GMU 7W Unit 7W — Flagstaff
Premier Flagstaff-area bull elk country around Kendrick and Bill Williams
Northern high country — Kaibab/Coconino NF (Kendrick / Bill Williams Mtn) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
476
sq mi
Public land
85%
approx.
Elevation
6,500–10,400
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 7W covers the forested high country west and northwest of Flagstaff, built around Kendrick Mountain, Bill Williams Mountain, Government Prairie, and Garland Prairie in the Kaibab and Coconino National Forests. It is one of northern Arizona's standout elk units — the elk harvest here is the largest of the Flagstaff-area units and bull quality is strong on the limited-entry tags. Mule deer provide a solid supporting hunt through the pine and oak, black bear work the timber and mountain brush, and a few pronghorn hold the big prairies. This is high, road-accessible ponderosa country that draws serious elk hunters every fall.
Terrain
Volcanic high country of forested peaks and broad grassy prairies west of Flagstaff, topping out on Kendrick and Bill Williams Mountains.
Cover: Extensive ponderosa pine with large grassy prairies and Gambel oak, climbing into mixed conifer and aspen on the higher slopes of Kendrick and Bill Williams.
Landmarks: Kendrick Mountain · Bill Williams Mountain · Government Prairie · Garland Prairie · Kendrick Park · Sitgreaves Mountain · I-40 / Williams corridor
Access
Overwhelmingly Kaibab and Coconino National Forest with an excellent Forest Service road network off US-180, I-40, and the Williams/Perkinsville roads. Kendrick Mountain Wilderness is non-motorized. State Trust parcels are scattered, mostly in the prairie edges, and require an Arizona State Land recreation permit; watch private inholdings around the big prairies. High roads can close early with snow.
Managers: USFS Kaibab NF, USFS Coconino NF, AZ State Trust, Private (prairie inholdings)
Access points: US-180 (Flagstaff–Valle) along the east side · I-40 at Williams and Parks exits · FR 141 / Government Prairie road network · Perkinsville Road south of Williams · FR 171 toward Kendrick and Sitgreaves
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant qualityThe marquee species and the largest harvest of the Flagstaff-area units — strong bull numbers and quality in the Kendrick/Bill Williams timber and the surrounding prairies, on sought-after limited-entry tags.
- →Glass Government and Garland Prairie edges at first and last light
- →Sit stock tanks and springs during dry early hunts
- →Push into dark mixed conifer on Kendrick and Bill Williams during midday heat
- →Work the prairie-to-timber transition between feeding and bedding
- →Call meadow-timber seams hard through the September rut
Mule Deer
common opportunityA dependable general mule deer hunt through the ponderosa, oak brush, and prairie fringes; good numbers and a strong supporting hunt to the elk.
- →Glass oak-brush pockets and prairie edges at dawn
- →Hunt the ponderosa-to-oak transition and mountain flanks
- →Still-hunt timber stringers during midday
- →Hunt storm fronts that concentrate deer on lower prairies
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear are well distributed through the timber and oak brush of Kendrick, Bill Williams, and Sitgreaves — a legitimate fall opportunity around mast and berries.
- →Glass oak brush and berry patches in early fall
- →Work timbered drainages and mountain riparian pockets
- →Check acorn and manzanita concentrations
- →Ease along timber edges at dawn and dusk
Pronghorn
limited qualityA small pronghorn presence on Government and Garland Prairies; tags are scarce and this is a secondary opportunity rather than a reason to draw the unit.
- →Glass the big prairies from timber-edge high points
- →Spot-and-stalk using terrain rolls and tree lines
- →Watch stock tanks and prairie fence lines
- →Focus morning feeding movement in the open grass
Pro tips
- →This is elk-first country — prioritize prairie-timber edges and water over covering ground, and hunt the Kendrick/Bill Williams timber in the heat
- →Government and Garland Prairies are prime early-morning and evening glassing for elk moving to feed
- →Kendrick Mountain Wilderness is non-motorized — plan foot access for the high timber
- →Buy an Arizona State Land recreation permit before hunting scattered state parcels
- →Have a snow contingency for late hunts and watch private inholdings around the prairies
Watch out for
- !State Trust land requires an Arizona State Land recreation permit
- !Private inholdings around Government/Garland Prairies are intermixed with public land — verify boundaries
- !Kendrick Mountain Wilderness is closed to motorized access
- !Early and heavy snow can close high roads on Kendrick and Bill Williams
- !Fire restrictions and possible area closures in dry years
Logistics
Flagstaff and Williams both offer full services — fuel, groceries, lodging, and gear — and bracket the unit on the east and south. Parks sits in the middle along I-40 for quick resupply. Camp dispersed throughout the Kaibab/Coconino forest or use developed sites near Williams. Prepare for cold nights and possible early snow on Kendrick and Bill Williams.
Nearest towns: Flagstaff, Williams, Parks, Valle
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Arizona sources:
Research sources: AZGFD Hunt Arizona / Unit 7W hunt guidelines · Kaibab National Forest motor vehicle use and recreation maps · Arizona State Land Department recreation permits
FAQ
- How big is GMU 7W in Arizona?
- GMU 7W (Unit 7W — Flagstaff) covers about 476 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,500 to 10,400 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 7W?
- Approximately 85% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Kaibab NF, USFS Coconino NF, AZ State Trust, Private (prairie inholdings). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 7W?
- 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 7W on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.