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Bradshaw Ranger District, Prescott National Forest: Units, Rules and Tags
Ranger district in Yavapai County; Units 17B, 20A and 20B, 409,103 acres.
Photo: Scottb211 (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Bradshaw Ranger District, Prescott National Forest
Rules you will meet on Bradshaw Ranger District
Under 36 CFR 261.10(d) you may not fire within 150 yards of any occupied area on Bradshaw Ranger District. Shots across or on a forest road, or over a body of water, are also prohibited there. Off-road travel on Bradshaw Ranger District follows the Motor Vehicle Use Map. Ask the district office about current closures before a trip.
Seasons come from Arizona, since the forest page gives none.
Forest Service hunting and shooting page; 36 CFR 261.10; checked November 7, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Bradshaw Ranger District, Prescott National Forest
Size, manager and region of Bradshaw Ranger District
The Forest Service splits Prescott National Forest into districts; Bradshaw Ranger District is one, with its own office and road network. The listed size is 409,103 acres (USFS land statistics), in Yavapai County. By GIS the polygon comes to 431,546 acres, which is why two numbers float around. Parts lie in 2 AZGFD regions, Region III (Kingman) and Region VI (Mesa).
The Forest Service hunting page says: Please visit the AZGFD website for information on hunting and fishing and to buy licenses when required. As listed in 36 CFR 261.9 and 261.10, the following are prohibited: Shooting within 150-yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area Shooting across or on a forest road Shooting across or on a body of water adjacent to a forest road Shooting in any manner or place whereby any person or property is exposed to injury or damage Damaging any natural feature or other property of the United States Arizona State law prohibits shooting from a vehicle while hunting and authorities also consider …
From lands.json (primary source; acres: USFS EDW Lands Area Statistics (NFS-owned acres in the district)), checked November 7, 2026.
Hunt numbers valid on Bradshaw Ranger District
Game of the Bradshaw Ranger District country.
For Bradshaw Ranger District, the draw offers 33 hunts across its units, namely 6 elk, 6 deer, 2 pronghorn, 13 javelina and 6 turkey. Their permit totals reach 5,745. Drawing one of these hunts lets you hunt Bradshaw Ranger District along with the rest of the open area. Elk and pronghorn figures come from the 2026 draw booklet; 2027 numbers arrive in January 2027. Applications for these hunts were due June 2 (fall 2026), October 6 (spring 2027) and February 3, 2026 (pronghorn and elk).
| Species | Hunts | Permits | First opens | Last closes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk (2026) | 6 | 720 | Sep 11, 2026 | Dec 10, 2026 |
| Deer | 6 | 1,465 | Oct 9, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
| Pronghorn (2026) | 2 | 10 | Aug 21, 2026 | Sep 10, 2026 |
| Javelina | 13 | 3,500 | Oct 9, 2026 | Feb 25, 2027 |
| Turkey | 6 | 50 | Apr 23, 2027 | May 20, 2027 |
| Hunt | Species | Type | Dates | Legal wildlife | Permits | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3190 | Elk (2026) | Limited opp. (archery-only) | Sep 11–Oct 1, 2026 | Bull elk | 35 | 17B, 20A |
| 3191 | Elk (2026) | Limited opp. (archery-only) | Sep 11–Oct 1, 2026 | Antlerless elk | 50 | 17B, 20A |
| 3073 | Elk (2026) | Limited opp. | Oct 2–15, 2026 | Bull elk | 35 | 17B, 20A |
| 3085 | Elk (2026) | Limited opp. | Oct 2–15, 2026 | Antlerless elk | 150 | 17B, 20A |
| 3086 | Elk (2026) | Limited opp. | Nov 6–Dec 10, 2026 | Antlerless elk | 300 | 17B, 20A |
