Arizona Bighorn Sheep

Unit 39 (Sand Tank – Sauceda)

Arizona Hunting Guide — Bighorn Sheep

Unit 39 covers desert country south of Gila Bend in Maricopa and Pima Counties, including the Sand Tank Mountains, Sauceda Mountains, and adjoining ranges. The unit hosts desert bighorn on the steep volcanic and granitic rimrock of these isolated ranges. Parts of Unit 39 overlap the Barry M. Goldwater Range (military airspace; hunting access requires permits and range scheduling).

View Draw Odds Arizona Hunting Guide

Logistics & Planning Guide →

Access roads, campgrounds, elevation, monthly weather, stock tanks, cell coverage, and nearest-town services for Unit 39.

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Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 39

Where to Find Bighorn Sheep in Unit 39

Rams use the steep rimrock and ridge systems of the unit's isolated desert ranges.

Sand Tank Mountains

The Sand Tanks hold the core ram group. Access is from I-8 and the BLM roads north of the interstate. Rims above the main washes are our primary glassing targets.

Sauceda Mountains

The Saucedas to the west of the Sand Tanks hold a secondary ram group. Access requires Goldwater Range permits for the southern portion.

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How to Hunt Bighorn Sheep in Unit 39

Unit 39 bighorn hunting requires careful land-access coordination.

Goldwater Range Permits

Southern portions of Unit 39 sit inside the Barry M. Goldwater Range East. Hunters must obtain a BMGR-East permit and coordinate range scheduling with Luke AFB before entering closed areas.

AZGFD Region VI Contact

Region VI biologists in Mesa track Unit 39 rams. We contact them the day we draw.

Desert Backpack Hunts

The ranges are remote and water is scarce. Plan 5–10 day backpack hunts with caches or extensive in-and-out water ferrying.

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Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Rifle75%

Tag numbers are tiny (~6 across three recent years against ~894 applicants). Success rates on AZ desert bighorn hunts consistently run 85–95%. Unit 39 produces representative desert rams with occasional book-class heads.

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— General Rifle	3	456	0.7%	0
Rifle— Late Rifle Dec	0	446	0.4%	0

Data from 2023 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit 39 is a premium bighorn draw with roughly 149:1 applicant-to-tag ratio. Arizona routes 20% of tags to max-point applicants first, then 80% through a random weighted draw. Expect to need 15–25+ bonus points for realistic competitiveness. Harvesting an AZ bighorn ends eligibility to apply for bighorn in the state again.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Road Conditions

I-8 and SR 85 paved. BLM and range roads are rough two-track — high-clearance 4WD required. Goldwater Range closed zones require active coordination.

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Hunting Pressure

Minimal. Tag caps and range access limits keep pressure negligible.

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Weather

November–January hunts see 60–80°F days and 35–50°F nights. Dry is the norm. Summer monsoon damage can leave road washouts into early fall.

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Cell Service

Along I-8 — adequate. In the mountain interiors — none. Satellite communicator essential.

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Nearest Town

Gila Bend (basic services, ~30 miles). Casa Grande (full services, ~60 miles). Phoenix (full services, ~80 miles).

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Permit Notes

AZGFD tag required. Separate Goldwater Range East permit required for BMGR-E access. Coordinate range scheduling with Luke AFB.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a military range permit to hunt Unit 39?

Only if you're accessing the Barry M. Goldwater Range East portion of the unit. BMGR-E requires a separate range permit and active scheduling with Luke AFB. The Sand Tank Mountains portion is mostly outside the range and accessible from I-8.

What's the water situation for a Unit 39 backpack hunt?

Extremely limited. There are a few developed catchments maintained by AZGFD and BLM, but we plan on carrying or caching most water for a multi-day hunt.

Can I drive into the Sand Tanks?

BLM roads off I-8 give access to the edges of the Sand Tank Mountains. The interior is foot-access only. High-clearance 4WD is required for the approach roads.

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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 Desert Bighorn Sheep Management — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Desert bighorn herd management, Sand Tank and Sauceda populations, Once-in-a-lifetime tag · accessed 2026-04-17
2025-26 Arizona Hunting Regulations — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Bighorn season structure, Unit 39 tag allocation, Hunt boundaries · accessed 2026-04-17
GMU 39 — Unit Landing Page — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 39 boundaries, Land ownership, Goldwater Range overlap · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Draw Portal — Hunt Drawing Information — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Weighted bonus point draw, Unit 39 historical bighorn odds · accessed 2026-04-17