Unit 17A/17B/18B (Juniper Mesa and the Yavapai Ranch)
Arizona Hunting Guide — Turkey
The combined 17A/17B/18B turkey hunt covers the Prescott National Forest country west and north of Prescott — Juniper Mesa, the Juniper Mountains, the Camp Wood country and the Yavapai Ranch checkerboard. The population is fair after supplemental transplants between 2015 and 2022, and there are currently only two open turkey seasons in unit 17, both in spring. Both draw tags are valid for <strong>bearded turkeys only</strong>, which makes identification the first discipline of the hunt. Birds are found in southwestern 17A near the Yolo and 7Up ranches, in western 17A near Juniper Mesa, and in north-central 17A on the Yavapai Ranch in the Juniper Mountains.
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Turkey Hunting in Unit 17A/17B/18B
The combined 17A/17B/18B turkey hunt covers the Prescott National Forest country west and north of Prescott — Juniper Mesa, the Juniper Mountains, the Camp Wood country and the Yavapai Ranch checkerboard. The population is fair after supplemental transplants between 2015 and 2022, and there are currently only two open turkey seasons in unit 17, both in spring. Both draw tags are valid for <strong>bearded turkeys only</strong>, which makes identification the first discipline of the hunt. Birds are found in southwestern 17A near the Yolo and 7Up ranches, in western 17A near Juniper Mesa, and in north-central 17A on the Yavapai Ranch in the Juniper Mountains.
Where the turkeys are: the Yolo and 7Up ranches, Juniper Mesa, and the Yavapai Ranch
The turkey population in unit 17 is fair following supplemental transplant efforts from 2015 to 2022. The agency names three areas, and on a unit this size that list is the plan.
Southwestern 17A, near the Yolo and 7Up ranches
This is the Camp Wood country — ponderosa pine with big granite boulder piles, reached on the Camp Wood Road, FR 21, also signed as County Road 68, running west off Williamson Valley Road. Remember the posted pastures north and south of the Yolo Ranch headquarters are closed to hunting.
Western 17A, near Juniper Mesa
Juniper Mesa stands at 7,067 feet, mostly ponderosa on its west end grading to pinyon as you move east, and the Juniper Mesa Wilderness takes no vehicles. Best access is from the north off FR 7. Big pines on a mesa with canyons below it is textbook Merriam's country.
North-central 17A, on the Yavapai Ranch
In the Juniper Mountains, which reach 7,067 feet. The Yavapai Ranch is a checkerboard of Forest Service and private sections; it allows public access and supports hunting, and asks that you sign in at the boxes you pass. Access is via FR 664, and Happy Camp comes in through the ranch headquarters on FR 1.
The seasons, and the one rule that matters
Only two open turkey seasons in unit 17, both in spring, and the draw tags for the first and second spring seasons are valid for bearded turkeys only. Make sure the bird you're about to shoot has a visible beard.
The ranch conditions
Drive only existing roads, stay off them when wet to avoid rutting the surface the ranch maintains, close gates, and sign in. That's the price of access in this country and it's a fair one.
Unit 17A/17B/18B terrain and land status
Measured from the unit boundary, not from the agency write-up · figures are for GMU 17A
The lay of it
- 4,784–6,916 ft on a terrain sample , averaging 5,731 ft ; peaks can run higher.
- 306.5 sq mi inside the boundary.
Who owns the ground
- National Forest — 60%
- State Trust — 8%
- Private / Other — 32%
Roughly 68% is public. Carry a land-status layer anyway — these are area percentages, not a map of where the boundaries fall.
Water on the ground
- 138 tanks
- 38 springs
- 1,417 stream segments
- 11 lakes
Counts from mapping data, so this is how many exist, not how many hold water in a dry year. Sitting water only pays where you find fresh tracks.
Named features inside the unit
Glass from: Mohon Peak (7,487 ft), Granite Mountain (7,257 ft), Santa Maria Mountains (7,251 ft), Little Granite Mountain (7,084 ft)
Holding ground: Blair Pass (5,957 ft), George Wood Canyon (5,924 ft), Pine Flats (5,795 ft), Cold Spring, Burnt Wash Spring
Every one of these was tested against the unit polygon before it went on the map. They are starting points, not agency recommendations.
How to hunt it: confirm the beard, then roost them and work the morning
Turkey Success Rates
Turkey Draw Odds
| Season | Tags | Applicants | Draw % | Pts (n/p) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shotgun — Spring bearded turkey (combined pool) | 7 | 40 | 0.0% | — |
| Rifle — Spring either sex (combined pool) | 7 | 248 | 2.4% | — |
Data from 2025 draw results. Each row is one residency pool — read the label before the number. This agency publishes no point thresholds, so the Pts column stays blank and these are pool odds, not what a point total draws.
Open in Draw Odds EngineUnit Logistics & Expectations
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hunt any of the three units with this tag?
Is this a low-point draw?
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Upgrade to Pro — $49/yrSources & Verification
Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-17.
- 2025-2026 Arizona Hunting Regulations — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 17A/17B/18B turkey hunt codes, Season dates, Tag caps · accessed 2026-04-17
- AZGFD Draw Portal — Hunt Drawing Information — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: 17A/17B/18B turkey draw odds, Weighted bonus-point system, Hunter education bonus · accessed 2026-04-17
- GMU 17A — Unit Landing Page — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Mogollon Rim habitat, Access notes, Merriam's distribution · accessed 2026-04-17