| 3092 | Elk (2026) | Limited opp. | Nov 6–Dec 10, 2026 | Any elk | 150 | 17B, 20A |
| 1155 | Deer | Youth-only | Oct 9–18, 2026 | Any antlered deer | 225 | 17B, 20A |
| 1157 | Deer | Youth-only | Oct 9–15, 2026 | Any antlered deer | 75 | 20B |
| 1025 | Deer | General | Oct 23–Nov 1, 2026 | Any antlered deer | 300 | 17B |
| 1031 | Deer | General | Oct 23–Nov 1, 2026 | Any antlered deer | 575 | 20A |
| 1189 | Deer | Muzzleloader | Oct 23–29, 2026 | Any antlered deer | 65 | 20B |
| 1032 | Deer | General | Nov 6–12, 2026 | Any antlered deer | 225 | 20B |
| 2054 | Pronghorn (2026) | Archery-only | Aug 21–Sep 3, 2026 | Buck pronghorn | 5 | 17B |
| 2033 | Pronghorn (2026) | Muzzleloader | Sep 4–10, 2026 | Buck pronghorn | 5 | 17B |
| 5503 | Javelina | Youth-only | Oct 9–18, 2026 | Any javelina | 175 | 17B, 20A |
| 5505 | Javelina | Youth-only | Oct 9–15, 2026 | Any javelina | 75 | 20B |
| 5085 | Javelina | Archery-only | Jan 1–21, 2027 | Any javelina | 400 | 17B |
| 5089 | Javelina | Archery-only | Jan 1–21, 2027 | Any javelina | 175 | 20A |
| 5090 | Javelina | Archery-only | Jan 1–21, 2027 | Any javelina | 450 | 20B |
| 5035 | Javelina | Youth-only | Jan 22–31, 2027 | Any javelina | 150 | 17B, 20A |
| 5038 | Javelina | Youth-only | Jan 22–31, 2027 | Any javelina | 125 | 20B |
| 5054 | Javelina | HAM | Feb 5–15, 2027 | Any javelina | 150 | 17B |
| 4028 | Turkey | Shotgun-shot | Apr 23–29, 2027 +1 | Bearded turkey | 10 | 17B |
| 4032 | Turkey | Shotgun-shot | Apr 23–29, 2027 +1 | Bearded turkey | 10 | 20A |
| 4034 | Turkey | Shotgun-shot | Apr 23–29, 2027 +1 | Bearded turkey | 5 | 20A |
| 4029 | Turkey | Shotgun-shot | Apr 30–May 20, 2027 | Bearded turkey | 10 | 17B |
| 4033 | Turkey | Shotgun-shot | Apr 30–May 20, 2027 | Bearded turkey | 10 | 20A |
| 4035 | Turkey | Shotgun-shot | Apr 30–May 20, 2027 | Bearded turkey | 5 | 20A |
Hunt numbers, dates, legal wildlife and permits from the 2026-27 Arizona Hunting Regulations, the 2027 spring booklet and the 2026 pronghorn and elk booklet; deadlines from the draw section; checked November 7, 2026.
Bradshaw Ranger District by Game Management Unit
The GIS overlay places Bradshaw Ranger District in Units 17B, 20A and 20B. Tags follow unit boundaries rather than property lines, so carry the unit map. Unit-level species on AZGFD's map: pronghorn, black bear, elk, javelina, Merriam's Turkey, mountain lion, mule deer and dove and 3 more.
| Unit | Regional office | Area (sq mi) | Counties | Forest land |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 17B | Kingman | 671 | Yavapai | Prescott NF |
| Unit 20A | Kingman | 600 | Yavapai | Prescott NF |
| Unit 20B | Mesa | 755 | Yavapai, Maricopa | – |
| Unit | Lion zone | 2026 bear limit | Archery cap | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 17B | F (38) | 10 (17A, 17B, 18B) | 30 | – |
| Unit 20A | F (38) | 21 (20A, 20B, 20C) | 55 | – |
| Unit 20B | F (38) | 21 (20A, 20B, 20C) | 15 | – |
Units from the AZGFD Game Management Unit layer overlay in lands.json; unit facts, lion zones, bear limits and archery deer limits from the 2026-27 Arizona Hunting Regulations (zones section, unit maps); checked November 7, 2026.
No-draw hunting near Bradshaw Ranger District
Without a draw, hunters can still take deer, black bear and mountain lion here on nonpermit-tags. OTC archery deer runs on unit harvest limits with a Wednesday-sundown closure and 48-hour online reporting. Bear hunts close by unit at the female harvest limit; report a bear within 48 hours and have it inspected within 10 days. Lion hunting runs August 21, 2026 through May 31, 2027 with zone thresholds and a one-lion yearly limit.
