Unit 5BS

Pine Mountain and Landmark Mountain provide decent glassing vantage points and useful navigation anchors across the open parks. The cluster of named tanks and springs—Maxie Tank, Seven Gelding Tank, Powerline Tank, Schroeder Tank—marks reliable water locations that should anchor your day's movement. Pine Hill, Cow Hill, and Turkey Mountain break up the skyline and help with orientation.

Coyote Basin on the east side forms a natural gathering zone for game moving through the unit. Happy Jack and Clints Well are nearby communities providing resupply, though they're somewhat removed from core hunting country.

The unit spans moderate elevations between 6,200 and 8,500 feet, with most country in the 6,800 to 7,500-foot band. This elevation range supports ponderosa pine forest interspersed with meadows, grasslands, and scattered aspen groves. Lower elevations feature more open ponderosa with light understory; higher terrain becomes denser with fir and spruce.

Park areas like Bargaman Park and The Park break up the forest, creating natural openings for both travel and hunting. The terrain transitions gradually—no sharp ecological lines—making the unit feel like continuous rolling forest rather than dramatic elevation-driven zones.

Nearly 600 miles of roads crisscross the unit, creating a connected network that most hunters can navigate with standard vehicle access. Forest Road 69, Forest Highway 3, and connections to Arizona Highway 87 provide main thoroughfares. This connectivity means the unit sees moderate pressure, with most hunters accessing from the north via I-40 or from Flagstaff.

The straightforward terrain and good roads reduce navigation challenges but also concentrate effort. Hunting strategy should emphasize getting away from obvious parking areas and main road corridors, especially during season opening weeks.

Unit 5BS occupies the country between Flagstaff and the Mogollon Rim's northern edge, bounded by Forest Highway 3 on the west and south, Arizona Highway 87 on the southeast, Forest Road 69 on the northeast, and Interstate 40 on the north. Walnut Canyon cuts through the western boundary and serves as both a physical landmark and access constraint. The unit encompasses roughly 30 miles of plateau country characterized by gentle terrain and consistent elevation.

Adjacent units wrap around the rim country to the south; the unit's northern edge marks where elevation begins backing away from the high country toward lower desert elevations.

Water is present but not abundant, requiring targeted planning. Named springs including Mahan Spring, Schell Spring, Horseshoe Spring, and Gooseberry Springs are scattered but huntable. Wallace Lake, Pine Lake, Mud Lake, and McClure Lake provide surface water though summer conditions vary.

Multiple small tanks—Sawmill Tanks, Willow Valley Tank, Iowa Camp Spring—offer backup options if main sources dry. Antelope Tank Ditch and various draws including Hay Meadow Draw and Antelope Draw serve as natural corridors. Understanding water availability by season is critical for route planning; springs typically hold better than open tanks during hot periods.

Unit 5BS holds elk, mule deer, and pronghorn as primary targets, with black bear, mountain lion, and javelina secondary opportunities. Elk pattern into the ponderosa parks and higher-elevation parks during early season, then migrate as weather drives them. Mid-elevation meadows around Bargaman and Diversion Parks offer good early-season glassing before animals push higher.

Deer work the forest edges and smaller drainages year-round. Pronghorn use the open parks and flats. Water-based hunting is effective here—position yourself near reliable springs and tanks during midday when animals come to drink.

The manageable terrain allows covering ground methodically; focus on moving quietly through forest and glassing parks rather than on long-distance physical challenges. Pressure typically peaks near road access; hunting further from obvious corridors yields better encounters.