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Sierra Vista Ranger District, Coronado National Forest Hunter Guide, 2026-27
Ranger district in Santa Cruz County and 2 more counties, 298,205 acres in Units 34B, 35A and 35B.
Photo: Todd Morris (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Sierra Vista Ranger District, Coronado National Forest
The lay of the land at Sierra Vista Ranger District
Sierra Vista Ranger District is a ranger district of Coronado National Forest, one of the Forest Service units that divide the forest on the ground. It covers 298,205 acres by the USFS land statistics, spread over Santa Cruz County, Cochise County and Pima County. A GIS overlay gives 308,774 acres instead; mapped boundaries and stated acres rarely agree exactly. AZGFD handles it from AZGFD Region V (Tucson), whose territory includes the sky islands of southeastern Arizona, the Santa Rita, Huachuca, Chiricahua and Galiuro mountains, the San Pedro and Santa Cruz valleys and the Sulphur Springs Valley.
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.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Sierra Vista Ranger District, Coronado National Forest
Dos and don'ts on Sierra Vista Ranger District
A 150-yard no-discharge zone surrounds every residence, campsite and developed site on Sierra Vista Ranger District. Roads and lakes count: no shooting across them. Before driving on Sierra Vista Ranger District, check its Motor Vehicle Use Map for open routes. The forest posts closure orders; read them before a hunt.
The forest page lists alerts only; seasons come from AZGFD.
Forest Service hunting and shooting page; 36 CFR 261.10; checked November 7, 2026.
Sierra Vista Ranger District draw options
What hunters here are after.
Drawn hunts covering these units add up to 40: 18 deer, 4 pronghorn, 12 javelina and 6 turkey. Together they offer 3,904 permit-tags. The tag is for the open area as a whole; Sierra Vista Ranger District is one place to use it. Read the elk and pronghorn lines as 2026 hunts; AZGFD publishes the 2027 list in January. The spring 2027 draw closed on October 6, 2026; the fall 2026 draw closed June 2 and the 2026 pronghorn and elk draw on February 3.
| Game | Hunts | Permits | Season starts | Season ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | 18 | 2,655 | Oct 9, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 |
| Pronghorn (2026) | 4 | 11 | Aug 21, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 |
| Javelina | 12 | 1,200 | Oct 9, 2026 | Feb 25, 2027 |
| Turkey | 6 | 38 | Apr 16, 2027 | May 27, 2027 |
| Hunt no. | Species | Weapon | When | What you may take | Permits | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1171 | Deer | Youth-only | Oct 9–15, 2026 | Any antlered deer | 75 | 35A |
| 1172 | Deer | Youth-only | Oct 9–15, 2026 | Any antlered deer | 75 | 35B |
| 1128 | Deer | General | Oct 23–29, 2026 | Antlered whitetail deer | 125 | 34B |
| 1132 | Deer | General | Oct 23–29, 2026 | Antlered whitetail deer | 300 | 35A |
| 1136 | Deer | General | Oct 23–29, 2026 | Antlered whitetail deer | 375 | 35B |
| 1055 | Deer | General | Oct 30–Nov 5, 2026 | Antlered mule deer | 25 | 34B |
| 1190 | Deer | Muzzleloader | Oct 30–Nov 5, 2026 | Any antlered deer | 40 | 35A, 35B |
| 1129 | Deer | General | Nov 6–12, 2026 | Antlered whitetail deer | 100 | 34B |
| 1133 | Deer | General | Nov 6–12, 2026 | Antlered whitetail deer | 300 | 35A |
| 1137 | Deer | General | Nov 6–12, 2026 | Antlered whitetail deer | 350 | 35B |
| 2060 | Pronghorn (2026) | Archery-only | Aug 21–Sep 3, 2026 | Buck pronghorn | 3 | 34B |
| 2061 | Pronghorn (2026) | Archery-only | Aug 21–Sep 3, 2026 | Buck pronghorn | 3 | 35A, 35B |
| 2037 | Pronghorn (2026) | Muzzleloader | Sep 4–13, 2026 | Buck pronghorn | 3 | 34B |
| 2028 | Pronghorn (2026) | General | Sep 4–13, 2026 | Buck pronghorn | 2 | 35A, 35B |
