Cell coverage is reasonable near the towns and Highway 260 and drops off in the backcountry.
Nearest towns: Show Low, Pinetop-Lakeside, Taylor, Overgaard
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Arizona sources:
Research sources: AZGFD GMU 3C · Hunt Now Arizona — Unit 3C · AZGFD Where to Hunt / Region I (Pinetop)
FAQ
- How big is GMU 3C in Arizona?
- GMU 3C (Unit 3C — Pinetop) covers about 556 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,600 to 7,400 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 3C?
- Approximately 75% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Apache-Sitgreaves NF, Fort Apache Indian Reservation (tribal, closed), AZ State Trust, Private. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 3C?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, 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 3C on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.