Unit 46BE (Sierra Pinta and Tule Mountains, unit 46B east)
Arizona Hunting Guide — Bighorn Sheep
46BE is the eastern bighorn hunt area within GMU 46B — the Sierra Pinta, Cabeza Prieta and Tule Mountains of Yuma County, inside the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge and the Barry M. Goldwater Range. AZGFD publishes one guide for the parent unit rather than one per half, so the detail here is the 46B material and the east/west line comes from your tag's hunt-area description. Rams taken from unit 46B have scored between 125 and 170, and the sheep carry this country's reputation for red-stained horns. Four-wheel drive is required, a BMGR permit is required, and the refuge is managed primarily as wilderness with almost no water.
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Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 46BE
46BE is the eastern bighorn hunt area within GMU 46B — the Sierra Pinta, Cabeza Prieta and Tule Mountains of Yuma County, inside the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge and the Barry M. Goldwater Range. AZGFD publishes one guide for the parent unit rather than one per half, so the detail here is the 46B material and the east/west line comes from your tag's hunt-area description. Rams taken from unit 46B have scored between 125 and 170, and the sheep carry this country's reputation for red-stained horns. Four-wheel drive is required, a BMGR permit is required, and the refuge is managed primarily as wilderness with almost no water.
Where the rams are in 46B East: the Sierra Pinta, Cabeza Prieta and Tule Mountains
First, the point of order: AZGFD publishes one unit guide for GMU 46B and does not split its area notes east from west. Read this with your tag's own hunt-area description and load that boundary into your GPS.
The three ranges
Desert bighorn are found throughout the Sierra Pinta, the Cabeza Prieta Mountains and the Tule Mountains. Sierra Pinta is the high point at 2,921 feet, with the Cabeza Prieta Mountains at 2,796, Buck Peak at 2,588, Cabeza Prieta Peak at 2,506, the Tule Mountains at 2,287, Tordillo Mountain at 2,159, Isla Pinta at 1,941 and the Bryan Mountains at 1,729.
Rams and scores
Past rams from unit 46B have scored 125 and 170. The sheep here are known for red-stained horns as well as horn size — a local characteristic that makes them distinctive among desert bighorn.
The low ground between ranges
Cabeza Prieta Pass sits at 1,505 feet, Halfway Tank at 1,426, Sunday Pass at 1,250, Surprise Canyon at 1,221, A-one Basin at 1,216, Chia Canyon at 1,114, Hummingbird Canyon at 1,095 and Paradise Canyon at 1,080. Rams crossing between ranges use these, and the guide's warning about not overlooking small hills adjacent to a big mountain applies directly here.
September is for scouting, not for marking a hillside
Late August into September is the rut and the best time to see several rams in a small area. The rams you see then will not necessarily be in the same place in December — mature rams run in small bachelor groups or alone once the rut ends.
Permits and the refuge
Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, 1611 N. Second Avenue, Ajo, AZ 85321, 520-387-6483 — Ajo is 40 miles south of Gila Bend on SR 85. The refuge sends a welcome packet with its rules. Conditions are extremely primitive and harsh, four-wheel drive is required, the refuge is primarily wilderness, and a Barry M. Goldwater Range permit is required for access because of military overflights.
Unit 46BE terrain and land status
Measured from the unit boundary, not from the agency write-up
Named features inside the unit
Glass from: Sierra Pinta (2,921 ft), Cabeza Prieta Mountains (2,796 ft), Buck Peak (2,588 ft)
Holding ground: Cabeza Prieta Pass (1,505 ft), Halfway Tank (1,426 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 46B East: glass from the base, move sideways, and respect the heat
Bighorn Sheep Success Rates
Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds
| Season | Tags | Applicants | Draw % | Pts (n/p) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rifle — General Rifle bull/buck only (combined pool) | 2 | 104 | 1.9% | — |
| Rifle — Late Rifle Dec bull/buck only (combined pool) | 3 | 169 | 0.0% | — |
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
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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.
- GMU 46B — Unit Landing Page — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Peloncillo boundary, Desert bighorn habitat, Access · accessed 2026-04-17
- 2026 Arizona Hunting Regulations — Arizona Game and Fish Department · supports: Bighorn hunt structure, Tag allocation, Season · accessed 2026-04-17
- BLM Safford Field Office — Bureau of Land Management · supports: Peloncillo public land status, Road access, Dispersed camping · accessed 2026-04-17