Unit 2A

The Petrified Forest features—Blue Mesa, Jasper Forest, Giant Logs, and Rainbow Forest—provide unmistakable reference points for orientation and glassing. The Tepees and Newspaper Rock pillars stand out on the open landscape and are useful for navigation. Key springs include Stinking Springs, Ninemile Seep, and Prospect Spring; these are critical water sources for both hunting camps and animal location.

Red Lake, Carr Lake, and the scattered tanks (Puerco, Spurlock, Rim Tank) offer secondary water. The Puerco River, Zuñi River, and major washes like Carrizo and Hardscrabble provide drainage references.

The unit sits entirely in the 5,000 to 6,700-foot zone, a high-desert transition where ponderosa pine thins considerably and pinyon-juniper becomes the dominant timber type. Most country is open sagebrush and grassland with scattered small forest patches—long sight distances are common in the flatter sections, while deeper draws and ridgelines offer timber pockets. The Petrified Forest landmark areas break up the monotony with colorful badlands and eroded formations.

Vegetation is sparse but adequate for the game present, with seasonal green-up depending on monsoon moisture.

Over 1,300 miles of roads crisscross the unit, though major highways (US 191, US 180, AZ 77) handle most through-traffic. Ranch roads branch into secondary areas, offering fair access without requiring lengthy foot approaches. The terrain's low complexity means navigation is straightforward, reducing confusion but also concentrating hunter pressure along predictable corridors.

Proximity to Holbrook and St. Johns brings typical opening-weekend crowds to accessible trailheads. Hunters willing to venture away from main roads into rougher country can find solitude in the badlands and scattered timber patches.

Unit 2A is a sprawling rectangular block anchored by St. Johns to the east and stretching west toward Holbrook and I-40. The northern boundary follows the Navajo Reservation line, while southern and eastern edges are defined by US 191, US 180, and AZ 61. The Petrified Forest landscape dominates much of the unit's character, though the boundary excludes the national park itself and Zuni tribal lands. This positioning places hunters between major population centers, with decent supply logistics from Holbrook or St.

Johns.

Water is limited but manageable with advance scouting. Perennial sources are sparse; the Puerco and Zuñi rivers are the main surface drainages, though seasonal flow dominates. Reliable springs cluster in scattered locations—Stinking Springs and Ninemile Seep are known holdouts.

Tanks dot the higher plateaus (Rim Tank, Puerco Tank, Two Section Tank) and are essential for locating game in dry periods. Summer monsoon rains can improve water temporarily, but hunters should plan water strategy before entering, particularly in early season when tanks may be low.

Unit 2A historically holds elk in scattered bands, particularly in the timber patches and deeper drainages where cover exists. Mule and white-tailed deer utilize the entire elevational range, with better numbers in juniper-forest transition zones. Desert bighorn sheep inhabit the rougher canyon country and badlands—the Petrified Forest formations provide suitable terrain for them.

Pronghorn use the open plains throughout. Mountain lions follow deer and elk populations. Early season (before heat) offers the best conditions; monsoon moisture in July-August can shift game patterns.

Scout water sources first—animals concentrate there in dry periods. The straightforward terrain favors glassing over still-hunting, particularly the open ridges and mesa tops.