GMU 39 Unit 39 — Yuma, Mesa
Big, wild low-desert country of rugged sky-island ranges, desert mule deer and a coveted desert bighorn tag.
Southwestern Sonoran Desert — Sonoran Desert National Monument / Goldwater Range · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,947
sq mi
Public land
80%
approx.
Elevation
700–4,600
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 39 is a sprawling ~1,900-square-mile block of low Sonoran Desert southwest of Phoenix, running toward Gila Bend and Buckeye. It is defined by isolated, jagged desert mountain ranges — the Sierra Estrella, Maricopa, Table Top, Woolsey and Signal ranges — rising out of vast creosote flats, much of it inside the Sonoran Desert National Monument and along the Barry M. Goldwater Range. Desert mule deer are the primary big-game draw, with a small, prestigious desert bighorn sheep resource in the rugged ranges.
Terrain
Classic basin-and-range Sonoran desert — broad creosote bajadas and sandy washes broken by steep, rocky, isolated mountain ranges topping out around Table Top and Signal peaks.
Cover: Low Sonoran desert scrub — creosote, bursage, palo verde, ironwood and mesquite in the washes, with saguaro, cholla and ocotillo on the rocky slopes; sparse grass and browse at the higher range flanks.
Landmarks: Sierra Estrella Mountains · Table Top Mountain / Wilderness · Maricopa Mountains · Woolsey Peak · Signal Mountain · Sonoran Desert National Monument
Access
Overwhelmingly public but access has real friction. Numerous cattle gates off State Route 85 (Gila Bend to Buckeye) and along the north side of Interstate 8 (Sentinel to Stanfield) get you in. Access into the Sonoran Desert National Monument north of SR 238 / Maricopa Road is restricted. The Barry M. Goldwater Range (managed via Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field) requires a military range access permit and observes closures. The Gila River Indian Community on the northeast is tribal land closed to general hunting. Several designated wilderness areas are foot-only.
Managers: BLM (Sonoran Desert National Monument, wilderness areas), Barry M. Goldwater Range / Luke AFB (military — special access), AZ State Trust, Tribal — Gila River Indian Community (closed), Private (ag along the Gila River)
Access points: State Route 85 cattle gates (Gila Bend–Buckeye) · North side of Interstate 8 (Sentinel to Stanfield) · Maricopa Road / SR 238 · BLM roads into Table Top and Maricopa Mountains
Species notes
Mule Deer
common opportunityDesert mule deer are the primary big-game species, concentrated near the Gila River, agricultural edges and the brushy washes and bajadas around the desert ranges. Success runs modest — roughly a quarter of hunters — in typical low-density desert fashion.
- →Glass long across the bajadas and wash systems at dawn and dusk
- →Hunt the desert range flanks and saddles where deer bed in rocky cover
- →Watch agricultural edges and Gila River bottom browse
- →Sit or still-hunt water sources through dry stretches — desert deer key on scarce water
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyDesert bighorn hold the rugged, rocky desert ranges — a rare, essentially once-in-a-lifetime draw with excellent success on the few tags issued, though some subunit sheep hunts have been curtailed during population lows.
- →Glass rimrock, cliffs and steep rocky faces of the Estrella, Maricopa and Table Top ranges at first light
- →Expect steep, physical, foot-only wilderness country
- →Locate reliable desert water and work the surrounding rugged terrain
- →Hire or scout with someone who knows the specific range — sheep are patchy and local
Pro tips
- →Water is everything — desert deer and sheep orient to scarce water, so learn the reliable sources.
- →A Barry M. Goldwater Range access permit is required for the military-range ground; arrange it before you go.
- →Respect the Sonoran Desert National Monument access restriction north of SR 238.
- →Wilderness ranges (Table Top, Sierra Estrella, Maricopa) are foot-only — plan a boot-leather sheep or deer hunt.
- →Carry recovery gear; the sandy washes and rocky two-tracks strand trucks.
Watch out for
- !Barry M. Goldwater Range requires a military access permit and has active closures.
- !Gila River Indian Community land on the northeast is tribal and closed to general hunting.
- !Sonoran Desert National Monument access is restricted north of SR 238 / Maricopa Road.
- !State Trust parcels require an Arizona State Land recreation permit.
- !Extreme heat, no water and no cell service — desert survival preparation is mandatory.
Logistics
Gas and stock up in Gila Bend, Buckeye or Maricopa — the interior is empty desert with no services. Carry far more water than you expect, high-clearance and recovery gear for sandy washes and rough BLM roads, and full navigation. Cell coverage disappears fast in the ranges. Dispersed camping on BLM is the norm; obtain any required Goldwater Range permit in advance.
Nearest towns: Gila Bend, Buckeye, Maricopa, Goodyear
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Arizona sources:
Research sources: AZGFD — GMU 39 unit information · Hunt Now Arizona — Unit 39 · GOHUNT — Arizona unit profiles
FAQ
- How big is GMU 39 in Arizona?
- GMU 39 (Unit 39 — Yuma, Mesa) covers about 1,947 square miles, ranging from roughly 700 to 4,600 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 39?
- Approximately 80% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM (Sonoran Desert National Monument, wilderness areas), Barry M. Goldwater Range / Luke AFB (military — special access), AZ State Trust, Tribal — Gila River Indian Community (closed), Private (ag along the Gila River). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 39?
- Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Arizona agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 39 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.