Unit 40BWG (Gila Mountains north of Cipriano Pass, unit 40B)

Unit 40B is broken into three bighorn hunt complexes: the Mohawk–Copper Mountains, the Gila Mountains north of Cipriano Pass, and the Tinajas Altas Mountains south of Cipriano Pass. This hunt is the middle one.

The Gila Mountains

They reach 3,120 feet, the high ground of this unit along with Sheep Mountain at the same elevation. Cipriano Pass at 981 feet is the divider between this complex and the Tinajas Altas country to its south — a genuine boundary rather than a line on paper.

Getting in

Exit Interstate 8 at Avenue 29E, the Wellton exit, and travel north to Highway 80. Head west on Highway 80 to Avenue 25E, turn south, and the pavement ends as the road runs toward the range.

The population, and how it moves

Sheep numbers across 40B have been stable over the past two to three years at an estimated 250 animals. They're distributed throughout the mountain ranges and their movements are highly variable — which is the agency's way of saying don't expect them where you last saw them.

The red horns

Rams in this part of the state often show a unique red staining on their horns from rubbing against limber bush, which occurs only south of I-8 and west of SR 85. It's a local signature worth knowing when you judge a ram.

The low ground

Tinajas Altas Pass at 1,105 feet, Black Gap at 1,023, East Pass at 1,023, Cipriano Pass at 981 and the Lechuguilla Desert at 874 mark how low this country sits. Ali Wua Pass at 2,048 and Gunsight Valley at 1,802 are the higher crossings.

Why knowledge of the area is everything here

The guide says knowledge of the area is paramount, that the rugged terrain and arid conditions will challenge even the best hunters, and that quality optics and patience are needed. Preparing well in advance and scouting before the hunt is what makes it enjoyable rather than punishing.

Rifle success on these tags runs about 75 percent. The first obstacle is military, not geographic.

The Barry M. Goldwater Range permits

A large part of unit 40B, including these ranges, is on the BMGR, and access is subject to military operations and closure. You need an Access Permit through the iSportsman programme at luke.isportsman.net. On BMGR-West, unit 40B is open to hunting as permitted under R12-4-304 and R12-4-318, except in Restricted Areas which are closed to all public recreation. On BMGR-East, only hunters holding a current bighorn sheep tag and their named participants may access the designated areas — to hunt unit 40B or to transit to units 46A or 46B — and only after receiving a Special Use Permit from Luke AFB. No other hunting or access is allowed in 40B on BMGR-East.

It is your responsibility to know where you are and stay clear of unauthorised areas. Contacts: Luke Air Force Base for BMGR-East on 623-856-7216 or 623-856-1758; Marine Corps Air Station Yuma for BMGR-West on 928-269-3115.

Then hunt it as a patience problem

Quality optics and patience are what the agency asks for. Glass from the base of the mountain with 10 or 20 power before climbing, stay in the lower two-thirds when you go up, and stop regularly to sit, glass and listen. Sheep movements here are highly variable, so a ram found on day one may be two ridges over on day three.

Scout well in advance

Knowledge of the area is paramount on this unit. Get your permits early so you can scout the actual ground rather than a map, and use the rut in late August and September to see rams and judge quality.

Self-sufficiency in very low desert

This country bottoms out under 900 feet. Carry all your water, keep a reserve in the vehicle, take recovery gear and two spares, and coordinate entry and departure with range security so somebody knows you're out there.