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Arizona national forest
Hunt Planning for Kaibab National Forest
National forest in Coconino County and 2 more counties with 1,543,570 acres across 9 game units.
Photo: Kaibab National Forest (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Kaibab National Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Kaibab National Forest
- Parking areaParking · 4.2 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
First facts about Kaibab National Forest
Forest Service land like Kaibab National Forest is open to hunters holding Arizona licenses and tags; AZGFD, not the Forest Service, sets the seasons. USFS land statistics puts it at 1,543,570 acres; the land lies in Coconino County, Yavapai County and Mohave County. More than one AZGFD region shares it: Region II (Flagstaff) and Region III (Kingman).
The Forest Service hunting page says: For licenses, regulations, and other hunting information visit Arizona Game & Fish Department .
From lands.json (primary source; acres: USFS EDW Lands Area Statistics (NFS-owned acres in Arizona)), checked November 7, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Kaibab National Forest
Which units Kaibab National Forest sits in
Hunts valid on Kaibab National Forest are those for Units 6B, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12A, 12B, 13A and 19B. Unit boundaries run along roads, rivers and ridgelines; know which unit you stand in. AZGFD tags the units with pronghorn, black bear, elk, Merriam's Turkey, javelina, mule deer, white-tailed deer and mountain lion and 8 more; treat it as a guide to the wider area. Unit 6B status: Mexican wolf area. Unit 7 carries these AZGFD labels: Mexican wolf area. In Unit 8: Mexican wolf area. Hunters in the wolf area must avoid shooting a protected Mexican wolf.
| Unit | Office | Size | Counties | NF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 6B | Flagstaff | 404 | Coconino, Yavapai | Kaibab NF Coconino NF |
| Unit 7 | Flagstaff | 1,389 | Coconino | Coconino NF, Kaibab NF |
| Unit 8 | Flagstaff | 644 | Coconino, Yavapai | Kaibab NF, Prescott NF |
| Unit 9 | Flagstaff | 1,065 | Coconino | Kaibab NF |
| Unit 10 | Flagstaff, Kingman | 2,251 | Coconino, Yavapai | Kaibab NF |
| Unit 12A | Flagstaff | 1,017 | Coconino | Kaibab NF |
| Unit 12B | Flagstaff | 1,103 | Coconino | – |
| Unit 13A | Flagstaff | 1,943 | Mohave, Coconino | – |
| Unit 19B | Kingman | 763 | Yavapai | Prescott NF |
| Unit | Lion zone | Bear female limit 2026 | OTC archery deer cap | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 6B | G2 (16) | 6 (6B, 11M) | 15 | Mexican wolf area |
| Unit 7 | D (20) | 3 (7) | 140 | Mexican wolf area |
| Unit 8 | G2 (16) | 6 (8) | 35 | Mexican wolf area |
| Unit 9 | D (20) | 4 (9) | 140 | Mexican wolf area |
| Unit 10 | D (20) | 3 (10, 18A, 19B) | 25 | Mexican wolf area |
| Unit 12A | B (15) | – | – | – |
| Unit 12B | B (15) | – | – | – |
| Unit 13A | A (12) | – | – | – |
| Unit 19B | F (38) | 3 (10, 18A, 19B) | 10 | – |
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.
Rule book for Kaibab National Forest
On Kaibab National Forest the Forest Service bars firing a gun within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area. Do not shoot across forest roads or over water on Kaibab National Forest. Use the Motor Vehicle Use Map to see which Kaibab National Forest roads are open.
No forest-specific hunting rules were posted beyond alerts.
Forest Service hunting and shooting page; 36 CFR 261.10; checked November 7, 2026.
OTC tags valid on Kaibab National Forest
No application is needed for the deer, turkey, javelina, black bear, mountain lion and elk hunts below. When an archery deer unit hits its limit, it shuts at sundown the next Wednesday; report your deer online within 48 hours. Female harvest limits close bear units, and each bear is reported within 48 hours. The statewide lion season, August 21, 2026 to May 31, 2027, is managed by zone thresholds.
