Unit 20A

The Bradshaw Mountains and Sierra Prieta form the dominant ridge systems, running northeast-southwest through the unit's heart. Lookout Mountain, Brady Butte, and Poland Vista Point serve as strong visual references for glassing. Major drainages including Mineral Creek, Middlewater Creek, and Orofino Wash provide natural travel corridors and navigation landmarks.

Scattered springs—Collins, Telegraph, Buttes, McAllister—mark reliable water sources. Fire Clay Tank, Orofino Tank, and Miners Tank offer additional water punctuation. These features cluster around the mountain zones; lower valley areas have fewer defined landmarks but remain navigable via road networks.

Terrain rises gradually from valley floors around 3,100 feet through rolling foothills to ridges cresting near 8,000 feet. Lower elevations feature open grassland and sagebrush, transitioning to piñon-juniper at mid-elevations, then ponderosa pine on higher slopes. Forest cover is moderate throughout—enough to provide shade and travel corridors, but substantial open parks and ridges remain glassable.

The rolling topography creates benches and sidehills rather than sharp peaks, allowing both foot travel and vehicle access through most drainages. This diversity supports multiple species across elevation zones.

Over 2,280 miles of roads crisscross the unit, creating excellent access from multiple directions. Forest Service routes and county roads penetrate most country. Proximity to Prescott means weekend pressure, particularly along accessible ridges and near populated valleys.

However, the unit's vast size distributes pressure—hunters who venture beyond initial parking areas find thinner crowds. Lower elevation reaches closer to Skull Valley and the southern unit boundary attract more attention. Higher country in the Bradshaw Mountains tends quieter.

Weekday hunting and early-season tactics offer advantages in well-roaded, heavily-accessed areas.

Unit 20A wraps around Prescott's northern and eastern edges, bounded by AZ Highway 89 to the north, AZ Highway 69 to the west, and Interstate 17 to the southeast. The unit spans from lower Skull Valley country in the south through the Bradshaw Mountains and Sierra Prieta ranges to moderate elevation ridges. Crown King and Kirkland anchor the southern reaches; Cordes and Bloody Basin define eastern margins.

The vast size contains varied country—from sagebrush valleys to ponderosa-covered slopes—accessible primarily through a connected network of forest service roads and county routes.

Water exists but requires knowing locations. Multiple springs scatter across higher country—Collins, Telegraph, Buttes, McAllister, Seep, and White Rock Water among the most reliable. Several small reservoirs and tanks supplement natural sources: Orofino Tank, Miners Tank, Fire Clay Tank, Middle Tank, and others provide seasonal to year-round water depending on rainfall.

Permanent streams like Mineral Creek and Middlewater Creek flow through drainages year-round. Lower elevation valleys (Skull Valley, Copper Basin area) offer limited water—plan accordingly. Fall and spring typically show better water availability; summer heat stresses sources.

Unit 20A supports elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, javelina, mountain lion, pronghorn, bear, and both mountain and desert sheep. Elk favor higher ponderosa slopes and scattered parks, moving to lower elevations as seasons progress. Mule deer concentrate on mid-elevation benches and ridges with mixed timber and open ground.

White-tails prefer riparian areas and thicker cover near drainages. Javelina and mountain lion work throughout but favor the transition zones between open and forested country. Desert sheep utilize the steeper breaks; mountain sheep the higher ridges.

Spring water sources concentrate hunting—glass slopes above reliable springs. Early season targets higher elevations; by November, lower foothills produce. Road-based glassing works well on rolling terrain; identify bedding aspects and ridge saddles, then plan foot approaches.