Beginning at AZ Hwy 69 and U.S. Hwy 89 (in Prescott); northerly on U.S. Hwy 89 to the Verde River; easterly along the Verde River to I-17; southwesterly on the southbound lane of I-17 to AZ Hwy 69; northwesterly on AZ Hwy 69 to U.S. Hwy 89; except those portions that are sovereign tribal lands of the Yavapai-Prescott Tribe and the Yavapai-Apache Nation.
Overview: Unit 19A frequently produces record-book antelope bucks, and has some of the highest antelope densities in Arizona. Herds are currently doing well with high fawn survival. Unfortunately, habitat loss is occurring at a rapid rate due to development of private lands. Many popular hunting areas are slated for future development. Much of the unit's antelope population lives in or near the Town of Prescott Valley. Special regulations and town ordinances apply here, including a prohibition on the discharge of weapons within city limits or within ¼ mile of a building or roadway.
Areas: For archery: See current hunt regulations for open hunt areas. The open archery hunt area is the portion of unit 19A east of Robert Road in Prescott Valley, and the portion of the unit between highways 89A and 169. No archery hunting is allowed north of Highway 89A, or west of Robert Road. This hunt is not a wilderness experience. The open hunt area is in close proximity to an urban area and high hunter densities are typical. Be courteous of others -- other hunters keep antelope moving around. These hunts are during the rut and use of antelope decoys may be effective, as are blinds near water sources. Water sources are in high demand by hunters for blind locations. Set up your blind early to establish your site, but hunters must be tolerant of others also wanting to use the area. Remove all blinds following the hunt. Be mindful of your image as a sportsman and be courteous of Prescott Valley residents. Many residents are non-hunters and enjoy the presence of antelope near town. Be respectful by not walking through yards or dragging dead antelope past neighborhoods. Most hunting east of Prescott Valley is on the Fain Ranch and access is allowed by foot only. If accessing the area from Fain Road, absolutely no vehicle travel is permitted off the main paved road. Access to hunters may be denied at any time by the ranch if this rule is violated. Because these hunts are during the rut, bucks are relatively easy to stalk. Watch for a buck that is chasing does or actively driving off other bucks. When this buck circles out of sight, move into this area and wait behind any available cover. Many times the buck will return and continue to recklessly defend this area. These hunts occur during hot weather. Remove harvested antelope quickly and cool the meat as soon as possible to prevent meat spoilage.
For rifle hunts south of Highway 89A, see the current hunt regulations for open hunt areas. The western boundary of this hunt area changed in 2004. The new western boundary is the new paved Fain Road.
Firearms hunters in this area need to be aware of Prescott Valley Town Ordinances regarding discharge of weapons. Also, there are subdivisions and a fairgrounds/race track complex at the north end of the area. There are developed areas and a ranch head quarters at the south end of the area. Be advised, laws pertaining to unsafe use of firearms and other violations will be strictly enforced. The best morning glassing locations are off Forest Service Road 643, where a hunter can sit in the foothills, looking into the valley with the sun at their back. As with the archery hunts, no vehicle travel is permitted on Fain Ranch. Foot access, however, is allowed.
For hunts north of Highway 89A, see current regulations for open hunt areas. Hunting access in this area is quite limited and most of the pronghorn habitat here is privately owned. Hunters should obtain access permission here before applying for this hunt. Many of the ranches here require written permission before access is granted. Obtain a Forest Service map, which shows private, State Trust, and public land designations. Scout the area well in advance; identify land ownership, and request permission of the landowner if the area you wish to hunt is on private land. Some of these requests are declined.
Overview: Black bear hunting had been closed in Unit 19A for approximately 15 years. The population grew to be able to support a hunt starting with the 2001 season. Unit 19A started with a conservative, late-October season, but in 2003 the unit was able to offer an earlier hunt date as the population continued to increase. Black bears are more vulnerable to hunting in late August and early September, when they travel to low elevation hillsides to feed on the ripening prickly pear cactus fruit. Beginning in the Fall of 2006, the 19A bear season was moved back to October in an effort to simplify and standardize hunting seasons throughout the state. By this time of year, most bears have moved with the food source; leaving prickly pear stands and feeding on acorns in the more remote canyons. Please review the hunting regulations for information and the phone number to determine if the unit remains open to bear hunting prior to your hunt, and for required harvest reporting procedures. A mandatory physical check in of all harvested black bears is now required within 10 days of harvesting a bear.
