AZ Mule Deer Unit 9

AZ 9 (AZ) — Tactical Analysis. Terrain & Access AZ 9 spans 4,341–7,534 feet of elevation across 683,000 acres, with 78% public land. The unit's vertical relief supports distinct habitat zones—lower pinyon-juniper transitioning to ponderosa pine and mixed forest at higher elevations. Public-land availability is strong and well-distributed, making this unit accessible for unguided hunting across most terrain types. Herd Quality Buck:doe ratios average 10:100—a poor composition indicating severe doe dominance. This ratio signals heavy harvest pressure on bucks or historically low recruitment of males into the population. Recent surveys have observed ~254 deer per survey on..