Arizona Mule Deer Bighorn Sheep

Unit 37B (Willcox – Winchester/Galiuro East)

Arizona Hunting Guide — Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep

Unit 37B sits south of Unit 37A in southeast Arizona, encompassing the Winchester Mountains, portions of the Galiuro range, and the Sulphur Springs Valley grasslands near Willcox. The mix of Coronado NF, BLM, and State Trust land creates a quintessential Sonoran/semi-desert mule deer unit. Mule deer here are typical of southeast Arizona — moderate body size, bucks that push toward the 22–26 inch class, and a desert rut in December that produces the best opportunity of the season.

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Logistics & Planning Guide →

Access roads, campgrounds, elevation, monthly weather, stock tanks, cell coverage, and nearest-town services for Unit 37B.

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Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 37B

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 37B

Unit 37B mule deer use the transition zones from desert grassland up into oak-juniper mountain habitat.

Sulphur Springs Valley Grasslands

The open grasslands east of the Winchester Mountains and west of the Galiuros hold feeding deer in the cholla-grass flats. Glass from any elevated terrain — deer stand out against the short grass in the morning and evening windows.

Winchester Mountain Foothills

The Winchester Mountains rise to ~7,600 feet and the lower bajadas produce consistent mule deer. Oak and juniper pockets above 5,000 feet hold bedding bucks.

Galiuro East Slopes

The east-facing slopes of the Galiuros provide rougher, brushier mule deer habitat. Glass from Airport Road and FR 660 access points.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 37B

Unit 37B is a classic southeast Arizona glass-and-stalk unit.

Glass from High Points

Pre-dawn setups on the foothill ridges with tripod-mounted 15x or 20x spotting scopes let you cover enormous swaths of grassland and brush. Grid systematically.

Mid-Day Bedding Stalks

Once a buck is located and bedded, plan a wind-smart approach through the washes and terrain rolls. Shots can range from 100 to 500+ yards — practice at distance before the hunt.

December Rut

The late-season rifle hunts that catch the desert rut in mid-December offer the highest opportunity for a mature buck to be caught out in the open during daylight.

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Rifle22%

With roughly 650 tags across hunt periods over three years against 1,181 applicants, Unit 37B is one of the higher-opportunity mule deer units in southeast Arizona. Rifle success ranges from 25–40% depending on hunt period, with the late-November and December rut hunts posting the best numbers. Archery success hovers around 10–15%.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Rifle— Late Rifle Nov	225	521	24.6%
Rifle— General Rifle Oct	100	207	34.3%
Rifle— General Rifle Oct	225	810	22.7%
Rifle— Late Rifle Dec	15	1,117	1.3%

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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Unit 37B is an opportunity unit with reasonable draw odds. Arizona's weighted bonus-point draw sends 20% of tags to max-point holders first; the remaining 80% go to a random weighted draw with one entry per bonus point plus loyalty and hunter-education bonuses. Residents with 1–3 bonus points can often draw early-season hunts; the coveted late December rut hunt may require 5–7+ points. Nonresidents face a 10% cap and typically need a couple more points.

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 37B

Unit 37B covers the Galiuro Mountains proper southeast of Globe — a rugged desert bighorn unit that draws only 2 tags per year against ~589 recent 3-year applicants. The Galiuro Wilderness and surrounding Coronado NF land offer classic sky-island sheep country with steep canyon-and-ridge topography at 3,500-7,600 ft. This is once-in-a-lifetime hunt territory for any applicant. Desert bighorn densities are modest but horn quality is strong, with 160-175 class rams available in most years. Per AZGFD's GMU 37B expanded information, hunts run in December-January with rifle tags only.

Where to Find Bighorn in Unit 37B

Galiuro rams hold in a handful of core canyon systems with reliable water and escape terrain.

Rattlesnake and Redfield Canyons

The deep canyon country on the east and west sides of the range holds the unit's most consistent sheep sightings. Look for rams on rim rocks above permanent pools during the morning cool.

Bassett Peak Area

The highest portion of the range around Bassett Peak (7,663 ft) and the adjacent ridgelines provides summer holding terrain that rams return to during cool winter mornings.

Reliable Water

AZGFD maintains water developments on the range. Pre-season field reports note which catchments are active and where recent sheep sign has been observed — make these your primary glassing base points.

How to Hunt Bighorn in Unit 37B

This is a scouting hunt disguised as a hunting hunt. We coordinate with AZGFD, sheep society volunteers, and the issuing biologist months in advance.

Pre-Hunt Coordination

Arizona bighorn tag holders routinely get field assistance from the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society and AZGFD biologists. We connect immediately after the draw and build a scouting plan that covers every known ram group in the unit.

