GMU 46A Unit 46A — Yuma
One of the wildest, most restricted desert bighorn hunts in the country, deep in Cabeza Prieta wilderness along the Mexican border.
Southwestern desert — Cabeza Prieta NWR & Barry M. Goldwater Range · Last reviewed 2026-07-13
Area
627
sq mi
Public land
100%
approx.
Elevation
600–3,200
feet
Motorized
wilderness
access
Overview
Unit 46A sits in the extreme southwest corner of Arizona, spanning Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge and the eastern Barry M. Goldwater Range within a stone's throw of the international border. This is one of the harshest, most remote deserts in North America — over 800,000 acres of designated wilderness with the Camino del Diablo cutting across it. The lone hunt of consequence is a once-in-a-lifetime desert bighorn sheep tag, and simply setting foot here requires a military range entry permit and a signed hold-harmless agreement.
Terrain
Vast, low, arid basin-and-range desert — isolated volcanic and granite mountain islands (Growler, Granite, Agua Dulce, Bryan ranges) rising from immense creosote flats and drifting sand.
Cover: Sparse Lower Colorado Sonoran desert scrub — creosote, bursage, ocotillo, saguaro and cholla on the bajadas; near-barren rock and desert pavement with only pockets of cover near tinajas.
Landmarks: Cabeza Prieta Mountains · Growler Mountains · Agua Dulce Mountains · Camino del Diablo · Cabeza Prieta Wilderness
Access
Federal land but access is severely restricted. A Barry M. Goldwater Range entry permit (DoD, valid July 1–June 30) plus a signed Hold Harmless Agreement is required before entering Cabeza Prieta NWR, and the refuge also issues special-use permits in cooperation with AZGFD. The range is subject to active military operations and closures. Most of the unit is designated wilderness — no cross-country travel; four-wheel drive is required on refuge roads. Tohono O'odham Nation land borders to the east (closed to general hunting).
Managers: USFWS Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, Barry M. Goldwater Range (DoD), BLM (fringe)
Access points: Camino del Diablo (high-clearance/4WD) · Charlie Bell Road from Ajo · Cabeza Prieta NWR headquarters, Ajo
Species notes
Bighorn Sheep
common trophyDesert bighorn are the singular draw — the Cabeza Prieta ranges have produced rams for generations, and drawing this once-in-a-lifetime tag is a lottery-level event. Guided, water-focused hunts on drawn tags succeed at essentially 100%.
- →Anchor your hunt to tinajas and guzzlers — sheep live and die by water in this desert
- →Glass isolated rock ranges from long distance at dawn and dusk for bedded rams
- →Plan a self-contained multi-day wilderness camp; there is no vehicle access to most sheep country
- →Line up logistics and permits early — access clearance can take longer than the scouting
Pro tips
- →Secure your Goldwater Range entry permit and hold-harmless agreement well before the hunt — it is non-negotiable for access
- →Check current military range-closure status before every trip in
- →Treat water as your top logistical priority; haul your own and know where the guzzlers are
- →Use a knowledgeable guide or the refuge's sheep-hunt program — the terrain and permitting are unforgiving to newcomers
- →Carry satellite communication; there is no cell service and help is far away
Watch out for
- !Barry M. Goldwater Range — active military operations, live-fire areas and possible unexploded ordnance; permit and closures mandatory
- !Cabeza Prieta Wilderness — no cross-country travel; 4WD required on designated routes
- !International border zone — expect smuggling and illegal-crossing traffic; travel aware
- !Extreme, potentially fatal heat and total lack of reliable water
- !Tohono O'odham Nation land to the east is tribal and closed to general AZGFD hunting
- !Extremely remote — no cell service, no services, self-rescue only
Logistics
Ajo is the gateway — the Cabeza Prieta NWR headquarters and permit office are there, about 40 miles south of Gila Bend on SR-85. Fuel, water and last supplies come from Ajo or Gila Bend; there is nothing inside the unit. Four-wheel drive, full recovery gear, extreme-heat provisions and total self-sufficiency are mandatory. Cell coverage is absent across the refuge.
Nearest towns: Ajo, Gila Bend, Yuma
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Arizona sources:
Research sources: AZGFD Where to Hunt — Unit locator · Cabeza Prieta NWR Hunt Info (USFWS) · Hunt Now Arizona — Unit 46B (Cabeza/BMGR context) · Barry M. Goldwater Range East — Range Reader
FAQ
- How big is GMU 46A in Arizona?
- GMU 46A (Unit 46A — Yuma) covers about 627 square miles, ranging from roughly 600 to 3,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 46A?
- Approximately 100% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFWS Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, Barry M. Goldwater Range (DoD), BLM (fringe). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 46A?
- 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 46A on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.