Becker Lake Wildlife Area: hunting rules and access
Becker Lake Wildlife Area is 537 acres, measured from AZGFD's boundary, in game management unit 1, Apache County, AZGFD Region 1. AZGFD's rule for hunting here: "Posted portions closed to hunting. Open to all other hunting in season as permitted under R12-4-304 and R12-4-318."
Data updated October 2026. Rules: AZGFD's wildlife area layer, rules dated 2014. Boundary: AZGFD. Hunts: AZGFD's 2026 booklets.
State trust landAZGFD landCity, county and otherBecker Lake Wildlife AreaUnit lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 537 acres (measured from AZGFD's boundary) |
|---|---|
| Units | Unit 1 |
| AZGFD region | Region 1, Pinetop |
| County | Apache |
| Hunting | Posted portions closed to hunting. Open to all other hunting in season as permitted under R12-4-304 and R12-4-318. |
| Camping | No overnight public camping. |
| Firearms | Closed to the discharge of centerfire and rimfire rifled firearms. |
| Nearest towns | Springerville (next to it), Eagar (2 mi) and Greer (13 mi) |
What are the rules on Becker Lake Wildlife Area?
AZGFD lists 8 rules for the area:
- No open fires.
- No overnight public camping.
- Motorized vehicle travel permitted on designated roads, trails, or areas only.
- The Becker Lake boat launch access road and parking areas along with any other posted portions of the wildlife area will be closed to all public entry from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise daily.
- Posted portions closed to public entry from December through July 31 annually.
- Posted portions closed to hunting.
- Closed to the discharge of centerfire and rimfire rifled firearms.
- Open to all other hunting in season as permitted under R12-4-304 and R12-4-318.
From AZGFD's wildlife area layer. R12-4-304 and R12-4-318, named in the rules, are the Commission's rules on lawful methods and seasons. Posted signs on the ground and AZGFD's current regulations come first.
What is Becker Lake Wildlife Area?
Becker Lake was created in 1880 by constructing a dam at the head of an old oxbow of the Little Colorado River. The lake was used principally for irrigation purposes. However, a fishery did exist here.
AZGFD's description of the area, from its wildlife area detail layer (2016). Acres quoted in AZGFD's text can differ from the measured size above.
Which hunts include Becker Lake Wildlife Area's unit?
Unit 1: AZGFD's 2026 lists have 20 elk hunts, 2 deer hunts and 2 pronghorn hunts that include it, each for the whole hunt area, not the wildlife area alone.
| Unit | Area acres in the unit | Elk hunts | Deer hunts | Pronghorn hunts | Public land in the unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | 536 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 91.1% |
How do you get to Becker Lake Wildlife Area?
The Becker Lake Wildlife Area is located in east-central Arizona, on the west side of Springerville and within its city limits. There are three public access points.
Highways within 8 miles: US 180, US 191, US 60, AZ 261 and AZ 260. Nearest towns: Springerville (next to it), Eagar (2 miles), Greer (13 miles) and Nutrioso (14 miles). AZGFD names Springerville as the nearby city. Vehicles: Motorized vehicle travel permitted on designated roads, trails, or areas only.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Becker Lake Wildlife Area?
Posted portions closed to hunting. Open to all other hunting in season as permitted under R12-4-304 and R12-4-318. That is AZGFD's rule for the area; seasons and permits follow the regulations for Unit 1.
Can you camp on Becker Lake Wildlife Area?
AZGFD's rule: "No overnight public camping."
Which unit is Becker Lake Wildlife Area in?
All of it is in Unit 1.
What town is near Becker Lake Wildlife Area?
Springerville (next to it), Eagar (2 miles) and Greer (13 miles), by straight-line distance from the area's boundary.
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Where these facts come from
- Rules and boundary: AZGFD wildlife areas; description and nearby city: AZGFD wildlife area details (2016).
- Hunts: AZGFD's 2026 booklets. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee managers).
- Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places.
FilledTag is not part of the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Numbers are copied from AZGFD's published reports or measured from AZGFD and USGS maps; nothing here is estimated by FilledTag. AZGFD's regulations are the final word on every rule.