Unit 46AW (Cabeza Prieta west, unit 46A)
Arizona Hunting Guide — Bighorn Sheep
46AW is the western bighorn hunt area within GMU 46A — Cabeza Prieta country in Pima County taking in the Agua Dulce, Growler, Childs and Granite Mountains and the low passes between them. AZGFD publishes one guide for the parent unit rather than one per half, so the area notes here are the 46A material and the east/west line comes from your tag's hunt-area description. Rams have scored 145 to over 180 and carry the red-stained horns this country is known for. The ground is Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge and Barry M. Goldwater Range: four-wheel drive required, a BMGR permit required, wilderness management over most of it, and almost no water.
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Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 46AW
46AW is the western bighorn hunt area within GMU 46A — Cabeza Prieta country in Pima County taking in the Agua Dulce, Growler, Childs and Granite Mountains and the low passes between them. AZGFD publishes one guide for the parent unit rather than one per half, so the area notes here are the 46A material and the east/west line comes from your tag's hunt-area description. Rams have scored 145 to over 180 and carry the red-stained horns this country is known for. The ground is Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge and Barry M. Goldwater Range: four-wheel drive required, a BMGR permit required, wilderness management over most of it, and almost no water.
Where the rams are in 46A West: the Agua Dulces, the Granites and the low passes
The same point of order as the eastern half: AZGFD publishes one guide for GMU 46A and doesn't separate east from west in its area notes. Read this with your tag's hunt-area description in hand and put that boundary in your GPS.
The ranges
Sheep are found throughout the Agua Dulce, Growler, Childs and Granite Mountains. On the western side the Agua Dulce Mountains at 2,763 feet and the Granite Mountains at 2,346 are the obvious anchors, with the Chico Shunie Hills at 2,121 and Sheep Peak at 2,110 alongside them.
The passes between ranges
In country where ranges stand as islands in a sea of creosote flat, the passes are where sheep cross. Agua Dulce Pass sits at 1,639 feet, Temporal Pass at 1,974, Chico Shunie Arroyo at 1,498, Charlie Bell Pass at 1,455 and Cholla Pass at 1,060. Glass one of those at first light before committing a day to a mountain.
And the small hills
The guide repeats it for good reason: mature rams travel in small bachelor groups or alone, so don't overlook the little hills next to the big mountain as your hunt nears. The ram you want may not be on the range you've been watching.
Rut scouting versus season reality
Late August into September is the rut, which concentrates rams and makes them visible — the best time to count animals and judge quality. Just don't treat September locations as December locations. They move.
Permits, and who to call
Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, 1611 N. Second Avenue, Ajo, 520-387-6483. Ajo is 40 miles south of Gila Bend on SR 85. Four-wheel drive is required on the refuge, most of it is wilderness, and a Barry M. Goldwater Range permit is required for access because of military overflights. Ask about which sheep surveys have been completed — not every unit is flown every year.
Unit 46AW terrain and land status
Measured from the unit boundary, not from the agency write-up
Named features inside the unit
Glass from: Growler Peak (3,013 ft), Childs Mountain (2,852 ft), Agua Dulce Mountains (2,763 ft)
Holding ground: Temporal Pass (1,974 ft), Copper Canyon (1,729 ft), Corner Well, Little Tule Well, Jacks 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 46A West: the base-up glassing routine, and plan for no water
Bighorn Sheep Success Rates
Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds
| Season | Tags | Applicants | Draw % | Pts (n/p) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rifle — General Rifle bull/buck only (combined pool) | 1 | 53 | 0.0% | — |
| Rifle — Late Rifle Dec bull/buck only (combined pool) | 1 | 45 | 2.2% | — |
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
Is Arizona desert bighorn a once-in-a-lifetime tag?
What is the typical ram quality in Unit 46AW?
What gear do I need for a desert bighorn hunt in Unit 46AW?
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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 — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Desert bighorn range and population management, Unit 46AW habitat description, Tag allocation and draw framework · accessed 2026-04-18
- AZGFD Draw Portal — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Unit 46AW bighorn sheep draw odds, Bonus point system, Once-in-a-lifetime rules · accessed 2026-04-18
- 2025-26 Arizona Hunting Regulations — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Bighorn sheep season structure, Legal weapon types, Tag quotas · accessed 2026-04-18
- BLM Lake Havasu Field Office — Bureau of Land Management · supports: Buckskin and Whipple Mountains access, BLM road conditions, Public land designation in Unit 46AW · accessed 2026-04-18