We are proud to offer hunting trips for the most prized big game species in North America, the desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis mexicana and nelsoni). Arizona has produced numerous large rams and stands up to being the top state as a quality producer. Like all states, Arizona bighorn sheep tags are by a lottery drawing. If you are lucky enough to draw this "coveted tag," you stand a great chance of getting a record-book head. Desert big horn sheep tags are limited to such an extent that Arizona only allows each hunter one desert bighorn sheep in a lifetime. Tags may be difficult to draw, so our possible hunters are encouraged to apply each year and build points until drawn. You never know when you will draw. Some hunters draw with one bonus point, which means it is truly luck-of-the-draw! If you have the itch for a beautiful desert ram and feel lucky enough to draw one of the "coveted tags," we have the hunt for you! Our master sheep guide, Pat Feldt and his assistants, have spent many years in the field with desert bighorn sheep and know them well. Pat is a member of the Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, has a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology and is very knowledgeable and experienced in locating, hunting, and judging bighorn sheep. Much of his and his assistants' spare time is spent looking for and observing sheep, whether it is just for fun or trying to video another record-book ram. Pat's many years of sheep experience has allowed hunters to harvest exceptional quality bighorn rams. Several rams harvested over the years have made the Boone and Crockett minimum. In Arizona, you have the ability to hunt two different sub-species of desert bighorn sheep: either the heavy-horned and tight-curled Mexicana subspecies or the wide, flare-horned Nelsoni subspecies. This depends upon which area or unit you draw. The sheep in the northwest areas of Arizona from the Bill Williams River northward are classified as Nelson desert bighorn sheep. The southern area below the Bill Williams River toward the Mexican border is home to the Mexicana. We have hunted in various bighorn sheep units throughout the State of Arizona. Sheep locations within these units vary from year to year because desert bighorn rams have a very large home range. This is due mainly to the constantly changing food and water resources of the desert ecosystem. Rams also move around a lot during the late summer rut before settling down in late October or early November. Your area is scouted extensively prior to the December hunt to locate not only the best concentration of sheep, but the best rams in that area. We can often find the same rams during the hunt that were located during scouting. So, if we find a big ram during scouting in October or November, with patience, we will more than likely find him during your December hunt.