Unit 24A is centered around Globe, Arizona and encompasses hundreds of square miles of Coues deer and mule deer habitat across some of the most diverse mountain terrain in central Arizona. The unit is well known among Coues deer hunters for producing trophy size bucks — older age class animals have been harvested from this unit consistently and a 112-inch Coues buck tagged in unit 24A by a hunter who killed two separate bucks from the same general area in two consecutive years gives you a sense of what this terrain is capable of producing when hunted correctly.
The unit sits directly adjacent to unit 24B — Matt’s home unit and the Superstition Mountain country covered in one of this site’s most detailed hunting articles. Understanding how 24A relates to 24B helps frame the unit for hunters already familiar with the central Arizona Coues deer landscape. Both units hold quality Coues deer in rugged mountain terrain east of the Phoenix metro. Unit 24A is centered around Globe and the Pinal Mountains while 24B is anchored by the Superstitions east of the Valley. The hunting character of both units rewards physical effort and punishes hunters who stay near the road.
What GMU 24A Is
Unit 24A encompasses the terrain centered on Globe and Miami with the Tonto National Forest covering most of the northern half of the unit. The major mountain ranges within the unit include the Dripping Springs Mountains and Mescal Mountains in the southern portion, the Pinal Mountains south of Globe with Pinal Peak as the high point, the Apache Mountains north of Globe, and the Timber Camp Mountains northeast of Globe. The unit’s eastern boundary runs along the San Carlos Indian Reservation.
The elevation range across unit 24A runs from approximately 2,000 feet in the lower desert terrain to 8,000 feet at the upper Pinal Mountains. This creates a full spectrum of Arizona vegetation zones from desert scrub and cactus at the lower elevations through chaparral and oak woodland at middle elevations into the ponderosa pine and conifer forest of the Pinal Mountain summit terrain.
The Tonto National Forest covers most of the northern half of the unit and is open to the public. Globe and Miami in the center of the unit are surrounded by private property with ranches, mines, farms, and other private land near both communities, along some river bottoms, El Capitan Canyon, and near Big Dome. Some landowners allow hunters to cross or hunt their land with the sign-in box program — the Dripping Springs, Horseshoe Bend, and Nugget Mesa access routes all require signing in at AZGFD sign-in boxes where access crosses private property. Signing in is a legal requirement on these routes and failure to do so constitutes criminal trespass. Always sign in at designated boxes.
Be aware of the San Carlos Indian Reservation boundary on the eastern and northeastern edges of the unit. Crossing the reservation boundary without tribal authorization is a serious violation.
The Coues Deer Story in 24A
Unit 24A is well known in Coues deer circles as a producer of quality deer. GOHUNT describes it as well known for Coues deer hunting with some bucks reaching trophy size — and real-world hunter accounts back that up with bucks in the 110-inch-plus range documented from the unit’s oak woodland terrain.
The Coues deer in 24A concentrate in the oak woodland and chaparral zones at middle elevations. The drainages below the Pinal Mountain summit, the Dripping Springs Mountains terrain, and the higher elevation areas north of Globe all hold deer. Hunter accounts from the unit specifically recommend looking for areas with finger ridges running into canyons with good oak cover at approximately 5,000 to 6,000 feet elevation as the most consistently productive Coues habitat in the unit. The dense manzanita brush in some areas of the unit creates impenetrable travel terrain — hunters need to identify the areas with huntable cover and good glassing geometry rather than wandering into brush so thick it becomes impossible to move through effectively.
Tag numbers for the first three seasons in unit 24A were actually increased in recent years reflecting AZGFD’s assessment of the deer population and the available hunting opportunity. This is notable context because most central Arizona units were seeing tag reductions during the same period. The tag increase signals a population capable of supporting additional harvest pressure.
The Mule Deer Story in 24A
Mule deer inhabit most of the unit but in lower numbers than the Coues deer. The mule deer population in 24A has declined in recent years consistent with the statewide trend from drought and predation pressure. Mule deer use the lower and middle elevation terrain particularly in the Apache Mountains, the Mescal Mountains, and the lower slopes of the Dripping Springs terrain. The west side of the Apache Mountains accessible from the Horseshoe Bend Road provides access to mule deer habitat on the lower slopes and openings.
