There are deer tags and then there are Strip tags. The Arizona Strip — units 13A and 13B in the northwestern corner of the state — occupies a category of its own in the world of mule deer hunting. Bucks over 200 inches Boone and Crockett are taken here every single year. Not occasionally. Every year. The genetics, the terrain, the management, and the remoteness of this place combine to produce the kind of mule deer that most hunters spend their entire lives dreaming about and very few ever get the opportunity to pursue.
If you are reading this because you just drew a Strip tag, congratulations. You are holding one of the most coveted deer tags in North America. If you are reading this because you are planning to apply, understanding what you are applying for is the first step toward hunting it well when your number eventually comes up. And if you are reading this because you want to understand what makes the Arizona Strip different from every other mule deer destination on the continent, this guide will answer that question in detail.
What Is the Arizona Strip
The Arizona Strip is the remote stretch of northwestern Arizona land that sits physically separated from the rest of the state by the Grand Canyon. Bordered by Utah to the north and Nevada to the west the Strip covers approximately 5,074 square miles of some of the most remote and rugged deer country in the American West.
The Grand Canyon creates a natural barrier that has historically limited human access from the south and that geographic isolation is a foundational reason why the Strip produces the deer it does. Deer on the Strip have evolved in a landscape with limited hunting pressure over generations and the combination of excellent habitat, strong genetics, and conservative tag management by Arizona Game and Fish has resulted in a deer herd that consistently produces bucks of exceptional size and age class.
Elevations across the Strip range from approximately 1,500 feet in the lower desert terrain to around 8,000 feet in the higher reaches. The primary hunting habitat is composed of rolling hills and canyon systems containing sagebrush flats, pinyon pine and juniper woodlands, and desert scrub. The Vermilion Cliffs along the southern edge of the Strip provide dramatic canyon terrain that holds deer and serves as both habitat and a visual landmark that every Strip hunter comes to know well.
Unit 13A vs Unit 13B: Understanding the Difference
Both units produce world class mule deer but they have distinct characters that are worth understanding before you apply.
Unit 13B occupies the western portion of the Arizona Strip and is widely considered the premier mule deer unit not just in Arizona but among the best public land mule deer hunts in the world. Bucks in 13B regularly score above 180 inches and the unit produces multiple Boone and Crockett entries every year. The rifle season in 13B is a rut hunt depending on weather and rainfall conditions making it one of the most exciting and productive deer hunts available in North America when conditions align.
Unit 13A covers the eastern portion of the Strip and while it produces slightly fewer Boone and Crockett entries than 13B the overall quality of deer is exceptional and many experienced Strip hunters argue the average age class of bucks in 13A is actually higher than 13B. The 13A rifle season runs slightly later than 13B which gives it better rut overlap depending on the year. Most application consultants recommend 13B as a first choice and 13A as a second choice for serious trophy hunters.
The archery tags for both units are considered among the finest archery mule deer opportunities in the country. Draw odds for the 13B archery tag are around 20 percent which is dramatically better than the rifle seasons and give bow hunters a legitimate annual shot at hunting velvet bucks in August on some of the finest mule deer range on earth.
The Draw: What to Expect
Strip tags are among the hardest draw tags in the western United States. Rifle tags for units 13A and 13B carry draw odds of approximately 1 percent or lower making them effectively once-in-a-lifetime propositions for most hunters. The reality of the Arizona draw system is that you may apply for 20 or more years before drawing a Strip rifle tag and there is no guarantee even with maximum bonus points.
That said the archery seasons are a different story. The 13B archery tag carries approximately 20 percent draw odds in a good year making it a realistic application target for hunters who are serious about archery hunting and willing to commit to the physical and logistical demands of a Strip archery hunt in August heat.
The fall deer draw deadline for 2026 is June 2nd. Applications are submitted through the AZGFD portal at azgfd.com. The application fee is $13 for residents and $15 for non-residents. The non-resident hunting license is $160. If you draw a tag Arizona automatically charges your card on file for the full tag fee so keep your payment information current.
The consistent advice from experienced Arizona application strategists is to list 13B as your first choice and 13A as your second choice if trophy quality is your primary objective. Both units receive significantly more applications than tags available which means bonus points matter substantially in the Strip draw even though Arizona’s random element means zero points hunters do draw tags occasionally.
Always verify current draw odds, tag numbers, and season dates directly with AZGFD at azgfd.com before submitting your application. Tag allocations change annually and this article should not be your sole source for application decisions.
Terrain and Habitat
The Strip is fundamentally different terrain from most of Arizona’s other deer units. This is not mountain hunting in the traditional Arizona sense. The landscape is dominated by rolling plateaus, broad sagebrush flats, pinyon and juniper drainages, and canyon systems that cut through the uplands in all directions.
