Arizona › Hunting seasons › Units › Unit 12B
Game Management Unit · 1,103 sq mi
Unit 12B hunt guide for 2026-27
1,103 square miles across Coconino County, with 17 drawn hunt numbers and 92 season rows that name this unit.
Photo: Kumweni (CC BY 2.0)
Unit 12B at a glance
Unit 12B is one of the units in AZGFD Region II (Flagstaff). It runs to 1,103 square miles, with Coconino County holding the biggest share at 100%.
Unit 12B stays inside Coconino County from one boundary to the other.
| Where | Sq mi | Unit % | County % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coconino County | 1,102.7 | 100% | 6% |
Unit 12B mixes BLM, National Park, Private, State Trust Land and Tribal ground, per the land ownership field AZGFD keeps for each unit. National Park and Tribal land inside the unit is closed to state-licensed hunting unless the tribe or park says otherwise. AZGFD names no national forest in Unit 12B. No military land is noted for Unit 12B.
AZGFD's unit layer lists Pronghorn Antelope, Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer and Chukar for Unit 12B; that is a unit-wide hint, and the season tables below decide what is open.
Area, region, ownership, species list, forest and military fields from the AZGFD Game Management Unit layer (overlay with Census county lines); unit maps in the 2026-27 Arizona Hunting Regulations; checked November 7, 2026.
Limits and closures in Unit 12B
- Unit 12B does not appear among the archery deer limit units.
- AZGFD prints no female bear limit for Unit 12B.
- Report any lion from Unit 12B within 48 hours; it counts toward zone B, threshold 15.
- CWD has not been detected in Arizona, and Unit 12B is not one of the 16 priority border units; free testing is still available.
- Unit 12B is not on the AZGFD list of Mexican wolf units.
- Trapping in Unit 12B follows the statewide season and the public land trap rule.
Archery deer limits, bear female limits, lion zones, crane zones, metro units, CWD, Mexican wolf and trapping pages of the Arizona Game and Fish Department booklets; checked November 7, 2026.
Every Unit 12B season row
Unit 12B appears in 92 season rows. 3 of them sell over the counter and 3 run as population management hunts. Elk and pronghorn dates here are 2026 hunts, since the 2027 pronghorn and elk booklet is not out until January 2027.
Population management tags go to hunters in the Supplemental Hunter Pool when AZGFD calls a hunt.
Draw tags (15)
| Species | Hunt | Legal animal | Dates | Hunt numbers here | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery-only | Any antlered deer | Aug 21–Sep 10 | 1204 | |
| Deer | General | Any antlered deer | Oct 23–Nov 1 | 1017, 1019 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Any antlered deer | Nov 6–12 | 1186 | |
| Deer | General | Any antlered deer | Nov 20–29 | 1018, 1020 | |
| Pronghorn | Archery-only | Buck pronghorn | Aug 21–Sep 3 | 2051 | |
| Pronghorn | General | Buck pronghorn | Sep 4–13 | 2017 | |
| Desert bighorn | General | Any ram | Nov 20–Dec 10 | 6003 | |
| Desert bighorn | General | Any ram | Dec 1–31 | 6002 | |
| Desert bighorn | General | Any ram | Dec 11–31 | 6004 | |
| Bison | General | Cow bison only | Jul 31–Aug 20 | 7510 | |
| Bison | Limited (general) | Cow bison only | Sep 11–Oct 1 | 7511 | |
| Bison | Limited (general) | Cow bison only | Oct 16–29 | 7512 | |
| Bison | Limited (general) | Cow bison only | Nov 6–Dec 31 | 7513 | |
| Bison | General spring | Bull bison only | Mar 26–Jun 3 | 7009 | |
| Bison | General spring | Bull bison only | Jun 25–Jul 15 | 7010 |
No draw needed (3)
| Species | Hunt | Legal animal | Area | Dates | Harvest limit | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk | General | Any elk | 12A, 12B, 13A, and 13B | Jan 1–Dec 31 | — | |
| Mountain lion | General | Any lion except spotted kittens or females accompanied by spotted kittens | Statewide | Aug 21–May 31 | — | |
| Mountain lion | Pursuit-only | Pursuit only Any lion except spotted kittens or females accompanied by spotted kittens | Statewide | Aug 21–May 31 | — |
Commission Order 26 hunts (3)
| Species | Hunt | Legal animal | Area | Dates | Tags | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | General | Designated deer | 12B | Jan 1–Dec 31 | 50 | |
| Elk | General | Designated elk | 12A and 12B | Jan 1–Dec 31 | 25 | |
| Bison | General | Designated bison | 12A, 12B, and 13A | Jan 1–Dec 31 | 150 |
General license (71)
| Species | Hunt | Area | Dates | License | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quail | Falconry-only | Statewide | Sep 1–Mar 4 | Hunting license | |
| Quail | General | Statewide | Oct 16–Feb 7 | Hunting license | |
| Mearns' quail | General | Statewide | Dec 4–Feb 7 | Hunting license | |
| Chukar partridge | General | Statewide | Sep 1–Feb 7 | Hunting license | |
| Dusky grouse | General | Statewide | Sep 1–Nov 8 | Hunting license | |
| Pheasant | Falconry-only | Statewide | Sep 7–Feb 7 | Hunting license | |
| Pheasant | Archery-only | Statewide | Oct 16–Feb 7 | Hunting license | |
| Tree squirrels | Archery-only | 12A, 12B, 13A, and 13B | Aug 21–Sep 10 | Hunting license | |
| Tree squirrels | Falconry-only | Statewide | Aug 21–Jan 31 | Hunting license | |
| Tree squirrels | General | Statewide | Oct 2–Jan 31 | Hunting license | |