| Species | Season type | Legal animal | When | Units | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery-only OTC tag deer | Any antlered deer | Aug 21–Jan 31, 2027 | 17B | 30 |
| Deer | Archery-only OTC tag deer | Any antlered deer | Aug 21–Jan 31, 2027 | 20A | 55 |
| Deer | Archery-only OTC tag deer | Any antlered deer | Aug 21–Jan 31, 2027 | 20B | 15 |
| Black bear | General bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Aug 21–Sep 10, 2026 | 17B | 3 |
| Black bear | General bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Aug 21–Sep 10, 2026 | 20A, 20B | 3 |
| Black bear | General bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Oct 2–Dec 31, 2026 | 17B | 4 |
| Black bear | General bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Oct 2–Dec 31, 2026 | 20A, 20B | 4 |
| Black bear | General OTC tag spring bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Mar 19–Apr 22, 2027 | 17B | 1 |
| Black bear | General OTC tag spring bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Mar 19–Apr 22, 2027 | 20A, 20B | 2 |
| Black bear | General OTC tag spring bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | May 7–Aug 19, 2027 | 20A, 20B | 6 |
| Mountain lion | General mountain lion | Any lion except spotted kittens or… | Aug 21–May 31, 2027 | 17B, 20A, 20B | – |
| Mountain lion | Pursuit-only mountain lion | Pursuit of any lion except spotted… | Aug 21–May 31, 2027 | 17B, 20A, 20B | – |
Nonpermit-tag rows from the 2026-27 regulations and the 2027 spring booklet; reporting rules from the harvest reporting section; checked November 7, 2026.
Parent and child units of Bradshaw Ranger District
The parent unit is Prescott National Forest. The same parent also holds Chino Valley Ranger District and Verde Ranger District.
The map around Bradshaw Ranger District
The closest other public land on this site is Agua Fria NM, 26 miles to the southeast. Among the six closest are 4 ranger districts, 1 BLM national monument and 1 wildlife area.
| Place | Type | Acres | County | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agua Fria NM | National monument | 70,900 | Yavapai | 26 miles | southeast |
| Verde Ranger District | Ranger district | 296,650 | Yavapai | 28 miles | east |
| Upper Verde River | Wildlife area | 1,085 | Yavapai | 32 miles | north |
| Chino Valley Ranger District | Ranger district | 555,143 | Yavapai | 38 miles | north |
| Red Rock Ranger District | Ranger district | 487,850 | Yavapai | 45 miles | northeast |
| Cave Creek Ranger District | Ranger district | 581,657 | Yavapai | 47 miles | southeast |
Point: AZGFD Land Ownership layer (US Forest Service) inside the USFS EDW Ranger Districts boundary (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Tribal and park land near Bradshaw Ranger District
Yavapai-Prescott Reservation is tribal land: an Arizona license gives no right to hunt there, and the tribe decides who may. Hunting on Indian land without lawful authority or permission is a federal offense under 18 USC 1165.
| Not open to hunting | Reason | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yavapai-Prescott Reservation | tribal land | Yavapai | 10 miles |
Closed rows from lands.json: tribal land (18 USC 1165, Census TIGERweb), NPS units (36 CFR 2.2); checked November 7, 2026.
License-only hunting around Bradshaw Ranger District
For dove, tree squirrel, quail and waterfowl, the statewide dates below apply around Bradshaw Ranger District. Waterfowl hunters need the Arizona migratory bird stamp and a federal duck stamp, and may start half an hour before sunrise.
| Game | Hunt | Open |
|---|---|---|
| Gambel's, scaled and California quail | General quail | Oct 16–Feb 7, 2027 |
| Mearns' quail | General quail | Dec 4–Feb 7, 2027 |
| Doves | Statewide early dove season | Sep 1–15, 2026 |
| Doves | Statewide late dove season | Nov 20–Jan 3, 2027 |
| Ducks and mergansers | General waterfowl | Oct 23–Jan 31, 2027 |
| Ducks and mergansers | Youth-only waterfowl | Feb 6–7, 2027 |
| Tree squirrels | General tree squirrel | Oct 2–Jan 31, 2027 |
Statewide season rows from the 2026-27 Arizona Hunting Regulations and the waterfowl and dove leaflets; checked November 7, 2026.
2025 AZGFD results for Bradshaw Ranger District units
Read these as unit results; AZGFD publishes nothing at the property level. Rows add up hunts confined to a single unit, skipping multi-unit hunts; elk numbers are still preliminary.
| Unit | Kind of hunt, 2025 | Hunters | Animals | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 17B | OTC archery deer | 421 | 34 | 8% |
| Unit 20A | OTC archery deer | 630 | 62 | 12% |
| Unit 20B | OTC archery deer | 505 | 17 | 11% |
| Unit 17B | Draw deer, 1 hunt | 254 | 70 | 28% |
| Unit 20A | Draw deer, 1 hunt | 512 | 198 | 39% |
| Unit 20B | Draw deer, 3 hunts | 297 | 42 | 14% |
| Unit 20A | Spring javelina, 2 hunts | 356 | 89 | 25% |
| Unit 20B | Spring javelina, 3 hunts | 937 | 371 | 40% |
| Unit 20A | Spring turkey, 6 hunts | 41 | 33 | 80% |
2025 AZGFD harvest summaries: OTC archery deer, deer, elk (preliminary), pronghorn, spring javelina, spring turkey, bighorn sheep; checked November 7, 2026.
