Unit 3BN (Timber Mesa, Vernon and the Woolhouse)
Arizona Hunting Guide — Elk
3B North is the northern part of GMU 3B, in the Vernon and Timber Mesa country of the Apache-Sitgreaves between Show Low and Springerville. Elk management here focuses on migratory animals using historical breeding and wintering grounds in the southern portion of the unit, with bull hunts in the early and late seasons and antlerless hunts aimed mostly at the winter migration. The feature that shapes the hunt is the Woolhouse Habitat Area south of Highway 60, closed to all motor vehicles — foot and horseback only, including for game retrieval — where large herds can gather during the late hunts. Deep snow at higher elevations pushes wintering elk northward, which is what makes a north-unit tag work.
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Elk Hunting in Unit 3BN
3B North is the northern part of GMU 3B, in the Vernon and Timber Mesa country of the Apache-Sitgreaves between Show Low and Springerville. Elk management here focuses on migratory animals using historical breeding and wintering grounds in the southern portion of the unit, with bull hunts in the early and late seasons and antlerless hunts aimed mostly at the winter migration. The feature that shapes the hunt is the Woolhouse Habitat Area south of Highway 60, closed to all motor vehicles — foot and horseback only, including for game retrieval — where large herds can gather during the late hunts. Deep snow at higher elevations pushes wintering elk northward, which is what makes a north-unit tag work.
Where the elk are in 3B North: Timber Mesa to Vernon, and the Woolhouse
Elk here are migratory, using historical breeding grounds in the south of the unit and wintering ground further north. Which half holds animals depends entirely on the season and the snow.
Early season: high and south of Highway 60
Early-season hunters locate elk by listening for bugling bulls, and at that time of year elk are primarily at higher elevations south of Highway 60. Rutting bulls are generally above 6,500 feet in the timbered southern portion, where open parks and meadows close to escape cover serve as breeding grounds.
November: small groups, both sides of the highway
November hunters may find elk in small groups on Forest Service land north and south of Highway 60. The herds haven't formed up yet and the animals are spread.
December: wherever the snow puts them
December hunters find elk at various elevations depending on the weather. Deep snow at higher elevations prompts wintering elk to migrate northward, and large herds can then be located from the Timber Mesa area to Vernon — including the Woolhouse Habitat Area. Depending on snow pack, antlerless elk can range throughout the southern two-thirds of the unit during late hunts.
The Woolhouse Habitat Area
South of Highway 60 and closed to all motor vehicles. Access is foot and horseback only, including the retrieval of game. Large herds may be there during late hunts, and bulls are commonly taken there too. Contact the USFS Lakeside Ranger District for more information before you plan around it.
Where bulls come from
Besides the high timber above 6,500 feet, bulls are commonly taken in the Woolhouse Habitat Area and the Timber Mesa area, and to a lesser degree elsewhere in the unit.
The warning that matters in a herd
To avoid exceeding the bag limit by mistake, do not shoot into a herd. On a late hunt with large groups on winter range, that is a real risk rather than a formality.
Unit 3BN terrain and land status
Measured from the unit boundary, not from the agency write-up
Named features inside the unit
Glass from: Lake Mountain (8,483 ft), Wolf Mountain (8,281 ft), Brushy Mountain (8,058 ft), Ecks Mountain (7,852 ft)
Holding ground: Elk Springs Draw (7,123 ft), Ortega Draw (6,636 ft), Upper White Lakes Draw (6,276 ft)
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 3B North: listen in September, follow the snow in December
Elk Success Rates
Elk Draw Odds
| Season | Tags | Applicants | Draw % | Pts (n/p) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rifle — Early Rifle antlerless (combined pool) | 10 | 2 | 100.0% | — |
| Rifle — General Rifle Oct antlerless (combined pool) | 10 | 1 | 0.0% | — |
| Rifle — Late Rifle Dec antlerless (combined pool) | 25 | 8 | 87.5% | — |
| Rifle — General Rifle Oct either sex (combined pool) | 15 | 68 | 14.7% | — |
| Rifle — Late Rifle Dec antlerless (combined pool) | 25 | 5 | 100.0% | — |
Data from 2023 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
Is Unit 3BN a drawable Arizona elk unit?
Do I need a State Trust Land permit for Unit 3BN?
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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.
- 2026 Arizona Pronghorn and Elk Regulations — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 3BN elk season structure, Tag quotas, Hunt area boundaries · accessed 2026-04-17
- AZGFD Draw Portal — Hunt Drawing Information — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 3BN elk draw odds, Weighted bonus-point system, Hunter education bonus · accessed 2026-04-17
- GMU 3B — Unit Landing Page — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: GMU 3B habitat, Access points, Land ownership notes · accessed 2026-04-17