This is interesting reading regarding unit 9. These organizations have done a lot for elk hunting in AZ:
Every hunter dreams of putting that 400 class bull in his/her crosshairs. In Arizona, the unit most noted for fulfilling that dream is unit 9, on the edge of the Grand Canyon National Park. For most, drawing a tag in this unit is only a dream, but for the few that draw each year, it is a hunt of a lifetime. Even though this is one of the top units in Arizona for growing magnificent bulls, and has a diverse eco system which supports many other species, there has always been a perennial problem that has plagued it--lack of water. The south rim of the Grand Canyon has no natural water, so all the water that exists in unit 9 does so because earthen tanks and trick tanks were built years ago. In 2002 Arizona Game and Fish, with the help of Arizona Elk Society and local Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation chapters, hauled in over 150,000 gallons of water. Even with these valiant efforts, many elk were found dead in the middle of dried up tanks, never finding the water they so desperately needed. Getting reliable water to these animals has become a significant priority for the Arizona Game and Fish, the Arizona Elk Society, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. AES and RMEF have joined forces with Arizona Game and Fish to help put an end to the lack of water for elk and other wildlife in unit 9. Old water guzzlers critical to elk and other wildlife lack capacity to sustain the animals, and in most cases have fallen into such disrepair that they are of little or no use. Many of these drinkers only hold 1500 ? 2000 gallons, which is not nearly enough to keep them wet during our long, hot summer. Working in cooperation Arizona Game and Fish, AES, and RMEF have come up with a four phase package that will help stem the water shortage. In phase one (Currently under construction) AES and RMEF have raised $406,000 to help build 8 new guzzlers that will have 20,000 gallon water capacities. Phase two will be the construction of a new pipeline, which will feed 6 new guzzlers with a storage capacity of 8,000 gallons. These guzzlers will not have to store as much water, as they will have a reliable source of water feeding them. Phase three and four will be the renovation of earthen tanks and sealing with bentonite. All of this will be achieved using donated equipment and volunteer labor from all the parties involved.
The AES is proud to be involved in this project. Since it's inception in 2001, the Arizona Elk Society has raised in excess of $1,716,000.00 that has been matched with funds from other partners for water projects, habitat restoration, and more, totaling $6,600,000.00. We hope that between water hauling, grassland burns and seeding, juniper, pinion and pine tree thinning, fence modification and removal, cattle grazing allotment reconfiguration and much more, that we will continue to improve the quality of Arizona?s ecosystem, and that elk will be insured their place among our diverse wildlife.