Arizona Mule Deer

Unit 20B (Bradshaws – Black Canyon)

Arizona Hunting Guide — Mule Deer

Unit 20B covers the Bradshaw Mountains and Black Canyon country south of Prescott in Yavapai County. Terrain climbs from around 2,500 feet in the Black Canyon corridor along I-17 to over 7,900 feet on Mt. Union in the Bradshaws. Habitat ranges from desert chaparral through oak and pinyon-juniper to ponderosa on the highest ridges. The unit is mostly Prescott NF with Arizona state trust and private inholdings. Mule deer use the chaparral benches and oak transitions.

View Draw Odds Arizona Hunting Guide

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59%

Public Land

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1,904–5,804 ft

Elevation

Logistics & Planning Guide →

Access roads, campgrounds, elevation, monthly weather, stock tanks, cell coverage, and nearest-town services for Unit 20B.

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Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 20B

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 20B

We focus on three habitat zones across 20B.

Chaparral Benches (4,000–5,500 ft)

Manzanita, scrub oak, and mountain mahogany on the mid-elevation Bradshaw foothills are the core mule deer habitat. Bucks bed in the shaded draws and feed on the ridgetops.

Oak Woodland (5,500–6,500 ft)

Oak belts on the upper Bradshaw foothills hold mature bucks. These transition zones produce the unit's best deer.

Ponderosa Ridges (6,500–7,900 ft)

The highest ridges around Mt. Union and the Bradshaw summit provide summer and early-season habitat. Late-season deer retreat from here down the ridges.

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How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 20B

20B demands physical fitness and chaparral patience.

Glass the Benches

Set up on elevated points overlooking chaparral benches at dawn. Bucks feed in the open pockets at first light before bedding in shaded draws.

Still-Hunt Brush

Thick chaparral demands careful still-hunting on quiet days. Wind discipline is critical — brush-bucks hear and smell you before you see them.

Late Rut at Mid-Elevation

Late rifle hunts overlap the rut. Bucks push doe groups through oak transition zones during daylight. We hunt all day during this window.

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Rifle22%

Muzzleloader18%

Unit 20B issues generous mule deer tags (~830 across three recent years against ~773 applicants — more tags than applicants in some recent cycles). Success rates vary considerably by weapon. The strong tag-to-applicant ratio makes 20B one of the easier units to draw.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts (n/p)
Rifle — Late Rifle Nov bull/buck only (combined pool)	225	284	47.9%	—
Rifle — General Rifle Oct bull/buck only (combined pool)	75	47	97.9%	—
Rifle — General Rifle Oct bull/buck only (combined pool)	65	19	94.7%	—
Rifle — Late Rifle Nov either sex (combined pool)	225	284	47.9%	—
Rifle — General Rifle Oct either sex (combined pool)	75	43	76.7%	—
Muzzleloader — General Muzzleloader Oct bull/buck only (combined pool)	65	29	89.7%	—
Muzzleloader — General Muzzleloader Oct either sex (combined pool)	65	19	94.7%	—

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 Engine

20B is drawable at zero or one bonus point for most mule deer hunt codes in recent cycles. Arizona's weighted bonus-point draw routes 20% of tags to max-point applicants first and 80% via random weighted draw. A hunter-ed bonus point is available to applicants who complete AZGFD-recognized hunter education.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Road Conditions

I-17, SR 69, and SR 89 paved. Prescott NF and BLM interior roads range from maintained gravel to rough two-track — 4WD recommended.

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Hunting Pressure

Moderate to heavy. Phoenix-area hunters make 20B a popular weekend destination via I-17.

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Weather

October–December daytime temps 50–75°F, nights 30–45°F. Late hunts can bring snow on the higher ridges.

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Cell Service

Coverage along paved corridors and near Prescott. Drops off in the mountain interior.

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Nearest Town

Prescott (full services, hospital, outfitters, ~20–30 min). Prescott Valley (full services). Mayer and Dewey-Humboldt (basic services).

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Permit Notes

AZGFD tag required. Prescott NF MVUM governs forest-road motorized access.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I draw Unit 20B with zero bonus points?

In recent cycles, yes — 20B has had more mule deer tags than applicants in some hunt codes. Check AZGFD's draw results portal for the specific hunt code and year you're targeting.

Is 20B worth it given the pressure?

Pressure is real along I-17 and near Prescott. The interior Bradshaws and the harder-to-access chaparral benches are much quieter. We recommend going deep off the main roads.

What's the best base town for 20B?

Prescott for the western and central unit, or Black Canyon City for the south/east along I-17. Prescott has better services.

Free Hunt Planning Tools

🎰 Arizona Draw Odds Unit-level tag success rates 📅 Application Timeline Deadlines for all 9 states 🦌 Rut Forecast Peak rut timing by species 💰 Hunt Cost Calculator Budget your entire hunt

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-17.

GMU 20B — Unit Landing Page — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 20B boundaries, Bradshaw Mountains and Black Canyon, Species present · accessed 2026-04-17
2025-26 Arizona Hunting Regulations — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Mule deer season structure in 20B, Bag limits, Legal equipment · accessed 2026-04-17
Prescott National Forest — Bradshaw Ranger District — USDA Forest Service · supports: Bradshaw RD, Mt. Union access, Road network · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Draw Portal — Hunt Drawing Information — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Weighted bonus point draw, 20B historical draw results · accessed 2026-04-17