The lack of dramatic elevation change compared to units like 24B or the sky islands means the hunting is less physically demanding in the traditional climbing sense but the sheer scale of the country and the distances involved create logistical challenges that are uniquely their own. Covering enough country to find and pattern a specific buck on the Strip requires either extensive pre-season scouting, a well-developed network of trail cameras across water sources, or both.
Water is the foundational element that organizes deer movement across the Strip. In the arid plateau country water sources including stock tanks, natural seeps, tinajas, and developed guzzlers concentrate deer movement predictably especially during the archery season in August when heat drives animals to water daily. Hunters who have done the work to identify and pattern which water sources the largest bucks are using before the season opens have a massive advantage over hunters who arrive without that intelligence.
The canyon systems throughout the unit provide bedding cover and thermal regulation for deer during the heat of the day. Bucks use the canyon shade during midday and move to feed on the sagebrush and pinyon juniper country in the mornings and evenings. Glassing the canyon rims and the transition edges between the open sagebrush flats and the heavier pinyon juniper cover produces the most consistent buck sightings across both units.
Access: The Reality of Getting There and Getting Around
The Strip’s remoteness is both its defining characteristic and its most significant logistical challenge. The primary access routes come from St. George, Utah to the north rather than from the Phoenix metro area to the south because the Grand Canyon creates an effective southern barrier. Most Strip hunters based in the Phoenix area drive north through Las Vegas or through Page and cross into the unit from the Utah side.
A high clearance four-wheel drive vehicle is not optional on the Strip. The road network inside the units consists largely of dirt tracks that become impassable after rain events and that require serious off-road capability under normal dry conditions. Many of the most productive areas require additional miles on foot or ATV beyond where you can drive.
The scale of the Strip means that effective hunting requires a basecamp approach. Most serious Strip hunters establish a camp early in the season and spend multiple days covering specific areas rather than day tripping from a hotel. The nearest services are in St. George, Utah and Kanab, Utah. Plan your fuel, water, and food needs carefully because resupply mid-hunt is a significant time cost on this country.
Trail cameras are legal on the Strip unlike in some Arizona hunting units and the most successful Strip hunters run extensive camera networks on water sources throughout the spring and summer to inventory bucks and identify specific animals worth targeting during the hunt. Note that trail camera regulations in Arizona have been subject to changes in recent years — always verify current regulations with AZGFD before setting cameras.
Hunting Strategy: How Strip Giants Are Killed
Glassing from Vantage Points
The fundamental Strip hunting method for rifle hunters is glassing. The open terrain allows hunters to cover enormous amounts of country with quality optics from elevated vantage points. The standard approach is to reach a high point before first light, set up with 15x or larger binoculars on a tripod and a quality spotting scope, and work the surrounding country systematically as light develops.
Strip bucks are large and visible in the open country but the scale of the terrain means it is entirely possible to glass for days without finding the specific buck you are looking for. Patience and systematic coverage of the available country is the discipline that separates successful Strip hunters from those who rush their setup or abandon good country too quickly.
Archery Season Water Hunting
The August archery season on the Strip is a completely different hunt from the November rifle seasons. Summer heat concentrates deer movement at water sources in predictable patterns and the archery hunt is built around identifying the water sources that specific bucks are using and setting up to intercept them.
Ground blinds positioned on productive water sources days or weeks before the hunt allow bucks to habituate to their presence before shooting light arrives. This is the method that produces the highest success rates during the archery season and why pre-season scouting of water sources is so valuable for bow hunters.
The August heat is a significant physical challenge for archery hunters. Temperatures across the Strip in August regularly exceed 100 degrees at lower elevations. Shade, hydration, and meat care planning are all critical considerations for anyone hunting the Strip in August. A kill on a large Strip buck in August requires an immediate and organized field care plan to keep meat from spoiling in the heat.
The Rut Hunt
When the rifle seasons overlap the rut on the Strip the hunting transforms completely. Bucks that have been largely nocturnal throughout the early season become active during daylight as they pursue does across the sagebrush flats and through the canyon systems. Hunters positioned on high vantage points can glass multiple bucks moving simultaneously during peak rut days and the opportunities for spot and stalk hunting on mature bucks increase dramatically.
The timing of the rut varies year to year and is influenced heavily by precipitation and temperature. Early season moisture and cooler fall temperatures tend to push rut activity earlier while dry warm falls can delay visible rut movement. Strip hunters pay close attention to weather forecasts and moon phases in the weeks leading up to their hunt as these factors significantly influence the timing of peak buck movement.