| Animal | Hunt | Legal wildlife | Open | Units here | Harvest cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk | General OTC tag elk | Any elk | Jan 1–Dec 31, 2026 | 12A, 12B, 13A | – |
| Deer | Archery-only OTC tag deer | Any antlered deer | Aug 21–Jan 31, 2027 | 7, 9 | 140 |
| Deer | Archery-only OTC tag deer | Any antlered deer | Aug 21–Jan 31, 2027 | 10 | 25 |
| Deer | Archery-only OTC tag deer | Any antlered deer | Aug 21–Jan 31, 2027 | 19B | 10 |
| Deer | Archery-only OTC tag deer | Antlered mule deer | Aug 21–Jan 31, 2027 | 6B | 15 |
| Deer | Archery-only OTC tag deer | Antlered whitetail deer | Aug 21–Jan 31, 2027 | 6B | 5 |
| Deer | Archery-only OTC tag deer | Antlered mule deer | Aug 21–Jan 31, 2027 | 8 | 35 |
| Deer | Archery-only OTC tag deer | Antlered whitetail deer | Aug 21–Jan 31, 2027 | 8 | 5 |
| Javelina | HAM OTC tag javelina | Any javelina | Jan 1–Dec 31, 2026 | 7, 9 | – |
| Javelina | HAM OTC tag spring javelina | Any javelina | Jan 1–Dec 31, 2027 | 7, 9 | – |
| Turkey | Archery-only OTC tag turkey | Any turkey | Aug 21–Sep 10, 2026 | 6B, 7, 8, 10 + | – |
| Turkey | Youth-only OTC tag (Shotgun shot) turkey | Any turkey | Oct 2–12, 2026 | 12A | – |
| Turkey | Youth-only OTC tag (Shotgun shot)… | Bearded turkey | Apr 16–May 20, 2027 | 6B, 8, 10, 12A | – |
| Turkey | Archery-only OTC tag spring turkey | Bearded turkey | May 7–20, 2027 | 12A | – |
| Black bear | General bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Aug 21–Sep 10, 2026 | 6B | 4 |
| Black bear | Archery-only bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Aug 21–Oct 1, 2026 | 6B | 1 |
| Black bear | General bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Oct 2–Dec 31, 2026 | 6B | 1 |
| Black bear | General bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Oct 2–Dec 31, 2026 | 7 | 3 |
| Black bear | General bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Oct 2–Dec 31, 2026 | 8 | 6 |
| Black bear | General bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Oct 2–Dec 31, 2026 | 9 | 4 |
| Black bear | General bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Oct 2–Dec 31, 2026 | 10, 19B | 2 |
| Black bear | General OTC tag spring bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Mar 19–Apr 22, 2027 | 10, 19B | 1 |
| Mountain lion | General mountain lion | Any lion except spotted kittens or… | Aug 21–May 31, 2027 | 6B, 7, 8, 9 + | – |
| Mountain lion | Pursuit-only mountain lion | Pursuit of any lion except spotted… | Aug 21–May 31, 2027 | 6B, 7, 8, 9 + | – |
Nonpermit-tag rows from the 2026-27 regulations and the 2027 spring booklet; reporting rules from the harvest reporting section; checked November 7, 2026.
Draw hunts that include Kaibab National Forest
Game in the units around Kaibab National Forest.
Counting every booklet, 135 hunt numbers apply in the units here: 50 elk, 29 deer, 18 pronghorn, 4 desert bighorn, 6 bison and 13 javelina. That is 18,442 permit-tags in all. A hunt covers its whole unit or open area, not just Kaibab National Forest, so a tag drawn here is good elsewhere in the unit too. For elk and pronghorn, this is the 2026 list; the next one is due in January 2027. AZGFD closed the fall draw June 2, 2026, the spring draw October 6, 2026 and the 2026 elk and pronghorn draw February 3, 2026.
