This unit is mostly public land and offers phenomenal trophy elk hunting, excellent antelope hunting, and good mule deer hunting with potential for producing big bucks.

This is one of Arizona's top units for trophy elk. Average mule deer, big antelope bucks and challenging desert sheep are also in this unit. Early rifle and early muzzleloader elk seasons alternate year to year with the bigger bulls usually killed during early seasons.

The majority of this unit is pinyon-juniper woodlands, and is relatively flat. There is a small section of ponderosa pine forest in the northernmost portion of the unit. There are only a few high elevation vantage points; cinder cones in the south, canyon country in the west, and the basin area in the northeast part of the unit. A lot of flat timber offering little opportunity for glassing. Some open plains with desert grasslands.

Forest and county roads provide good public access to the Kaibab National Forest and state property. Some private ranches restrict access, while other ranches allow open access.

Open grassland in lower elevations with cliffrose and bitterbrush. Much of the unit is covered in large stands of pinyon-juniper habitat with grass and sagebrush clearings. Ponderosa pine and oak forests with sage underbrush comprise the higher elevations.

Unit 9 has only one developed campground. Most hunters camp along Forest Service roads. Lodging is in Tusayan and Valle.