Black Bear

The black bear population in Unit 27 has been stable to increasing in recent years, with annual harvests of up to 60 bears occurring. The outlook for the upcoming bear-hunting season is excellent.

While bears may be found literally throughout the entire unit, hunters should concentrate their efforts in the northern two-thirds to maximize their chances of success. The pinyon-juniper, ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, and spruce-fir forest types in the northern two-thirds of the unit support the greatest concentrations of bears.

There are currently three separate seasons for bear hunting in Unit 27. They each have sow harvest objectives to regulate the harvest of female bears, thus ensuring the reproductive health of the population. There are two non-permit hunts (tags available over the counter) during the fall, and one permit hunt during the spring (tags must be obtained through the spring draw). The first fall hunt begins in late August (refer to the current hunt regulations) and continues through early October, or until the sow harvest objective is reached. The second fall hunt is open early October to December 31, or until the sow harvest objective is reached. The spring hunt is open from late March to late April (refer to the current spring hunting regulations).

The most successful methods for hunting bears are glassing, calling, and pursuit with hounds. Hunters in mid to lower elevations have been successful in locating bears by glassing open slopes containing an abundance of food plants that bears prefer, such as prickly pear cactus or acorn-producing oaks. Using a predator call can be an exciting and effective method to bring the animals to the hunter. Calling "stands" should be fairly long, up to 45 minutes per stand, as bears may come in very slowly to the call. Pursuit with trained hounds is probably the most effective method for hunting bears. Because a pack of trained hounds is expensive and time-consuming to put together, hunters may wish to book the services of a professional guide who uses hounds. A list of licensed outfitter-guides operating in Unit 27 may be obtained by calling the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest at (928) 333-4301. Maps can also be obtained by calling this same number.

Areas: To get to Unit 27, take Hwy 191 south from Springerville, or, for hunters coming from the southern parts of Arizona, take Hwy 191 north from Clifton.

Good areas for the early fall hunt would include most of the high elevations above the Mogollon Rim from Alpine to Hannagan Meadow. Below the Mogollon Rim, the Upper Eagle Creek watershed and the areas west of Maple Peak (Wild Bunch Canyon, Mud Springs Canyon) have produced many bears recently. Focus on small riparian canyons and areas with abundant Gambel oak.

Hotspots for late season hunting include areas just under the Mogollon Rim in the Blue River and Eagle Creek watersheds. Look for steep, forested slopes and canyon heads where male bears will stage prior to hibernating. These same areas will be good for the spring hunt, as the boars will again stage in these rough and remote locations after emerging from their winter dens.

Special Regulations: Bear hunters should be familiar with the following laws and regulations prior to going bear hunting:

· Hunters are responsible for calling 1-800-970-BEAR before going hunting to determine if their desired hunt is still open (that the sow harvest objective has not been met).

· Successful bear hunters must report the harvest of a bear within 48 hours of taking the bear, either in person at any Department office or by calling 1-800-970-BEAR. In addition, successful hunters shall provide a premolar tooth from the bear taken to the Phoenix office of the Arizona Game and Fish Department within 20 days after contacting the Department.

· Female bears with cubs are not lawful for harvest. Care must be taken to look for the presence of cubs with all bears considered for harvest.

· Baiting is not lawful for bear hunting.

· The use of hounds is not lawful during the spring season.

Bighorn Sheep

Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep were transplanted from Colorado to the northern portion of Unit 27 in 1979 and 1980. This hugely successful transplant has resulted in a current population of 150 to 200 bighorns in the Foote Creek hunt area of northern Unit 27. The current state record Rocky Mountain ram, which scored 190 7/8 points, was harvested here in 1995. The average score of rams harvested in this hunt area runs in the high 170's.

The Foote Creek bighorn herd occupies some 25 to 30 square miles of rugged country at the northern tip of the Blue Range Primitive Area. The center of this range lies near the forks of Foote Creek at Horse Ridge. Topography is composed of steep, rocky canyons and cliffs, with pinyon-juniper and mahogany-oak browse vegetation communities dominant.

Because the Primitive Area is managed as wilderness, all access to the bighorn range is by foot or horseback only. Hunters usually travel four to six miles from the selected trailhead by foot or horseback to access the core of the bighorn range. Because of the rugged terrain and travel distances involved, sportsmen are strongly encouraged to use horses and mules when hunting the Foote Creek bighorn herd. Packing in a spike camp into the Primitive Area to hunt from is also recommended.

