Desert Bighorn Populations Question

[WVELK]

I am likely to book a Mexico Desert Bighorn archery hunt for 2026. A couple of questions for those with more knowledge - sheep knowledge.

1. Are the desert bighorn populations in Mexico significantly better than in the U.S.? And, if so why?
2. I have only attempted one sheep hunt to date. It was a Dall Sheep hunt with a rifle. Knowing what I know now there is no way I would have ever attempted that hunt with a bow. Should I think twice about a bow hunt for a desert bighorn in Mexico for those of you who have been there. For 30 years 99 percent of the big game animals I have taken were with a bow, so I do have a fair amount of bowhunting experience just now sheep experience.

 

[SDHNTR]

I’d be curious to hear more about your Dall hunt and your opinion on archery hunting them.

As for deserts, I’m no pro, but I did try with my bow when I drew a tag and I just ran out of time, so I turned to the rifle. But opening morning I almost got the job done on a 165” ram. I had him under 50 yards and just needed one more step. I then missed two other shots too, so it definitely can be done, and the unit I hunted was not very conducive to bow hunting with loud rocky ground and little vegetation. That same year, my friend archery shot what was the P&Y WR for a while. It’s definitely possible.

Again, I’m no expert, but if I were looking into an archery DBS hunt and based of what I’ve seen, I’d strongly consider Carmen Island. I’d probably shy away from Sonora as most of those sheep are high fenced and a lot are illegally obtained and transplanted. Most of the guys I know with Mexico DBS archery rams got it done in Baja.

 

[cuerro viejo]

I’ve hunted deserts in both NM and Sonora. There are probably 40-50 free range tags a year In Sonora. Who knows on HF, but there are still some exceptional LF sheep ranches down there.

 

[WVELK]

I’d be curious to hear more about your Dall hunt and your opinion on archery hunting them.

As for deserts, I’m no pro, but I did try with my bow when I drew a tag and I just ran out of time, so I turned to the rifle. But opening morning I almost got the job done on a 165” ram. I had him under 50 yards and just needed one more step. I then missed two other shots too, so it definitely can be done, and the unit I hunted was not very conducive to bow hunting with loud rocky ground and little vegetation. That same year, my friend archery shot what was the P&Y WR for a while. It’s definitely possible.

Again, I’m no expert, but if I were looking into an archery DBS hunt and based of what I’ve seen, I’d strongly consider Carmen Island. I’d probably shy away from Sonora as most of those sheep are high fenced and a lot are illegally obtained and transplanted. Most of the guys I know with Mexico DBS archery rams got it done in Baja.

As for my Dall the terrain was super steep and just not a good spot to try and bowhunt.

 

[cuerro viejo]

As for my Dall the terrain was super steep and just not a good spot to try and bowhunt.

You can get into similar in MX, I’d did 1350 ft in 900 yards, difference is you normally glass from desert floor. A 200 yard shot was a 3 hour recovery after getting cliffed out 3 times. With that said if you go later in Jan/Feb sheep tend to be lower for rut, compared to Dec

 

[Syncerus1]

I have hunted desert BH in both high fence MX, and free range in NV. I have been on 2 dall hunts, 1 rocky. The desert HF hunts are just as tough, the exception being you see more sheep. More rams to look over. The behavioral differences are very similar. The size comparisons definitely go to HF, as better managed, better overall genetics. I just came back from a MX hunt where in the first 2 weeks of December, 3 archers, and 3 rifle hunters took 6 sheep, out of a total of 10 permitted for th season. 2 gals, 4 guys, sheep were all 9 pr 10 years aged. If you think pen raised, flat easy terrain, think again. It is sheep country with 1000 foot verticals everywhere, rocks and thornbush, and a few 800 foot cliffs for good measure. Not an animal was taken from a blind, not 1. All spot and stalk, and stalk, and stalk... 165 to 186 & 6/8 green gross, all the same price. 3 rams were all 179 or 2/8" score difference and worlds of difference in configuration, 39" w/16 & 4/8 bases, 34" w/16 & 4/8 bases, 35 w 15 & 4/8 bases and mass for days... I enjoyed the experience and observing more sheep behavior than could be believed. Wherever you are lucky enough to hunt them, sheep do what sheep do, and it's all fascinating to my simple mind. The wife and I spent 34 pls days on the NV hunt and witnessed about a tenth of what we observed in MX... Elevations 7187' to 6032' easy? You decide! Hunt Now while you still can!

 

[WVELK]

Thanks for the messages.

 

[wildwilderness]

Thanks for the messages.

Yes Sonora has a lot of Desert Bighorn sheep thanks to the government allowing the private ranchers to pen raise sheep and release (some) them back to the wild.


These nursery herds have allowed the wild free ranging sheep population to go from 600 animals to over 6000 in the last couple decades. They issue more and more tags every year with over 100+ now available.


The incentive for landowners is that they will get transferable tags to sell by raising sheep and stocking their lands. They also will do improvements like water tanks, feed and burns for browse, minerals and predator control.


This has kept the costs cheaper now than it was 30 years ago! Still high but you can find last minute/cancellation/auction hunts in the $50-60k range. Full price- depending on private access, quality of lodge/food, and trophy size factor in are $65-75k

Most of these will be 100% opportunity hunts, even for bowhunting (there are some questionable outfits). Some areas are more conducive than others for bowhunting but a lot easier than other sheep. Some may be coming into feed (like whitetail to bait) or water etc. Some areas are spot and stalk only - depends a lot on exactly which property you are on.


I just killed a Desert in December in Sonora-

Thread 'Archery Desert Ram for the slam-'

Jan 14, 2026

Thought I’d share my recent Sonora Desert Sheep hunt. Was a good time and got some nice content others may appreciate. Also some of my other sheep as well.


I went with Clay Lancaster in December. Was a hunt that got postponed from last season due to issues with an area we were planning to hunt. Clay was honest and straightforward to not hunt somewhere without a mature ram. Some questionable outfits may do that (easy money), especially for a bow hunter…


This time we had a good ram spotted. We were hunting on Seri Indian Land across from Tiburon


...

• wildwilderness
• Replies: 39
• Forum: Sheep

• 

 

[ridgerunnerrron]

I have NOT hunted DBS in MX. Private landowner interests there are doing a better job with sheep restoration than it appears that our US F+G Depts are doing.
Well over half of DBS rams shot in Sonora are HF, if the hunter admits it or not. Higher quality rams in HF. No lion depredation. No feral goats/sheep. Some hunts I have heard have been in very tough terrain and no walk in the park!
There are a number of outfits that are FR in Sonora.
DBS are doing well in other MX states also.
Most bow hunters def have shot opportunities.