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AZPronghornUnit 13AJune 2026

Arizona Unit 13A Pronghorn Antelope Hunting Guide

Arizona Unit 13A is one of the state's dedicated pronghorn antelope units, offering hunters a combination of vast public land access, proven harvest success rates, and a terrain profile that spans dramatic elevation changes across more than 1.2 million acres. Hunters researching Arizona Unit 13A pronghorn antelope hunting will find a unit with a consistent recent track record, high public land availability at 95%, and a draw structure that rewards patient applicants. With harvest success rates trending strongly over the past four seasons, this unit deserves serious consideration from both resident and nonresident pronghorn hunters.

Unit 13A sits within Arizona's lower-to-mid elevation range, stretching from roughly 1,614 feet at its floor to nearly 8,000 feet at its highest points. That elevation spread translates into varied terrain — from open desert flats and rolling sagebrush country to higher grassland benches where pronghorn concentrate. With zero designated wilderness and 95% public land, this is one of the more accessible units on Arizona's pronghorn landscape, eliminating many of the logistical barriers that complicate hunts in more remote or private-land-heavy units.

Data compiled by HuntPilot paints a picture of a unit that consistently puts hunters on animals. Four years of harvest data show success rates ranging from 62% to 87%, with the most recent season (2025) landing at 67%. This is not a marginal pronghorn unit — the numbers reflect a functional, huntable population with meaningful opportunity for hunters who draw a tag.

Harvest Success Rates

The harvest data from Unit 13A over the 2022–2025 period is among the more compelling datasets for any Arizona pronghorn unit. Here's what the numbers show:

  • 2025: 18 hunters afield, 12 harvested — 67% success
  • 2024: 15 hunters afield, 13 harvested — 87% success
  • 2023: 8 hunters afield, 5 harvested — 62% success
  • 2022: 9 hunters afield, 6 harvested — 67% success

Across all four seasons, success rates have not dropped below 62%, and the 2024 season posted an exceptional 87% — the highest of the four-year window. Hunter participation has grown modestly, from 8–9 hunters in 2022–2023 to 15–18 in 2024–2025, which suggests either increased tag availability or rising demand for this unit. Critically, the success rate held firm even as hunter counts increased.

For context, pronghorn hunting in Arizona is generally considered a high-success pursuit compared to elk or mule deer, but a floor of 62% and a ceiling of 87% over four seasons indicates this is a unit where prepared hunters consistently tag out. Those considering other Arizona pronghorn draws should weigh these numbers carefully — Unit 13A performs.

Trophy Quality

The counties overlapping Arizona Unit 13A have a moderate history of trophy-class pronghorn production. This places the unit in the middle tier of Arizona's pronghorn trophy landscape — hunters should expect the opportunity to take a quality buck, though the consistent production of truly exceptional animals that break into the top tier of trophy records is not what this unit is known for. Hunters targeting a solid, representative Arizona pronghorn trophy will find Unit 13A viable; hunters whose primary objective is a record-book contender may want to research the more competitive premium units in the southern and eastern portions of the state.

Pronghorn trophy potential in any Arizona unit is also a function of buck:doe ratios and population density, which are addressed in the next section.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Wildlife survey data from 2022–2025 provides four years of population observations for Unit 13A. The average buck:doe ratio across those four surveys is 33:100, with an average of 135 animals observed per survey.

A buck:doe ratio of 33:100 is a functional, healthy ratio for a managed pronghorn herd. For reference, ratios at or above 40:100 are uncommon in most wild populations, and Arizona Game and Fish generally manages for sustainable harvest. At 33:100, there are enough mature bucks to support a limited-entry draw hunt without depleting the herd's reproductive capacity or buck age structure. This ratio is not cause for concern — it reflects a population being managed conservatively.

The average of 135 animals per survey is a meaningful data point. Survey counts reflect effort and methodology, not absolute population, but a consistent observation count across four years suggests a stable herd without dramatic boom-bust swings. Stability in survey counts generally means hunters can plan on a predictable distribution of animals across the unit rather than having to adapt to significant year-to-year shifts in pronghorn concentration areas.

The combination of a healthy buck:doe ratio and consistent animal observations supports the harvest success rate data. Units with weak buck:doe ratios or declining survey counts tend to see falling success rates — Unit 13A's numbers point in the opposite direction.

Access & Terrain

At 1,241,702 total acres with 95% public land and no designated wilderness, Unit 13A represents one of the most logistically accessible configurations a large western hunting unit can offer. The vast majority of the unit is open to DIY public land hunters — both residents and nonresidents — without the guide requirements that complicate nonresident hunting in Wyoming wilderness units.

The elevation range of 1,614 to 7,995 feet is worth unpacking. Pronghorn in Arizona are most often associated with open flats, rolling grasslands, and sagebrush desert — and the lower-to-mid elevations of Unit 13A fit that profile well. The higher elevation reaches of the unit (above 6,000–7,000 feet) are less typical pronghorn habitat and more likely represent the boundary zones of the unit's geographic footprint. Hunters should focus pre-season scouting and glassing efforts on the open country terrain at moderate elevations where pronghorn feed and water.

With no wilderness designation, hunters have broad vehicle access for glassing and camp setup. This is DIY-friendly country. Road access allows hunters to cover significant ground with optics before committing to a stalk — which is the standard and most effective approach for pronghorn across the West. The flat-to-rolling terrain in open pronghorn country is well-suited to long-range glassing from elevated positions, then planning approaches across the landscape.

The 95% public land figure also means that access disputes and private land boundaries are a minimal concern compared to units where 40–60% of the ground is private and blocking logical routes to pronghorn.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 13A Worth Applying For?

