*There are currently no Population Management Seasons for buffalo or elk tags available for successfully drawn deer hunters in Units 12B or 12BW.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission authorized over-the-counter (OTC) elk tags that include units 12A and 12B and others (see regulations). Please contact any department office for additional information or to purchase an elk OTC tag. Hunters should note, the OTC elk tag is not a companion or corresponding tag and has its own hunting season dates, areas and other restrictions.

Over-the-counter elk seasons are described on page 23 of the 2010 pronghorn antelope and elk regulations.

Hunters interested in purchasing an elk tag should be aware that this unit has few elk and is considered a limited opportunity hunt. Hunt sucess is very low for this hunt. During the cooler months, elk will occasionally move south to the Kaibab from southern Utah. In the last couple of years, only a few elk have been spotted along the 12A/ 12B/12BW boundary on the west side of the Kaibab Plateau. The Grand Canyon National Park is not open to hunting. Learn more

Overview: Desert bighorn sheep were eliminated from Unit 12B in the early 1900's probably due to diseases they received from interacting with domestic sheep. Large numbers of domestic sheep grazed on the Paria Plateau, Vermilion Cliffs, and Paria Canyon until the 1960's when the Bureau of Land Management converted all grazing permits to cattle only. A total of 52 desert bighorn sheep were transplanted in the Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs area in 1984 and 1985 from unit 15B near Lake Mead.  The population grew to about 160 bighorns within the first 8 years but began to slowly decline in the mid-90s.  The current population estimate is around 150 sheep. Although prolonged drought has affected the production and recruitment of lambs, more lambs and young sheep have been observed in the last couple years.  From  2000 - 2008, there have been 1 to 2 permits issued per year with hunt success around 100%. In October of 2009 an extensive survey of the unit revealed that bighorn now occupy a larger area than that previously documented. As a result of this survey the population estimate was increased and the tags available for the 2009 hunt were increased to three. The average Boone and Crockett score for the last 3 years has been in the low to mid-150s.

Notice: Archery deer hunters - Unit 12B and 12B West are not an open area for over-the-counter tag holders as of April, 2008. To hunt Unit 12B or 12B you must now obtain a permt-tag through the big game draw process. Click here for more details.

Important Note: (See unit description under Unit Boundaries)  12BW includes the Buckskins to the north of the Kaibab and the west side winter range including Pigeon Canyon and Gunsight Point. It excludes the Paria Plateau and any areas east of BLM road 1065.  Hunters with a 12B permit (vs. 12BW permit) may hunt the Paria Plateau as well as the rest of the Unit. Permit numbers for the 12B hunt are very limited. The separation of 12BW from 12B was designed to limit the number of hunters and the deer harvest on the Paria Plateau, but not restrict a hunter with a 12B permit to only hunting the Paria Plateau.  This was put into place to address concerns about the small resident deer population on the Paria Plateau which can be greatly affected by drought and low fawn production.  Hunters who have no desire to hunt the Paria Plateau and want to hunt the Buckskins or the west side winter range should apply for a 12B West permit. Likewise, hunters who want to hunt the Paria Plateau must apply for a 12B permit. 

Overview: This unit is primarily winter range for migratory deer from both the North Kaibab Plateau in Arizona and from the Paunsaugant Plateau in southern Utah. Elevation ranges from 4000 to 7000 feet with vegetation consisting primarily of pinion-juniper and sagebrush flats.  Studies have shown that the Paunsaugunt deer arrive in Unit 12B in mid-October through early November, extending southward about 8 miles into Arizona. Deer from the North Kaibab start migrating northward to merge with the Utah deer in early-November.  Very few deer reside in 12BW year round, making it difficult to hunt during the archery season in September.

The central part of the unit, the Buckskin Mountains, contains the highest deer densities and is best to hunt after mid-October.  The Paria Plateau to the east has the lowest number of deer.  This is a small resident herd and is not part of the deer that migrate from Paunsaugunt or the Kaibab.  

