Upper Verde River Wildlife Area: hunting rules and access
Upper Verde River Wildlife Area is 1,085 acres, measured from AZGFD's boundary, in game management units 19A and 8, Yavapai County, AZGFD Region 3. AZGFD's rule for hunting here: "Open to all hunting in season as permitted under R12-4-304 and R12-4-318."
Data updated October 2026. Rules: AZGFD's wildlife area layer. Boundary: AZGFD. Hunts: AZGFD's 2026 booklets.
National forestState trust landAZGFD landCity, county and otherUpper Verde River Wildlife AreaUnit lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 1,085 acres (measured from AZGFD's boundary) |
|---|---|
| Units | Unit 19A, Unit 8 |
| AZGFD region | Region 3, Kingman |
| County | Yavapai |
| Hunting | Open to all hunting in season as permitted under R12-4-304 and R12-4-318. |
| Camping | Overnight public camping allowed in designated areas only. |
| Firearms | Closed to discharge of firearms within a one mile radius of visitor parking area. |
| Nearest towns | Paulden (3 mi), Chino Valley (8 mi) and Williamson (11 mi) |
What are the rules on Upper Verde River Wildlife Area?
AZGFD lists 7 rules for the area:
- No open fires.
- No firewood cutting or gathering.
- Overnight public camping allowed in designated areas only.
- Motorized vehicle travel prohibited except for Department authorized vehicles or law enforcement, fire department, or other emergency vehicles.
- Closed to discharge of firearms within a one mile radius of visitor parking area.
- Open to all hunting in season as permitted under R12-4-304 and R12-4-318.
- All dogs must remain on leash except for hunting dogs during a legal open season.
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 Upper Verde River Wildlife Area?
The Upper Verde River Property is located approximately eight miles north of Chino Valley in Yavapai County, Arizona. This property was acquired through the Department's Heritage and Waterfowl Conservation Fund.
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 Upper Verde River Wildlife Area's units?
Unit 19A and Unit 8: AZGFD's 2026 lists have 10 elk hunts, 5 deer hunts and 5 pronghorn hunts that include them, 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 19A | 787 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 69.2% |
| Unit 8 | 297 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 94.9% |
How do you get to Upper Verde River Wildlife Area?
Highways within 8 miles: AZ 89. Nearest towns: Paulden (3 miles), Chino Valley (8 miles), Williamson (11 miles) and Jerome (18 miles). AZGFD names Chino Valley as the nearby city. Vehicles: Motorized vehicle travel prohibited except for Department authorized vehicles or law enforcement, fire department, or other emergency vehicles.
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Upper Verde River Wildlife Area?
Open to all 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 Units 19A and 8.
Can you camp on Upper Verde River Wildlife Area?
AZGFD's rule: "Overnight public camping allowed in designated areas only."
Which unit is Upper Verde River Wildlife Area in?
Unit 19A (787 acres) and Unit 8 (297 acres), by AZGFD's boundaries.
What town is near Upper Verde River Wildlife Area?
Paulden (3 miles), Chino Valley (8 miles) and Williamson (11 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.