Mule Deer

This unit is primarily winter range for migratory deer from both the North Kaibab Plateau in Arizona and from the Paunsaugunt Plateau in southern Utah. Elevation ranges from 4000 to 7000 feet with vegetation consisting primarily of pinion-juniper and sagebrush.

Migration studies conducted from 1996 to 1999 have shown that a portion of deer which summer on the Paunsaugunt will cross the state line to winter in Arizona. Paunsaugunt deer arrive in Unit 12B in mid-October and their movements extend southward about 8 miles into Arizona. Deer from the North Kaibab also migrate northward to merge with the Utah deer in early-November.

The Alternative Deer Management Plan provides the guidelines for which decisions on hunt recommendations are made. For the late hunt, management is oriented toward harvesting older aged deer, having high hunter success, and low density of hunters afield. The early hunt is managed for hunter opportunity and usually occurs during the early part of the deer migration. The older-age class bucks typically are not found this early and younger bucks are much more available on the early hunt. The average deer harvested on the early hunt is 2 years of age. Many hunters go home disappointed that they did not see big bucks on the early hunt, but every hunter should do their homework and know what they should expect on a hunt before setting high expectations.

The majority of the unit is public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management, Arizona Strip District, 345 E. Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84770, phone (435) 688-3200.

The central part of Unit 12B, The Buckskins, contain the highest deer densities and is where most of the migratory deer congregate. The east half of Unit 12B, the Paria Plateau, has a low-density resident deer population and deer do not migrate into this area. Most hunters who are not familiar with the Paria Plateau, but try to hunt it, end up frustrated at the difficult access and the lack of deer. Again, hunters should do their homework and scouting so they know what they are getting into.

The most popular deer hunting area is Buckskin Mountain, which is actually the northern extension of the North Kaibab Plateau. It is best to hunt this area after mid-October. The southwestern portion of Unit 12B (Pigeon Canyon, Gunsight Point) is where Kaibab deer congregate. It is best to hunt this area after early November due to differences in the timing of their migration. Deer can be found out in the sage-brush flats, but it usually takes some weather to push the deer out to these areas. Most of the unit has high road densities in which very few roads are marked.