| 5509 | Javelina | Youth-only | Oct 9–15, 2026 | Any javelina | 50 | 34B, 35A, 35B |
| 5510 | Javelina | Youth-only | Nov 20–26, 2026 | Any javelina | 50 | 34B, 35A, 35B |
| 5101 | Javelina | Archery-only | Jan 1–21, 2027 | Any javelina | 400 | 34B |
| 5102 | Javelina | Archery-only | Jan 1–21, 2027 | Any javelina | 100 | 35A, 35B |
| 5046 | Javelina | Youth-only | Jan 22–31, 2027 | Any javelina | 40 | 34B |
| 5047 | Javelina | Youth-only | Jan 22–31, 2027 | Any javelina | 20 | 35A, 35B |
| 5075 | Javelina | HAM | Feb 5–15, 2027 | Any javelina | 30 | 34B |
| 5076 | Javelina | HAM | Feb 5–15, 2027 | Any javelina | 80 | 35A |
| 5077 | Javelina | HAM | Feb 5–15, 2027 | Any javelina | 80 | 35B |
| 5025 | Javelina | General | Feb 19–25, 2027 | Any javelina | 100 | 34B |
| 4061 | Turkey | Shotgun-shot | Apr 16–22, 2027 +1 | Bearded turkey | 10 | 35A |
| 4060 | Turkey | Shotgun-shot | Apr 30–May 27, 2027 | Bearded turkey | 2 | 34B |
| 4062 | Turkey | Shotgun-shot | Apr 30–May 6, 2027 +1 | Bearded turkey | 10 | 35A |
| 4064 | Turkey | Shotgun-shot | Apr 30–May 6, 2027 +1 | Bearded turkey | 3 | 35B |
| 4063 | Turkey | Shotgun-shot | May 7–27, 2027 | Bearded turkey | 10 | 35A |
| 4065 | Turkey | Shotgun-shot | May 7–27, 2027 | Bearded turkey | 3 | 35B |
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.
Sierra Vista Ranger District: nonpermit-tag seasons
Over-the-counter hunting near Sierra Vista Ranger District includes deer, black bear and mountain lion; buy the nonpermit-tag and go. Each archery deer unit has a harvest limit; once it is met, the unit closes at sundown the following Wednesday, and kills are reported within 48 hours. Expect bear closures by female limit, plus a 48-hour report and 10-day inspection. Mountain lion is open statewide from August 21, 2026 to May 31, 2027, one per year, with zone harvest thresholds.
| Game | Hunt | What you may take | Dates | Units | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery-only OTC tag deer | Antlered mule deer | Aug 21–Jan 31, 2027 | 34B | 5 |
| Deer | Archery-only OTC tag deer | Antlered whitetail deer | Aug 21–Jan 31, 2027 | 34B | 30 |
| Deer | Archery-only OTC tag deer | Antlered mule deer | Aug 21–Jan 31, 2027 | 35A | 5 |
| Deer | Archery-only OTC tag deer | Antlered whitetail deer | Aug 21–Jan 31, 2027 | 35A | 90 |
| Deer | Archery-only OTC tag deer | Antlered mule deer | Aug 21–Jan 31, 2027 | 35B | 5 |
| Deer | Archery-only OTC tag deer | Antlered whitetail deer | Aug 21–Jan 31, 2027 | 35B | 90 |
| Black bear | Archery-only bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Aug 21–Oct 1, 2026 | 34B | 2 |
| Black bear | Archery-only bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Aug 21–Oct 1, 2026 | 35A, 35B | 3 |
| Black bear | Archery-only bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Aug 21–Oct 1, 2026 | 35A | 2 |
| Black bear | General bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Oct 2–Dec 31, 2026 | 34B | 1 |
| Black bear | Archery-only bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Oct 2–29, 2026 | 35A, 35B | 2 |
| Black bear | General bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Oct 30–Dec 31, 2026 | 35A, 35B | 2 |
| Black bear | General OTC tag spring bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Mar 19–Apr 22, 2027 | 34B | 1 |
| Black bear | General OTC tag spring bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Mar 19–Apr 22, 2027 | 35A, 35B | 2 |
| Black bear | General OTC tag spring bear | Any bear except cubs with sows and sows… | Mar 19–Apr 22, 2027 | 35A | 1 |
| Mountain lion | General mountain lion | Any lion except spotted kittens or… | Aug 21–May 31, 2027 | 34B, 35A, 35B | – |
| Mountain lion | Pursuit-only mountain lion | Pursuit of any lion except spotted… | Aug 21–May 31, 2027 | 34B, 35A, 35B | – |
Nonpermit-tag rows from the 2026-27 regulations and the 2027 spring booklet; reporting rules from the harvest reporting section; checked November 7, 2026.