Areas: During most of the year, the unit's bears live in the upper steep canyons of Mingus Mountain and Woodchute Mountain, which contain thick vegetation and permanent water sources. In late August and September, bears move lower in elevation to find ripening prickly pear cactus fruit. When this supply runs out, and as bears are trying to put on fat for the winter, they look for patches of oak trees that produced good crops of acorns. The best acorn patches change from year-to-year and require pre-season scouting.
Overview: The elk population in Unit 19A is relatively low. A small archery bull hunt has been offered here annually since 1993. A rifle bull hunt and a rifle cow hunts were added in the past few years, as the elk herd have expanded. Check stock tanks for elk use prior to the season. Areas of elk concentrations change somewhat year-to-year, depending on localized summer rainfall filling stock tanks and greening up vegetation. Monsoon-type storms during the archery bull hunt briefly intensify elk rutting behavior, aiding hunters who stay afield. Most elk in Unit 19A are relatively low in elevation and temperatures are still warm during the archery hunt. Plan ahead to make sure your hunting location and your elk removal/field care procedures allow meat to be cooled quickly after harvest to prevent spoilage. Cold storage facilities are located in the surrounding towns of Camp Verde, Dewey, and Chino Valley.
Areas: Most elk in Unit 19A are in the juniper and shrub oak habitat types -- lower in elevation than hunters would expect. These areas have dense vegetation cover, so stalking may be difficult at times. The Prescott National Forest map identifies the following locations where most of the unit's elk are found: Onion Mountain (just north of the I-17/Hwy 169 junction), Boulder Canyon, upper Cherry Creek, Powell Springs, Goat Peak (note that some of this area burned during the summer of 2003), upper Ash Creek, and Burnt Canyon between Forest Service roads 413 and 132. Lower elk densities are found west of Woodchute Wilderness in Martin Canyon and CCC Canyon, northwest of Woodchute Wilderness in Munds Draw and Wildcat Draw, and near the Verde River from of Forest Service Road 638 downstream to Perkinsville (at the junction of County Roads 70/72).
Overview: The 19A javelina herd is showing an increasing trend. The most recent survey classified the highest number of javelina in five years. The average herd size was 8.3 animals and the juvenile-to-adult ratio was 23:100. Habitat conditions have been excellent. Javelina hunts take place during the winter rainy season, so please be mindful of Forest Service road closure signs to prevent these roads from being torn up and possibly getting your vehicle stuck. Rules pertaining to off-highway travel and road damage are strictly enforced. The key to successful javelina hunting is spending a lot of time glassing. Remember that javelina are fair weather creatures and are most active during periods of good weather.
Areas: Good bets for glassing javelina are the east and west foothills of Mingus Mountain. The terrain here allows you to see for a long way. Other areas with good concentrations of javelina include Copper Mountain (northeast of the town of Mayer), Ash Creek (from just north of Highway 169 to south of the highway), the Agua Fria River drainage (from the town of Dewey southeast to Interstate 17), and the canyons north of Orme School (northwest of the Interstate 17/Orme Road junction, near the confluence of Ash Creek and Cienega Creek).
Overview: Each year, between two and six lions are reported harvested from Unit 19A. Most of these lions are taken with the assistance of hounds during the winter months, when lion sign is easier to locate in the snow. Other methods of hunting lions are varmint calling and glassing for lions with binoculars. Please note that all successful lion hunters must present their lion to the Arizona Game and Fish Department within 10 days for a mandatory physical check in.
Areas: Lions can be found unit-wide since individual adult lions can have large territories. Good lion habitat is generally rocky canyons that have at least some dense patches of brush. Nearby water is also helpful in locating lions. Check the mud around stock tanks for lion tracks. Some areas in Unit 19A to hunt include: north central (the canyons draining north into the Verde River), west side of Woodchute Wilderness, west side of Mingus Mountain (from Hickey Mountain to Tex Canyon), south of Mingus Mountain (from Ash Creek to Table Mountain), south of Highway 169 (near the Cienega Creek, Ash Creek, and Agua Fria River drainages).