Hunter accounts from the unit note that Pinal Peak and the immediate summit terrain of the Pinal Mountains sees significant hunting pressure during the early seasons partly due to its accessible road to the summit. Hunters specifically recommend avoiding the Pinal Peak area and hunting north of Globe instead where fewer roads equals less hunting pressure and older deer.
Both species — Coues and mule deer — overlap in the transition terrain and positive species identification before shooting is essential. Hunter forum accounts from the unit specifically flag this overlap: glassing the same general areas can produce both species and confusing a doe mule deer for a large Coues buck at distance is a real risk in the transition terrain of 24A.
The Draw
Unit 24A saw tag increases to the first three Coues deer seasons in recent years which AZGFD’s actions suggest represent healthy draw odds relative to comparable central Arizona Coues units. Early season tags can draw with reasonable odds for hunters with a few bonus points. The later December season tags carry tighter draw odds as they do across most Arizona Coues units with rut season overlap.
Verify current draw odds at azgfd.com before applying. The 2026 fall deer draw deadline is June 2nd.
Key Hunting Areas and Access
The Pinal Mountains South of Globe
The Pinal Mountains are the dominant mountain range in the unit rising south of Globe to approximately 8,000 feet on Pinal Peak. The whitetail deer habitat in the Pinals is concentrated in the drainages below the mountain summit and on most slopes of the range. The north side of the Pinals is difficult to glass due to thick conifer and chaparral cover — hunters consistently find more productive glassing setups on the south and east facing slopes where the vegetation allows visibility.
Access to the Dripping Springs area south of Globe comes from Highway 77 south from Globe turning west at milepost 154 onto the Dripping Springs Road. Forest Roads 248 and 899 branch from Dripping Springs Road providing access to ridge roads with good glassing opportunities. It is possible to drive through Pioneer Basin on Forest Road 112 all the way to Pinal Peak though the road requires ATV capability in sections that have washed out.
The Apache Mountains North of Globe
The Apache Mountains north and northeast of Globe provide mule deer habitat on the lower slopes and some Coues deer in the higher terrain. The Horseshoe Bend Road — Forest Service Road 219 — accessed from the Wheatfields exit off Highway 188 north of Globe provides access to the west side of the Apache Mountains. This route crosses private property requiring sign-in at designated AZGFD boxes. Forest Road 219 connects to FR 220 toward Richmond Basin and FR 223 to Shute Springs, both areas with mule deer and open glassing slopes.
Timber Camp Mountains and Northern Reaches
The northern portion of the unit around Timber Camp Mountain, Regal Canyon, Phillips Canyon, and the Chrysotile Mine area provides higher elevation grassland and chaparral habitat where Coues deer numbers have been increasing. Forest Roads 2334, 360, and 304 access this terrain. Hunters who prefer to avoid the pressure that concentrates around Globe and the Pinal Peak area and are willing to make the longer drive to access the northern portions of the unit find less competition and deer that behave more naturally.
Hunting Strategy
Find the Oak Woodland Drainages
The foundational unit 24A Coues hunting strategy is to find finger ridges running into canyon drainages with good oak cover in the 5,000 to 6,000 foot elevation range and glass them systematically. Hunter accounts from the unit consistently identify this habitat type as where mature bucks are found. Steep is good — the steeper terrain filters other hunters and gives deer the security they need to survive into the older age classes.
Deer in these oak drainages feed multiple times throughout the day with movement documented from early morning through mid-morning, midday, and again in the late afternoon before sunset. Setting up a glassing position above good oak canyon habitat and committing to systematic glass work throughout the hunting day rather than just during the traditional morning and evening windows produces more deer sightings in this terrain.
Hunt North of Globe to Escape Pressure
Hunter accounts from the Arizona Hunting Forums and CouesWhitetail.com forums consistently make the same point: the Pinal Peak area and terrain immediately accessible from Globe sees significant hunting pressure. Hunters who commit to accessing the terrain north of Globe where fewer roads exist encounter deer with more natural behavior patterns and older age classes. No roads generally equals more deer in the context of this unit and central Arizona hunting generally.
Pre-Season Mineral Sites
Trophy Rock mineral sites placed on active game trails and near water sources in the drainages you plan to hunt give deer time to pattern to the location before the season opens.
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The December Rut
The December Coues season overlaps peak rut activity and produces the most active mature buck movement of the hunting year. Hunters who draw December tags in 24A and commit to the oak canyon terrain north of Globe consistently encounter bucks in daylight that would be invisible during the pre-rut early seasons.
Gear for GMU 24A
The elevation range from desert floor to Pinal Peak summit creates significant temperature variation. Early season October and November hunts can be warm in the lower approaches and cold at the upper glassing positions. December rut hunts require cold weather preparation for the high mountain terrain.
Quality optics are the foundational tool for unit 24A’s canyon and oak woodland terrain.
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Check out the Vortex Diamondback HD Spotting Scope on Amazon: https://amzn.to/48qXYSw
For hunters pursuing the trophy class bucks that unit 24A is documented to produce the Zeiss Conquest spotting scope delivers the image quality that lets you confidently evaluate a buck in the dense oak and manzanita terrain before committing to a stalk.
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Snake awareness is essential for the lower desert and chaparral terrain during early season periods.
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Use our free ballistics calculator to prepare your rifle for unit 24A elevation and terrain.
Meat Care in Unit 24A
The proximity of Globe and Miami to the hunting areas gives hunters reasonable access to cooler facilities and processors for meat care. That said early season temperatures in the lower terrain of the unit still require prompt field care. A quality cooler that holds ice for days is a necessity. The Yeti Tundra 65 handles this job from the oak drainage to your Globe-area processor.
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Check out the Benchmade Taggedout Hunting Knife on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4moyxGU
Check out the Gociean Breathable Game Bags on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4tLT9vA
Use our wild game meat yield calculator to estimate your Coues deer or mule deer meat yield from your unit 24A harvest.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does unit 24A compare to the adjacent unit 24B?
Both units hold quality Coues deer in rugged central Arizona mountain terrain. Unit 24B anchored by the Superstition Wilderness is Matt’s home unit with the personal knowledge and familiarity that comes from hunting it extensively. Unit 24A centered on Globe and the Pinal Mountains is a larger and more diverse unit with multiple separate mountain ranges. Both units reward physical effort and punish road hunting. Unit 24A’s documented trophy class bucks including 110-inch-plus animals from the oak drainage terrain place it in a similar quality category to 24B for serious Coues hunting.
Does unit 24A have both mule deer and Coues deer?
Yes. Both species are present with separate hunt permit tags. The Coues deer population is described as the stronger of the two species currently with mule deer numbers below historical averages. Both species overlap in the middle elevation transition terrain and positive identification before shooting is essential.
Where should I focus hunting effort in unit 24A?
The oak woodland and chaparral terrain at 5,000 to 6,000 feet elevation in the finger ridges and canyon drainages holds the highest quality Coues hunting in the unit. Hunting north of Globe away from the concentrated pressure around Pinal Peak consistently produces better results than the accessible Pinal Peak terrain. The Dripping Springs area south of Globe and the Timber Camp Mountain terrain in the north are both worth scouting.
What is the sign-in box requirement and why does it matter?
Several access routes in unit 24A cross private property under landowner agreements managed by AZGFD. The Dripping Springs, Horseshoe Bend, and Nugget Mesa routes require signing in at designated AZGFD sign-in boxes before crossing the private property sections. This is not optional courtesy — failure to sign in constitutes criminal trespass. Always sign in at designated boxes on these routes.
For our complete guide to Coues deer hunting in the adjacent unit 24B check out our GMU 24B guide: https://rockyoutdoorsman.com/2026/04/12/hunting-coues-deer-in-arizona-gmu-24b-a-complete-guide-from-someone-who-knows-the-ground/
Apply for your unit 24A tag at azgfd.com before the June 2nd 2026 deadline.
Use our wild game meat yield calculator to plan your harvest: https://rockyoutdoorsman.com/wild-game-meat-yield-calculator/
Use our free ballistics calculator to prepare your rifle before your hunt: https://rockyoutdoorsman.com/free-ballistic-calculator/
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.