Hunters successful in drawing this once in a lifetime hunting opportunity would be strongly advised to book the services of an outfitter-guide experienced in hunting with horses in this remote area if they do not have access to mountain-seasoned horses or mules. A list of outfitter-guides licensed to operate in this area can be obtained by calling the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest Alpine Ranger District at (928) 339-4384. Forest Service maps can also be obtained by calling the Alpine Ranger District.

As bighorns are usually highly visible and not as elusive as other big game, the most difficult aspect of hunting bighorn is negotiating the rugged terrain they inhabit. Essential equipment for a successful bighorn hunt would include: good, quality hiking boots; spotting scope and binoculars; a flat-shooting rifle with telescopic sight; and plenty of help to pack out your trophy. Pack-out weights for bighorn rams (boned out meat, plus head and cape) commonly exceed 200 pounds.

Areas: Take Hwy 191 south from Springerville to Alpine. From Alpine, take Hwy 180 east to Forest Road 281 (adjacent to Luna Lake). Go down FR 281 south approximately 15 miles to the Foote Creek or Tutt Creek Trailheads. The most commonly used trails to access the bighorn range are Forest Service Trails 76 and 105, which begin at the Foote Creek and Tutt Creek Trailheads. Access may also be seasonally obtained at the Horse Ridge and Red Hill Trailheads just east of Hwy 191, some eleven miles south of Alpine, but early winter snows may make these trailheads unavailable for vehicle access.

Once within the bighorn range, popular glassing locations to spot sheep include Horse Ridge and Sissy Point. Refer to the appropriate USGS topographic map to locate these landmarks.

Special Regulations: All successful bighorn hunters must personally submit the intact horns and skull of their bighorn for inspection at a Department office within three days of the close of the season. Even if unsuccessful, hunters are still required to check out through a Department office within three days of the close of the season. Sportsmen hunting the Foote Creek area are encouraged to checkout their bighorn at the Pinetop Regional office. Checkouts at the Pinetop office are done between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday though Friday, or after hours and on weekends by appointment. Call (928) 367-4281 to make an appointment.

Because the Blue Range Primitive Area is managed for wilderness values, use of any mechanized device, such as a vehicle, bicycle, or chain saw, is prohibited. Hunters are encouraged to visit with the Alpine Ranger District Wilderness Staff for appropriate, low impact camping techniques and other wilderness restrictions.

Elk

Unit 27 currently offers elk seasons throughout the fall. Early fall hunt seasons that coincide with the elk breeding period include archery-only, in which both bull and antlerless permits are available, and early firearms bull, which is limited to muzzle-loading rifles every third year. A late firearms bull season is offered during late November. All elk permits must be obtained though the permit draw process. Because the quality of Arizona's bull elk hunts has become widely known, permits to hunt bull elk in Arizona are difficult to obtain. Drawing odds for an early firearms bull tag in Unit 27 can be as low as 1%, meaning only one out of one hundred applicants will be drawn for a tag. However, hunters willing to pursue antlerless elk during the archery season have better than 50% odds of being drawn.

Elk are widely distributed throughout the northern half of Unit 27. The opportunistic elk is thriving in habitats ranging from pinyon-juniper woodlands in lower elevations to spruce-fir forests at higher elevations. Hunters pursuing elk during September and October should have no problem finding plenty of animals, both bulls and cows, on high elevation summer range located above the Mogollon Rim. Late season hunters will have to brave the rugged, winter range country located below the Mogollon Rim, in the Blue River and Eagle Creek watersheds, if they hope to harvest a mature bull. These mature bulls commonly migrate down in elevation to winter range in late October, regardless of weather or the presence of snow!

Late season bull hunters would be well advised to use horses or plan on arduous backpacking, both to access areas with concentrations of mature bulls and to pack out their meat and trophies. Late season hunters may wish to consider hiring the services of an outfitter-guide experienced in hunting these rugged and remote winter range areas. A list of outfitter-guides licensed to operate in Unit 27 can be obtained by calling the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest at (928) 333-4301. Forest Service maps can also be obtained by calling this same number.

