Arizona Bison Bighorn Sheep

Unit 12A/12B/13A

Arizona Hunting Guide — Bison, Bighorn Sheep

The 12A/12B/13A combined hunt is an Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) bison unit covering portions of the Kaibab and House Rock Valley country. Bison tags are extremely limited and awarded through AZGFD's weighted-random bonus-point draw. Applicants accumulate bonus points that add additional random entries each unsuccessful year. Review AZGFD hunt guidelines, regulations, and the draw results page for current season dates, legal weapons, unit boundaries, and historical odds before applying.

View Draw Odds Arizona Hunting Guide

Bison Hunting in Unit 12A/12B/13A

Where to Find Bison in Units 12A/12B/13A

Bison in this hunt area range across House Rock Valley and portions of the Kaibab Plateau. Glass open parks and sagebrush flats from high points. Water sources are strong concentrating features.

Coordinate with the AZGFD regional office for current herd movement and access notes before your hunt.

How to Hunt Units 12A/12B/13A

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Bison Success Rates

Rifle90%

AZGFD bison hunts historically post very high success rates due to concentrated herds and limited permits. Consult AZGFD hunt reports for the most recent numbers.

Bison Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Rifle— Early Rifle	20	816	1.1%
Rifle— Early Rifle	10	157	2.5%
Rifle— General Rifle Oct	5	66	6.1%
Rifle— Late Rifle Nov	5	200	2.5%

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Bison tags are among the most difficult to draw in Arizona. The weighted-random bonus-point system rewards accumulated points with additional random entries but never guarantees a tag. Check AZGFD's draw results for unit-specific odds.

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 12A/12B/13A

This combined desert bighorn hunt spans Units 12A, 12B, and 13A along the Colorado River corridor from the Paria canyons south into Marble Canyon country. Tag allocation is tiny — typically 2 per 3-year window — and the hunt is once-in-a-lifetime for virtually everyone who draws. We treat this as one of Arizona's premier bighorn opportunities and a lifetime-point target.

Where to Find Bighorn in the 12A/12B/13A Complex

Rams in this complex concentrate in the river corridor and its tributary canyons.

Marble Canyon Walls

The Colorado River canyon walls south of Lees Ferry hold rams in classic cliff habitat. Glassing from rim vantages or from raft-access points is standard.

Paria Plateau Rims

The Vermilion Cliffs and adjacent plateau edges hold transition rams that move between canyon and open plateau feed.

Tributary Canyons

Side canyons with water and sheltered benches hold ewes and attending rams during the rut. Hike or raft to reach the far interior — these spots are beyond day-trip reach from any road.

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How to Hunt the 12A/12B/13A Bighorn Complex

Expect a multi-day, logistics-heavy hunt.

Rim Glassing

Work prominent rim points with a high-power spotter. Sheep tolerate distant observation — 1 to 2 miles is routine — but will blow out at close range.

River Access by Raft

Permitted river trips dramatically expand access to cliff bands that are unreachable by foot. Coordinate raft logistics before the draw results to have support ready.

Commit to One Ram

With an effectively lifetime tag, do not settle. Glass extensively, photograph candidate rams, and pick the best one — then commit to a patient multi-day stalk.

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Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Sheep tag-holders across Arizona's river-canyon units typically post high success rates — routinely 80%+ — reflecting the combination of accumulated scouting, guide support, and limited tag numbers that spread pressure thin. Ram quality in this complex is top-tier for the state.

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General Rifle	1	273	0.4%	0
Rifle— Late Rifle Dec	1	343	0.3%	0

Data from 2023 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

With ~561 applicants over 3 years for just 2 tags, this is one of the longest-odds hunts in Arizona. The weighted-random bonus-point draw favors maximum accumulated points, but the 20% pass-through for 0-point applicants keeps trace odds alive for newcomers. Arizona residents benefit from the hunter-ed bonus point. Treat this as a multi-decade application strategy.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for a Units 12A/12B/13A bison tag?

Apply through the AZGFD online draw portal during the posted bison application window. Tags are awarded through Arizona's weighted-random bonus-point draw.

How does Arizona's bonus-point system work for bison?

Each unsuccessful year you apply, you earn a bonus point. Bonus points create additional random entries in the draw, improving your odds over time.

Is a raft required for this bighorn hunt?

Not required, but raft access to Marble Canyon walls dramatically expands the viable stalk options. Many successful tag-holders coordinate with commercial river outfitters for dedicated hunt-support trips.

Can I apply for this complex without a guide?

Yes. Arizona does not require non-resident guide services for bighorn. That said, the terrain and logistics cause most tag-holders to hire a sheep guide familiar with the Paria and Marble Canyon country.

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-17.

AZGFD Hunt Guidelines — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Hunt guidelines, Bison permit allocation, Unit management objectives · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Hunt Regulations — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Season dates, Legal weapons, Bag limits · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Draw Results & Bonus Points — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Draw results, Bonus point totals, Bison draw odds · accessed 2026-04-17
GMU 13A — Unit Landing Page — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit boundary into the Marble Canyon corridor, Sheep terrain · accessed 2026-04-17
2025-26 Arizona Hunting Regulations — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Combined sheep hunt structure, Unit grouping 12A/12B/13A, Season dates · accessed 2026-04-17
BLM Arizona Strip District — Paria Canyon / Vermilion Cliffs — Bureau of Land Management · supports: Vermilion Cliffs National Monument access, Paria Canyon regulations, Travel management · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 12A/12B/13A

Bison Hunting in Unit 12A/12B/13A

Where to Find Bison in Units 12A/12B/13A

How to Hunt Units 12A/12B/13A

Bison Success Rates

Bison Draw Odds

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 12A/12B/13A

Where to Find Bighorn in the 12A/12B/13A Complex

Marble Canyon Walls

Paria Plateau Rims

Tributary Canyons

How to Hunt the 12A/12B/13A Bighorn Complex

Rim Glassing

River Access by Raft

Commit to One Ram

Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

Road Conditions

Cell Service

Nearest Town

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification