Unit 4A/4B (Mogollon Rim, Heber and Overgaard)

Mule deer occur throughout these units with the majority on National Forest land in the southern part, and sparse densities north of the forest. The population is low, so scouting is where the hunt is won. Whitetail are also present and legal, since this is an any-antlered-deer hunt area.

The thinning projects — the best tip in the guide

Forest thinning has improved deer habitat in the Nagel Analysis Area, between Forest Roads 34, 100, 169 and 300. Over the last two years deer have keyed in on those thinned areas. Opened-up forest with new growth is exactly what deer want and what a glassing hunter can see into.

Old burns and the canyons

When scouting, check old forest-fire areas and the ground along the canyons and major drainages. Burns regrow into browse; canyon edges give deer cover with feed beside it.

Getting into the forest

National Forest land in 4A is reached from the southwest and southeast by taking the Woods Canyon Lake turnoff on Highway 260 and then Forest Road 300, the Rim Road. State Highway 99 comes in from Winslow in the north and FR 504 enters from 4B in the east. In 4B, entry points off Highway 260 include Forest Roads 504, 210, 122, 174, 178, 99 and 237, with FR 170, 175, 172, 179, 154, 176 and 228 running through the elk and deer habitat beyond them.

North of the forest — the O'Haco ranch

That part of the units off the forest to the north is a checkerboard of private and State Trust land. The O'Haco Cattle Company controls access with three hunter sign-in boxes: the west part of the ranch allows hunter access from 15 August to 1 December, and the east portion is open year-round. Obey the posted ranch rules.

The habitat gradient

Ponderosa pine in the south changing to pinyon-juniper woodland as you travel north. That gradient is your planning tool: forest and thinning projects in the south, open country and ranch access in the north.

Rifle success for mule deer here runs about 22 percent against a low population. The agency's instruction is to focus time on pre-season scouting, and it gives you specific things to scout.

Scout the treatments

Thinned forest between FR 34, 100, 169 and 300 in the Nagel Analysis Area, and old burns anywhere in the units. Both offer visibility and new browse. Find out which units were treated recently and glass their edges at first and last light.

Work the canyon edges

The major drainages and canyons give you relief in otherwise uniform forest. Get on a rim before light and glass the opposite slope and the bottom. In ponderosa, that's often the only place a tripod earns its keep.

Use the ranch access deliberately

North of the forest, the O'Haco Cattle Company's three sign-in boxes give you controlled access to checkerboard country with sparse deer but very few hunters. Note the dates — west side 15 August to 1 December, east side year-round — and obey the posted rules. That access exists because hunters have behaved; keep it that way.

Expect weather, especially late

Plan for warm temperatures in the early seasons and freezing in the late ones, with freezing rain and snow possible at higher elevations by October. Contact the Black Mesa Ranger District in Overgaard on 928-535-7300 for weather, road closures, fire restrictions and any special Forest Service rules.

Get the land-status map

An Apache-Sitgreaves Forest Service land-status map, from map stores, the Forest Service or Game and Fish offices, will help you find detailed entry points. On units navigated by two-digit forest road numbers across a private checkerboard, it's not optional.

Leave it better

The 4B guide ends by asking hunters to remove all litter and leave the area in better condition than they found it. On ground where ranch access is granted rather than owed, that's the price of next season.