Beginning
at U.S. Hwy 95 and the Bill Williams River;
south along U.S. Hwy 95 to AZ Hwy 72; southeasterly
on AZ Hwy 72 to Vicksburg; south on the Vicksburg-Kofa
National Wildlife Refuge road to I-10; easterly
on I-10 to the Salome-Hassayampa road (Exit
81); northwesterly on this road to Eagle
Eye road; northeasterly on Eagle Eye road
to Aguila; east on U.S. Hwy 60 to AZ Hwy
71; northeasterly on AZ Hwy 71 to U.S. Hwy
93; northwesterly on U.S. Hwy 93 to the Santa
Maria River; westerly along the Santa Maria
and Bill Williams rivers to U.S. Hwy 95;
except those portions that are sovereign
tribal lands of the Colorado River Indian
Tribes.
Overview:
This year is looking a little 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 2004 we have
had average winter rains, but the summer
rains have been real spotty. Range conditions
are fair 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 below 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 (2003) 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.
Overview:
This year the first season found the
doves to be really scattered. During
the opener few doves were found on desert
stock tanks. There were only a few spots
around melon farms east of Wenden and
east of Aguila that had high concentrations
of dove. Depending on rainfall this
fall, the late season should be fairly
good. Usually with some pre-opening
day scouting one can find concentrations
of doves.
Hunters usually concentrate around the
agricultural areas between Aguila and
Salome. These areas are especially good
during drier years. During the late
season there usually are plenty of dove
on the desert stock tanks. When hunting
stock ponds do not expect much activity
until mid to late morning. Dove usually
feed first thing in the morning before
going to water. Hunters can use this
strategy by hunting around agriculture
for the first few hours then driving
to a stock pond later in the morning.
The late season can be exceptional and
with fewer hunters. Dove will exhibit
the same pattern of going to water mid
morning. This hunt overlaps the quail
hunt and offers an under utilized opportunity
to hunt two bird species during cooler
conditions in the desert.
Hunters are reminded to camp more than
a quarter mile from water and not to
shoot within a quarter mile of an occupied
structure. Be sure to pick up a copy
of the current Migratory Bird Regulations
to check bag and possession limits,
season dates, and legal shooting hours
before going in the field.
Areas: The agricultural fields are found
just north of Interstate 10 at the Vicksburg
Road, north of SR 72 off the Vicksburg
Road in Butler Valley, between Salome
and Aguila off SR 60 and SR 71, and
south of Salome on the Salome/Buckeye
Road. Remember large portions of these
agricultural fields are privately owned
and some are closed to hunting. The
desert surrounding these agricultural
fields is usually not private land and
consistently has a good number of birds.
The areas northwest of Wickenburg to
Alamo Lake are dotted with stock ponds.
Just about every dirt road between the
dirt Alamo road and State Route 71 between
Highway 93 and Aguila will eventually
end at a stock pond. There are several
stock ponds west of Highway 93 north
of the dirt Alamo Road and east of the
Black Mountains.
Overview:
The outlook for quail is about average
this year. Although winter rains were
about average, the survival of the hatches
was below normal. One good aspect is
that last year we had a good year and
many of these birds had hatches this
year. This means that the overall population
is up from last year. This year the
Harquahala's have gotten more summer
rains than the Harcuvar's so more birds
should have survived. Hunters can expect
to see fairly large coveys around the
agricultural fields and around the base
of the mountains. Hunters are reminded
not to camp within a quarter mile of
a stock tank or catchment and not shoot
within a quarter mile of an occupied
structure.
The Centennial Wash between Salome and
Aguila should be a good spot for quail.
Both the Harquahala's and Harcuvar's
are currently supporting good numbers
of quail around the base of the mountains.
The Black Mountains and the upper end
of Alamo Lake also have a good number
of birds.
Areas: Quail can be found throughout
all elevations in Unit 44A from 500
to 5,000 feet. Quality bird hunting
is usually found along the foothill
areas within this unit. The large lower
elevation washes also have concentrations
of quail. Such washes have a variety
of ironwood, mesquite and palo verde
trees that quail favor. The desert surrounding
the agricultural fields consistently
holds good numbers of birds and is usually
unaffected by lack of summer rains.
