Arizona Bighorn Sheep

Unit 45A (Atascosa–Tumacacori Mountains)

Arizona Hunting Guide — Bighorn Sheep

GMU 45A covers the Atascosa and Tumacacori Mountains of southern Santa Cruz County, a remote sky island range in the Arizona borderlands. AZGFD manages a desert bighorn sheep population here through an extremely limited-draw tag allocation, typically 1–3 tags per year. The unit's rugged volcanic and limestone terrain, combined with its proximity to the international border, makes GMU 45A one of the most challenging — and remote — bighorn sheep units in the Arizona draw.

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 45A.

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Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 45A

Where to Find Bighorn Sheep in GMU 45A

Desert bighorn in GMU 45A occupy the highest rocky terrain of the Atascosa and Tumacacori Mountains — cliff bands, talus fields, and exposed volcanic ridges above 4,000 feet.

Cliff Bands Above 4,000 Feet

Bighorn use the sheer cliff faces and talus for bedding and escape. Glass systematically across all visible cliff bands from canyon bottoms and opposing slopes. Morning light on south-facing cliff faces illuminates sheep well for early glassing sessions.

Seasonal Water and Tinajas

Water is scarce in this arid range. Rock-basin tinajas and seasonal springs below cliff systems are critical bighorn water sources and reliable places to observe sheep during dry periods. Locate these in pre-season scouting before the hunt opens.

How to Hunt GMU 45A Desert Bighorn

Hunting bighorn in the Atascosa-Tumacacori country is an elite physical and logistical challenge — remote terrain, borderland conditions, and rugged mountains demand exceptional preparation.

Multi-Day Backcountry Commitment

Plan for multi-day backpack hunts in the Atascosa-Tumacacori backcountry. The remote terrain is not efficiently hunted from a base camp vehicle approach. Lightweight, self-sufficient camp setups allow hunters to stay mobile and cover more ground.

Border Region Protocol

Contact AZGFD's Tucson regional office before your hunt for current access advisories in this borderland unit. Carry valid ID at all times and be prepared for Border Patrol checkpoints when traveling in the area.

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Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Rifle75%

With 1–3 tags issued annually, specific harvest data for GMU 45A is limited. Arizona desert bighorn units see 60–80% harvest success overall for hunters who dedicate full effort to pre-season scouting and physical preparation. Check AZGFD harvest reports for available data.

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Rifle— General Rifle	4	376	0.5%
Rifle— Late Rifle Nov	5	694	0.4%
Rifle— Late Rifle Dec	5	655	0.6%

Data from 2023 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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GMU 45A bighorn tags are among the rarest in Arizona — 1–3 per year against strong applicant competition. This is a generational hunt. Apply every year at draw.azgfd.com and expect to build bonus points for 15–25+ years before drawing a premium desert bighorn tag.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Terrain Difficulty

Extreme — remote borderland mountains requiring backpack access; very high physical fitness mandatory

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Hunting Pressure

Essentially none — 1–3 tags per year

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Nearest Town

Nogales (approx. 20–35 mi; full services including international crossing services) or Tucson (approx. 65 mi; full services)

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Permit Notes

Extremely limited-draw tag; borderland unit — contact AZGFD Tucson regional office for access advisories; apply annually through draw.azgfd.com

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for a bighorn sheep tag in GMU 45A?

Apply through the Arizona Game and Fish Department draw portal at draw.azgfd.com during the annual application period (typically January–February). With only 1–3 tags per year, this unit requires decades of bonus point accumulation. Apply every year without exception. Contact AZGFD before your hunt for current border area access advisories.

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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 2026 Bighorn Sheep Hunt Regulations — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 45A bighorn season, Tag allocation, Legal weapon types · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Draw Portal — Hunt Drawing Information — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Bonus point draw, Historical tag counts for 45A, Applicant data · accessed 2026-04-17
AZGFD Desert Bighorn Sheep — Species Management — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Southern Arizona borderland bighorn management, Herd monitoring · accessed 2026-04-17