| Game | Hunt numbers | Tags | Earliest start | Latest end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk (2026) | 50 | 9,325 | Sep 11, 2026 | Dec 10, 2026 |
| Deer | 29 | 4,310 | Aug 21, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 |
| Pronghorn (2026) | 18 | 227 | Aug 21, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 |
| Desert bighorn | 4 | 8 | Oct 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 |
| Bison | 6 | 72 | Jul 31, 2026 | Jul 15, 2027 |
| Javelina | 13 | 2,350 | Oct 2, 2026 | Feb 25, 2027 |
| Turkey | 15 | 2,150 | Oct 2, 2026 | May 20, 2027 |
| Hunt | Species | Type | Dates | Legal wildlife | Permits | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3135 | Elk (2026) | Archery-only | Sep 11–24, 2026 | Bull elk | 155 | 6B |
| 3179 | Elk (2026) | Archery-only | Sep 11–24, 2026 | Antlerless elk | 75 | 6B |
| 3136 | Elk (2026) | Archery-only | Sep 11–24, 2026 | Bull elk | 150 | 7 |
| 3137 | Elk (2026) | Archery-only | Sep 11–24, 2026 | Bull elk | 25 | 7 |
| 3138 | Elk (2026) | Archery-only | Sep 11–24, 2026 | Bull elk | 150 | 7 |
| 1204 | Deer | Archery-only | Aug 21–Sep 10, 2026 | Any antlered deer | 300 | 12A, 12B |
| 1205 | Deer | Archery-only | Aug 21–Sep 10, 2026 | Any antlered deer | 15 | 13A |
| 1179 | Deer | CHAMP deer (challenged hunter access mobility permit required, see r12-4-217) | Sep 18–24, 2026 | Any antlered deer | 10 | 12A |
| 1153 | Deer | Youth-only | Oct 2–11, 2026 | Any antlered deer | 65 | 10 |
| 1154 | Deer | Youth-only | Oct 9–12, 2026 | Antlerless deer | 100 | 12A |
| 2046 | Pronghorn (2026) | Archery-only | Aug 21–Sep 3, 2026 | Buck pronghorn | 5 | 6B |
| 2047 | Pronghorn (2026) | Archery-only | Aug 21–Sep 3, 2026 | Buck pronghorn | 10 | 7 |
| 2048 | Pronghorn (2026) | Archery-only | Aug 21–Sep 3, 2026 | Buck pronghorn | 5 | 9 |
| 2049 | Pronghorn (2026) | Archery-only | Aug 21–Sep 3, 2026 | Buck pronghorn | 30 | 10 |
| 2051 | Pronghorn (2026) | Archery-only | Aug 21–Sep 3, 2026 | Buck pronghorn | 3 | 12A, 12B |
| 6001 | Desert bighorn | General | Oct 1–Dec 31, 2026 | Any ram | 1 | 9, 10 |
| 6003 | Desert bighorn | General | Nov 20–Dec 10, 2026 | Any ram | 3 | 12B |
| 6002 | Desert bighorn | General | Dec 1–31, 2026 | Any ram | 1 | 12A, 12B, 13A |
| 6004 | Desert bighorn | General | Dec 11–31, 2026 | Any ram | 3 | 12B |
| 7510 | Bison | General | Jul 31–Aug 20, 2026 | Cow bison only | 12 | 12A, 12B, 13A |
| 7511 | Bison | Limited opp. | Sep 11–Oct 1, 2026 | Cow bison only | 10 | 12A, 12B, 13A |
| 7512 | Bison | Limited opp. | Oct 16–29, 2026 | Cow bison only | 5 | 12A, 12B, 13A |
| 7513 | Bison | Limited opp. | Nov 6–Dec 31, 2026 | Cow bison only | 5 | 12A, 12B, 13A |
| 7009 | Bison | General | Mar 26–Jun 3, 2027 | Bull bison only | 20 | 12A, 12B, 13A |
| 5501 | Javelina | Youth-only | Oct 2–11, 2026 | Any javelina | 75 | 10 |
| 5503 | Javelina | Youth-only | Oct 9–18, 2026 | Any javelina | 175 | 19B |
| 5083 | Javelina | Archery-only | Jan 1–21, 2027 | Any javelina | 575 | 6B, 8 |
| 5084 | Javelina | Archery-only | Jan 1–21, 2027 | Any javelina | 275 | 10 |
| 5088 | Javelina | Archery-only | Jan 1–21, 2027 | Any javelina | 50 | 19B |
| 4507 | Turkey | Shotgun-shot | Oct 2–8, 2026 | Any turkey | 100 | 6B |
| 4508 | Turkey | Shotgun-shot | Oct 2–8, 2026 | Any turkey | 100 | 7 |
| 4509 | Turkey | Shotgun-shot | Oct 2–8, 2026 | Any turkey | 100 | 8, 10 |
| 4510 | Turkey | Shotgun-shot | Oct 2–8, 2026 | Any turkey | 750 | 12A |
| 4015 | Turkey | Shotgun-shot | Apr 23–29, 2027 +1 | Bearded turkey | 75 | 6B |
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.
