Hunting
Information
ELK
The San Carlos Apache Tribe has four populations of elk (Cervus
elaphus) on the Reservation. Three populations, the Drylake,
Hilltop, and Nine-Mile herds are managed for trophy quality. We
limit bull permits to manage an older-age class herd. The fourth
population is located in the Malay Gap area is managed primarily for
hunting opportunity. This region is roughly 134,000 acres in size
and is located in the north-eastern corner of the Reservation. The
Malay Gap herd has a small year-round residential herd, but during
the winter, the area hosts a wintering population of migratory elk
that come from the White Mountains to the north and the Apache-Sitgreaves
National Forest to the east.
The elk herds on the Reservation are related to the Yellowstone elk
herd, however there is speculation that the endemic, but thought to
be extinct, Merriam’s elk may have contributed to the gene pool of
elk found on the reservation. The life expectancy of a female elk is
from about 16 to 18 years. Rut occurs in mid to late September with
a gestation of 8.5 months. Calving occurs in late May to mud June.
Age at first breeding for cows is 1.5 years and for bulls is 4.5
years. Diets include grasses, forbs, and shrubs.
COUES DEER
The Coues deer (Odocoileus virginianus couesi) is a small-sized
subspecies of the white-tailed deer. It’s range is restricted to
southern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and northern Mexico. The
San Carlos Apache Reservation is considered a premier area to hunt
these deer and are managed to generate revenue from non-members.
Coues deer may be harvested by Tribal members during their deer
season, but Tribal members generally tend to harvest mule deer for
that season.
Coues deer may be found throughout the reservation, predominantly in
areas with chaparral, Manderean evergreen, or oak-juniper vegetation
in, or adjacent to, areas of rough, steep, or broken terrain. The
highest desities are in the Santa Theresa Mountains, the Mescals,
the Salt River breaks, and along the Nantac Rim. Life expectancy of
a Coues Deer is around 11 years. The rut occurs from late December
to mid January with a 7 month gestation and fawning occurring form
July to August. The average number of young is 1.3 fawns. Diet is
composed of forbs, shrubs, grasses, and acorns.
PRONGHORN ANTELOPE
MacMillan 2008 Hunt
There are two major populations of pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra
Americana) on the reservation. One resides on Big Prairie, and the
other on Ash Flats.
Antelope life expectancy is approximately 10 years. The rut is in
September with a gestation of 8.5 months and fawning occurs in late
May and early June. The does first breed at 1.5 years and the bucks
at 2.5 years of age. Does on average produce 1.6 fawns. Antelope
diet includes forbs, shrubs, and grasses.
BLACK BEAR
 Photo
taken by W. Dude
Black bears (Ursus americanus) are found throughout the Reservation
in all habitat types. They appear to be at higher densities in the
northern portion of the Reservation, in areas occupied by timber and
associated woodlands. Bears are omnivores; eating a large variety of
plant species (grasses, fruit, berries, and mast), insects, and meat
(both carrion and prey). Black bears may live up to 20 years.
Breeding first occurs around 3.5 years in females. Females are bred
in the spring, but implantation of the embryo is delayed until fall,
just before hibernation. Gestation last 3 to 4 months. Females breed
at 2 year intervals.
Currently, we do not attempt to estimate the population size of
black bears on the reservation. There are no restrictions on the
number of bear tags issued to Tribal Members for the spring hunts
and for the two fall hunts. Non-members can hunt bears at the same
time as tribal members; hunts are divided into five main hunting
units (A, B, C, D and R-100). Some of the regulations that apply to
specifically to bears is that baiting is illegal, guides are not
required except for R-100.
JAVELINA
Javelina (Tayassu tajacu) have a wide distribution across the
Reservation, being most abundant in the oak/juniper and juniper
woodlands interspersed with desert or grassland habitats. Highest
desities are found in portions of A, B, and D. Javelinas have a life
expectancy of 9 years. They are capable of breeding at any time of
year with gestation of 5 months. The age of sows at first breeding
is 10 months. Javelinas are highly social and will move in groups of
around 10 individuals. Javelinas are omnivores, and particularly
favor prickly pear cactus.
We monitor javelina through our hunter questionnaire survey. We do
not attempt to estimate the population size and demographics
directly. Both tribal member and non-member javelina hunting season
are concurrent.
DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP
Desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadesis) are found in the southwestern
portion of the reservation within the Ash Creek-Devil’s Canyon area
in Unit D. This population is an offshoot of the Aravaipa herd with
exchanges of individuals between these areas reportedly occurring
frequently.
