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Hunt Season & Regulations - Bighorn Sheep

Bighorn Sheep

Please view the hunt application page for details about application deadlines and rules, and for requests for application materials.

Those who draw a bighorn sheep tag must take a mandatory indoctrination class.

Big game quotas are set annually in May by the Nevada Wildlife Commission after NDOW biologists gather the latest information on big game herds status.

Resident Nelson (Desert) Bighorn Sheep -
Any Ram Any Legal Weapon Hunt 3151
Unit Group
HC Number
2011 Season Dates
Hunt Advisory
2010 Quotas
044, 182 585 Nov 20 - Dec 20 N/A 5
045 586 Nov 20 - Dec 20 N/A 1
131*, 164* 587 Nov 20 - Dec 20 Hunter may harvest a Nelson, Rocky Mountain, or hybrid subspecies; for purposes of complying with NAC 502345, a harvested animal will be considered a Nelson bighorn; hunter is required to provide tissue sample from harvested ram for DNA tests; harvested rams may not be accepted into formal trophy record books 4
132 588 Nov 20 - Dec 20 N/A 1
133, 245 589 Nov 20 - Dec 20 Wilderness in Unit 133 restricts vehicle access 3
134 590 Nov 20 - Dec 20 N/A 4
161 Early 591 Oct 15 - Nov 5 Wilderness restricts vehicle access 7
161 Late 592 Nov 20 - Dec 20 Wilderness restricts vehicle access 4
162, 163 593 Nov 20 - Dec 20 N/A 4
173 594 Nov 20 - Dec 20 N/A 5
181** 595 Nov 20 - Dec 20 There are portions of Unit 181 in Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon where public access is restricted;  to hunt in Unit 181, the tag holder is required to attend a NAS hunter safety briefing 8
183 596 Nov 20 - Dec 20 N/A 7
184 Early 597 Oct 15 - Nov 5 N/A 4
184 Late 598 Nov 20 - Dec 20 N/A 4
202 599 Oct 15 - Nov 5 N/A 3
204 600 Nov 20 - Dec 20 N/A 2
205 NA 601 Nov 20 - Dec 20 That portion of Unit 205 north and west of State Route 361 5
205 SB 602 Nov 20 - Dec 20 That portion of Unit 205 south and east of State Route 361 5
206 603 Nov 20 - Dec 20 N/A 3
211 NC 604 Nov 20 - Dec 20 That portion of Unit 211 north of Highway 95 (Monte Cristo Range) 8
211 SD 605 Nov 20 - Dec 20 That portion of Unit 211 south of Highway 95 (Silver Peak Range & Volcanic Hills) 6
212 606 Nov 20 - Dec 20 N/A 5
223, 241 607 Nov 20 - Dec 20 Extensive wilderness restricts vehicle access 4
243 608 Nov 20 - Dec 20 Extensive wilderness restricts vehicle access; additional private land road closures may require 3-mile hike just to reach base of mountain 3
244 609 Nov 20 - Dec 20 N/A 4
252*** 610 Nov 19 - Dec 11 Access restricted by Department of Defense; hunter must be at least 14 years old on opening day; hunter and all party members must attend safety briefing and pass a criminal background check 6
253 SpectersE 611 Nov 20 - Dec 20 Specter Range portion of Unit 253 east of the Lathrop Wells Gate Road that extends north from the junction of US 95 and SR 373 1
253 BaresF 612 Nov 20 - Dec 20 Bare Mountain portion of Unit 253 west of the Lathrop Wells Gate Road that extends north from the junction of US 95 and SR 373 5
261 613 Nov 20 - Dec 20 N/A 6
262 614 Nov 20 - Dec 20 N/A 6
263 615 Nov 20 - Dec 20 Wilderness restricts vehicle access 7
264, 265 616 Nov 20 - Dec 20 N/A 3
266 617 Nov 20 - Dec 20 N/A 3
267 618 Nov 20 - Dec 20 N/A 4
268 619 Nov 20 - Dec 20 Wilderness restricts vehicle access 17
271 620 Nov 20 - Dec 20 Extensive wilderness restricts vehicle access; additional private land road closures may require 3-mile hike just to reach base of mountain 7
272 621 Nov 20 - Dec 20 N/A 2
280*** 622 Dec 17 - Jan 1 Access restricted by Department of Defense; hunter must be at least 14 years old on opening day; hunter and all party members must attend safety briefing and pass a criminal background check 3
281*** 623 Dec 17 - Jan 1 Access restricted by Department of Defense; hunter must be at least 14 years old on opening day; hunter and all party members must attend safety briefing and pass a criminal background check 5
282*** 624 Dec 17 - Jan 1 Access restricted by Department of Defense; hunter must be at least 14 years old on opening day; hunter and all party members must attend safety briefing and pass a criminal background check 3
283, 284 625 Nov 20 - Dec 20 N/A 4
286 626 Nov 20 - Dec 20 N/A 1
* Hunter may harvest a Nelson, Rocky Mountain, or hybrid subspecies; for purposes of complying with NAC 502.345, a
harvested animal will be considered a Nelson bighorn; hunter is required to provide tissue sample from harvested ram
for DNA tests; harvested rams may not be accepted into formal trophy record books.

