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Arizona Hunter's Guide to Safford Ranger District, Coronado National Forest
Ranger district in Graham County and Cochise County, Units 31 and 32, about 400,606 acres.
Photo: Alan Stark (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Safford Ranger District, Coronado National Forest
Fine print for hunters on Safford Ranger District
The federal discharge rule on Safford Ranger District sets a 150-yard buffer around occupied places and camps. Firing across a National Forest System road or over water breaks the same rule. The Forest Service publishes Motor Vehicle Use Maps for Safford Ranger District. Closure notices come from the forest; check before driving in.
The forest hunting page carries only alerts and no hunting text, so Arizona seasons for the units below apply.
Forest Service hunting and shooting page; 36 CFR 261.10; checked November 7, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Safford Ranger District, Coronado National Forest
Owner, size and setting of Safford Ranger District
Hunting on Safford Ranger District works as anywhere on Coronado National Forest: Arizona tags, AZGFD seasons and Forest Service discharge rules. At 400,606 acres by the USFS land statistics, it reaches into Graham County and Cochise County. Its ground spreads across Region V (Tucson) and Region VI (Mesa).
The Forest Service hunting page says: Hunting Before you head out on your adventure, buy a hunting license, find where to hunt, access the regulations, and learn about the hunt draw and hunter education from the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
From lands.json (primary source; acres: USFS EDW Lands Area Statistics (NFS-owned acres in the district)), checked November 7, 2026.
Permit-tag hunts covering Safford Ranger District
Wildlife hunted near Safford Ranger District.
AZGFD lists 42 drawn hunts whose open areas include the units of Safford Ranger District: 2 elk, 14 deer, 2 pronghorn, 1 desert bighorn, 7 javelina and 5 turkey. The booklets authorize 3,452 tags for them. None of these hunts is limited to Safford Ranger District; each is valid throughout its listed open area. Elk and pronghorn rows are the 2026 hunts; the 2027 pronghorn and elk booklet comes out in January 2027 with its own hunt list. Fall 2026 draw applications closed June 2, 2026, spring 2027 applications closed October 6, 2026, and the 2026 pronghorn and elk deadline was February 3, 2026.
| Animal | Count | Permits | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk (2026) | 2 | 15 | Sep 11, 2026 | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Deer | 14 | 1,475 | Oct 9, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 |
| Pronghorn (2026) | 2 | 5 | Aug 21, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 |
| Desert bighorn | 1 | 2 | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 |
| Javelina | 7 | 1,050 | Nov 20, 2026 | Feb 25, 2027 |
| Turkey | 5 | 11 | Apr 30, 2027 | May 27, 2027 |
| Sandhill crane | 11 | 894 | Nov 13, 2026 | Jan 25, 2027 |
| Hunt | Species | Type | Dates | Legal wildlife | Permits | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3192 | Elk (2026) | Limited opp. (archery-only) | Sep 11–24, 2026 | Any elk | 5 | 31, 32 |
| 3095 | Elk (2026) | Limited opp. | Oct 2–29, 2026 | Any elk | 10 | 31, 32 |
| 1167 | Deer | Youth-only | Oct 9–18, 2026 | Any antlered deer | 25 | 31 |
| 1168 | Deer | Youth-only | Oct 9–18, 2026 | Any antlered deer | 25 | 32 |
| 1112 | Deer | General | Oct 23–29, 2026 | Antlered whitetail deer | 100 | 31 |
| 1116 | Deer | General | Oct 23–29, 2026 | Antlered whitetail deer | 250 | 32 |
| 1050 | Deer | General | Oct 30–Nov 5, 2026 | Antlered mule deer | 25 | 31 |
| 2059 | Pronghorn (2026) | Archery-only | Aug 21–Sep 3, 2026 | Buck pronghorn | 2 | 31, 32 |
| 2027 | Pronghorn (2026) | General | Sep 4–13, 2026 | Buck pronghorn | 3 | 31, 32 |
| 6022 | Desert bighorn | General | Dec 1–31, 2026 | Any ram | 2 | 31, 32 |
| 5506 | Javelina | Youth-only | Nov 20–26, 2026 | Any javelina | 25 | 31, 32 |
| 5098 | Javelina | Archery-only | Jan 1–21, 2027 | Any javelina | 200 | 31, 32 |
| 5043 | Javelina | Youth-only | Jan 22–31, 2027 | Any javelina | 75 | 31, 32 |
| 5071 | Javelina | HAM | Feb 5–15, 2027 | Any javelina | 50 | 31 |
| 5072 | Javelina | HAM | Feb 5–15, 2027 | Any javelina | 250 | 32 |
| 4049 | Turkey | Shotgun-shot | Apr 30–May 6, 2027 +1 | Bearded turkey | 3 | 31 |
| 4051 | Turkey | Shotgun-shot | Apr 30–May 27, 2027 | Bearded turkey | 1 | 31, 32 |
| 4052 | Turkey | Shotgun-shot | Apr 30–May 6, 2027 +1 | Bearded turkey | 2 | 32 |
| 4050 | Turkey | Shotgun-shot | May 7–27, 2027 | Bearded turkey | 3 | 31 |
| 4053 | Turkey | Shotgun-shot | May 7–27, 2027 | Bearded turkey | 2 | 32 |
| 9018 | Sandhill crane | Archery-only | Nov 13–15, 2026 | Any sandhill crane | 12 | 31, 32 |
| 9011 | Sandhill crane | General | Nov 20–22, 2026 | Any sandhill crane | 120 | 31, 32 |
| 9012 | Sandhill crane | General | Nov 24–26, 2026 | Any sandhill crane | 120 | 31, 32 |
| 9013 | Sandhill crane | General | Nov 28–30, 2026 | Any sandhill crane | 120 | 31, 32 |
| 9017 | Sandhill crane | Youth-only | Dec 5–7, 2026 | Any sandhill crane | 42 | 31, 32 |
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.