Short answer: Yes — particularly for hunters who want a high-probability tag on a real pronghorn hunt without burning years of points.

Here's the honest breakdown:

What works in Unit 13A's favor:

  • Four-year harvest success ranging from 62% to 87% is strong by any standard. This is not a unit where hunters draw and strike out.
  • 95% public land with zero wilderness makes this one of the most accessible units in the Arizona system. DIY hunters can operate freely across nearly the entire unit.
  • A stable buck:doe ratio of 33:100 across four survey years indicates a population that isn't being over-harvested.
  • The moderate trophy history means hunters can reasonably expect a quality animal — not necessarily a record-book contender, but a legitimate representative pronghorn.
  • The unit's size (over 1.2 million acres) gives hunters room to spread out and find unpressured animals.

Where hunters should temper expectations:

  • Trophy quality sits in the moderate tier. Hunters whose primary goal is a top-shelf trophy buck should research other Arizona pronghorn units with stronger trophy histories before committing points.
  • Arizona's draw system is a hybrid bonus point system (20% to highest-point holders, 80% weighted random), meaning points improve odds but do not guarantee a draw the way a pure preference point system would. Hunters should not assume a specific point count "earns" this tag — check current draw data on the HuntPilot unit page for real odds by point level.
  • Hunter counts have grown from 8–9 to 15–18 over the four-year window. While success rates have held, increased participation over time can affect both draw competition and field pressure.

Bottom line: Unit 13A is a legitimate pronghorn hunting opportunity in a highly accessible configuration. For hunters who want to be in the field chasing pronghorn — rather than waiting indefinitely for a premium trophy unit — the combination of high success rates, strong public land access, and a healthy herd makes this a unit worth putting on an application.

How to Apply

Arizona uses a combination draw system for pronghorn antelope tags. Hunters apply through the Arizona Game and Fish Department's draw system, with results published on a set schedule. For the 2026 draw cycle, the application details are as follows:

Nonresident Pronghorn Antelope — 2026:

  • Application deadline: February 3, 2026
  • Draw results: February 23, 2026
  • Application fee: $15
  • Tag fee (if drawn): $565
  • License fee (required to apply): $160.00
  • Point fee (if not drawn): $15

Resident Pronghorn Antelope — 2026:

  • Application deadline: February 3, 2026
  • Draw results: February 23, 2026
  • Application fee: $13
  • Tag fee (if drawn): $103
  • License fee (required to apply): $37.00
  • Point fee (if not drawn): $13

Important: Arizona requires hunters to purchase a valid hunting license before applying for the draw — the license fee is separate from the application fee and is required to submit an application. Nonresidents should budget for both the $160 license and $15 application fee at the time of application, plus the $565 tag fee if drawn. Residents should budget for the $37 license and $13 application fee upfront.

Applications open before the February 3, 2026 deadline — check the Arizona Game and Fish Department's website or visit HuntPilot's Arizona draw page for application open date confirmation and current draw odds by point level.

For current draw odds by hunt and point level, always consult the HuntPilot unit page — draw statistics change annually and are the most critical variable in deciding where to invest your application.

Dates and fees are subject to change. Always verify current application details at the Arizona Game and Fish Department website before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like in Arizona Unit 13A for pronghorn hunting?

Unit 13A spans more than 1.2 million acres across an elevation range of roughly 1,600 to 8,000 feet. The core pronghorn habitat sits in the lower-to-middle elevations where open desert grasslands, rolling flats, and sagebrush basins dominate. This is classic pronghorn country — wide-open glassing terrain with good visibility and the kind of rolling topography where spotting pronghorn at long distances and planning a deliberate stalk is the standard approach. With 95% public land and no wilderness designation, access is straightforward throughout most of the unit.

What is the harvest success rate in Arizona Unit 13A pronghorn?

Over the four most recent seasons (2022–2025), Unit 13A has posted harvest success rates of 67% (2022), 62% (2023), 87% (2024), and 67% (2025). The floor across that window is 62% and the ceiling is 87%, making this one of the more consistent pronghorn units in the Arizona draw system from a success-rate perspective. Hunters who draw this tag have a strong probability of tagging out when properly prepared.

How big are the pronghorn in Arizona Unit 13A?

The counties overlapping Unit 13A have a moderate history of trophy pronghorn production. Hunters should expect a quality, representative Arizona pronghorn buck with this tag — the unit has produced trophy-class animals, but it is not among Arizona's elite trophy pronghorn destinations. Hunters prioritizing a legitimate hunt with high odds of success will be satisfied; hunters targeting a potential record-book contender should compare Unit 13A's trophy history against the state's top-tier pronghorn units before applying.

Is Arizona Unit 13A worth applying for pronghorn?

For most hunters, yes. The combination of 62–87% harvest success rates across four seasons, 95% public land with no wilderness complications, a stable buck:doe ratio of 33:100, and a tag structure that is accessible to both residents and nonresidents makes Unit 13A a strong candidate for hunters who want to hunt — not just accumulate points. The unit is not the premier trophy destination in Arizona, but it is a proven, high-success pronghorn hunt on highly accessible public land. For draw odds by point level, visit the HuntPilot Arizona page at huntpilot.ai/states/az.

What does it cost to apply for Unit 13A pronghorn as a nonresident?

For the 2026 draw, nonresidents must purchase a hunting license ($160.00) and pay the application fee ($15) at time of application — a combined upfront cost of $175. If drawn, the tag fee is an additional $565, bringing the total to $740. If not drawn, nonresidents pay a $15 point fee to maintain bonus point accumulation. Residents face significantly lower costs: $37 license plus $13 application fee upfront, with a $103 tag fee if drawn.

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