Game units that cover Sierra Vista Ranger District
For tags, Sierra Vista Ranger District falls in Units 34B, 35A and 35B. A hunt number is valid across its whole unit; where two units meet, the boundary follows roads and drainages on the AZGFD map. For the units here, the AZGFD layer shows pronghorn, javelina, mule deer, white-tailed deer, cottontail rabbit, dove, quail and black bear and 5 more (a unit-wide list). AZGFD labels for Unit 34B: CWD priority, Beaver/muskrat traps only. In Unit 35A: CWD priority. Unit 35B status: CWD priority.
| Unit | Region | Sq mi | County overlap | Forest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 34B | Tucson | 500 | Cochise, Pima, Santa Cruz | Coronado NF |
| Unit 35A | Tucson | 646 | Cochise, Santa Cruz | Coronado NF |
| Unit 35B | Tucson | 333 | Santa Cruz | Coronado NF |
| Unit | Mountain lion zone | Bear limit 2026 | Archery buck cap | Labels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 34B | P (61) | 5 (34B) | 5 | CWD priority, Beaver/muskrat traps only |
| Unit 35A | P (61) | 13 (35A, 35B, FTHU) | 5 | CWD priority |
| Unit 35B | P (61) | 13 (35A, 35B, FTHU) | 5 | CWD priority |
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.
How the 2025 hunts went around Sierra Vista Ranger District
The 2025 numbers below are single-unit hunts in the units here, not a Sierra Vista Ranger District count. Only hunts limited to one unit are summed per row; multi-unit hunts are left out to avoid double counting, and elk figures are preliminary.
| Unit | 2025 hunts | Hunters | Taken | Success rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 34B | OTC archery deer | 259 | 18 | 7% |
| Unit 35A | OTC archery deer | 421 | 31 | 9% |
| Unit 35A | OTC archery deer | 19 | 20 | 47% |
| Unit 35B | OTC archery deer | 306 | 17 | 23% |
| Unit 34B | Draw deer, 6 hunts | 394 | 165 | 42% |
| Unit 35A | Draw deer, 10 hunts | 1,195 | 395 | 33% |
| Unit 35B | Draw deer, 5 hunts | 1,066 | 345 | 32% |
| Unit 35B | Pronghorn, 1 hunt | 3 | 2 | 67% |
| Unit 34B | Spring javelina, 2 hunts | 90 | 42 | 47% |
| Unit 35A | Spring javelina, 6 hunts | 128 | 60 | 47% |
| Unit 35B | Spring javelina, 2 hunts | 167 | 72 | 43% |
| Unit 34B | Spring turkey, 1 hunt | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Unit 35A | Spring turkey, 4 hunts | 24 | 24 | 100% |
| Unit 35B | Spring turkey, 2 hunts | 6 | 6 | 100% |
2025 AZGFD harvest summaries: OTC archery deer, deer, elk (preliminary), pronghorn, spring javelina, spring turkey, bighorn sheep; checked November 7, 2026.
Sierra Vista Ranger District bird and rabbit dates
Small game and bird seasons around Sierra Vista Ranger District follow the statewide calendar; the unit layer hints at cottontail rabbit, dove, quail, rabbit and ducks and 2 more. Stamps for waterfowl: the Arizona migratory bird stamp and the federal duck stamp.
| Species | Season | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Cottontail rabbit | General cottontail rabbit | Jul 1–Jun 30, 2027 |
| Coyote | General predators | 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.
