Unit 39 (Maricopa, Estrella and Gila Bend Mountains)
Arizona Hunting Guide — Bighorn Sheep
GMU 39 is the desert west and south of Phoenix, split for bighorn management at Old Highway 80. East of that line, 39E takes in the Maricopa and Estrella Mountains, most of it wilderness inside the Sonoran Desert National Monument, with past rams scoring 140 to over 170. West of it, 39W covers the Gila Bend Mountains, with rams from 150 to over 170. Both populations are believed stable. Access comes off State Route 85 between Gila Bend and Buckeye, the Agua Caliente Road, Old US 80 and the north side of Interstate 8 — with several specific closures to know about and a lot of wilderness where vehicles stop at the boundary.
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Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 39
GMU 39 is the desert west and south of Phoenix, split for bighorn management at Old Highway 80. East of that line, 39E takes in the Maricopa and Estrella Mountains, most of it wilderness inside the Sonoran Desert National Monument, with past rams scoring 140 to over 170. West of it, 39W covers the Gila Bend Mountains, with rams from 150 to over 170. Both populations are believed stable. Access comes off State Route 85 between Gila Bend and Buckeye, the Agua Caliente Road, Old US 80 and the north side of Interstate 8 — with several specific closures to know about and a lot of wilderness where vehicles stop at the boundary.
Where the rams are in 39: the Maricopas and Estrellas east, the Gila Bend Mountains west
How to hunt 39: e-scout first, then glass from the base with friends
Bighorn Sheep Success Rates
Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds
| Season | Tags | Applicants | Draw % | Pts (n/p) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rifle — General Rifle bull/buck only (combined pool) | 3 | 456 | 0.7% | — |
| Rifle — Late Rifle Dec bull/buck only (combined pool) | 0 | 446 | 0.4% | — |
Data from 2023 draw results. Each row is one residency pool — read the label before the number. This agency publishes no point thresholds, so the Pts column stays blank and these are pool odds, not what a point total draws.
Open in Draw Odds EngineUnit Logistics & Expectations
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a military range permit to hunt Unit 39?
What's the water situation for a Unit 39 backpack hunt?
Can I drive into the Sand Tanks?
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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 2026-04-17.
- 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