Should You Hire a Guide
The Strip is a do-it-yourself capable hunt for hunters who have done extensive research, have the proper equipment, and are willing to invest serious time in pre-season scouting. The public land access is good across both units and there is no requirement to use a guide.
That said the guides who specialize in the Strip spend twelve months a year on this country, run extensive trail camera networks, and have relationships with water sources and individual bucks that DIY hunters simply cannot replicate without years of accumulated knowledge. For a once-in-a-lifetime tag that took a decade or more to draw, the question of whether to hire a guide is worth thinking through carefully.
If you choose to go DIY on the Strip give yourself multiple scouting trips before the season. Hunters who show up for the first time on opening day without prior knowledge of the specific country they are hunting are at a significant disadvantage on terrain this vast.
Gear for the Arizona Strip
The Strip demands specific preparation for its unique combination of remote terrain, extreme heat during the archery season, and cold conditions during the November rifle seasons.
Optics are the most important investment for Strip hunting. A quality 15x binocular on a tripod is the foundational tool. The distances you will be glassing on this open country are often a mile or more and the ability to evaluate individual bucks at distance with steady well-supported glass is what separates hunters who find big bucks from those who do not.
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A quality rangefinder is essential on terrain where distances are consistently misjudged. The open plateau country of the Strip makes range estimation by eye unreliable and a confident range before a shot on a once-in-a-lifetime buck is not optional.
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For rifle caliber selection the Strip presents a mix of shot opportunities. Close range canyon encounters and longer range plateau shots both occur regularly. A flat-shooting caliber in the 270 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, 308 Winchester, or 300 Win Mag range covers the full spectrum of Strip shot distances effectively.
Use our free ballistics calculator to dial in your specific load for Strip elevation and conditions before your hunt
A quality pack that carries water, optics, and layering gear for the full day is essential for the long glassing sits the Strip demands.
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For the archery season specifically water management is critical. Carry far more water than you think you need and plan hydration as seriously as you plan your hunting strategy in August heat.
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Meat Care on the Strip
A large Strip buck in November can produce well over 100 pounds of boneless meat. In August an archery Strip buck requires immediate and aggressive meat care to prevent spoilage in the heat. Planning your meat care strategy before the hunt including game bags, ice, and a cooler large enough to handle a big bodied desert mule deer is an essential part of Strip hunt preparation.
Use our wild game meat yield calculator to plan your freezer space and meat care needs before your hunt
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Frequently Asked Questions
How hard is it to draw a Strip mule deer tag in Arizona?
Rifle tags for units 13A and 13B carry draw odds of approximately 1 percent making them among the hardest deer tags to draw in the American West. Most hunters wait 10 to 20 or more years before drawing a Strip rifle tag. The archery tags carry significantly better odds of around 20 percent for 13B making them a realistic annual application target for bow hunters.
What is the difference between unit 13A and 13B?
Unit 13B occupies the western Strip and is generally considered the premier trophy unit with more Boone and Crockett entries. Unit 13A covers the eastern Strip and while it produces slightly fewer record book entries many hunters argue the average age class is higher. Most application consultants recommend 13B first choice and 13A second choice for rifle hunters.
Do I need a guide for the Arizona Strip?
No, the Strip is DIY capable for well-prepared hunters. However the guides who specialize in this country spend twelve months a year here and have accumulated knowledge that is very difficult to replicate without years of scouting. For a once-in-a-lifetime tag the value of that local knowledge is worth considering seriously.
What caliber is best for Strip mule deer hunting?
A flat-shooting mid-caliber rifle in 270 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, 308 Winchester, or 300 Win Mag covers the full range of expected shot distances. The open terrain can produce both close canyon shots and longer plateau shots. Practice at extended range before your hunt.
Is the Strip archery hunt worth applying for?
Yes. The 13B archery tag carries approximately 20 percent draw odds in a good year which makes it one of the most attainable Strip tags available. The August hunt is physically demanding due to heat and requires a well-developed water hunting strategy but the quality of deer available during the archery season is the same as the rifle seasons.
For a complete guide to the Arizona deer draw including bonus point strategy and application deadlines check out our Arizona deer draw guide.
For Arizona deer draw strategy for beginners including how bonus points work check out our Arizona hunting license and draw points guide.
For our complete Arizona hunting hub covering every species and season visit our Arizona hunting guide.
Use our wild game meat yield calculator to plan your Strip mule deer harvest.
Use our free ballistics calculator to prepare your rifle for Strip distances and elevation.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you purchase through these links I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. All gear mentioned is personally used or carefully researched and recommended.