Early season bull elk hunting tactics involve using bugles and cow calls to draw rutting bulls in close enough for a shot. Tree stands placed on water sources, elk trails, or salt licks have also proven successful for early season hunters. Antlerless hunters may have to rely on the more difficult tactic of still-hunting through feeding or bedding areas, and stalking in close enough for a shot. Late season tactics are similar to those for hunting deer. Successful late season tactics involve glassing with binoculars from vantage points at first light to locate bulls, and then executing a stalk to get within rifle range of the selected elk.

Areas: Take Hwy 191 south from Springerville to Alpine to access the northern portion of the unit. Hunters driving from the southern parts of the state may wish to take Hwy 191 north from Clifton.

As previously mentioned, early season hunters will find elk well distributed along their summer range above the Mogollon Rim. Look for elk in feeding areas along riparian bottoms, wet cienegas, and open meadows in the early morning. Move to heavy timber on north facing slopes where elk commonly bed by mid-morning. During the late afternoon, hunters may intercept elk moving back into feeding areas.

A growing number of elk have established resident populations below the Mogollon Rim, particularly in the Upper Eagle Creek watershed, Mud Springs, Rose Peak, Red Mountain, and Alma Mesa areas. Resident elk can be found year-round, and these less hunted populations can be highly productive for hunters willing to expend the effort required to hunt there. These areas have become highly popular with guides and outfitters for hunting mature age-class bulls.

October antlerless hunters will find elk in the same locations as those in the early season. Additionally, October antlerless hunters may wish to hunt the area along the upper Blue River. Forest Road (FR) 281, heading south from Alpine, accesses the upper Blue River where a relatively new resident elk herd has become established.

Late season bull elk hunters will find groups of cows, calves, and young bulls in the summer range areas, but most of the mature bulls will have migrated to the relatively roadless winter range by the start of the hunt. Access to winter range areas in the Blue River area can be obtained by taking FR 281 south from Alpine. Eagle Creek winter range areas can be accessed from Hwy 191 or by taking FR 217 west from Hwy 191 to Eagle Creek.

Special Regulations: Firearms and muzzleloader elk hunters need to be aware that the Alpine Valley is closed to elk hunting during all firearms and muzzleloader elk hunts. This closure has been enacted at the request of the residents of Alpine for public safety reasons. Refer to the footnotes in Commission Order 4 (elk) within the Hunting Regulations for specific details of the closure.

Mule Deer

Unit 27 is home to a diversity of landscapes. The elevation ranges from 3500 feet at Clifton to 9300 feet at the Mogollon Rim. The unit then slopes to 8000 feet at Alpine. Going north on Hwy 191, you pass through several vegetation zones. The area around Clifton is semi-desert, followed by chaparral, pinyon-juniper, ponderosa pine, and spruce-fir at the Rim. Proceeding towards Alpine, you go through mixed conifers and ponderosa pine. All the area north of the Rim is high pine country.

Vehicle access north of the Rim is abundant. The area has many two-track roads, as well as some main roads that are periodically maintained. All are open for travel, except those that are posted as closed by the Forest Service. The area has several developed campgrounds, and camping in undeveloped sites is allowed everywhere, unless posted as "No Camping." Please obey all rules and regulations. Do not litter, and leave a clean camp.

Vehicle access south of the Rim is limited. The only paved roads are Hwy 191, which runs on a south-north axis from Clifton to Alpine. Another is Hwy 78 in the southern part of the unit. This highway also forms part of the unit's southern boundary. There are three other maintained dirt roads; Forest Road (FR) 475 (Juan Miller), FR 217 (Upper Eagle Creek), and FR 515. FR 475 runs east from Hwy 191 to the Blue River. FR 217 goes west from Hwy 191 then north to Honeymoon Campground. FR 515 is a new four-wheel drive road going from Hwy 191 to FR 217 in Eagle Creek. FR 515 is a 4X4-only hunter access road built by the Forest Service using an Arizona Game and Fish Heritage Grant. It is advisable to acquire an Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest map. All roads and trails can be easily located on the map.

Due to the elevation difference, weather can vary. Rain and/or snow is not uncommon during the deer hunt. Deep snow is common at the higher elevations and present at lower elevations. Cold can be extreme at higher elevations. The unit's rivers and washes can reach flood stage in a short period of time. Be prepared for any kind of weather.