Remember large portions of the agricultural
fields are privately owned and some
are closed to hunting. Quail are not
totally dependent on open water but
are often found near a water source.
For the western portion of the unit
the favorite spot is along the Bill
Williams River. This river is in most
places a perennial stream that flows
from Alamo Lake into Lake Havasu. The
Bill Williams River is the boundary
for Units 44A and 16A. There are several
ranches along the river including the
Lincoln Ranch and Planet Ranch. Both
of these ranches are posted no trespassing
so do not enter them without the landowners'
permission. The western part of the
river is within the Bill Williams National
Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge allows hunting
only on the south side of the river.
Any hunting done on the Refuge must
meet their rules and regulations. Please
note that you may only be in possession
of NON-TOXIC SHOT while hunting the
refuge. For additional refuge information
call (928) 667-4144.
The upper end of Alamo Lake, Santa Maria
River, Big Sandy, and Date Creek Rivers
are all good places to find quail. This
area can be very thick with mesquite
and salt cedar but with a good dog,
a limit is fairly common. You get to
this area off the State Route 93-Alamo
Road (dirt Alamo Road). This road is
38 miles of two-wheel-drive dirt road
that ends at Alamo Lake. You must turn
northeast on the Palmerita Ranch Road
approximately two miles southeast of
the Wayside Inn.
The area northwest of Wickenburg to
Alamo Lake is dotted with stock ponds.
Just about every dirt road between the
dirt Alamo road and State Route 71 between
Highway 93 and Aguila will eventually
end at a stock pond. There are several
stock ponds west of Highway 93 north
of the dirt Alamo Road and east of the
Black Mountains. The Joshua Forest along
Highway 93 south of the Santa Maria
River can also be good.
The north side of the Harquahala's and
the south side of the Harcuvar's are
reached off State Route 60 between Wenden
and Aguila. The eastern end of both
mountains is reached off the Eagle Eye
Road running through Aguila. The south
side of the Harquahala's is reached
off the Salome-Buckeye Road between
Interstate 10 and State Route 60.
Other
Pertinent Climate Information Climate
is extreme and harsh,
so plenty of water
is essential.
Cities,
Roads & Campgrounds
Major
Cities and Towns in or Near Game
Management Unit and Nearest Gas,
Food, and Lodging Parker,
Bouse, Salome, Wenden, Aguila
Major
Highways and Roads Leading To From
the East: I-10, State Hwys 60,
71 From
the West: I-10, State
Hwys 60, 72
From the North: State Hwys 93, 95
From the South: I-10, State Hwys 93, 95
Developed
Campgrounds La
Paz county parks
in Parker and Salome
(Centennial), Buckskin
Mountain and River
Island state parks
near Parker, Alamo
Lake State Park,
and numerous RV parks
in Parker, Bouse,
Vicksburg, Hope,
Salome, Wenden, Gladden,
and Aguila.
Undeveloped
Campgrounds Camping
is allowed on BLM
administered lands
throughout the unit.
Alamo Wildlife Area
(Arizona Game and
Fish) is also open
to camping. Arizona
State land is open
to hunters and anglers.
Brief
Description of Terrain, Elevation,
and Vegetation
The unit's terrain varies from low desert plains cut by numerous
washes to high desert mountain ranges. Elevations range from
approximately 400' near the Colorado River to 5,600' at Harquahala
Peak. Vegetation ranges from creosote-bursage communities in
the low desert, to saguaro-palo verde along major washes and
at base of mountains, to chaparral-grasslands at the upper
elevations. The unit has the largest southwestern riparian
zone in Arizona. Extensive galleries of cottonwood and willow
surrounded by mesquite bosques encompass the Bill Williams,
Big Sandy, and Santa Maria rivers.
Government
Agencies and Phone Numbers Arizona
Game and Fish Department, Region
IV - 928 342-0091
Bureau of Land Management, Lake Havasu -928 505-1200
BLM, Yuma Field Office - 928 317-3200
BLM, Phoenix Field Office - 602 580-5500
BLM, Buckskin Mountain State Park - 928 667-3231
BLM, River Island State Park - 928 667-3386
BLM, Alamo Lake State Park - 928 669-2088
BLM, Bill Williams National Wildlife Refuge - 928 667-4785
