Unit 39E (Maricopa and Estrella Mountains)
Arizona Hunting Guide — Desert Bighorn Sheep
39E is the eastern bighorn hunt area of GMU 39 — the Maricopa and Estrella Mountains west and south of Phoenix, most of it designated wilderness inside the Sonoran Desert National Monument. Past rams from 39E have scored 140 to over 170 and the population is believed stable. Access is at road junctions along State Route 85 between Gila Bend and Buckeye, through the Rainbow Valley, and along the north side of Interstate 8 between Gila Bend and Stanfield, with the route north of SR 238 into the monument and the east end of the gas pipeline road both closed. Wilderness means no vehicles, including for retrieval.
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Desert Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 39E
39E is the eastern bighorn hunt area of GMU 39 — the Maricopa and Estrella Mountains west and south of Phoenix, most of it designated wilderness inside the Sonoran Desert National Monument. Past rams from 39E have scored 140 to over 170 and the population is believed stable. Access is at road junctions along State Route 85 between Gila Bend and Buckeye, through the Rainbow Valley, and along the north side of Interstate 8 between Gila Bend and Stanfield, with the route north of SR 238 into the monument and the east end of the gas pipeline road both closed. Wilderness means no vehicles, including for retrieval.
Where the rams are in 39E: throughout the Maricopas and Estrellas
Desert bighorn are found throughout the Maricopa and Estrella Mountains. Past rams from this hunt area have scored 140 to over 170, and the population is currently believed to be stable.
Wilderness is most of it
The majority of 39E is wilderness, which decides the shape of the hunt before anything else — vehicles stop at the boundary and whatever you kill comes out on your back or with stock.
Where to get in
Road junctions along State Route 85 between Gila Bend and Buckeye. Through the Rainbow Valley. And along the north side of Interstate 8 between Gila Bend and Stanfield.
What is closed
Two specific closures to plan around: access north of SR 238 / Maricopa Road into the Sonoran Desert National Monument, and the east end of the gas pipeline road north of the North Maricopa Mountains. Both appear on older maps as routes.
The terrain
The Maricopa Mountains reach 3,148 feet, with Butterfly Mountain at 4,043 and Sevenmile Mountain at 2,921 nearby, Margies Peak at 2,451 and the Booth Hills at 2,203. The valleys between them run low — Butterfield Pass at 1,731 feet, Vekol Valley at 1,511, Hidden Valley at 1,325, Margies Cove at 1,087 and Rainbow Valley at 1,053.
Don't ignore the small hills
Mature rams roam in small bachelor groups or alone, and the guide tells you not to overlook the small hills adjacent to a large mountain as your hunt approaches. In this country, where ranges stand as islands, that means the outliers and the passes.
The monument, and BLM
The North and South Maricopa Mountains became part of the Sonoran Desert National Monument in January 2001. Call BLM on 623-580-5500 for wilderness access and activity constraints, and check their current monument planning before you commit to a route.
Unit 39E terrain and land status
Measured from the unit boundary, not from the agency write-up
Named features inside the unit
Glass from: Butterfly Mountain (4,043 ft), Woolsey Peak (3,164 ft), Maricopa Mountains (3,148 ft), Sevenmile Mountain (2,921 ft)
Holding ground: Butterfield Pass (1,731 ft), Margies Cove (1,087 ft), Rainbow Valley (1,053 ft)
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 39E: e-scout the waters, glass from the base, plan a wilderness pack-out
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 OddsUnit 39E is part of Arizona's weighted-random bonus-point draw for desert bighorn sheep. Tags are extremely limited. Once drawn, this is a once-in-a-lifetime tag for Arizona residents. Apply every year and do not skip applications — the loyalty bonus and bonus points compound annually to improve your long-term odds.
Unit Logistics & Expectations
Frequently Asked Questions
How hot is it during the Unit 39E bighorn sheep season?
What is the best public land access in Unit 39E?
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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: Unit 39E population, Sonoran Desert sheep management, Water developments · accessed 2026-04-18
- AZGFD Big Game Hunting Regulations 2026 — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Season dates, Tag quotas, Hunt area · accessed 2026-04-18
- AZGFD Draw Portal — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Draw odds, Application system · accessed 2026-04-18