Birds and small game near Kaibab National Forest
No draw is needed for tree squirrel, blue (dusky) grouse, Kaibab Squirrel, chukar and dove and 1 more; a hunting license and the statewide dates are enough.
| Species | Statewide season | When |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Tree squirrels | General tree squirrel | Oct 2–Jan 31, 2027 |
| Chukar partridge | General chukar partridge | Sep 1–Feb 7, 2027 |
| Dusky (blue) grouse | General dusky grouse | Sep 1–Nov 8, 2026 |
Statewide season rows from the 2026-27 Arizona Hunting Regulations and the waterfowl and dove leaflets; checked November 7, 2026.
Not open to hunting near Kaibab National Forest
Do not cross into Kaibab Indian Reservation to hunt on an Arizona tag; tribal permission is required. Federal law (18 USC 1165) makes it an offense to hunt tribal land without permission.
| Place | Closed because | County | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kaibab Indian Reservation | tribal land | Mohave, Coconino | 33 miles |
Closed rows from lands.json: tribal land (18 USC 1165, Census TIGERweb), NPS units (36 CFR 2.2); checked November 7, 2026.
Parent and child units of Kaibab National Forest
The 3 ranger districts of Kaibab National Forest are in the table.
| Name | Acreage | Counties | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Kaibab Ranger District | 655,593 | Coconino, Mohave | 12A, 12B, 13A |
| Tusayan Ranger District | 327,307 | Coconino | 9 |
| Williams Ranger District | 560,671 | Coconino, Yavapai | 6B, 7, 8, 10, 19B |
2025 harvest in the Kaibab National Forest units
Unit-level 2025 harvest gives a feel for hunting near Kaibab National Forest. Multi-unit hunts are excluded so no hunter is counted twice; elk results remain preliminary.
| Unit | Hunt (2025) | Hunters afield | Harvest | % success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 6B | OTC archery deer | 435 | 31 | 10% |
| Unit 7 | OTC archery deer | 1,704 | 110 | 10% |
| Unit 8 | OTC archery deer | 806 | 24 | 4% |
| Unit 9 | OTC archery deer | 185 | 3 | 0% |
| Unit 10 | OTC archery deer | 755 | 32 | 7% |
| Unit 19B | OTC archery deer | 144 | 15 | 10% |
| Unit 6B | Draw deer, 4 hunts | 393 | 108 | 27% |
| Unit 8 | Draw deer, 3 hunts | 299 | 119 | 40% |
| Unit 10 | Draw deer, 2 hunts | 388 | 126 | 32% |
| Unit 12A | Draw deer, 7 hunts | 470 | 358 | 76% |
| Unit 12B | Draw deer, 5 hunts | 170 | 143 | 84% |
| Unit 13A | Draw deer, 2 hunts | 47 | 34 | 72% |
| Unit 19B | Draw deer, 1 hunt | 155 | 49 | 32% |
| Unit 6B | Elk (prelim.), 40 hunts | 773 | 265 | 34% |
| Unit 7 | Elk (prelim.), 17 hunts | 2,109 | 760 | 36% |
| Unit 8 | Elk (prelim.), 7 hunts | 1,191 | 372 | 31% |
| Unit 9 | Elk (prelim.), 7 hunts | 1,008 | 446 | 44% |
| Unit 10 | Elk (prelim.), 10 hunts | 1,937 | 570 | 29% |
| Unit 6B | Pronghorn, 4 hunts | 9 | 5 | 56% |
| Unit 7 | Pronghorn, 2 hunts | 39 | 34 | 87% |
| Unit 8 | Pronghorn, 2 hunts | 8 | 7 | 88% |
| Unit 9 | Pronghorn, 2 hunts | 22 | 19 | 86% |
| Unit 10 | Pronghorn, 2 hunts | 79 | 53 | 67% |
| Unit 13A | Pronghorn, 2 hunts | 18 | 12 | 67% |
2025 AZGFD harvest summaries: OTC archery deer, deer, elk (preliminary), pronghorn, spring javelina, spring turkey, bighorn sheep; checked November 7, 2026.
Services for hunters at Kaibab National Forest
Fredonia is the nearest town with a page here, 31 miles from Kaibab National Forest in a straight line. Williams is the largest of the five, with 3,482 residents in 2024. Closest Game and Fish counter: Flagstaff, roughly 103 miles off.
| Town | County | Pop. 2024 | Miles off | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fredonia | Coconino | 1,290 | 31 miles | northwest |
| Bitter Springs | Coconino | – | 33 miles | east |
| Tusayan | Coconino | 587 | 44 miles | south |
| Williams | Coconino | 3,482 | 92 miles | south |
| Littlefield | Mohave | – | 96 miles | west |
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.
