GMU 9 Unit 9 — Flagstaff
A trophy-caliber bull elk unit running up to the rim of the Grand Canyon.
Grand Canyon south rim country — Kaibab NF (Tusayan) · Last reviewed 2026-07-13
Area
1,069
sq mi
Public land
88%
approx.
Elevation
4,000–7,900
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 9 stretches north of Williams and Valle up to the south rim of the Grand Canyon, taking in the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. It is one of Arizona's marquee limited-entry elk units, known for producing outstanding bulls, and it also carries a strong pronghorn hunt on its open plains plus deer, a rare desert bighorn tag in the canyon breaks, and incidental bear. Grand Canyon National Park forms the northern boundary and is closed to hunting.
Terrain
High ponderosa and pinyon-juniper plateau rolling north toward the Grand Canyon rim near 7,900 ft at Grandview, breaking off into the sheer side canyons and desert benches of the Canyon itself.
Cover: Ponderosa pine and open grassy parks up high, giving way to expansive pinyon-juniper and grassland plains to the south; sparse desert brush and cliff faces along the canyon breaks.
Landmarks: Grand Canyon South Rim · Tusayan · Coconino Rim · Red Butte · Valle / Grandview
Access
Mostly Kaibab National Forest reached off Highways 64 and 180 with a good forest-road network, though the northern rim country closes with winter snow. Grand Canyon National Park along the north is closed to hunting — know the boundary. Havasupai tribal land on the western edge is not open to AZGFD hunting. State Trust parcels need an Arizona State Land recreation permit.
Managers: USFS Kaibab NF (Tusayan RD), Grand Canyon NP (closed to hunting), AZ State Trust, Tribal — Havasupai (closed, west edge), Private (Valle/Tusayan)
Access points: Tusayan (Hwy 64) · Valle (Hwy 64/180 junction) · Coconino Rim Road (FR 302) · FR 320 / FR 328 forest grid
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common trophyThe signature hunt — a coveted limited-entry unit that produces big, old-age-class bulls in the ponderosa parks and rim country, with the top bulls falling on the rifle rut hunts.
- →Glass and bugle the meadow-timber edges and rim parks at dawn and dusk
- →Sit water tanks in dry early archery seasons
- →Hunt the Coconino Rim and roadless pockets for undisturbed mature bulls
- →Time rifle rut hunts to catch bugling bulls in the open parks
Pronghorn
common qualityAn excellent, tightly managed pronghorn hunt on the wide grassland plains — one of the better success rates in the region and genuinely good buck quality.
- →Glass the open plains from high points and cinder rises
- →Spot from a vehicle then make a low, flat stalk
- →Sit water in dry stretches — pronghorn key on it
- →Use terrain folds and washes to close distance in the open
Mule Deer
common opportunityA dependable mule deer resource through the pinyon-juniper and forest-fringe country — moderate success, best treated as a solid opportunity hunt.
- →Glass pinyon-juniper edges and small draws at first light
- →Hunt the transition between ponderosa timber and lower brush
- →Work the rim and canyon-break country for less-pressured deer
- →Still-hunt shaded bedding pockets midday
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyDesert bighorn hold the rugged Grand Canyon side-canyon breaks — an extremely rare, essentially once-in-a-lifetime tag with a tiny quota.
- →Long-range glass the cliff faces and ledges along the canyon breaks at dawn
- →Expect steep, physical, foot-only country
- →Hunt the rim-to-canyon rock country where sheep water and feed
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bear are present but thin in the higher timber and canyon oak brush; a very lightly harvested species taken mostly incidental to other hunts.
- →Glass oak brush and timbered canyon slopes in early fall
- →Check acorn and berry pockets near the rim
- →Cover ground glassing — spot-and-stalk opportunistically
Pro tips
- →This is a trophy-elk draw — build points; there is no OTC bull hunt here.
- →Know exactly where the Grand Canyon National Park boundary is — it's closed to hunting.
- →Haul water and sit tanks on the southern plains for both elk and pronghorn in dry years.
- →The Coconino Rim and roadless pockets hold the least-pressured bulls and deer.
- →Avoid Havasupai tribal land on the western edge — it is not open to AZGFD hunting.
Watch out for
- !Grand Canyon National Park (northern boundary) is closed to hunting — know the line.
- !Havasupai tribal land on the west edge is closed to general AZGFD hunting.
- !State Trust parcels require an Arizona State Land recreation permit.
- !Water is scarce on the southern plains — carry your own and scout tanks.
- !Early snow can close or slick the higher rim forest roads; carry recovery gear. Fire restrictions common in dry years.
Logistics
Tusayan and Valle offer fuel and limited services near the Grand Canyon, but plan to resupply fully in Williams or Flagstaff. Dispersed camping on the Kaibab NF is standard. Water is scarce on the southern plains — haul your own — and forest roads near the rim turn greasy and can drift with snow.
Nearest towns: Tusayan, Valle, Williams, Flagstaff
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Arizona sources:
Research sources: AZGFD — Hunt Arizona (unit harvest & guidelines) · USFS — Kaibab National Forest · NPS — Grand Canyon National Park (hunting closed)
FAQ
- How big is GMU 9 in Arizona?
- GMU 9 (Unit 9 — Flagstaff) covers about 1,069 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,000 to 7,900 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 9?
- Approximately 88% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Kaibab NF (Tusayan RD), Grand Canyon NP (closed to hunting), AZ State Trust, Tribal — Havasupai (closed, west edge), Private (Valle/Tusayan). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 9?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep, 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 9 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.