Within driving range of Sierra Vista Ranger District
Drive 5 miles northwest and you reach Bog Hole. Pinned close by: 3 wildlife areas, 2 national conservation areas and 1 military installation.
| Public land | Kind | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bog Hole | Wildlife area | 197 | Santa Cruz | 5 miles | northwest |
| Fort Huachuca | Military land | 81,034 | Cochise | 16 miles | northeast |
| Coal Mine Spring | Wildlife area | 4,410 | Santa Cruz | 20 miles | west |
| Las Cienegas NCA | Conservation area | 42,000 | Pima | 22 miles | north |
| San Pedro NCA | Conservation area | 57,000 | Cochise | 27 miles | northeast |
| Santa Rita | Wildlife area | 52,653 | Pima | 32 miles | northwest |
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.
Where Sierra Vista Ranger District fits
Administratively it falls under Coronado National Forest. 4 sibling units share the same parent.
When the light is legal on Sierra Vista Ranger District
Big game, quail and predator hunters near Sierra Vista Ranger District work from sunrise to sunset; migratory bird hunters may start thirty minutes earlier.
| Day | Why | Sun up | Sun down | Most game | Ducks and doves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 2026 | Archery deer | 5:51 a.m. | 7:01 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 7:01 p.m. | 5:21 a.m. to 7:01 p.m. |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 5:57 a.m. | 6:48 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. | 5:27 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. |
| Oct 16, 2026 | Quail opener | 6:25 a.m. | 5:50 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. | 5:55 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. |
| Oct 23, 2026 | General deer and waterfowl opener | 6:30 a.m. | 5:43 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:17 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. |
| Jan 22, 2027 | Spring javelina | 7:20 a.m. | 5:46 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 5:46 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.
Fuel, food and processing near Sierra Vista Ranger District
Measured straight, Sierra Vista sits 16 miles from Sierra Vista Ranger District. For a Game and Fish office, Tucson is the shortest trip at 60 miles.
| Town | County | 2024 population | Away | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Vista | Cochise | 44,710 | 16 miles | northeast |
| Sierra Vista Southeast | Cochise | – | 20 miles | east |
| Nogales | Santa Cruz | 19,965 | 23 miles | west |
| Elephant Head | Pima | – | 33 miles | northwest |
| Bisbee | Cochise | 4,957 | 37 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.
Public and club benches before Sierra Vista Ranger District (Coronado National Forest)
Cochise County holds the AZGFD range nearest Sierra Vista Ranger District (Coronado National Forest): Sierra Vista Shooting Range (30 miles).
From AZGFD’s Shooting Range Facilities page, operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 7, 2026.
Straight answers for Sierra Vista Ranger District
Are there permit-tag hunts on Sierra Vista Ranger District?
40 hunt numbers in the 2026-27 booklets cover its units (deer, pronghorn, javelina and turkey); elk and pronghorn are 2026 hunts.
Can I hunt Sierra Vista Ranger District without the draw?
Deer, black bear and mountain lion can be hunted on nonpermit-tags.
Are there camping rules on Sierra Vista Ranger District?
The source carries no camping rule; the forest sets stay limits.
Can I drive off road on Sierra Vista Ranger District?
Only on roads and trails the Motor Vehicle Use Map shows as open.
Is blaze clothing required on Sierra Vista Ranger District?
Not required by Arizona law.
Who at AZGFD covers Sierra Vista Ranger District?
AZGFD Region V in Tucson (520-628-5376).
Is there CWD in the Sierra Vista Ranger District units?
Not detected in Arizona; free testing is available. Units 34B, 35A, 35B are among AZGFD’s 16 priority surveillance units.
Does a hunting license get me onto Sierra Vista Ranger District?
Yes, with Arizona tags and the Forest Service discharge rules.
What should be in my pocket on Sierra Vista Ranger District?
Arizona licenses apply: $37 resident hunting, $57 resident combination, $160 nonresident combination, plus tags.
Units for Sierra Vista Ranger District?
It lies in Units 34B, 35A, 35B; check the AZGFD unit maps for exact lines.
How many acres does Sierra Vista Ranger District hold?
298,205 acres by the USFS land statistics.
Pack up for Sierra Vista Ranger District
Rules, closures and permits for Sierra Vista Ranger District can change during the season; posted signs and the managing agency have the last word.
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: Todd Morris (CC BY-SA 2.0); Brent Myers (CC BY 2.0).