Desert bighorn sheep have a life expectancy of 13 years. The rut
occurs from August to October. Gestation is 6 months and lambs are
born from February to April. Ewes first breed at 2 years and the
rams breed at 4.5 years. Diet includes grasses, shrubs, and forbs.
TURKEY
The Merriam’s turkey (Melaegris gallopavo) is found on the forested
portions of the reservation including the Natanes Plateaus and other
associated woodlands. Life expectancy of turkeys is about 6 years.
Males average about 18 pounds in size, while hens range between 8
and 12 pounds. Breeding first occurs at 2 years of age for both
sexes. The breeding season is April to May with hatching occurring
in May-June. Clutch size is variable, often between 8 to 12 eggs
with incubation lasting 28 days. Diet is highly variable including,
acorns, seeds, and insects.
We currently have three season for turkeys on the reservation, two
in the spring and on in the fall. The spring seasons are for toms
only while the fall hunt is an either-sex tag. The spring season
overlap for members and non-members, while the fall season for
Tribal members overlaps with the Tribal deer season, and the fall
season for non-members is usually set prior to Thanksgiving.
QUAIL
2008-2009 Quail season will be same as the
state of Arizona
Small Game License in Units A, B, and C.
One (1) Day Small Game $15.00
Three (3) Day Small Game $30.00
Seven (7) Day Small Game $60.00
Small Game License in Unit D. (Tribal Member Licensed Guide
Required)
One (1) Day Small Game $30.00
Three (3) Day Small Game $60.00
Seven (7) Day Small Game $100.00
There are three species of quail found on the reservations: Gambel’s;
Scales; and Mearn’s quail. Gamble’s quail are the most abundant and
widespread, and are the most sought after by hunters. Winter
precipitation has been correlated to the relative size of Gambel’s
quail populations.
DOVE
There are three species of dove (family Conlumbidae) found on the
Reservations: Mourning (Zenaida macroura); White-winged (Zenaida
asiatica); and Band-tailed Pigeon (Columba fasciata). All three
species are migratory. They feed on small seeds, grains, and acorns.
Hunters limit and season dates are usually adopted from the Arizona
Game and Fish Regulations.
PREDATORS
Daily Predator License $10/day
Habitat stamp required $5.00
Season open all year, except during the Trophy Elk Hunts.
The Department of Recreation and Wildlife defines bobcats, coyotes,
and foxes as predators for their hunting permit system. Bobcats
weigh between 12 and 30 pounds and live throughout the Reservation
in rough and broken terrain. Bobcat’s principal preys are cottontail
rabbits and jackrabbits. Bobcat’s become sexually mature at 2 years
of age, gestation lasts almost 2 months, and the litter size is
between 1 and 3 kittens. Coyotes weight between 17 and 25 pounds and
can be found throughout the Reservation. They are opportunistic
foragers and their diet includes insects, reptiles, birds, mammals,
and some plants. Breeding usually occurs in mid-winder and coyotes
have a 2 month gestation period. Gray fox live in broken and wooded
terrain and weight between 5 and 9 pounds and like coyotes, are
opportunistic foragers.
Predators can be hunted all year by both Tribal members and
non-members. Non-members can purchase a hunting permit for
$10.00/day (a habitat stamp is also required) and tribal members can
hunt predators with their General Annual Hunting License (a habitat
stamp is also required). Electronic calls are legal. Predator’s
populations are not directly managed by the Department. We did not
conduct questionnaires to predator hunters.
MOUNTAIN LION
Daily Mountain Lion License $10/day
Mountain Lion tag $15.00
Habitat stamp required $5.00
 Photo
taken by W. Dude
Mountain Lion (puma concolor) are found throughout the reservation
in all habitat types. Abundance and distribution appears to be
primarily related to food availability. Lions are carnivores that
utilize a wide range of animals for food, including deer, elk,
javelina, cattle, bighorn sheep, and quail. Life expectancy is about
12 years. Mountain lions first breed at 2.5 years for females and
about 4 years for males with a gestation of 2 months. Average
littler size is 2.6 kittens.
The Recreation and Wildlife Commission required all successful lion
hunters to report their harvest to the Department. This data will be
compiled at the end of each calendar year. Electronic calls are
legal. Dogs may be used to hunt mountains lions during the
non-member hunts, however the dogs must be owned by a legally
licensed tribal member guide and guide must be with the hunter while
in the field with dogs. Tribal members can hunt lions with a general
hunting license and they only need a tag if the lion is taken off of
the Reservation.
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