| Cottontail rabbit | Falconry-only | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Cottontail rabbit | General | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Cottontail rabbit | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Doves | Early | Statewide | Sep 1–15 | License, bird stamp | |
| Doves | Falconry-only | Statewide | Sep 16–Nov 1 | License, bird stamp | |
| Doves | Late | Statewide | Nov 20–Jan 3 | License, bird stamp | |
| Eurasian collared-dove | General | Statewide | Sep 1–Aug 31 | License, bird stamp | |
| Band-tailed pigeon | General | Statewide | Sep 25–Oct 8 | License, bird stamp | |
| Ducks | General | Statewide | Oct 23–Jan 31 | License, both stamps | |
| Ducks | General (scaup) | Statewide | Nov 7–Jan 31 | License, both stamps | |
| Ducks | Falconry-only | Statewide | Feb 1–4 | License, both stamps | |
| Ducks | Youth-only | Statewide | Feb 6–7 | License, both stamps | |
| Geese | General | Statewide | Oct 23–Jan 31 | License, both stamps | |
| Geese | Youth-only | Statewide | Feb 6–7 | License, both stamps | |
| Coots and gallinules | General | Statewide | Oct 23–Jan 31 | License, both stamps | |
| Coots and gallinules | Falconry-only | Statewide | Feb 1–4 | License, both stamps | |
| Coots and gallinules | Youth-only | Statewide | Feb 6–7 | License, both stamps | |
| Common snipe | General | Statewide | Oct 23–Jan 31 | License, both stamps | |
| Badger | General | Statewide | Aug 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Badger | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Aug 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Badger | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 1–Feb 28 | Trapping license | |
| Beaver | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 1–Feb 28 | Trapping license | |
| Bobcat | General | Statewide | Aug 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Bobcat | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Aug 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Bobcat | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 1–Feb 28 | Trapping license | |
| Coati | Falconry-only | Statewide | Sep 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Coati | General | Statewide | Sep 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Coyote | General | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Coyote | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Coyote | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 1–Feb 28 | Trapping license | |
| Coyote | General | 4A, 4B | Dec 1–May 31 | Hunting license | |
| European starling | Falconry-only | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| European starling | General | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| European starling | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Foxes | General | Statewide | Aug 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Foxes | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Aug 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Foxes | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 1–Feb 28 | Trapping license | |
| House sparrow | Falconry-only | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| House sparrow | General | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| House sparrow | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Jackrabbits | General | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Muskrat | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 1–Feb 28 | Trapping license | |
| Nongame mammals | Falconry-only | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Nongame mammals | General | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Nongame mammals | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Northern bobwhite | Falconry-only | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Northern bobwhite | General | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Northern bobwhite | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Raccoon | Pursuit-only | Statewide | Jul 1–31 Apr 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Raccoon | General | Statewide | Aug 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Raccoon | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Aug 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Raccoon | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 1–Feb 28 | Trapping license | |
| Ringtail | General | Statewide | Aug 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Ringtail | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Aug 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Ringtail | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 1–Feb 28 | Trapping license | |
| Skunks | General | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Skunks | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Jul 1–Jun 30 | Hunting license | |
| Skunks | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 1–Feb 28 | Trapping license | |
| Weasel | General | Statewide | Aug 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Weasel | Shotgun shot | Statewide | Aug 1–Mar 31 | Hunting license | |
| Weasel | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 1–Feb 28 | Trapping license |
Season rows from the 2026-27 Arizona Hunting Regulations, the 2027 spring booklet, the 2026 pronghorn and elk booklet, and the waterfowl, dove and trapping leaflets; population management on pages 49-50; checked November 7, 2026.