Areas: Mule deer can be found throughout the unit. Most of Unit 27 is comprised of public lands, with the largest landholder being the U.S. Forest Service. The extreme southern part of the unit has some BLM, State Trust, and private lands. There have never been any access problems in the unit, but it is always advisable to check land status when hunting in country you are not familiar with.

Four Bar Mesa - Open grassland area on both sides of US 191, bordered on the east by Turkey Creek and on the west by Sheep Wash. Both are deep, rough canyons. Primary vegetation is pinyon-juniper. This area has probably the highest concentration of mule deer in the unit south of the Rim. This is also an area with a high concentration of hunters. Easy hiking area until you drop into Turkey Creek or Sheep Wash.

FR 475 - FR 475, also called the Juan Miller Road, runs east of US 191. This road is very popular with mule deer hunters, and hunting can be good on either side of this road. Going east on the 475 road, you cross the Blue River. After three miles you come to the Stacy Ranch. This is the start of the Coalson Jeep Trail, which is an extremely rough road that snakes east about 13 miles to the Coalson place. It dead-ends there. Hunting is fair to good all through that area. Again, be advised that this is a very primitive road, and the surrounding area is very rough. Boots with plenty of ankle support are highly recommended and four-wheel drive vehicles are required!

Upper Blue River - This area is excellent mule deer habitat. Access is on FR 281 and FR 567. FR 281 leaves US 180 at Alpine, and proceeds 34 miles to the south. It ends at an old homestead called the Smith Place. With few exceptions, this is the only vehicle access into this area. The land on either side of the roads is the Blue Primitive Area, which is off limits to vehicles. FR 567 leaves US 191 at Beaver Creek and proceeds east and south, joining FR 281 at Blue River. As mentioned, vehicle access is very limited, however, there are plenty of hiking trails. The area is very steep and rough. Be prepared for serious hiking. It is excellent horseback country. Another precaution that must be considered is land status. The Blue River bottom is mostly private land. Be advised that landowners in the area do not allow camping or hunting on their lands. Camp and hunt only on public lands, which are abundant.

North of Mogollon Rim - Mule deer hunting in Unit 27 north of the Mogollon Rim is scattered. This area primarily consists of high pines, and vehicle access is good. The area north and west of Hannagan Meadow can be good. There is lodging and food at Hannagan Meadow Lodge.

Eagle Creek - Leaving US 191 and traveling on FR 217, you come to Eagle Creek. Going east of FR 217 are several roads into areas that offer fair to good hunting. They are FR 515 that goes past Black Mountain and back to US 191. The next one is FR 46, also called the Bear Canyon Road. This road goes east about six miles, ends, and becomes a trail. North of the 46 road is the 49 road, also called the Mud Springs Road. This road also ends and turns into a hiking trail. These areas are mostly pinyon-juniper habitat with some open grasslands.

Other areas - The Hagan Corral area, Strayhorse and Crabtree Canyons are located north of Rose Peak. These can be good hunting for early seasons such as the September archery hunt.

Coues Deer

The largest whitetail deer population in Unit 27 is around the Mitchell Peak / Grey's Peak area, along the southern face of the Mogollon Rim. Hunters report good numbers of deer in this area. In particular, some quality deer are found in the areas around Strayhorse Canyon and Raspberry Canyon. All the areas east and west of the highway and down towards the larger canyons coming off the Mogollon Rim offer good whitetail hunting. This country is rough and steep, and vehicle access is very limited. Hwy 191 runs between Mitchell and Grey's Peak, and climbs the Mogollon Rim at Blue Vista.

The Big Lue Mountains are located on the southern edge of Unit 27. There is fair to good whitetail hunting here. These mountains are in what is commonly known as the Mule Creek area. Again, vehicle access is limited. Access north of the Big Lues is by Hwy 78. FR 212 will get you north of the Big Lues. Vegetation is pinyon-juniper with some open grassland.

Robinson Mesa and Hot Air Canyon have a whitetail deer herd that is increasing in numbers. It can be accessed via FR 217, then by trail #37. The shortest access from Hwy 191 is from Sheep Saddle using trail #16. Vegetation is pinyon-juniper, oak thickets, and chaparral. The area is very brushy, but there are plenty of trails.