Beginning
at Quartzite; south on U.S. Hwy 95 to the
Crystal Hill road; east on this road to the
Kofa National Wildlife Refuge; north and
east along the refuge boundary to the Vicksburg-Kofa
National Wildlife Refuge road; north on this
road to AZ Hwy 72; northwest on AZ Hwy 72
to U.S. Hwy 95; south on U.S. Hwy 95 to Quartzite.
Overview:
The deer population estimate for 44B
has been fairly stable for the past
5 years averaging around 175 animals.
There should be a good number of first
year bucks available for the fall hunt.
Summer rains were very isolated and
as a result so has been the green up.
Late summer and early fall rains will
help to disperse the deer more this
year. Hunters relying on water hole
blinds for their strategy may find
it less effective this year. Look for
deer to be holding tight to the larger
washes that have greened up such as
Tyson and Bouse, as well as some of
the lesser washes draining from the
foothills. For hunters who like to
glass, look to the area south of I-10
and work the rolling hills between
the interstate and Wilderness boundary.
Most of Unit 44B is public land managed by the BLM. Off highway travel is limited to existing roads, trails, and washes. The exception to this is the New Water Mountain Wilderness, which is closed to all motorized vehicles. Much of the area between Bouse, Brenda, and Vicksburg is a mixture of state trust land, BLM, and private property. Access should not generally be an issue but be sure to check land status before hunting in this area of the eastern portion of 44B.
Areas: North of the Plomosa road, which runs from Highway 95 just north of Quartzite east to the town of Bouse, a number of jeep trails parallel the mountains. At the north end of the Plomosas is a complex of sand dunes that most hunters overlook but which can hold a surprisingly large number of deer. South of the Plomosa road, a similar set of jeep trails can be found on either side of the mountains. On the East Side, in the area known as ram pasture, small groups of deer can be found in the low rolling hills between Ibex Peak and Boxcar. On the West Side, the washes make up the majority of the deer habitat.
Interstate 10 divides the remainder of the unit into north and south halves. There are several areas that can be accessed in the southern half. Southeast of Quartzite are two long-term camping areas called LTVA's. These LTVA's are heavily used in the wintertime, which pushes most deer into the nearby mountains. Outside the LTVA boundary, the BLM allows camping for up to 14 days in designated areas. Gold Nugget exit, south of Interstate 10, leads to the Apache wash. This area usually holds some deer but has also traditionally seen a lot of OHV traffic and some camping both by hunters and winter visitors.
Further east, between Black Mesa and the Vicksburg-Kofa road, the New Water Mountains can be accessed from several locations. Ramsey Mine road heads south from Hwy 60 and Brenda and leads to the central part of the northern wilderness boundary. From Interstate 10 near milepost 40 and the stock tank, the New Water Mountain Road also heads into the eastern side of the wilderness. There are numerous places to camp and access the wilderness from between these two roads. Because of its vehicle restrictions, the wilderness is really under utilized. And with the concurrent hunt going on the Kofa Refuge just to the south, the New Water Wilderness has the potential of holding a high number of deer. This could be a great hunting opportunity for those hunters who don't mind hiking a little bit.
Unit
44B is divided into two units (north
and south) for the Bighorn Sheep hunt.
In
Unit 44B north, population surveys
are conducted every three years, most
recently in fall of 2003. Most of the
sheep in this unit can be found between
I-10 and the Plomosa Road, with a lot
of herds concentrated in the greener
areas. The Plomosa Pass along I-10
is one of those areas that consistently
catches plenty of summer rainfall and
greens up earlier and for longer periods
of time. The rams taken from this unit
have averaged scores between 150 and
160. Access for glassing is good off
I-10 at Gold Nugget road and from Hwy
60 in Brenda.
The sheep herd in unit
44B south was last surveyed in fall
of 2003. This herd fluctuates a bit
more in total numbers than the northern
portion of the unit. And groups tend
to disperse more throughout the unit.
A good portion of the sheep habitat
is within Wilderness, which restricts
the use of mechanized vehicles. Glassing
and hiking are the more productive
way to hunt this area. The sheep hunt
in this unit also includes those portions
of 45 A & B (Kofa NWR) north of the El Paso Gas Line. Rams taken over the past 5 years have averaged scores around 157.
