AZ Mule Deer Unit 17B

# AZ 17B Tactical Analysis ## Terrain & Access Unit 17B spans 430,000 acres of high-elevation terrain (2,266–7,599 ft) with 87% public land access—excellent for DIY hunters. Elevation range suggests mixed ponderosa pine and oak-chaparral habitat across a significant vertical gradient. ## Herd Quality Trophy Quality Index rates this unit **Exceptional (84/100)** with a buck:doe ratio of 28:100 (2024), indicating a well-managed, quality-focused herd. Yavapai County (100% overlap) has produced 2 record-book mule deer since 1983 (avg 190.4), with the most recent entry at 180.2 in 2019—a legitimate trophy-caliber animal that reflects the unit's peak potential. ## Trophy Potential Record-book...