H2S is a flammable toxic gas that can be produced in plants, mines, and industries and is especially fatal to humanbody. In this study, CuO nanowire structure with high porosity was fabricated by deposition of copper on highly porous single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) template followed by oxidation. The SWCNT template was formed on alumina substrates bythe arc-discharge method. The oxidation temperatures for Cu nanowires were varied from 400 to 800oC. The morphology andsensing properties of the CuO nanowire sensor were characterized by FESEM, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, XRD, and current-voltage examination. The H2S gas sensing properties were carried out at different operating temperatures using dry air as thecarrier gas. The CuO nanowire structure oxidized at 800oC showed the highest response at the lowest operating temperatureof150oC. The optimum operating temperature was shifted to higher temperature to 300oC as the oxidation temperature waslowered. The results were discussed based on the mechanisms of the reaction with ionosorbed oxygen and the CuS formationreaction on the surface.