Colburn and Scott Outfitters: Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Hunts

Colburn and Scott Outfitters is proud to have guided the Arizona Super Raffle Desert Sheep Hunters the last two years, 2011-2012 and the 2012-2013 season. The raffle tag holder can hunt in the Northwest part of the state including units 9/10, 12's, 13's, 15's, and 16's. Our hunters have harvested the largest and third largest rams on this tag since it went from a statewide to hunt to a hunt limited to the NW corner of the state over 17 years ago. At Colburn and Scott Outfitters our goal is to provide the best sheep experience possible for our hunters and of course harvest record book rams! Units that we prefer for Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Hunts: For Mexicana Rams- Unit 22, Unit 24B North, Unit 24B South, Unit 44B North, Unit 44A West, Unit 44A East, Unit 44B South, Unit 31/32, Unit 37A; For Nelsoni Rams-Unit 15D, Unit 16A, Unit 15C South, Unit 12B and Unit 13B North

2012-13 Arizona Desert Sheep Hunting season-Colburn and Scott Outfitters was fortunate to guide Mr. Larry Spillers from Ennis, Texas on his 2012-13 AZ Super Raffle Sheep tag. Larry harvested a 9.5 year old ram with 15 inch bases and 9 4/8 inch 3rd quarters. We saw over 100 rams. Click here to the pics and video of Larry's hunt.

2012 Arizona Desert Sheep Hunting Season-December

For the general season in 2012, we were hunting with our friend Ernie Meeske, of Payson, AZ, who had drawn arguably the best desert sheep tag in the state of Arizona, Unit 22. We had 17 days of scouting put in to this hunt during the months of October and November. We found, filmed and videoed many fantastic rams and some would score over the magical 180 inch mark. Ernie harvested the largest ram in the state of Arizona in 2012 including the 2012 auction ram. Ernie's ram was checked in at the AZGFD department at a whopping 186 7/8 inches. The ram has 16 4/8 inch bases and over 38 inch horns. Congrats to Ernie and his son Seth Meeske on the harvest of such a fine trophy. SCORE UPDATE: Official NET score 186 1/8. For more pics of this ram click here.

Jay Scott (R) with Ernie Meeske and his giant AZ Unit 22 ram

The Ernie Meeske ram with a AZGFD checkout score of 186 7/8

Live pic of the Ernie Meeske ram, photo by Jay Scott

2011 Arizona Desert Sheep Hunting Season- Colburn and Scott Outfitters had the privilege of guiding Mr. Donnie Young on the Arizona Super Big Game Raffle Desert sheep Tag. This sheep tag is only valid in AZ sheep units 9/10, 12, 13, 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D, 16's. The sheep in these units are the Nelsoni species. Donnie harvested a 9 year old ram that is the biggest desert ram harvested on this raffle tag since 1995. His ram is still awaiting the official score due to the drying period but should fall between 166-168 net. We scouted and hunted 25 days and saw over 115 rams. Darr and Jay had so much fun scouting for this hunt. We were able to take photos and videos of most all of the rams that we encountered. Here is what Donnie had to say about his AZ raffle sheep hunt, "My lifelong dream of a great desert ram had come true. The ram scored 166 7/8. My desert bighorn sheep is the largest Nelsoni ram taken with the AZ Super Raffle tag since 1995. Darr Colburn and Jay Scott made it happen! They worked there tails off to insure that I had a great hunt and experience!"

Jay and Darr with Donnie Young and his 2011-2012 AZ Super Big Game Raffle Desert Sheep

Click on the following links for more pictures from Donnie Young's Arizona Super Big Game Raffle Desert Sheep hunt: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3, Link 4, Link 5, Link 6, Link 8,

Our next Arizona Desert Sheep Hunt for 2011, took place in December of 2011, we were in Arizona Unit 44B South with friend Erik Swanson. Erik harvested a ram we nicknamed "Pinky". His ram official net Boone and Crockett score is 168 5/8 net. We have some great photos and video of Erik's book ram. Here is what Erik had to say about his hunt, " When you finally get the opportunity to hunt for a once-in-a-lifetime Arizona desert bighorn, bringing the best resources to bear is paramount. Having my friend Jay Scott along as a member of the hunt team was exceedingly helpful. I don’t know anyone that is more thorough with research or better utilizes all the available tools to influence the controllable aspects of a hunt. His assistance during the information development phase in particular was tremendously beneficial. In addition, I was able to leverage Jay's field judging methodologies and previous desert sheep hunting experience, thus ensuring I harvested the biggest ram in the unit.-Erik Swanson"

Erik's ram that we nicknamed "Pinky"

Erik's ram doing his thing

Erik and Jay Scott with Erik's record book desert bighorn sheep

Erik's record book ram on left after the harvest and on the right is live shot taken by Jay Scott

For more pictures on Erik's AZ Desert Bighorn Sheep hunt click on the following links: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3, Link 4,

2010 Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Season-This hunt was a much anticipated hunt for the Colburn and Scott Outfitters team. Ron Arndorfer, from Wisconsin, had drawn a tag in Unit 44B North. Darr and I put in a bunch of time scouting throughout the summer and fall and saw lots of nice rams. We focused on one particular ram that we had seen in the 2009 season with Glenn Hall who had a tag in the same unit. He was nicknamed "LOGO Ram" by Glenn Hall's son Tyler. Ron was able to complete his Grand Slam by harvesting the LOGO ram. We were honored to be Ron's guides on this hunt. Ron's ram officially net scored 170 3/8 inches.

Jay, Ron and Darr with Ron's Grand Slam Ram

Testimonial from hunter Ron Arndorfer: "They say good things come in two’s. That was the case for me last July when I received word that, after 20 years I had drawn an Arizona desert sheep tag. After only a few phone calls I had selected my guides for this once in a life time hunt. Jay Scott and Darr Colburn, of Colburn and Scott Outfitters, credentials became quite obvious after contacting only a small number of the more than a dozen references provide by Jay. Their preseason scouting reports, attached photos and videos of rams found in our unit made waiting for the season to arrive, difficult.

After arriving in camp and with one day for scouting I was reassured I had selected the right guides for making possible the completion of my grand slam of North American Sheep. Jay and Darr have the uncanny ability to find sheep with high powered optics in places I was sure there were none. Although they are all business when it comes to hunting and scouting they still know how to have fun and make their client feel comfortable in all situations during the hunt. In conclusion, Jay Scott and Darr Colburn of Colburn and Scott Outfitters helped me to harvest a record book ram. They made a dream of a life time come true." Ron Arndorfer, Wisconsin

For More pics on Ron Arndorfer's record book Arizona Desert Sheep click on the following links: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3, Link 4

2009 AZ Desert Bighorn Sheep Season-Here are a few photos of the 2009 ram that Glenn Hall harvested in the 44B North with the help of Jay Scott. Glenn's ram officially netted 176 4/8 inches! Glenn shot this ram with a muzzleloader and is the #3 ram in the Longhunter record book. We had a fantastic hunt! Glenn talks about his hunt, "It was great to have Jay's help on my hunt! His glassing skills and good attitude made a difference on my hunt of a lifetime."