Hunt numbers that include Unit 12B
17 drawn hunts include Unit 12B, with 622 permits between them; deer (mule deer and white-tailed deer) has the most (6). Nonresidents can draw no more than 10% of the tags in a deer, elk, javelina, pronghorn, crane or turkey hunt number.
Deer, fall 2026 (6)
| Hunt no. | Hunt | Dates | Legal animal | Permits | Open area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1017 | General | Oct 23–Nov 1 | Any antlered deer | 15 | 12B |
| 1018 | General | Nov 20–29 | Any antlered deer | 20 | 12B |
| 1019 | General | Oct 23–Nov 1 | Any antlered deer | 110 | 12B West |
| 1020 | General | Nov 20–29 | Any antlered deer | 75 | 12B West |
| 1186 | Muzzleloader | Nov 6–12 | Any antlered deer | 15 | 12B West |
| 1204 | Archery-only | Aug 21–Sep 10 | Any antlered deer | 300 | 12A (excluding Grand Canyon National Park) and 12B |
Pronghorn, 2026 hunts, 2026 booklet (2)
| Hunt no. | Hunt | Dates | Legal animal | Permits | Open area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | General | Sep 4–13 | Buck pronghorn | 5 | 12A and 12B |
| 2051 | Archery-only | Aug 21–Sep 3 | Buck pronghorn | 3 | 12A and 12B |
Desert bighorn, fall 2026 (3)
| Hunt no. | Hunt | Dates | Legal animal | Permits | Open area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6002 | General | Dec 1–31 | Any ram | 1 | Kanab Creek Hunt Area in Units 12A, 12B and 13A and Cottonwood Wilderness Hunt Area in Unit 13A |
| 6003 | General | Nov 20–Dec 10 | Any ram | 3 | 12B East |
| 6004 | General | Dec 11–31 | Any ram | 3 | 12B East |
Bison, fall 2026 (4)
| Hunt no. | Hunt | Dates | Legal animal | Permits | Open area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7510 | General | Jul 31–Aug 20 | Cow bison only | 12 | 12A (excluding the closure area within House Rock Wildlife Area, see note), 12B, and 13A (Kaibab Plateau Herd) |
| 7511 | Limited (general) | Sep 11–Oct 1 | Cow bison only | 10 | 12A (excluding the closure area within House Rock Wildlife Area, see note), 12B, and 13A (Kaibab Plateau Herd) |
| 7512 | Limited (general) | Oct 16–29 | Cow bison only | 5 | 12A (excluding the closure area within House Rock Wildlife Area, see note), 12B, and 13A (Kaibab Plateau Herd) |
| 7513 | Limited (general) | Nov 6–Dec 31 | Cow bison only | 5 | 12A (excluding the closure area within House Rock Wildlife Area, see note), 12B, and 13A (Kaibab Plateau Herd) |
Bison, spring 2027 (2)
| Hunt no. | Hunt | Dates | Legal animal | Permits | Open area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7009 | General spring | Mar 26–Jun 3 | Bull bison only | 20 | 12A (excluding the closure area within House Rock Wildlife Area, see note), 12B, and 13A (Kaibab Plateau Herd) |
| 7010 | General spring | Jun 25–Jul 15 | Bull bison only | 20 | 12A (excluding the closure area within House Rock Wildlife Area, see note), 12B, and 13A (Kaibab Plateau Herd) |
Raptor capture, spring 2027 (13)
| Hunt no. | Hunt | Dates | Legal animal | Permits | Open area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20002 | Nonresidents only | Jan 1–Dec 31 | Eyas northern goshawk | 3 | Statewide except all Units south of the Gila River |
