Quick Tips
- High-quality optics and patience help to see big Coues deer
- Javelina are numerous
- Bring a shotgun to hunt Gambel, scaled and Mearns quail
- Ponds are good for waterfowl hunting
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 130"-150" | 150"+ |
| Coues Deer | 85"-100" | 105"+ |
| Antelope | 65"-70" | 75"+ |
On The Ground
Unit 35B is northeast of the busiest Mexican border crossing in Arizona, Nogales. Hunters in the Patagonia Mountains take some mature Coues deer. Cover is moderately dense, but hiking is not overly strenuous. Antelope are so scarce that no tags are issued.
Some of the finest Coues deer hunting in the state takes place here. Desert mule deer also inhabit this unit with few big bucks.
Terrain
Low grasslands and Sonoran desert are found at low elevations. High ground is comprised of canyons, rocky hillsides and steep, rocky slopes. Terrain is moderate and not considered strenuous.
Roughly 333 square miles
63.3% public land
Elevations range from about 4,200 feet at Nogales to 7,220 feet on Mount Washington
Vegetation
Lowlands are Sonoran desert with desert scrub, cactus and grass. Middle-elevation terrain is a mixture of desert grasslands, oaks, pinyons and junipers. Oak and manzanita grow in the high mountains.
Access
Most land is in Coronado National Forest. Private land prevents access in some areas. Hunters need to get a landowner’s permission to cross some private tracts to reach public property. Just north of the Mexico/Arizona border is the private San Rafael Cattle Company, which is closed to hunting. It is shown on some maps as San Rafael de la Zanja.
ATVs are helpful on rough, rocky and steep roads
Four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended
State parks are closed to hunting
Camping and Lodging
Camping is allowed on Coronado National Forest lands. Lodging is in Nogales, Sierra Vista, Patagonia, Sonoita and Tucson.
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