Arizona Unit 39 Bighorn Sheep Hunting Guide

Arizona Unit 39 sits in the low-desert country of southwestern Arizona, ranging from just 437 feet in elevation up to 4,004 feet, and covering nearly 1.24 million acres of rugged desert terrain. For hunters chasing bighorn sheep, this unit represents one of the most exclusive and demanding draw opportunities in the state — a true once-in-a-lifetime pursuit built around extremely limited tag numbers and challenging desert mountain terrain.

Unit 39 is defined by sparse tag allocations, a mix of public and private land, and a landscape that punishes hunters who aren't prepared for extended glassing sessions in extreme heat and steep, broken rock. With 82% of the unit in public ownership and zero designated wilderness acreage, access is broadly available, but the terrain itself — not land status — is the primary obstacle for anyone drawing a tag here.

This article breaks down what the available data shows about Unit 39's bighorn sheep hunting, including recent harvest trends, application costs, and what hunters should realistically expect if they're fortunate enough to draw a tag.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 39 Worth Applying For?

Bighorn sheep hunting in Arizona is, by design, one of the most difficult draws in North American big game hunting, and Unit 39 is no exception. The tag quota data compiled by HuntPilot shows just how thin these allocations run — hunt code 6028 dropped from 2 tags in 2024 to 0 tags in 2025, and hunt code 6029 fell from 3 tags in 2024 to 0 in 2025. That's a complete cut of both tracked hunt types in a single year, underscoring how quota levels for desert bighorn can swing dramatically from one season to the next based on herd health assessments and management objectives.

This volatility means hunters can't assume a unit will offer the same opportunity two years running. Anyone building a long-term strategy around Unit 39 needs to check current-year quotas before finalizing plans, since a hunt type open one year may not be offered the next.

On the positive side, the harvest data available for Unit 39 shows outstanding success rates in recent seasons. In 2025, 2024, and 2023, all five hunters who drew tags in each of those years harvested an animal — a 100% success rate across the board. That kind of consistency tells hunters that once a tag is in hand, the odds of connecting are very high, assuming reasonable physical preparation and time in the field. The 2022 season shows a unit total of 28 hunters and 150 harvested animals, a figure that reflects multiple hunt types or species categories bundled into unit-wide totals rather than a single bighorn-specific tally, so hunters should treat that year's number with some caution when isolating sheep-specific outcomes.

The counties overlapping Unit 39 carry a strong history of producing trophy-class bighorn sheep, which adds real weight to this unit's appeal for hunters willing to wait out the draw. Combined with consistently high harvest success once a tag is drawn, Unit 39 is absolutely worth applying for if a hunter is serious about pursuing desert bighorn sheep in Arizona — the challenge is drawing the tag, not filling it.

Harvest Success Rates

The most recent three years of data paint a clear picture: Unit 39 tag holders convert at an exceptionally high rate. Five hunters harvested five animals in 2025, five hunters harvested five animals in 2024, and five hunters harvested five animals in 2023 — a perfect 100% success rate across all three seasons. For a species as difficult to hunt as desert bighorn sheep, sustained 100% success over multiple years signals that Arizona Game and Fish is managing this unit's sheep tags conservatively, issuing only as many permits as the terrain and herd can comfortably support for a full harvest.

The 2022 figure of 28 hunters and 150 harvested animals, producing a reported 536% success rate, is clearly a unit-wide aggregate spanning more than one hunt category rather than a single bighorn draw pool. Hunters should rely primarily on the 2023–2025 figures when assessing bighorn-specific success trends in Unit 39, since those years appear to isolate the species cleanly.

Trophy Quality

Trophy potential in Unit 39 is a genuine draw for serious sheep hunters. The counties overlapping this unit have a strong history of producing trophy-class bighorn sheep, with records built up over multiple decades of hunting activity in the region. It's worth noting that record-book entries are logged at the county level, meaning the same trophy history is shared across neighboring units that fall within those same counties — an animal credited to the area could have been taken anywhere within the overlapping county boundaries, not necessarily inside Unit 39's exact lines.

That caveat aside, the qualitative signal is clear: this part of southwestern Arizona has consistently produced rams worthy of record-book consideration, and hunters drawing a tag here are hunting country with a proven trophy pedigree. Combined with the unit's perfect recent harvest success, Unit 39 offers a legitimate shot at both filling a tag and encountering a quality ram.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Wildlife survey data for Unit 39 is limited to a single survey year (2024), which reported an average buck:doe-style ratio of 117:100 across just one survey and an average of 15 animals observed per survey. This ratio is flagged as unusually high and almost certainly reflects a small sample size rather than a genuinely skewed sex ratio in the population. A ratio this far outside normal biological expectations should not be read as evidence of an exceptional herd — it's a statistical artifact of limited survey coverage, and hunters should not draw conclusions about herd quality from this single data point.

