Unit 22

The Mogollon Rim dominates the northern skyline and serves as a major navigation reference and glassing platform. Tonto Natural Bridge to the northwest provides a distinctive landmark for route finding. Major drainages—particularly Fossil Creek, Tonto Creek, and the Verde River—form the primary travel corridors and water sources.

Notable high points like Bee Mountain, Mullen Mesa, and Davenport Peak offer vantage for glassing the rolling country. The Mazatzal Mountains and White Hills frame terrain transitions. Cedar Bench and Horsethief Bench provide elevated hunting platforms.

Painted Cliffs and the White Bluffs offer visual reference points for navigation across the complex terrain.

Elevation spans from roughly 1,300 feet at the river confluences to nearly 8,000 feet along the Mogollon Rim, with median elevation around 4,000 feet. The unit transitions from low-desert scrub and riparian vegetation along the rivers through mid-elevation chaparral and mixed oak woodland into ponderosa-dominated forest approaching the rim. The rolling topography creates pockets of dense timber interspersed with open parks and grassy flats.

Juniper, pinyon, and scattered Douglas-fir define the higher benches, while cottonwood and sycamore line the permanent water courses. The Rolls, Hells Half Acre, and various basins offer distinct habitat pockets across the elevation gradient.

The unit has roughly 1,700 miles of road but fair overall connectivity given the terrain complexity and size. Roads cluster near populated areas like Rye, Tonto Village, and the western benchlands. Much interior country requires foot or stock travel to access.

The Fossil Spring Trail and various Forest Service routes provide structure for foot hunters, but the majority of hunters concentrate on road-accessible ridges and lower canyon approaches. Pressure increases noticeably near Horseshoe and Bartlett Reservoirs and along the main river corridors. Terrain complexity (8.4/10) and rolling topography mean moving beyond initial parking areas significantly reduces competition.

Unit 22 is defined by the convergence of two major Arizona waterways: the Verde River forms the western boundary where it meets the Salt River at the unit's southwestern corner, while the Salt River runs east before the unit boundary follows Tonto Creek inland. The northern boundary tracks the Mogollon Rim escarpment along the Tonto-Coconino National Forest line, with Fossil Creek and Fossil Springs anchoring the northeast corner. This geometry creates a large, irregular unit encompassing the transition zone between the Sonoran Desert floor and the central Arizona plateau.

The unit excludes sovereign tribal lands of the Tonto Apache Tribe and Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.

Water defines hunting feasibility in this unit. The Verde and Salt Rivers provide reliable perennial flow at lower elevations but are separated from much interior country by canyon walls. Tonto Creek and Fossil Creek offer seasonal and reliable flow in their drainages, though availability varies substantially by season.

Numerous springs—including Sandstone Spring, Fig Spring, Warm Spring, and others—are scattered throughout, but many are seasonal. Multiple reservoirs and tanks (Horseshoe, Bartlett, Lost Tank, Ryan Tank, Polles Tank) exist but may not always be accessible or reliable. The limited badge rating reflects water scarcity away from major drainages; dry-country hunting strategy becomes critical, especially in late season.

Unit 22 offers elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, black bear, mountain lion, javelina, desert sheep, and bison. Elk inhabit mid to higher elevation forest, concentrating in the ponderosa zones and transition areas near the rim during summer. Mule deer use the rolling chaparral and open parks throughout the elevation gradient.

White-tailed deer favor riparian corridors and canyon bottoms. Pronghorn utilize open flats and basins. Sheep habitat exists on steeper rim country.

Water availability is the limiting factor—identify reliable springs and drainages early, then glass the accessible basins and benches. Early season favors higher elevations; as conditions warm, water-hole hunting becomes viable. The complex terrain rewards detailed topo work and willingness to glass thoroughly from established vantage points.