Beginning
at O-O Junction; north from O-O Junction
on the Kofa Mine road to the Evening Star
Mine; north on a line over Polaris Mountain
to Midwell; north on the Midwell-Alamo Spring-Kofa
Cabin road to the El Paso Natural Gas Pipeline
Road; north on a line from the junction to
the north Kofa National Wildlife Refuge boundary;
east to the east refuge boundary; south and
west along the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge
boundary to the Stone Cabin-King Valley road;
north and west on this road to O-O Junction.
Overview:
The east half of the Kofa Mountains
and a small part of the Tank Mountains
make up the bighorn areas of Unit 45B.
Most of the bighorn are found in the
Kofa Mountains portion of the unit.
Very few bighorn sheep are found south
of Engesser Pass in the Tank Mountains,
however, large rams have been observed
in this area. The bighorn sheep population
in Unit 45B has dropped about 25 percent
during the drought years of the early
to mid-1990s. During this time permits
varied between 2 to 4 permits per year.
Unit 45B has experienced fluctuating
hunter success during this time. A
wide varation in both age and score
of rams has also occurred.
All of Unit 45B lies within the boundries of the Kofa National Wildlife
Refuge. Much of the unit also is composed of wilderness area and
special regulations apply. Vehicle use is limited to existing designated
roads and must remain within 100 feet of these roads. All firearms,
including handguns, rifles and shotguns, within a vehicle must be
unloaded and either cased or broken down. For complete refuge regulations
contact:
Refuge Manager
Kofa NWR
P. O. Box 6290
356 W. First Street
Yuma, Az. 85366-6290
Phone: (928) 783-7861
Fax (928) 783-8611
Areas: High Tank 3 (White Dykes Dam): This area is found immediately
north west of Craven Well in the north east portion of the unit.
A good number of bighorn sheep are found on the high mesas around
High Tank 3. Look arround the rims and on top of the mesas for sheep.
Take the Hovatter road south from Interstate 10 to the El Paso natural
gas line, then east onto the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge to intersection
14, then south to Craven Well.
Red Rock Pass to Sheep Tank Mine: Look around the high country just
east of Red Rock Pass and down the long ridges leading to the Sheep
Tank Mine. Good numbers of bighorn can be found on the high peaks
in the immediate area of the the Sheep Tank Mine. Also just west
of Red Rock Pass area are some large mesas that hold bighorn. Access:
Take the Hovatter road south from Interstate 10 to the El Paso natural
gas line, then east onto the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge to intersection
14, then south pass Craven Well to Red Rock Pass.
Hoodoo Well to Moonshine-Yaqui Tanks: South west of Hoodoo Well is
a large block of mountains that run south to Moonshine wash, then
west to Yaqui Tanks area. Bighorn sheep can be found throughout this
area. Just west of Yaqui Tanks is Kofa Butte. An occassional ram
can be found south of the butte along the high country above Charlie
Died tank to the Mangenesse Mine area locatted just south of the
entrance to Moonshine Wash. Access: Take the Hovatter road south
from Interstate 10 to the El Paso natural gas line, then east onto
the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge to intersection 14, then south
pass Craven Well through Red Rock Pass to Hoodoo Well. You can also
get to Hoodoo Well by taking the Hovatter road directly to the Hovatter
Camp, Then west to Hoodoo Well.
Polaris Mountain Area: Bighorn can be found all around this large
mountain found along the west boder of the unit. If you hunt here
be familar with the boundry so as not to stray into Unit 45A. Access:
Take the King Valley road from the Stone Cabin area on U. S. 95 south
of Quartzsite, east to Double O Junction, then north east to the
Big Dick road (junction 63).
Tank Mountains: Starting at Engesser Pass and runing south into Unit
41 is a large portion of the Tank Mountains. Bighorn sheep density
here is low compared to the rest of the unit, however, some large
rams have been observed in this area. Look just south of Engesser
Pass in the Courthouse Mt., Frenchman Tank and Black Dome areas.
Access. Take the Engesser Pass road ? mile east of the entrance to
Whitewing Ranch north of Dateland on Interstate 8, or, the King Valley
road just east of Stone Cabin on U. S. 95 south of Quartzsite to
Double O Juntion, then north east to the King Mine area, then south
to Engesser Pass area.
NEW WATER MOUNTAINS: A very small portion of the New Water Mts. (the
very east end of the mountains) lie within Unit 45B. Depending on
the year, a good number of sheep, along with an occassional good
ram, cam be found here. Access: Take the Hovatter road south from
Interstate 10 to the El Paso natural gas line, then east onto the
Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, then look north of the gas line and
west of the road to Kofa Cabin.
General: Rams can be found throughout much of the low rolling hills
that make up much of the unit like bighorn pass and the Hoodoo Wash
area.