Overview: Mule deer numbers in Unit 19A have declined over the past decade, as they have statewide. Because of the reduced deer numbers, the early (Aug./Sept.) archery deer hunt has been retained in Unit 19A, but the late archery deer hunt (mid-December through January) was removed in 1998/1999, until the population recovers. The Coues whitetail deer population in Unit 19A seems more stable, although there have always been relatively few whitetail in the unit. Access to the west side of Mingus Mountain north of Hwy 89A has become limited due to new housing developments -- it is best to reach this area from Perkinsville Road (County Road 70) off of State Highway 89 in Chino Valley. The area immediately east of Watson Lake is private land. Obtain permission before hunting this area. On the top of Mingus Mountain is a Forest Service recreation area, which encompasses some private homes, the Forest Service's Mingus Campground, the fire lookout tower, the Methodist Church Camp, and Mingus Lake at Elks Well. No discharge of firearms is allowed in this recreation area. Also, per state regulations, no firearms may be discharged within 1/4 mile of any building without permission of the owner.
Areas: During the fall archery hunt, and during mild weather conditions for the rifle hunt, many deer are in the Ponderosa pine habitat type on top of Mingus Mountain and in the juniper habitat type on the sides of Mingus Mountain. The Woodchute Wilderness Area and the west side of Mingus Mountain are good hunting areas at this time. After cold weather sets in (snow is possible at higher elevations during the opening weekend of the rifle hunt), many deer move to lower elevations -- to areas north of St. Matthews Mountain and towards the Verde River, and the lower foothills of Mingus Mountain and Woodchute Mountain. ATV habitat damage has led to the Forest Service closing most of the roads to the Verde River. As with all roads on the Prescott National Forest, if a road is not marked with a road number, it is designated as closed. Please observe all Forest Service road closures.
Overview: Unit 19A has limited hunting of tree squirrels. Although the unit has both Abert’s and red squirrels, it does not have much squirrel habitat (stands of pine/fir). Much of the pine type is located on top of Mingus Mountain, within a Forest Service recreation area -- where hunting is prohibited. Some areas to try on top of Mingus Mountain include Gaddes Canyon, Burnt Canyon, upper end of Black Canyon, and the upper end of Ash Creek.
Overview: Unit 19A appears to have a fair/good outlook. Good early spring rains helped vegetation and seed production for young quail. Quail are still hatching eggs, with several clutches already on the ground. Hunt brushy hillsides in close proximity to permanent water. Many quail hunters use pointing dogs toward the south end of Unit 19A because of the absence of cholla cactus, and because of hunters' familiarity with the area from the numerous field trials east of Orme Road.
Areas: East of the Town of Chino Valley and north of Perkinsville Road (County Road 70). Western foothills of Mingus Mountain. Agua Fria River drainage south of Highway 169. Brushy hills north of Highway 169.
Other
Pertinent Climate Information Climate
varies considerably
within this unit,
with Camp Verde at
3,300' elevation
and Mingus Mountain
at 7,800'. Winter
precipitation often
comes as rainfall
at the lower elevations
and snowfall at the
higher
Cities,
Roads & Campgrounds
Major
Cities and Towns in or Near Game
Management Unit and Nearest Gas,
Food, and Lodging Cottonwood/Camp
Verde, Cordes Junction, Prescott/Prescott
Valley, Chino Valley
Major
Highways and Roads Leading To From
the East: State Hwy 260 From
the West: State Hwy
89
From the North: Interstate 17, State
Hwy 89A
From the South: Interstate 17
Developed
Campgrounds Potato
Patch and Mingus
Mountain are forest
Service campgrounds
(Prescott National
Forest) at the top
of Mingus Mountain
near State Hwy 89A.
The Forest Service
Powell Springs Campground
is located near the
town of Cherry at
5,300' elevation.
Undeveloped
Campgrounds Camping
is allowed on Forest
Service and BLM-administered
public lands within
the unit.
Brief
Description of Terrain, Elevation,
and Vegetation
Elevation ranges from 3,300' to 7,800'. At the lowest elevation,
near the Verde River, riparian vegetation of cottonwood-willow
persists. The western edge of the unit near Prescott Valley
and Chino Valley supports open grasslands. Chaparral-association
plant species dominate the foothills and lower slopes of Mingus
Mountain and Woodchute Mountain. These species give way to
juniper and ponderosa pine at the higher elevations.
Government
Agencies and Phone Numbers Arizona
Game and Fish Department, Region
III - 928 692-7700
Prescott National Forest, Verde Ranger District - 928 567-4121
Prescott National Forest, Chino Ranger District - 928 636-2302
Jerome Historic State Park - 928 634-5381
National Park Service, Tuzigoot National Monument - 928 634-5564
Montezuma Castle National Monument - 928 567-3322