With only one year of survey data available, there isn't a multi-year trend to compare against, which limits how much can be said about long-term population health in Unit 39. Hunters wanting a fuller picture of herd dynamics should watch for additional survey years to be published and treat the current figures as a starting point rather than a definitive assessment.

Access & Terrain

Unit 39 spans an enormous elevation gradient for a desert unit, from 437 feet up to 4,004 feet, within a total footprint of 1,242,941 acres. That's a massive unit by any standard, and the low elevation ceiling confirms this is classic low-desert bighorn country — rocky, arid mountain ranges rising out of desert flats rather than high alpine terrain.

Public land makes up 82% of the unit, giving hunters broad legal access across the vast majority of the landscape. There is no designated wilderness acreage in Unit 39, which means nonresident hunters face no state-mandated guide requirement tied to wilderness status here — a meaningful logistical advantage for do-it-yourself sheep hunters compared to units carrying heavy wilderness designations.

That said, "accessible" doesn't mean "easy." Desert bighorn habitat in this part of Arizona typically means steep, broken volcanic or granite ranges separated by long stretches of open desert flats, and hunters should expect extended glassing efforts across big country to locate rams before ever closing distance. The extreme low-elevation heat for much of the year is also a serious factor in physical preparation and scouting timing, even though specific season dates aren't something this article will speculate on.

How to Apply

Arizona's bighorn sheep draw operates through the state's standard application system, with both resident and nonresident applicants competing for the same limited pool of tags in Unit 39. For 2026, the application deadline for both resident and nonresident applicants is June 2, 2026, with results released June 23, 2026.

The cost structure differs significantly by residency. For 2026, nonresident applicants face an application fee of $15, a tag fee of $1,815, a required license fee of $160.00 (which must be held before applying), and a point fee of $15. Resident applicants pay an application fee of $13, a tag fee of $313, a required license fee of $37.00, and a point fee of $13.

That license fee requirement is critical and easy to overlook — both resident and nonresident hunters must hold a qualifying Arizona hunting license before they're even eligible to submit a bighorn sheep application. Budgeting only for the application fee and ignoring the license fee will leave hunters short and potentially ineligible to apply at all.

Given the steep nonresident tag fee of $1,815, nonresident hunters should plan their finances well in advance of drawing, since that cost is due only upon a successful draw but needs to be part of any long-term planning around applying for Arizona sheep tags.

For current draw odds specific to Unit 39 and other bighorn sheep hunt codes across Arizona, hunters should consult HuntPilot's Arizona state page at /states/az, which tracks year-over-year application data.

Dates and fees are subject to change. Always verify current application details at the state wildlife agency website before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like in Arizona Unit 39? Unit 39 is low-desert bighorn habitat, with elevations ranging from just 437 feet to 4,004 feet across nearly 1.24 million acres. Expect rugged, rocky desert mountain ranges separated by wide desert flats, with no wilderness designation affecting access. The unit is 82% public land, giving hunters wide legal access, though the terrain itself demands significant physical preparation for glassing and stalking in steep, broken country.

What is harvest success like for bighorn sheep in Unit 39? Recent data shows outstanding success: 100% of hunters who drew tags harvested an animal in 2025, 2024, and 2023 (five hunters, five harvests each year). This indicates that once a hunter draws a tag, filling it is highly likely with reasonable effort and preparation.

How big are the bighorn sheep in Unit 39? The counties overlapping Unit 39 have a strong history of producing trophy-class bighorn sheep, based on qualitative trophy record data. Because record-book entries are attributed at the county level, this trophy history is shared with neighboring units in the same counties, but it confirms the broader region has a track record of producing quality rams.

Is Unit 39 worth applying for as a bighorn sheep hunter? Yes, for hunters serious about pursuing desert bighorn sheep, Unit 39 is worth applying for. The combination of a strong regional trophy history and consistently perfect harvest success in recent years (2023–2025) makes this a high-quality opportunity, though tag quotas are extremely limited and can shift dramatically year to year — hunt codes 6028 and 6029 both dropped to zero tags in 2025 after being available in 2024.

Do nonresident hunters need a guide to hunt Unit 39? No state-mandated guide requirement applies here based on wilderness status, since Unit 39 has 0% designated wilderness. Nonresidents are free to hunt DIY if they choose, though given the difficulty of locating and closing on desert bighorn in this terrain, many hunters — resident and nonresident alike — opt for local knowledge or assistance regardless of legal requirements.