Quick Tips
- Vehicle access limited to designated routes
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Desert Bighorn Sheep | 145"-160" | 160"+ |
On The Ground
Zone 9 is located in the Cady Mountains south of Interstate 15 to the east of Barstow. California has some great Desert Bighorn Sheep. The areas that they inhabit are remote and desolate, just the way a sheep hunt should be.
In California, the desert bighorn is found in the dry, desert mountains of southeastern California.
Terrain
The terrain in this zone is a wide range of open desert valleys, ridges and eroded canyons. The canyons and washes are deep and often extremely long, with exposed walls sloughing with erosion. Despite the harshness of the climate, you should see a wide variety of plants and animals adapted to life in the desert.
Roughly 487 square miles
77% public land
Elevations range from 1,500-4,600 feet
Vegetation
The vegetation through the zone is typical desolate desert country. Some of the various vegetation types you may encounter are the spiny-leaved Orocopia sage, Alverson's foxtail cactus, Orcutt's woody aster, and the Mecca aster.
Access
The main access to the zone are Interstate 15 to the north and Interstate 40 to the south. The Crucero Road runs along the eastern border. There are a few roads that branch off of the main roads to give access to the interior of the zone. Vehicle access is limited, plan on hiking a lot to find animals.
Camping and Lodging
Baker and Barstow are the nearest cities that have accommodations. Most of the camping or lodging will be primitive remote camping. Camping outside designated camping areas is permitted in BLM areas, as long as the site has been previously used as a camping area. Firewood is scarce throughout the desert, hunters must supply campfire material.
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