The Alternative Deer Management Plan provides the guidelines for which decisions on hunt recommendations are made. The early hunt is managed for hunter opportunity and usually occurs during the early part of the deer migration, thus few older-age class bucks are found during the early hunt.  Majority of the deer harvested on the early hunt are younger bucks around 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.  Unlike the early hunt, the late hunt is managed for harvesting older aged deer, having high hunter success, and low density of hunters. 

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. 

Areas: The Buckskin Mountains in the central portion of the unit contains the highest densities of deer and is best to hunt after mid-October.  As the weather continues to cool down and the snow fall increases, Kaibab deer from the western portion of the plateau move down towards Pigeon Canyon, Toothpick Ridge and Gunsight Point, making this area best after early November. 

If you have a 12B tag and are trying to decide whether to hunt 12BW or the Paria Plateau, there are a few additional things that you should consider.  The Paria Plateau in eastern 12B has the lowest density of deer and is not part of the migratory herds from the Kaibab Plateau or the Paunsaugant.  Access to the Paria Plateau can be difficult and deer difficult to find so scouting before the hunt is extremely important. 

If you are deciding whether to put in for the draw for the 12B or 12BW archery hunt, there is a few things that you should know first.  Archery hunts anywhere in 12B are very difficult, with the hunt success typically between 0 and 9% as the available deer are very limited.  North Kaibab and Paunsaugunt herds have not yet migrated into the unit and generally do not start to do so until a month or so after the archery hunt is over.  There are a few resident herds scattered across 12B, making this hunt very similar to archery hunting in desert.  These herds will be closely tied to water sources in the absence of rain and will typically be located at higher elevations.    

During the early 12B hunts, deer are typically concentrated in the pinyon-juniper and along meadow edges at higher elevations in the Buckskins, southwest toward Snake Gulch.  Scouting is recommended only a week or two prior to the start of the hunt, due to the nature of the migration pattern. 

Deer begin to move down from the top Buckskin Mountains to the pinyon-juniper and sagebrush flats as the snow pushes them off the plateau during the late hunt.  Depending on the amount of snow fall, Pigeon Canyon and Gunsight Point to the west are generally best after early November.  Deer are can be found in the open sagebrush flats, but not until snow pushes them out of the trees.

No motor vehicles are allowed in the Paria Canyon/Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area. These areas are open to foot and horseback travel only. Motor vehicle travel is restricted to existing roads on all BLM land in the Unit. No off-road travel by motor vehicles is allowed. Be prepared for snow, mud, and adverse weather conditions, and bring plenty of supplies. Very few services are available for gas and food.

Overview: Chukar Partridge is an overlooked game bird in this unit. This exotic game bird, native to the Middle East, was introduced into various areas in Arizona.  This bird was first documented in 12B in Paria Canyon, but has since been regularly observed along the Kanab Creek/ Snake Gulch drainage.  Chukar also been occasionally observed in drainages to the Colorado River and along the Vermillion Cliffs in the wilderness area in 12BE. 

Areas: Chukar are found throughout the Kanab Creek drainage and associated side canyons and in Paria Canyon and Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area. This game bird tends to concentrate around water sources, especially along steep cliffs. 

Chukars are generally found within the lower 8 or 9 miles of Paria Canyon, along the rim of the Paria Plateau, and at spring sources along the Vermilion Cliffs.  The majority of Chukar observed along the rim of the Paria Plateau are in the vicinity of Bush Head, Powell's Monument, and Fisher Point.  Hunting in the bottom of the Paria Canyon requires hiking with wet feet in sandy terrain along the Paria River. Birds can sometimes be found along the Paria River, but they generally occupy the upper benches along the cliffs, high above the river.  Other areas to consider are Badger Springs and Soap Spring along the Vermillion Cliffs within the wilderness area.  There are no easy ways to hunt them, but the breath-taking scenery makes it a great place to try.