Next public land from Kaibab National Forest
The closest other public land on this site is House Rock, 20 miles to the southeast. By type the six neighbours break down as 3 BLM national monuments, 1 wildlife area and 1 BLM field office.
| Place | Type | Acres | County | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| House Rock | Wildlife area | 53,933 | Coconino | 20 miles | southeast |
| Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni NM | National monument | 917,618 | Mohave | 24 miles | west |
| Vermilion Cliffs NM | National monument | 280,000 | Coconino | 30 miles | northeast |
| BLM Arizona Strip FO | BLM field office | 2,083,465 | Mohave | 39 miles | west |
| Glen Canyon NRA | Recreation area | 46,747 | Coconino | 48 miles | northeast |
| Grand Canyon-Parashant NM | National monument | 1,017,200 | Mohave | 79 miles | west |
Point: AZGFD Land Ownership layer (US Forest Service) inside the USFS EDW ranger district boundaries of the forest (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Clock times on Kaibab National Forest by season date
Arizona allows hunting in daylight hours, which the AZGFD booklet ties to its sunrise and sunset chart; ducks, geese, doves, pigeons and cranes may be shot from half an hour before sunrise.
| When | Marker | First light | Last light | Big and small game | Waterfowl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 2026 | Archery deer | 5:51 a.m. | 7:14 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. | 5:21 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 5:59 a.m. | 6:59 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 6:59 p.m. | 5:29 a.m. to 6:59 p.m. |
| Oct 16, 2026 | Quail opener | 6:36 a.m. | 5:53 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. |
| Oct 23, 2026 | General deer and waterfowl opener | 6:42 a.m. | 5:44 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 5:44 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 5:44 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:37 a.m. | 5:17 p.m. | 7:37 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. |
| Jan 22, 2027 | Spring javelina | 7:38 a.m. | 5:42 p.m. | 7:38 a.m. to 5:42 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:42 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.
Kaibab National Forest hunters: an AZGFD range plus clubs
Of the AZGFD-listed ranges, Northern Arizona Shooting Range lies closest to Kaibab National Forest, roughly 108 miles by straight line.
From AZGFD’s Shooting Range Facilities page, operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 7, 2026.
FAQ for hunting Kaibab National Forest
Which license and tags does Kaibab National Forest take?
Carry an Arizona hunting or combination license and the tag for your hunt; youth 10 to 17 pay $5 for a combination license.
Which AZGFD units include Kaibab National Forest?
Units 6B, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12A, 12B, 13A, 19B, per the AZGFD unit layer.
Acres on Kaibab National Forest?
1,543,570 acres is the listed figure (USFS land statistics).
How many hunt numbers cover Kaibab National Forest?
The booklets list 135 hunts for elk, deer, pronghorn, desert bighorn, bison and javelina whose open areas include it.
Are there OTC hunts on Kaibab National Forest?
For elk, deer, javelina, turkey, black bear and mountain lion, yes.
What does Kaibab National Forest allow for overnight stays?
Dispersed camping is common on national forests, but follow the forest’s fire restrictions and posted limits; this page has no forest-specific camping text.
Where can I drive on Kaibab National Forest?
Routes shown open on the Motor Vehicle Use Map only.
Hunter orange on Kaibab National Forest?
No. Arizona has no hunter orange rule; wearing it is up to you.
Which AZGFD region handles Kaibab National Forest?
Call AZGFD Region II (Flagstaff) at 928-774-5045.
Closed areas near Kaibab National Forest?
Kaibab Indian Reservation, about 33 miles off, is tribal land, closed to state-licensed hunting without the tribe’s permission.
Is chronic wasting disease found around Kaibab National Forest?
No detection in Arizona to date.
Does the law allow hunting on Kaibab National Forest?
Yes, Kaibab National Forest is open to licensed hunters.
Loose ends before driving to Kaibab National Forest
Tag your animal as soon as it is down and keep your license and tags on you while hunting Kaibab National Forest.
Sources: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4 · source 5 · source 6; seasons from the 2026-27 Arizona Hunting Regulations. Checked November 7, 2026.
Other photos on this page: neepster (CC BY-SA 2.0); Leah Moffatt (CC BY-SA 2.0).