Unit 1/27 Black River (Black River hunt area)
Arizona Hunting Guide — Desert Bighorn Sheep
The Black River bighorn hunt area is the defined hunt within units 1 and 27 that covers Arizona's Rocky Mountain bighorn population on the Black River — from Three Forks down the East Fork to the main stem and on to the Fort Apache Indian Reservation boundary. Named areas are Three Forks, Kettle Holes, Fish Bench, Wildcat Crossing and the Snake Creek country, with sheep also using the flatter wooded ground beside the river. Access is minimal: a large part of the huntable habitat has little or no vehicle access and Fish Bench is foot-only, so a pack-out is part of the plan. All bighorn hunters must check out at a Department office within three days of the season closing.
Build your own PDF hunt guide for Unit 1/27 Black River
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Desert Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 1/27 Black River
The Black River bighorn hunt area is the defined hunt within units 1 and 27 that covers Arizona's Rocky Mountain bighorn population on the Black River — from Three Forks down the East Fork to the main stem and on to the Fort Apache Indian Reservation boundary. Named areas are Three Forks, Kettle Holes, Fish Bench, Wildcat Crossing and the Snake Creek country, with sheep also using the flatter wooded ground beside the river. Access is minimal: a large part of the huntable habitat has little or no vehicle access and Fish Bench is foot-only, so a pack-out is part of the plan. All bighorn hunters must check out at a Department office within three days of the season closing.
Where the rams are in the Black River hunt area, place by place
This hunt area exists because the sheep do. Rocky Mountain bighorn distribution runs primarily from Three Forks, down the East Fork of the Black River, to the main stem, and on to the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. The hunting areas are contained mostly within that corridor and its tributaries.
Three Forks
The furthest north part of the corridor, on the East Fork. Access is Forest Road 249 between Big Lake and Alpine.
Kettle Holes
North of the river and overlooking it, with good feeding habitat for sheep. Reached on Forest Road 25G, running south off Forest Road 25 west of Buffalo Crossing.
Fish Bench
Directly south of Kettle Holes, across the Black River canyon. It gives a good view into the canyon and holds several areas critical to sheep. Foot access only.
Wildcat Crossing
Forest Road 25's crossing of the Black River, with a parking area, trails along the river, and a trail system running from Forest Road 24 down to the reservation boundary. The practical way to reach the river bottom.
Snake Creek and the river flats
Snake Creek is one of the lowest areas in the corridor. And although sheep are canyon animals, the guide notes they use some of the flatter, more wooded country directly beside the Black River — don't write that ground off because it doesn't look like sheep habitat.
What is not in this hunt area
A transplanted population in the South Fork area of the Little Colorado River, established to return sheep to historic range, is not huntable and lies outside the Black River hunt area. And the Fort Apache Indian Reservation at the bottom of the corridor is not open on a state permit.
Unit 1/27 Black River terrain and land status
Measured from the unit boundary, not from the agency write-up · figures are for GMU 1
The lay of it
- 7,391–9,286 ft on a terrain sample , averaging 8,398 ft ; peaks can run higher.
- 843.1 sq mi inside the boundary. Big enough that picking one drainage beats driving three.
Who owns the ground
- National Forest — 60%
- State Trust — 8%
- Private / Other — 32%
Roughly 68% is public. Carry a land-status layer anyway — these are area percentages, not a map of where the boundaries fall.
Water on the ground
- 722 tanks
- 374 springs
- 299 stream segments
- 39 lakes
Counts from mapping data, so this is how many exist, not how many hold water in a dry year. Sitting water only pays where you find fresh tracks.
Named features inside the unit
Glass from: Escudilla Mountain (10,916 ft), Profanity Ridge (10,533 ft), Greens Peak (10,125 ft), Burro Mountain (9,855 ft)
Holding ground: Terry Flat (9,678 ft), Pat Sink (9,317 ft), Rudd Knoll Pit (9,300 ft), Towser Well
Every one of these was tested against the unit polygon before it went on the map. They are starting points, not agency recommendations.
How to hunt it: glass canyon to canyon, then organise the carry
Desert Bighorn Sheep Success Rates
Desert Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds
Draw odds data not available for this specific unit/species combination in our database.
Search Arizona Draw OddsThe Black River sub-unit draw is one of the most competitive sheep draws in Arizona. Very few tags are allocated annually. The weighted-random bonus-point system rewards consistent applicants — apply every year without skipping to accumulate both bonus points and the consecutive-application loyalty bonus. This is a once-in-a-lifetime tag for Arizona residents.
Unit Logistics & Expectations
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 01/27 Black River hunt the same as the 01/27 combined hunt?
How do I reach the Black River canyon for sheep hunting?
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Upgrade to Pro — $49/yrSources & Verification
Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-18.
- AZGFD Desert Bighorn Sheep Management — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Black River drainage bighorn population, Transplant history, Unit management · accessed 2026-04-18
- AZGFD Big Game Hunting Regulations 2026 — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Season structure, Hunt area boundaries, Equipment regulations · accessed 2026-04-18
- AZGFD Draw Portal — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Draw statistics, Bonus point accumulation, Application window · accessed 2026-04-18