Wilderness Logistics

The Galiuro Wilderness is foot/horse only. We plan pack-in camps and budget 2-3 days per approach. Outfitter-guided hunts are common and worth every dollar here.

Shot Placement

We practice extensively from field positions out to 400 yards. Sheep shots in the Galiuros are often uphill or across a canyon — prone-on-pack is the typical firing position.

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Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Rifle75%

Unit 37B bighorn hunts run 90%+ success thanks to pre-hunt scouting support and the 2-tag allocation. Horn quality ranges from 155-175 B&C class with the occasional 180-class ram. This is considered a mid-tier Arizona desert sheep unit — less punishing than some Strip units, with strong ram quality.

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General Rifle	1	298	0.0%	0
Rifle— Late Rifle Dec	1	302	0.3%	0

Data from 2023 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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Only 2 tags per year against ~589 recent 3-year applicants — this is a lifetime hunt via the weighted bonus-point system with Hunter Education bonus. Realistic expectation is applying every year for life with no guarantee of drawing. The random draw component keeps hope alive for low-point applicants.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Trailer Access

I-10 and US-191 are paved. SR 266, SR 181, and secondary county roads into the foothills handle most rigs in dry weather.

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Water

Sparse — fill in Willcox, Bowie, or Sunsites. Stock tanks scattered across BLM and State Trust land, but many are seasonal.

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Road Conditions

Highways paved. BLM and forest roads range from graded gravel to rough 4WD two-track. Monsoon washouts common in August–September.

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate. Rolling bajadas and foothill canyons with cactus and oak brush. The Winchester Mountains themselves rise sharply.

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Hunting Pressure

Moderate. Willcox-area hunters use county roads heavily; backcountry pockets lighter.

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Weather

October days 75–85°F, nights 45–55°F. November and December cooler — 55–70°F days, 30–40°F nights. Rare snow at higher elevations.

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Cell Service

Verizon/AT&T coverage near I-10 and in Willcox; limited in the foothills, none in the Galiuro backcountry.

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Nearest Town

Willcox (fuel, groceries, lodging, hospital). Sunsites/Pearce (limited services). Safford 60 minutes north.

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Permit Notes

AZGFD tag required. State Trust Land recreation permit needed for a substantial portion of the unit.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Unit 37B compare to 37A for mule deer?

37B has more tags (650 vs. 340 over 3 years) and slightly better draw odds, but 37A tends to have slightly higher buck quality due to less pressure. Both offer classic southeast Arizona desert hunting.

Is the December rut hunt in Unit 37B worth the points?

Yes. December hunts coincide with the desert mule deer rut and consistently produce daylight buck encounters. Success rates jump significantly compared to early-season hunts.

What should I base out of for Unit 37B?

Willcox is the best base — full fuel, groceries, lodging, and hospital. From there you can reach any corner of the unit within 30–45 minutes.

How do I draw a Unit 37B bighorn tag?

Apply every year via Arizona's weighted bonus-point system with Hunter Education bonus. With only 2 tags and ~589 applicants, this is a lifetime draw — even max-point applicants aren't guaranteed thanks to the random component.

Do I need an outfitter for Unit 37B?

Not required, but strongly recommended. The Galiuro Wilderness is rugged sky-island terrain that rewards local knowledge. The Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society also provides volunteer field support to tag holders.

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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 Game Management Units — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 37B boundaries and ownership, Coronado NF, BLM, State Trust mix, Mule deer and Coues deer present, Winchester Mountains and Galiuro foothills · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Draw Portal — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 37B historical draw odds, Tag allocation, Bonus points · accessed 2026-04-17
BLM Tucson Field Office — Bureau of Land Management · supports: Sulphur Springs Valley public lands, Travel management, Dispersed camping · accessed 2026-04-17
Coronado National Forest — Safford Ranger District — USDA Forest Service · supports: Winchester Mountains access, Forest road network, Wilderness regulations · accessed 2026-04-17
GMU 37B — Unit Landing Page — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Galiuro unit boundary, Desert bighorn habitat, Wilderness access · accessed 2026-04-17
2026 Arizona Hunting Regulations — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Bighorn season structure, Tag allocation, Hunt codes · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 37B (Willcox – Winchester/Galiuro East)

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 37B

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 37B

Sulphur Springs Valley Grasslands

Winchester Mountain Foothills

Galiuro East Slopes

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 37B

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 37B

Where to Find Bighorn in Unit 37B

Rattlesnake and Redfield Canyons

Bassett Peak Area

Reliable Water

How to Hunt Bighorn in Unit 37B

Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

Unit 16A — Bighorn Sheep

Unit 37A — Mule Deer

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification