GMU · Arizona Game and Fish Department

Unit 22

Arizona, United States

The map opens on this unit. Turn on Hunting units in Layers to see its boundary with public land, your pins and the forecast.

About Unit 22

Unit 22 is a GMU in Arizona, United States, set by Arizona Game and Fish Department. It covers about 4,077 km² (1,574 mi²). Towns inside it include Payson and Star Valley.

HuntGrid draws its boundary from Arizona Game and Fish Department's data for the 2026 season. The agency's regulations say which species and seasons use it.

Unit code: 22
Area: 4,077 km²
Area (miles): 1,574 mi²
Boundaries: 2026

Public and protected land mapped inside it

HuntGrid's public land layers map about 3,896 km² of public or protected land inside it, 96% of the unit. Some protected land is privately owned (a conservation group's, for one). By manager, as the source names it:

Manager	km²	Share
Forest Service Region 03 Southwestern	3,894	96%
Arizona State Game and Fish Department	0.6	under 1%
Town of Payson	0.5	under 1%
Unknown	0.1	under 1%

Boundaries are approximate and aren't legal descriptions. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there: check your local regulations and posted signs.

Public land: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gap Analysis Project (GAP), 2025, Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1

Seasons and regulations

Seasons for this unit that a person has checked against Arizona Game and Fish Department's regulations:

Species	Dates	Details
White-tailed deer	Oct 23, 2026 to Oct 29, 2026	antlered, draw source
American black bear	Oct 30, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026	north part (22 North hunt unit) source
American black bear	Oct 30, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026	south part (22 South hunt unit) source
Mule deer	Oct 30, 2026 to Nov 5, 2026	antlered, draw source
Bighorn sheep	Nov 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026	males, draw, Unit 22: Rocky Mountain Hunt Area only (northern part); 28 north of US 70 only source
Bighorn sheep	Nov 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026	males, draw, Unit 22: Desert Hunt Area only (southern part; tribal lands excluded) source
White-tailed deer	Nov 6, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026	antlered, draw source
Bighorn sheep	Nov 13, 2026 to Dec 3, 2026	males, draw, Desert Hunt Area (southern Unit 22; tribal lands excluded) source
Elk (wapiti)	Nov 13, 2026 to Nov 26, 2026	antlered, archery, draw, north part (22 North hunt unit) source
Elk (wapiti)	Nov 13, 2026 to Nov 26, 2026	antlered, archery, draw, south part (22 South hunt unit) source
Elk (wapiti)	Nov 13, 2026 to Nov 26, 2026	antlerless, archery, draw source
Elk (wapiti)	Nov 27, 2026 to Dec 3, 2026	antlered, draw, north part (22 North hunt unit) source
Elk (wapiti)	Nov 27, 2026 to Dec 3, 2026	antlered, draw, south part (22 South hunt unit) source
Bighorn sheep	Dec 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026	males, draw, Rocky Mountain Hunt Area (northern Unit 22; tribal lands excluded) source
Bighorn sheep	Dec 4, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026	males, draw, Desert Hunt Area (southern Unit 22; tribal lands excluded) source
Elk (wapiti)	Dec 4, 2026 to Dec 10, 2026	antlered, draw, north part (22 North hunt unit) source
Mule deer	Dec 11, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026	antlered, archery source
Mule deer	Dec 11, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026	antlered, draw source
White-tailed deer	Dec 11, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026	antlered, draw source
White-tailed deer	Dec 11, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026	antlered, archery source
Collared peccary (javelina)	Jan 1, 2027 to Jan 21, 2027	archery, draw source
Mule deer	Jan 1, 2027 to Jan 31, 2027	antlered, archery source
White-tailed deer	Jan 1, 2027 to Jan 31, 2027	antlered, archery source
Collared peccary (javelina)	Jan 22, 2027 to Jan 31, 2027	draw source
Collared peccary (javelina)	Feb 5, 2027 to Feb 15, 2027	archery, draw source
Collared peccary (javelina)	Feb 5, 2027 to Feb 15, 2027	handgun, draw source
Collared peccary (javelina)	Feb 5, 2027 to Feb 15, 2027	muzzleloader, draw source
Collared peccary (javelina)	Feb 19, 2027 to Feb 25, 2027	draw source
American black bear	Mar 19, 2027 to Apr 22, 2027	south part (22 South hunt unit) source
American black bear	Mar 19, 2027 to Apr 22, 2027	north part (22 North hunt unit) source
Wild turkey	Apr 23, 2027 to Apr 29, 2027	bearded, shotgun, draw source
Wild turkey	Apr 30, 2027 to May 20, 2027	bearded, shotgun, draw source
American black bear	May 7, 2027 to Aug 19, 2027	archery, Mogollon Oso Hunt Area source
Wild turkey	May 7, 2027 to May 20, 2027	bearded, shotgun, draw source

The official regulations have the final word: check them before you hunt.

Official regulations: Arizona Game and Fish Department

Units around it

Next to it in the same unit system

What HuntGrid shows for Unit 22

Its boundary on the map; tap inside it for the unit's card with the agency's regulations link.
Public land and the other hunting units in the same view, each with its source.
Season dates once a person has checked them, and legal shooting hours where the rule is checked.
Hourly wind with a scent cone for every stand, and official weather alerts.
Offline maps: download the area and use the map, your pins and the forecast with no signal.

Open in HuntGrid

Questions

How big is Unit 22 (GMU)?

About 4,077 km² (1,574 mi²), as HuntGrid maps Arizona Game and Fish Department's boundary.

How much public or protected land is in Unit 22?

HuntGrid's public land layers map about 3,896 km² of public or protected land, 96% of the unit; the largest share is managed by Forest Service Region 03 Southwestern. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there.

Where are the season dates for Unit 22?

This page lists 34 seasons a person has checked against Arizona Game and Fish Department's regulations; the official regulations have the final word.

Which units are next to Unit 22?

In the same unit system: Unit 5A, Unit 6A, Unit 21, Unit 23, Unit 24B and Unit 25M.

Sources

Unit boundary: Arizona Game and Fish Department. Boundaries for the 2026 season.

HuntGrid isn't affiliated with Arizona Game and Fish Department. The official regulations and maps have the final word.