UNIT 12B STRIP HUNTS

THE #1 TEAM OF GUIDES ON THE KAIBAB PLATEAU

ARIZONA STRIP UNIT 12B/12BW

Arizona Unit 12B can be a very tough Arizona mule deer unit to hunt . It does produce some absolute giant mule deer bucks when the conditions are right. Some of the monster mule deer bucks that come out of Unit 12B can rival or sometimes even beat the high scoring giant non typical and typical mule deer bucks that are taken on the Arizona Strip Units 13A, unit 13B, and the Kaibab Plateau Units 12A west and 12A east. Arizona unit 12B definitely offers the trophy mule deer hunter a great chance of taking the mule deer buck of a lifetime. Arizona Unit 12B is mainly considered wintering country for the many herds of mule deer that will start to migrate into this unit during the late fall and winter months. Most of these deer are from herds that will come in from the surrounding Kaibab Plateau in Arizona.  They also come from the Paunsaugunt Unit in southern Utah. There is a very, very small resident population of giant mule deer bucks that live year round in Arizona Unit 12B.  The bulk of the mule deer herds that are found in this Arizona mule deer unit only uses this area temporarily throughout the late fall and winter months of the year. There is a huge difference in the mule deer numbers that you will see in this unit from the summer to winter months. Expect to see very few deer on the early season mule deer hunts in Unit 12B.  Expect to see great numbers of deer in this unit during the winter months if the conditions are right.

EARLY RIFLE 12B HUNT

The Arizona Unit 12B rifle mule deer hunts are split up into two separate hunt units: Arizona Unit 12B and Arizona Unit 12B west. Unit 12B west includes the Buckskin mountain range that lies to the north of the Kaibab Plateau and Units 12A West and Unit 12A East. Unit 12B west does not include the Paria Plateau nor does it include any of the hunting areas that are east of BLM road 1065. All of Arizona Unit 12B is also included with all of Kaibab Units 12A West and Unit 12A East for the early season Kaibab archery mule deer hunt that takes place in late August through early September. Being surrounded by the Arizona Strip, the Paunsaugunt, and the Kaibab Plateau; which are some of the best trophy mule deer gene pools in the world, ensures that Arizona Unit 12B will always have trophy quality mule deer bucks for the lucky trophy mule deer hunters who are fortunate enough to draw a tag in this trophy mule deer hunting area. The early season Unit 12B rifle mule deer hunts can be extremely tough if you are thinking about trying to harvest any giant mule deer bucks. We do not recommend that any hunters apply for the early season rifle mule deer hunts in Unit 12B as there are much better options for trophy mule deer hunts in the state of Arizona. That being said though, there is a very small number of giant resident Arizona mule deer bucks in this unit. A very hard working and very dedicated trophy mule deer hunter might have a slim chance of harvesting the mule deer buck of a lifetime on the unit 12B early rifle mule deer hunt. Make sure that you keep your trophy expectations very reasonable if you draw a tag for this early season rifle mule deer hunt in Arizona Unit 12B or Unit 12B West. You will have a great time if you are reasonable about trophy expectations and you just might harvest a giant mule deer buck on your early season Unit 12B mule deer hunts.

UNIT 12B EARLY RIFLE BREAKDOWN

10 day season with medium hunting pressure. Expect to see 150 – 165+. Very low deer density this time of year making this a very tough hunt. 3500 to 5500 elevation with the lower elevations being sage flats. Some resident deer however most deer migrate out of Utah. This hunt can be much better if the migration is early.

  • Buck to doe ratio is 43:100
  • 41% successful harvest last season
  • 15 total tags for 2022
UNIT 12B WEST EARLY RIFLE BREAKDOWN

21 day season with low density of deer. One of the 2 best hunts in the state every year. Expect to see 180 – 200+ with a possibility of bigger.  Light hunting pressure, non physical hunt. Elevations range from 3500 sage flats to 7000 feet with ponderosa pines. Most hunts are light spot and stalk method with a third of the hunters sitting over water. 

  • Buck to doe ratio is 41:100
  • 80% successful harvest last season
  • 110 total tags for 2022

LATE RIFLE 12B HUNT

UNIT 12B LATE RIFLE BREAKDOWN

10 day season can have a high density of deer. Migration from Utah is a key factor for this hunt. Expect to see 170 – 185+ with a good possibility of bigger. Light hunting pressure but if the deer are rutting this unit makes for one of the best in the state. Hunting in lower elevations will be cedars and sage flats.

  • Buck to doe ratio is 43:100
  • 83% successful harvest last season
  • 15 total tags for 2022
UNIT 12B WEST LATE RIFLE BREAKDOWN

10 day season can have a high density of deer. Migration from Utah is a key factor for this hunt. Expect to see 170 – 185+ with opportunity for much bigger. Light hunting pressure but if the deer are rutting this unit makes for one of the best in the state. Hunting in lower elevations will be cedars and sage flats.

  • Buck to doe ratio is 43:100
  • 93% successful harvest last season
  • 55 total tags for 2022 

If harvesting a true trophy class mule deer buck and seeing lots of rutting mule deer is your goal then you only need to apply for the late season rifle mule deer hunts in the rut that are offered in Arizona Unit 12B. These late season Unit 12B and Unit 12B West rifle mule deer tags are very limited in number and are very tough to draw for non resident mule deer hunters. Although they are tough to draw they are definitely worth applying for by any serious mule deer hunter, especially any trophy mule deer hunter that is looking to possibly harvest a Boone & Crockett caliber mule deer buck. When the winter range conditions are just right, many herds of trophy mule deer will start to pour into this unit from the surrounding higher elevations areas. Hunters who draw these late season 12B tags on the right year will be treated to a very high quality trophy mule deer hunt that offers you Boone and Crockett record book potential and high numbers of mule deer being sighted daily.

TOP 12B GUIDED HUNTS

The Arizona Strip Guides Team of Arizona mule deer hunting professionals is very experienced in hunting the trophy mule deer bucks that inhabit Arizona Unit 12B and Arizona Unit 12B West. The Arizona Strip Guides Team of Arizona trophy mule deer hunting professionals is one of your top choices in premium quality professional Arizona mule deer outfitters and Arizona mule deer guides for all of the mule deer hunts that are offered in Arizona Unit 12B and Arizona Unit 12B West. We would like nothing more than to put our many years of knowledge and decades of trophy mule deer hunting experience to work for you this year in Arizona unit 12B and Arizona Unit 12B West. Arizona Strip Guides LLC is hard at work scouting for high scoring trophy mule deer bucks in Arizona Unit 12B and Arizona Unit 12B West all year round in order to provide you the client with the very highest level of quality and preparation on your Arizona Unit 12B trophy mule deer hunts.

  • Call us: Travis McClendon 928-300-6755