Unit 35B (Unit 35B — Canelo Hills / San Rafael Mule Deer)
Arizona Hunting Guide — Mule Deer, Turkey, Coues Whitetail Deer
Unit 35B mule deer hunting covers the Canelo Hills, San Rafael Valley, and southern Patagonia country of southeast Arizona. Habitat ranges from oak-grassland savanna through Madrean evergreen woodland and desert grassland. The unit supports a solid Coues-influenced southern mule deer population and draws steady applicant interest for its combination of accessibility and quality. AZGFD issued 150 tags over three years against 147 applicants, making 35B one of the more accessible southern-Arizona mule deer draws.
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Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 35B
Unit 35B mule deer hunting covers the Canelo Hills, San Rafael Valley, and southern Patagonia country of southeast Arizona. Habitat ranges from oak-grassland savanna through Madrean evergreen woodland and desert grassland. The unit supports a solid Coues-influenced southern mule deer population and draws steady applicant interest for its combination of accessibility and quality. AZGFD issued 150 tags over three years against 147 applicants, making 35B one of the more accessible southern-Arizona mule deer draws.
Where the mule deer are in 35B: Meadow Valley, the Canelo Hills and the Mustang foothills
Expectations first. Mule deer opportunity in 35B is fair, the population is small and herds are very localized. Hunting is limited to muzzleloader for any antlered deer and over-the-counter archery, with muzzleloader tags issued as combined 35A/35B permits because most of the habitat straddles the unit line.
Meadow Valley, on public ground
The north end of the San Rafael Valley. Take Harshaw Road off Highway 82 in Patagonia, continue on the San Rafael Valley Road and FSR 58, and turn north at the Mowry/FSR 214 junction. Meadow Valley Flat sits at 5,141 feet and Meadow Valley at 4,964.
The San Rafael Valley and the border
Mule deer live here, but most of the valley is private and you'll need landowner permission. Same for the grasslands south of Sonoita, much of which is the Babacomari Ranch.
The Canelo Hills
Herds are scattered through them, reached from Highway 83 south of Sonoita toward the Black Oak Cemetery area. Remember the Canelo Pass Road is the 35A/35B boundary.
The Mustang Mountains and the San Pedro grasslands
South into the Mustangs from Highway 82 for herds in the foothills. There are also pockets in the grassland and desert between the Huachucas and the San Pedro River — check a land-ownership map for the public pieces, and note that portions of the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area are closed to discharge of firearms.
Which habitat, and when
Mule deer here use grassland and the more open, desert-like country where they can see. In heavy acorn years they'll concentrate in or near oak woodland to feed. So glass the grass at dawn and then scan the oak draws and the slopes around the grassy mesas — they bed in shade through midday.
Unit 35B terrain and land status
Measured from the unit boundary, not from the agency write-up
The lay of it
- 3,873–5,436 ft on a terrain sample , averaging 4,865 ft ; peaks can run higher.
- 333 sq mi inside the boundary.
Who owns the ground
- National Forest — 60%
- BLM — 15%
- State Trust — 8%
- Private / Other — 17%
Roughly 83% is public. Carry a land-status layer anyway — these are area percentages, not a map of where the boundaries fall.
Water on the ground
- 127 tanks
- 31 springs
- 1,279 stream segments
- 2 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: Mount Washington (7,194 ft), American Peak (6,163 ft), Mount Hughes (5,852 ft), Red Mountain (5,826 ft)
Holding ground: Guajolote Flat (5,880 ft), Meadow Valley Flat (5,141 ft), Washington Gulch (5,066 ft), Maggies Well, Kino Springs
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 35B mule deer: glass the grass, scan the oak draws, hunt the herd
Mule Deer Success Rates
Mule Deer Draw Odds
| Season | Tags | Applicants | Draw % | Pts (n/p) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muzzleloader — Late Muzzleloader Nov bull/buck only (combined pool) | 40 | 25 | 84.0% | — |
| Muzzleloader — Late Muzzleloader Dec bull/buck only (combined pool) | 10 | 71 | 11.3% | — |
| Muzzleloader — General Muzzleloader Oct either sex (combined pool) | 40 | 42 | 64.3% | — |
| Muzzleloader — Late Muzzleloader Dec either sex (combined pool) | 10 | 65 | 12.3% | — |
| Rifle — General Rifle Oct bull/buck only (combined pool) | 40 | 42 | 64.3% | — |
| Rifle — Late Rifle Dec bull/buck only (combined pool) | 10 | 65 | 12.3% | — |
Data from 2024 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 35B is one of the more accessible southern-Arizona mule deer draws. With 150 tags issued against 147 applicants over three years, odds approach 100% per application in many years — residents frequently draw on zero points. Arizona uses a weighted bonus-point system with Hunter Education bonus — 20% of tags to max-point holders, 80% to a random weighted draw.
Unit Logistics & Expectations
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I draw a Unit 35B mule deer tag on zero bonus points?
Is Unit 35B good for a first Gould's turkey hunt?
What canyons should I focus on in Unit 35B?
Does Unit 35B include Fort Huachuca military land?
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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 2026-04-18.
- AZGFD 2026 Deer Hunt Regulations — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 35B mule deer hunt structure, Season dates, Tag quotas · accessed 2026-04-17
- AZGFD Draw Portal — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 35B mule deer draw odds, Weighted bonus-point system, Applicant history · accessed 2026-04-17
- Coronado National Forest — Sierra Vista and Nogales Ranger Districts — USDA Forest Service · supports: Canelo Hills and Patagonia Mountains access, Motor Vehicle Use Maps, Ranger district contacts · accessed 2026-04-17
- 2025-2026 Arizona Hunting Regulations — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 35B turkey hunt codes, Gould's season structure, Tag caps · accessed 2026-04-17
- AZGFD Big Game Draw — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Applicant counts, Draw odds · accessed 2026-04-18