GMU 6B Unit 6B — Flagstaff
Ponderosa and rim country south of Flagstaff built on elk and mule deer
Northern high country — Coconino NF (Mogollon Rim / Mormon Lake) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
405
sq mi
Public land
80%
approx.
Elevation
6,000–7,900
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 6B lies directly south of Flagstaff, running from the Lake Mary and Mormon Lake basins down onto the Mogollon Rim in the Coconino National Forest. It is classic northern Arizona timber country — open ponderosa pine, grassy parks, cinder hills, and rim breaks — and it hunts as a solid general elk and mule deer unit. Rocky Mountain elk drive the harvest, mule deer are a steady supporting hunt through the pines and oak brush, and black bear work the timber and rim, with only a handful of pronghorn tags on the open parks. This is drawable, road-accessible national forest hunting rather than a marquee trophy destination.
Terrain
Volcanic ponderosa plateau south of Flagstaff falling toward the Mogollon Rim, broken by lake basins, cinder cones, and timbered canyons.
Cover: Open ponderosa pine with grassy parks and Gambel oak brush, transitioning to piñon-juniper and mixed conifer on cooler slopes, plus meadow and lakebed grasslands around Mormon and Lake Mary.
Landmarks: Mormon Lake · Upper and Lower Lake Mary · Mormon Mountain · Mogollon Rim · Munds Park · Anderson Mesa edge · Stoneman Lake
Access
Overwhelmingly Coconino National Forest with a dense Forest Service road network and easy access off I-17 and Lake Mary Road. State Trust parcels are scattered through the unit and require an Arizona State Land recreation permit. Private inholdings cluster around Mormon Lake, Munds Park, and lakeshore developments — respect posted boundaries. Higher roads can turn to mud or close with early snow.
Managers: USFS Coconino NF, AZ State Trust, Private (Mormon Lake / Munds Park inholdings)
Access points: Lake Mary Road (FH 3) from Flagstaff · I-17 at Munds Park and Stoneman Lake exits · FR 90 / Mormon Lake loop · FR 132 and the Mormon Mountain road network · Rim-access forest roads off the plateau
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant qualityThe unit's top species by harvest — a strong, consistent elk population in the Lake Mary/Mormon Lake timber and rim country, with good access and dependable draw odds relative to Arizona's premium units.
- →Glass big grassy parks and lake basins at first and last light
- →Sit stock tanks and lake edges during dry early hunts
- →Push into dark north-slope timber and mixed conifer during midday heat
- →Work the transition between meadow feeding areas and bedding timber
- →Call meadow-timber edges through the September rut
Mule Deer
common opportunityA dependable general mule deer hunt through the ponderosa, oak brush, and rim breaks; numbers are good even if the unit is not a trophy destination.
- →Glass oak-brush pockets and park edges at dawn
- →Hunt the ponderosa-to-piñon transition and rim breaks
- →Still-hunt timber stringers during midday
- →Take advantage of storm fronts that concentrate deer at lower elevations
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear are well distributed through the timber, oak, and rim canyons — a legitimate fall opportunity built around mast and berries.
- →Glass oak brush and berry patches in early fall
- →Work rim canyons and riparian drainages
- →Check acorn and manzanita concentrations
- →Ease along timber edges at dawn and dusk
Pronghorn
limited qualityA very small pronghorn presence on the open parks and mesa grasslands; tags are scarce and this is not a species to plan the unit around.
- →Glass the larger open parks and grassland fringes from high points
- →Spot-and-stalk using rolling terrain and cinder rises
- →Watch stock tanks and fence lines
- →Focus morning feeding movement in the open
Pro tips
- →Elk are the reason to draw 6B — hunt meadow-timber edges and water rather than covering random ground
- →Sit lakes and stock tanks for early archery elk in dry years
- →The Mogollon Rim breaks on the south end concentrate deer and offer glassing into lower country
- →Buy an Arizona State Land recreation permit before hunting scattered state parcels
- →Watch private inholdings around Mormon Lake and Munds Park and have a snow contingency for late hunts
Watch out for
- !State Trust land requires an Arizona State Land recreation permit
- !Private inholdings around Mormon Lake, Munds Park, and lakeshore developments are posted
- !Early and heavy snow can close or muddy high roads
- !Fire restrictions and possible area closures in dry years
- !Heavy recreational and camping traffic near Flagstaff and the I-17 corridor
Logistics
Flagstaff is 20–40 minutes north with full services — fuel, groceries, lodging, and gear. Munds Park and Mormon Lake offer closer fuel and limited supplies. Developed campgrounds sit around Mormon Lake and Lake Mary, with dispersed camping throughout the forest. Come prepared for cold nights and possible early snow at elevation.
Nearest towns: Flagstaff, Munds Park, Mormon Lake, Sedona
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Arizona sources:
Research sources: AZGFD Hunt Arizona / Unit 6B hunt guidelines · Coconino National Forest motor vehicle use and recreation maps · Arizona State Land Department recreation permits
FAQ
- How big is GMU 6B in Arizona?
- GMU 6B (Unit 6B — Flagstaff) covers about 405 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,000 to 7,900 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 6B?
- Approximately 80% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Coconino NF, AZ State Trust, Private (Mormon Lake / Munds Park inholdings). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 6B?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Black Bear, Pronghorn. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Arizona agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 6B on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.