Unit-by-unit facts for Safford Ranger District
AZGFD sets seasons by unit, and Safford Ranger District lies in Units 31 and 32. Read the unit descriptions in the booklet: lines follow landmarks, not fences. AZGFD's unit layer lists black bear, elk, javelina, mule deer, white-tailed deer, dove, quail and pronghorn and 1 more for these units, a unit-level hint rather than a promise for this exact ground. In Unit 31: Crane zone. In Unit 32: Crane zone.
| Unit | AZGFD office | Sq miles | Counties | Forest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 31 | Tucson | 1,212 | Graham, Cochise, Pinal | Coronado NF |
| Unit 32 | Tucson | 1,534 | Cochise, Graham, Pinal | Coronado NF |
| Unit | Lion zone | Female bear limit | Archery deer limit | AZGFD flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 31 | M (46) | 10 (31) | 5 | Crane zone |
| Unit 32 | M (46) | 6 (32) | 25 | Crane zone |
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.
Nonpermit-tag hunts in the Safford Ranger District units
For Safford Ranger District, the over-the-counter list covers deer, black bear, mountain lion and elk. Watch the archery deer counts: a unit closes the Wednesday after it fills, and reporting is due within 48 hours. Bear seasons end early in a unit once enough females are taken; report within 48 hours. A lion tag is good statewide through May 31, 2027, starting August 21, 2026, with zone caps.
| Game | Season | Legal wildlife | Window | Units here | Harvest limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk | General OTC tag elk | Any elk | Nov 20–Dec 31, 2026 | 31, 32 | – |
| Deer | Archery-only OTC tag deer | Antlered mule deer | Aug 21–Jan 31, 2027 | 31 | 5 |
| Deer | Archery-only OTC tag deer | Antlered whitetail deer | Aug 21–Jan 31, 2027 | 31 | 35 |
| Deer | Archery-only OTC tag deer | Antlered mule deer | Aug 21–Jan 31, 2027 | 32 | 25 |
| Deer | Archery-only OTC tag deer | Antlered whitetail deer | Aug 21–Jan 31, 2027 | 32 | 85 |
| Black bear | Archery-only bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Aug 21–Oct 1, 2026 | 31 | 3 |
| Black bear | Archery-only bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Aug 21–Oct 1, 2026 | 32 | 2 |
| Black bear | General bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Oct 2–Dec 31, 2026 | 31 | 3 |
| Black bear | General bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Oct 2–Dec 31, 2026 | 32 | 2 |
| Black bear | General OTC tag spring bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Mar 19–Apr 22, 2027 | 31 | 2 |
| Black bear | General OTC tag spring bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Mar 19–Apr 22, 2027 | 32 | 1 |
| Mountain lion | General mountain lion | Any lion except spotted kittens or… | Aug 21–May 31, 2027 | 31, 32 | – |
| Mountain lion | Pursuit-only mountain lion | Pursuit of any lion except spotted… | Aug 21–May 31, 2027 | 31, 32 | – |
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 Safford Ranger District
The parent unit is Coronado National Forest. Its siblings are linked below.
Neighbouring public ground of Safford Ranger District
If Safford Ranger District is crowded, Cluff Ranch lies 10 miles to the north. Within reach on the map: 4 wildlife areas, 1 BLM field office and 1 national conservation area.
| Place | Type | Acres | County | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cluff Ranch | Wildlife area | 774 | Graham | 10 miles | north |
| BLM Safford FO | BLM field office | 1,400,000 | Graham | 22 miles | east |
| Willcox Playa | Wildlife area | 600 | Cochise | 35 miles | south |
| Gila Box NCA | Conservation area | 23,000 | Graham | 36 miles | northeast |
| Aravaipa Canyon | Wildlife area | 750 | Pinal | 39 miles | northwest |
| Lower San Pedro River | Wildlife area | 2,001 | Pinal | 48 miles | west |
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.