Closest towns to Bradshaw Ranger District
Count on Prescott, roughly 13 miles out, for supplies. The 2024 estimate for Prescott Valley is 51,440, the largest nearby. AZGFD keeps an office in Phoenix, the closest one at 46 miles.
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prescott | Yavapai | 48,224 | 13 miles | north |
| Prescott Valley | Yavapai | 51,440 | 16 miles | northeast |
| Chino Valley | Yavapai | 13,911 | 23 miles | north |
| Paulden | Yavapai | – | 33 miles | north |
| Camp Verde | Yavapai | 12,608 | 36 miles | east |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024 estimates); AZGFD offices from the AZGFD offices page; businesses from services.json listings; straight-line miles. Checked November 7, 2026.
Shooting hours at the Bradshaw Ranger District point
Trappers may check sets day or night, but hunting light around Bradshaw Ranger District follows the daylight rule in the table below.
| Date | Event | Rise | Set | General hours | Bird hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 2026 | Archery deer | 5:55 a.m. | 7:12 p.m. | 5:55 a.m. to 7:12 p.m. | 5:25 a.m. to 7:12 p.m. |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:02 a.m. | 6:58 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 6:58 p.m. | 5:32 a.m. to 6:58 p.m. |
| Oct 16, 2026 | Quail opener | 6:35 a.m. | 5:56 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 5:56 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 5:56 p.m. |
| Oct 23, 2026 | General deer and waterfowl opener | 6:41 a.m. | 5:47 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:47 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 5:47 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:32 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 7:32 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. |
| Jan 22, 2027 | Spring javelina | 7:34 a.m. | 5:48 p.m. | 7:34 a.m. to 5:48 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:48 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.
Zero check on the road to Bradshaw Ranger District (Prescott National Forest)
Of the AZGFD-listed ranges, Ben Avery Shooting Facility Rifle and Pistol Range lies closest to Bradshaw Ranger District (Prescott National Forest), roughly 45 miles by straight line. Club benches within 30 miles of the property finish the row.
From AZGFD’s Shooting Range Facilities page, operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 7, 2026.
Questions we get on Bradshaw Ranger District
What are the vehicle rules on Bradshaw Ranger District?
Follow the Motor Vehicle Use Map.
Can hunters camp at Bradshaw Ranger District?
Check the forest for camping and fire rules; none are listed here.
Which AZGFD region handles Bradshaw Ranger District?
Call AZGFD Region III (Kingman) at 928-692-7700.
Does Arizona require orange clothing on Bradshaw Ranger District?
No; AZGFD has no such requirement.
Should I worry about CWD at Bradshaw Ranger District?
Arizona has not found CWD; AZGFD tests for free.
What should I avoid near Bradshaw Ranger District?
10 miles away is Yavapai-Prescott Reservation, tribal land, closed to state-licensed hunting without the tribe’s permission.
License and tag needs for Bradshaw Ranger District?
The license is the Arizona one (resident $37 hunting or $57 combination, nonresident $160 combination), with tags as needed.
Can a licensed hunter use Bradshaw Ranger District?
Open to hunting under state seasons.
Is Bradshaw Ranger District a big place?
409,103 acres is the listed figure (USFS land statistics).
Which AZGFD units include Bradshaw Ranger District?
The overlay places it in Units 17B, 20A, 20B.
Can I buy an over-the-counter tag for Bradshaw Ranger District?
Yes. Deer, black bear and mountain lion have nonpermit-tag seasons in these units.
Which draw hunts include Bradshaw Ranger District?
33 drawn hunts, for elk, deer, pronghorn, javelina and turkey. Elk and pronghorn rows are the 2026 list.
Before the drive to Bradshaw Ranger District: last checks
Use this page to plan, then check the agency source for Bradshaw Ranger District the week before the trip.
Sources: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4; seasons from the 2026-27 Arizona Hunting Regulations. Checked November 7, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Mimi Cummins (CC BY 2.0); Bureau of Land Management Arizona (Public Domain Mark 1.0).