GMU 5BN Unit 5BN — Flagstaff
Bugling elk and Anderson Mesa pronghorn southeast of Flagstaff
Anderson Mesa high country — Coconino NF · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
529
sq mi
Public land
85%
approx.
Elevation
5,000–7,200
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 5B North covers the northern and northeastern portions of Anderson Mesa southeast of Flagstaff, a mix of open grassland mesas, ponderosa pine flats, and the timbered canyons that drop off the mesa's edges. Rocky Mountain elk are the marquee draw and the largest harvest by far, with pronghorn on the mesa grasslands, mule deer through the pine-and-oak transition, and black bear in the timber rounding out the unit. It is a classic Coconino National Forest high-country hunt with heavy public access but restricted-route motorized travel.
Terrain
Broad grassy mesa top breaking into timbered canyons on its north and east sides, sitting on the Coconino Plateau southeast of Flagstaff.
Cover: Open grassland and sagebrush parks across Anderson Mesa grading into ponderosa pine and pinon-juniper, with oak brush and riparian stringers in the canyons.
Landmarks: Anderson Mesa · Ashurst Lake · Marshall Lake · Kinnikinick Lake · Walnut Canyon · Grapevine Canyon · Jack's Canyon
Access
Overwhelmingly Coconino National Forest with a dense forest-road network, but motorized travel is limited to designated routes under the forest's travel management rule. Scattered State Trust parcels require an Arizona State Land recreation permit. Some canyon rims and lakeshores draw heavy recreation pressure.
Managers: USFS Coconino NF, AZ State Trust, Private (scattered inholdings)
Access points: Lake Mary Road (FH 3) from Flagstaff · FR 82 / FR 129 to Ashurst and Kinnikinick Lakes · Marshall Lake Road · Forest road network off Anderson Mesa
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant qualityThe reason to draw the unit and the dominant harvest; strong bull numbers using the mesa's canyon-and-park mosaic, with good rut hunting on limited-entry tags.
- →Concentrate on the canyons off the north and east sides of Anderson Mesa — Walnut, Cherry, Mormon, Padre, Grapevine, Diablo
- →Glass grassy park edges at first and last light
- →Sit water tanks and lakes in dry early seasons
- →Call the September rut at meadow-timber transitions
- →Push into dark timber on north slopes during midday heat
Pronghorn
common qualityAnderson Mesa is one of northern Arizona's premier pronghorn ranges; roughly two-thirds of the unit's herd holds the mesa during the season on scarce, coveted tags.
- →Glass the open mesa from Vail Lake south to Long Lake and Duke Tank Mesa
- →Spot-and-stalk using terrain rolls and swales
- →Watch fence lines and stock tanks for feeding movement
- →Set up on morning and evening grazing patterns
- →Cover ground between open parks to locate bucks
Mule Deer
common opportunityA solid general mule deer hunt through the ponderosa and pinon-juniper transition rather than a trophy destination.
- →Glass canyon rims and meadow fringes at dawn
- →Work the pine-to-oak-brush transition zones
- →Still-hunt timber pockets midday
- →Hunt storm fronts that push deer to lower parks
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bear are present in the timbered canyons and oak brush but at modest densities — an opportunistic add-on rather than a primary target.
- →Glass oak brush and berry patches in early fall
- →Work canyon drainages and riparian corridors
- →Check acorn concentrations
- →Hunt timber edges slowly at dawn and dusk
Pro tips
- →Hunt the canyons coming off the mesa for elk, not the open flats — Walnut, Mormon, Grapevine and Padre are proven
- →In dry early seasons, sit the lakes and stock tanks for both elk and pronghorn
- →Anderson Mesa pronghorn tags are hard to draw and worth the wait — hunt the open mesa core
- →Buy an Arizona State Land recreation permit before hunting scattered State Trust parcels
- →Respect the Coconino travel management rule — stay on designated motorized routes
Watch out for
- !Motorized travel restricted to designated routes on the Coconino NF
- !State Trust land requires an Arizona State Land recreation permit
- !Early snow and cold high-country weather at elevation
- !Dry stock tanks — carry water in early seasons
- !Fire restrictions and possible area closures in dry years
Logistics
Flagstaff is the full-service base for fuel, groceries, and lodging, 20-40 minutes from most of the unit via Lake Mary Road. Dispersed camping and developed sites cluster around Ashurst, Kinnikinick, and the mesa lakes. Come prepared for cold nights and possible early snow at elevation, and carry water where tanks are dry.
Nearest towns: Flagstaff, Winslow, Mormon Lake
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Arizona sources:
Research sources: AZGFD Where to Hunt / GMU 5B · AZGFD Hunt Arizona unit guidelines · Coconino NF recreation and motor vehicle use maps · Arizona State Land Department recreation permits
FAQ
- How big is GMU 5BN in Arizona?
- GMU 5BN (Unit 5BN — Flagstaff) covers about 529 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,000 to 7,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 5BN?
- Approximately 85% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Coconino NF, AZ State Trust, Private (scattered inholdings). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 5BN?
- 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 5BN on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.