Overview: This year (2009) is looking a better rain wise but we are still in a drought cycle. The deer population has leveled off from the decreasing trend. The deer that primarily use the low desert have not been as affected as those that stay in the mountain. So far in 2008-9 we have had average winter rains. Range conditions are good throughout most of the unit. The Harquahala's had good summer rains and greened up nicely. The Harcuvar's had less rain and the range conditions are average.

The higher deer densities are still associated with the Harcuvar Mountains. There are some deer in the Harquahala's but the overall density is way down. Last year (2008) most of the deer were taken out of the Harcuvar Mountains off of the south east side.

There are a number of Arizona Game & Fish Department deer catchments surrounding these mountain ranges. Several have historically had 60 to 100 deer per day watering at them during the summer. The Black Mountains in the northeast corner of the unit also support a deer population. Pre-season scouting will determine if these deer are on the waters. Be sure that you camp more than a quarter mile from a waterhole. Deer use in portions of the mountains (usually dependent on summer green-ups) varies from one year to the next. A few, larger bucks can be found in the flats in the bigger washes running through the district. These bucks tend to be difficult to hunt. During dry fall seasons deer can be found using the agricultural fields or in the surrounding desert area. Remember large portions of the agricultural fields are privately owned and some are closed to hunting. Also, hunting from a vehicle and shooting within a quarter mile of an occupied structure is unlawful.

Areas: The north side of the Harquahala's and the south side of the Harcuvar's are accessed off of State Route 60 between Wenden and Aguila. The eastern end of both ranges is accessed off of the Eagle Eye Road running through Aguila. The south side of the Harquahala's is reached off of the Salome-Buckeye road off of Interstate 10 and State Route 60.

The Harquahala Mountains have several major canyons and approximately half of it is Wilderness Area. The B.L.M. restricts motorized travel in Wilderness Area, but this does not limit travel in most of the mountain. Sunset Canyon (milepost 72) and Dushey (milepost 78) are accessed south from State Route 60. Both require hiking and glassing. At Sunset you have approximately one and a half-mile walk from the wilderness boundary to a deer catchment and then approximately two more miles to Sunset Pass. At the head of Dushey Canyon is the Linde Mine. From there several trails lead to the east toward springs in the mountain. These are all day hikes or backpacking overnight is preferred.

The White Marble Mine area (approximately milepost 67) is also reached from south of SR. 60. There are numerous smaller drainages in this area.

Brown's Canyon and Blue Tank Canyon and Harquahala Peak are accessed east from the Eagle Eye Road south of Aguila. Brown's Canyon (milepost 17) can be driven to the base and then requires hiking.

Blue Tank Canyon and Harquahala Peak are accessed from the Harquahala Peak Road, a well-marked road, but 4-wheel drive is necessary to get to the top. This is a good road to scout for sign before the hunt. Hiking and glassing will be required since this road is well used during the season. Lower Blue Tank Canyon has numerous mining roads leading up to the base of the mountain.

The Harcuvar's also have limited access. A popular road is the Smith Peak road that goes from the southeast side of the mountain to the towers on Smith Peak. To get to the Smith Peak road take the Eagle Eye road 4 miles north from Aguila (two miles paved and two miles dirt). Turn left just after passing the Leaving Maricopa County sign. Go west about 3.25 miles (do not take the road that goes north at three miles - this road joins with the dirt Alamo road that begins at Highway 93). Turn northwest and follow to the mountain. Stay on road through several small black volcanic hills (do not take the first several roads that fork to the right). This road will eventually go past the remains of a rock house (common campsite) on your left-hand side and into the mountain and to Smith Peak. At the rock house is a road network that goes west along the base of the mountain for five or six miles.

There are roads that access the north side of the mountain from the dirt Alamo road off of Highway 93. Most of the roads (not that many) that go toward the Harcuvar's from the Alamo Road will eventually get you to the mountain.

Highway 93 forming the eastern boundary of Unit 44A is the route to get to the Black Mountains. The east side is reached from milepost 71.2, 68, and 63 most of which is in the Joshua Tree Forest. The road to Aso Pass will take hunters through the middle of the mountain and connect with another road flanking the west side. The Arizona Game & Fish Department maintains two wildlife waters on the west side.

During the winter (rut) the deer in these mountains may be on one of several patterns. Certain years the deer are up in the mountain and in other years (usually colder - freezing temperatures in the morning) the deer will be on the south, more arid desert sides of the mountain. Over all in the Harcuvar's the best deer numbers are from the east end of the mountain to approximately five miles west of Smith Peak. Generally, the deer in the Harquahala's will not be on top of the mountain and that usually holds, though not as predictable, for the Harcuvar's.

Hunters may be surprised at the lack of deer in good-looking habitat. If that is the case try working areas that are rockier and more sparsely vegetated. Again this can be true if it has been bitter cold. South sides and low elevation areas are warmer and any available feed is less likely to be frozen. If the rut is on hunters, will be treated to a most enjoyable hunt because of the quality bucks in the Harcuvar's and Harquahala's.

Elk

Overview: Approximately 18 elk were taken out of this unit in 2008. Most of the elk taken were cows or small bulls. A rough population estimate in 2007 was 40-60. With the 20 or so that have been killed in the last few years would drop this estimate to 40. Hunt success will probably be less than last year. Most hunters found it very difficult and time consuming to get an elk. Hunters should be aware that access is limited do to road closures and thick habitat. An ATV is recommended and/or hunters should plan on packing animals through thick vegetation.

Elk in this hunt area are limited in number, and most hunters have had poor success finding them. Small groups of elk have been located, throughout the year, in the river bottoms of the Big Sandy and Santa Maria Rivers upstream of Alamo Lake, and those portions of the Bill Williams River about Alamo Lake.

The river bottoms are wide and dominated with dense thickets of cottonwood, willow, mesquite and salt cedar trees. There may be multiple stream channels which may or may not contain flowing water or moist soil conditions.

Primary access to the Unit 44A portion is the paved Alamo Dam Lake Road beginning in Wenden, to the Wayside Inn Road to the Wayside Inn. Direct access to the Santa Maria from there is on the Three Rivers Road and the road crossing Date Creek (about 1/2. mile east of the Wayside Inn. Some hunters have had success locating elk from the bluffs along the south side of the river. Elk can be located along the Santa Maria as far up as the Palmerita Ranch. Motorized vehicle travel is allowed in the Santa Maria upstream from Date Creek.

Primary access to the upper Bill Williams and lower Big Sandy portion of Unit 16A, from the south, is the Brown’s Crossing Road (that ends at the gauging station at the confluence of the Santa Maria and the Big Sandy). Travel up the Big Sandy is limited to about a mile to the wilderness boundary. Some elk to tend to center their activity in the vicinity of the gauging station. Primary access from the north is the Alamo Road, from Signal Road or Chicken Springs Road. Some elk can be found as far up the Big Sandy River as Wikieup. Access along the Bill Williams, above the Alamo Lake, west to Planet Ranch Road is essentially foot access.

Quail