Overview:
The unit has one species of quail,
the Gambel's quail. Lack of decent
winter precipitation is keeping local
populations down.
Very little recruitment was observed
this year. Quail are generally found
up steep canyons in the New Water and
Plomosa
Mountain Ranges especially where some
of the manmade potholes are located.
Access to these areas may require quite
a bit of hiking. The majority of the
unit is managed by the BLM with most
of the unit accessible from existing
roads, trails, and washes. The only
exception is the New Water Mountain
Wilderness that is closed to all motorized
vehicles.
Areas: The northern part
of the unit has the least numbers of
permanent water sources. Jeep trails
parallel either side of the Plomosas
and cross numerous washes. Walking
these washes may be productive. On
the East Side of the Plomosa's some
of the washes have natural potholes
that may hold water from late summer
rains. Bouse wash is the largest drainage
in this part of the unit and flows
from Hwy 60 near Brenda, through Bouse,
and around the northern end of the
Plomosas towards the Colorado River.
Large, dense mesquite and palo-verdes
in this wash can provide good cover
for coveys.
South of the Plomosa road,
a number of large washes flow from
the inner areas of the mountains. Stop
and listen where roads cross for calling
quail. County road 42E, between Bouse
and Brenda, has a number of livestock
wells and some thick patches of mesquite.
Just keep in mind that there are a
number of homes also scattered along
this road. Don't shoot within a 1/4-mile
of these structures and be sure to
ask permission before hunting on private
land.
The area south of Interstate
10 is almost completely BLM land. A
number of jeep trails provide access
to most of the unit. New Water Mountain
Road, Ramsey Mine road, and Gold Nugget
Wash are the three main access routes.
Just outside of Quartzite, a couple
of roads pass through the Long Term
Visitor Areas and head east up into
the Plomosas. Be aware that this area
will increase in off-highway traffic
as it gets closer to December and January
and more winter visitors start migrating
south.
Both White wing and Mourning Dove can be found in this unit. White-wing tend to gather need areas with large seeds such as melon fields. Mourning Dove are more opportunistic and will feed on grain, seed, or whatever else is available. After the summer monsoons, dove can be widely dispersed across the desert with few areas of concentration, making hunting a bit of a challenge. Most local hunters focus on areas around towns and agriculture. Look for areas that offer edge habitat between food, shelter or roosting areas, and water. And pay attention to when flights begin. In some areas, dove do not begin flying in great numbers until later in the morning so be patient. Hunters are also reminded to clean up after themselves, including spent shotgun shells and boxes when done hunting.
There are some great junior hunting opportunities in the late afternoon especially around water. Look at Stock Tanks, or sloughs around agriculture for large concentrations of birds late in the day.
The Eurasian Collared Dove has been seen pretty regularly in this unit. Hunters can take these birds without impact to their bag if they leave them unplucked for identification.
Major
Cities and Towns in or Near Game
Management Unit and Nearest Gas,
Food, and Lodging Parker,
Quartzsite, Brenda, Bouse, Blythe,
CA
Major
Highways and Roads Leading To From
the East: I-10, Hwy 60, Hwy 72 From
the West: I-10
From the North: Hwy 95
From the South: Hwy 95
Developed
Campgrounds Some
privately owned facilities
in Bouse, Brenda
and Quartzite.
Undeveloped
Campgrounds Long
Term Visitor Areas,
south of Quartzite,
Contact Bureau of
Land Management,
Yuma Resource Area.
Also available, no
fee, 14-day limit
camping throughout
unit.
Brief
Description of Terrain, Elevation,
and Vegetation
Unit 44B is located on the transition zone between the Mohave
and Sonoran deserts. Numerous jeep trails make for easy access
to most parts of the unit. Elevations range from 850' in the
flats to over 3,600' at Black Mesa. Palo Verde mesquite, cat-claw
acacia and ironwood are primarily confined to the washes in
the lower elevations, but are more evenly dispersed in the
uplands of the New Water Mountains.
Government
Agencies and Phone Numbers Arizona
Game and Fish Department, Region
IV - 928-342-0091
BLM Yuma Resource Area - (928) 726-6300
Havasu Resource Area - (928) 855-8017
La Paz County Sheriff - 911 or (928) 669-6141