| 21001 | Residents only | Apr 1–Aug 31 | Eyas peregrine falcon | 5 | Statewide |
| 21002 | Nonresidents only | Apr 1–Aug 31 | Eyas peregrine falcon | 2 | Statewide |
| 22002 | Nonresidents only | Jan 1–31 May 1–Dec 31 | Passage Harris's hawk | 10 | Statewide (excluding Yuma and La Paz counties) |
| 23001 | Residents only | Jan 1–Dec 31 | Eyas or passage gray hawk | 1 | Statewide |
| Unnumbered | Residents, nonresidents | Jan 1–Dec 31 | Eyas American Kestrel, Cooper's hawk, great horned owl, prairie falcon, and western screech owl. Eyas or passage red-tailed hawk, and sharp-shinned hawk | — | Statewide |
| Unnumbered | Residents, nonresidents | Jan 1–31 May 1–Dec 31 | Passage Cooper's hawk and prairie falcon | — | Statewide |
| Unnumbered | Residents, nonresidents | Jan 1–31 Sep 15–Dec 31 | Passage and adult American kestrel, great horned owl, and western screech owl | — | Statewide |
| Unnumbered | Residents, nonresidents | Jan 1–Dec 31 | Passage merlin | — | Statewide |
| Unnumbered | Residents, nonresidents | Jan 1–Dec 31 | Passage ferruginous hawk | — | Statewide (excluding all Units north of the Gila River, excluding Units 25M and 42) |
| Unnumbered | Residents only | Jan 1–Dec 31 | Eyas Harris's hawk | 30 | Statewide (excluding Yuma and La Paz counties) |
| Unnumbered | Residents only | Jan 1–Dec 31 | Eyas northern goshawk | — | Statewide except all Units south of the Gila River |
| Unnumbered | Residents only | Jan 1–Feb 28 Jun 1–Dec 31 | Passage northern goshawk | — | Statewide except all Units south of the Gila River |
Hunt numbers, dates, legal wildlife and permits from the fall 2026 Commission Orders, the spring 2027 booklet and the 2026 pronghorn and elk booklet; draw rules on pages 22-23; checked November 7, 2026.
2025 results for Unit 12B hunts
Across 17 drawn hunts touching Unit 12B in 2025, deer came out on top: 214 taken, 349 hunters.
Multi-unit hunts are shown whole; the last column gives the unit-level line AZGFD prints for this unit, as harvest of hunters.
| Species | Hunt | Units | Hunters | Taken | Success | This unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer (draw) | 1018 | 12B | 12 | 11 | 92% | Single unit |
| Deer (draw) | 1019 | 12B | 13 | 13 | 100% | Single unit |
| Deer (draw) | 1020 | 12B West | 87 | 66 | 76% | Single unit |
| Deer (draw) | 1021 | 12B West | 43 | 40 | 93% | Single unit |
| Deer (draw) | 1184 | 12B West | 15 | 13 | 87% | Single unit |
| Deer (draw) | 1203 | 12A and 12B | 179 | 71 | 40% | 0 of 4 |
| Pronghorn | 2016 | 12A and 12B | 3 | 3 | 100% | 3 of 3 |
| Pronghorn | 2051 | 12A and 12B | 4 | 3 | 75% | 1 of 1 |
| Bighorn sheep | 6002 | 12A/12B/13A | 1 | 1 | 100% | — |
| Bighorn sheep | 6003 | 12BE | 3 | 3 | 100% | Single unit |
| Bighorn sheep | 6004 | 12BE | 3 | 2 | 67% | Single unit |
| Bison | 7004 | 12A/12B/13A | 20 | 5 | 25% | — |
| Bison | 7005 | 12A/12B/13A | 18 | 6 | 33% | — |
| Bison | 7511 | 12A/12B/13A | 3 | 0 | 0% | — |
| Bison | 7512 | 12A/12B/13A | 9 | 6 | 67% | — |
| Bison | 7513 | 12A/12B/13A | 5 | 5 | 100% | — |
| Bison | 7514 | 12A/12B/13A | 4 | 4 | 100% | — |
- Hunters reported 11 lions in zone B during 2025, by that year's zone lines.