Quail, dove and small game at Safford Ranger District
Statewide seasons cover dove, quail and cottontail rabbit on and around Safford Ranger District.
| Game | Season | Window |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Cottontail rabbit | General cottontail rabbit | Jul 1–Jun 30, 2027 |
Statewide season rows from the 2026-27 Arizona Hunting Regulations and the waterfowl and dove leaflets; checked November 7, 2026.
Recent results near Safford Ranger District
Harvest is counted per hunt and unit; no figure exists for Safford Ranger District alone. Hunts spanning several units are not included; AZGFD calls the elk data preliminary.
| Unit | Hunts in 2025 | Hunters | Harvest | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 31 | OTC archery deer | 477 | 38 | 4% |
| Unit 32 | OTC archery deer | 537 | 39 | 16% |
| Unit 31 | Draw deer, 7 hunts | 416 | 157 | 38% |
| Unit 32 | Draw deer, 7 hunts | 1,034 | 343 | 33% |
| Unit 31 | Spring javelina, 2 hunts | 128 | 41 | 32% |
| Unit 32 | Spring javelina, 2 hunts | 395 | 166 | 42% |
| Unit 31 | Spring turkey, 2 hunts | 5 | 2 | 40% |
| Unit 32 | Spring turkey, 2 hunts | 2 | 1 | 50% |
2025 AZGFD harvest summaries: OTC archery deer, deer, elk (preliminary), pronghorn, spring javelina, spring turkey, bighorn sheep; checked November 7, 2026.
Supplies and help near Safford Ranger District
The handiest town is Safford, about 16 miles off. A larger stop is Oro Valley, population 48,855. Tucson hosts the AZGFD office nearest to Safford Ranger District, 73 miles out.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safford | Graham | 10,257 | 16 miles | northeast |
| Clifton | Greenlee | 3,815 | 43 miles | northeast |
| Duncan | Greenlee | 671 | 47 miles | east |
| Dudleyville | Pinal | – | 51 miles | west |
| Oro Valley | Pima | 48,855 | 66 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.
Sunup and sundown at Safford Ranger District
Raccoon hunting runs around the clock statewide outside metro units and refuges, and coyote does in listed units from December 1; other game around Safford Ranger District stops at sunset.
| Day | Moment | Sunup | Sundown | Daylight window | Early bird window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 2026 | Archery deer | 5:47 a.m. | 7:00 p.m. | 5:47 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. | 5:17 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 5:54 a.m. | 6:46 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 6:46 p.m. | 5:24 a.m. to 6:46 p.m. |
| Oct 16, 2026 | Quail opener | 6:23 a.m. | 5:47 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 5:47 p.m. | 5:53 a.m. to 5:47 p.m. |
| Oct 23, 2026 | General deer and waterfowl opener | 6:29 a.m. | 5:39 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:17 a.m. | 5:17 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. |
| Jan 22, 2027 | Spring javelina | 7:20 a.m. | 5:41 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 5:41 p.m. | 6:50 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.
Sight in, then hunt Safford Ranger District (Coronado National Forest)
Of the AZGFD-listed ranges, Sierra Vista Shooting Range lies closest to Safford Ranger District (Coronado National Forest), roughly 80 miles by straight line.
From AZGFD’s Shooting Range Facilities page, operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 7, 2026.
The Safford Ranger District question list
Which AZGFD units include Safford Ranger District?
Game units: 31, 32.
What size does the record give for Safford Ranger District?
400,606 acres is the listed figure (USFS land statistics).
What drawn hunts are valid on Safford Ranger District?
42 draw hunts reach it: elk, deer, pronghorn, desert bighorn, javelina and turkey.
What nonpermit-tag hunts apply on Safford Ranger District?
Yes, for elk, deer, black bear and mountain lion, with harvest limits by unit where they apply.
Camping limits on Safford Ranger District?
No camping rule is in the data; check with the district.
Vehicle access on Safford Ranger District?
Stay on routes open on the Motor Vehicle Use Map.
Is orange clothing mandatory on Safford Ranger District?
No state rule requires orange in Arizona.
Which AZGFD region handles Safford Ranger District?
Call AZGFD Region V (Tucson) at 520-628-5376.
Do I need CWD testing for deer from Safford Ranger District?
CWD has not been detected in Arizona; AZGFD offers free testing.
Is Safford Ranger District huntable ground?
Yes. Safford Ranger District is open to hunting under Arizona licenses and AZGFD seasons.
What license works on Safford Ranger District?
A valid Arizona hunting or combination license plus any tag the hunt needs (resident hunting $37, combination $57; nonresident combination $160).
Things to confirm for Safford Ranger District
Confirm your hunt number, unit and open dates for Safford Ranger District before you load the truck.
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: Alan Stark (CC BY-SA 2.0); Bureau of Land Management Arizona (Public Domain Mark 1.0).