AZGFD 2025 harvest summaries: 2025 bighorn sheep, 2025 bison, 2025 deer, 2025 mountain lion, 2025 pronghorn; checked November 7, 2026.
Open land to hunt across Unit 12B
Unit 12B overlaps 8 mapped public lands, from wildlife areas (1) to national forest units (2). Add Arizona State Trust Land and Bureau of Land Management Arizona public lands to the list for Unit 12B.
BLM Arizona Strip Field Office
Kaibab National Forest
BLM Hassayampa Field Office
Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument
North Kaibab Ranger District (Kaibab National Forest)
Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
House Rock Wildlife Area
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Only in Unit 12B
Land records and unit overlaps from AZGFD, USFS, BLM, FWS and NPS layers (see each land page); State Trust Land needs a valid hunting license under the license rules; checked November 7, 2026.
Bases and nearby units for Unit 12B
2 towns are in or within 10 miles of Unit 12B.
- Coconino
- Coconino
Nearby units with a county in common:
| Unit | Shared counties | Sq mi | Hunt numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 12A | Coconino | 1,017 | 30 |
| Unit 9 | Coconino | 1,065 | 19 |
| Unit 10 | Coconino | 2,251 | 28 |
| Unit 7 | Coconino | 1,389 | 29 |
| Unit 11M | Coconino | 281 | 14 |
| Unit 5B | Coconino | 809 | 37 |
| Unit 8 | Coconino | 644 | 23 |
| Unit 5A | Coconino | 692 | 34 |
Towns and their units from Census places and the AZGFD unit layer; checked November 7, 2026.
Unit 12B hunting light by date
Arizona stays on Mountain Standard Time all year, so the clock times for Unit 12B below do not jump in November or March.
| When | Marker | First light | Last light | Big and small game | Waterfowl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 2026 | Archery deer | 5:49 a.m. | 7:13 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 7:13 p.m. | 5:19 a.m. to 7:13 p.m. |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 5:58 a.m. | 6:58 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 6:58 p.m. | 5:28 a.m. to 6:58 p.m. |
| Oct 16, 2026 | Quail opener | 6:35 a.m. | 5:52 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. |
| Oct 23, 2026 | General deer and waterfowl opener | 6:41 a.m. | 5:43 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:36 a.m. | 5:15 p.m. | 7:36 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. |
| Jan 22, 2027 | Spring javelina | 7:36 a.m. | 5:41 p.m. | 7:36 a.m. to 5:41 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:41 p.m. |
Hours rules from the 2026-27 Arizona Hunting Regulations (A.R.S. 17-301); sunrise and sunset worked out for this location with the NOAA solar formula (Mountain Standard Time); the AZGFD Phoenix sunrise-sunset chart; checked November 7, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Unit 12B answered
Is trapping allowed in Unit 12B?
Yes, November 1 to February 28.
Which counties split Unit 12B between them?
None do; the whole unit is inside Coconino County.
Which AZGFD draw hunts are good in Unit 12B?
17 of them (6 deer, 2 pronghorn, 3 desert bighorn and 6 bison); the hunt number table on this page gives dates and permits.
What big game can I buy over the counter for Unit 12B?
Elk and mountain lion; archery deer, bear and lion stop when their limits are met.
Which lion harvest zone takes in Unit 12B?
Zone B, with a threshold of 15.
Where does Unit 12B stand on CWD surveillance?
Not a priority unit; testing is voluntary.
Does the AZGFD wolf note name Unit 12B?
No.
Does State Trust Land reach Unit 12B?
Yes, State Trust Land parcels lie inside it.
What towns lie within Unit 12B?
Fredonia.
How did draw hunters fare in Unit 12B last season?
349 hunters took 214 deer.
Answers drawn from the AZGFD sources cited on this page; checked November 7, 2026.