** There are portions of Unit 181 in Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon where public access is restricted. To hunt in Unit
181, the tag holder is required to attend a NAS hunter safety briefing.

*** Portions of Hunt Units 252, 280, 281, 282 are within the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) where public
access is limited. Hunters and everyone in their respective hunting parties, must comply with all Nevada hunting
requirements and all NTTR safety and security requirements including the following: 1) consent to and pass a criminal
history background check, 2) be at least 14 years old on opening day of the respective hunting season, and 3) attend
the Nellis Air Force Base hunter safety briefing. Hunters and members of their parties who fail to comply with these
requirements may be denied access to the NTTR. No pets are allowed on NTTR. It is the hunter's responsibility to
meet and/or comply with all NTTR eligibility requirements. In some units there may be adjustments to season dates
to accommodate Department of Defense operations. The Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners hereby delegates
authority to the Nevada Department of Wildlife to adjust season dates to accommodate Department of Defense
operations so long as there is no change to the overall length of the season.

A 205 N - That portion of Unit 205 north and west of State Route 361.

B 205 S - That portion of Unit 205 south and east of State Route 361.

C 211 N - That portion of Unit 211 north of Highway 95 (Monte Cristo Range).

D 211 S - That portion of Unit 211 south of Highway 95 (Silver Peak Range & Volcanic Hills).

E 253 Specters - Specter Range portion of Unit 253 east of the Lathrop Wells Gate Road that extends north from the
junction of U.S. 95 and SR 373.

F 253 Bares - Bare Mountain portion of Unit 253 west of the Lathrop Wells Gate Road that extends north from the
junction of U.S. 95 and SR 373.
Resident California Bighorn Sheep - Any Ram  
Any Legal Weapon Hunt 8151
Unit Group
HC Number
2011 Season Dates
Hunt Advisory
2010 Quotas
012* 627 Sept 1 - Oct 30 Extensive Wilderness restricts vehicle access 9
014* 628 Sept 1 - Oct 30 N/A 2
021, 022* 629 Sept 1 - Oct 30 N/A 2
031* 630 Sept 1 - Oct 30 N/A 5
032* 631 Sept 1 - Oct 30 N/A 6
033* 632 Sept 1 - Oct 30 N/A 4
034* 633 Sept 1 - Oct 30 Wilderness restricts vehicle access 7
035* 634 Sept 1 - Oct 30 Wilderness restricts vehicle access 2
051* 635 Sept 1 - Oct 30 N/A 2
066, 068 636 Sept 1 - Oct 30 N/A 6
* Helicopter surveys may be conducted during this hunt.
Resident Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep - Any Ram  
Any Legal Weapon Hunt 9151
Unit Group
HC Number
2011 Season Dates
Hunt Advisory
2010 Quotas
074 637 Sept 1 - Oct 30 N/A 2
114 638 Sept 1 - Oct 30 Wilderness restricts vehicle access 2
115A 639 Dec 20 - Feb 20 That portion of Unit 115 outside of the Great Basin National Park; Pursuant to NAC 502405, the deadline for submitting the tagholder's big game hunt questionnaire is February 28 ?
Nonresident Nelson (Desert) Bighorn Sheep
Any Ram - Any Legal Weapon Hunt 3251
Unit Group
HC Number
2011 Season Dates
Hunt Advisory
2010 Quotas
044, 182 906 Nov 20 - Dec 20 N/A 2
161 907 Nov 20 - Dec 20 Wilderness restricts vehicle access;  helicopter surveys may be conducted during this hunt 3
183 908 Nov 20 - Dec 20 N/A 2
205 NA 909 Nov 20 - Dec 20 That portion of Unit 205 north and west of State Route 361 1
205 SB 910 Nov 20 - Dec 20 That portion of Unit 205 south and east of State Route 361 2
263 911 Nov 20 - Dec 20 N/A 1
266 912 Nov 20 - Dec 20 Wilderness restricts vehicle access 1
267 913 Nov 20 - Dec 20 N/A 1
268 914 Nov 20 - Dec 20 Wilderness restricts vehicle access 3
271 915 Nov 20 - Dec 20 Extensive wilderness restricts vehicle access; additional private land road closures may require 3-mile hike just to reach base of mountain 2
283, 284 916 Nov 20 - Dec 20 N/A 1
A 205 N - That portion of Unit 205 north and west of State Route 361.
B 205 S - That portion of Unit 205 south and east of State Route 361.
Nonresident California Bighorn Sheep Any Ram -
Any Legal Weapon Hunt 8251
Unit Group
HC Number
2011 Season Dates
Hunt Advisory
2010 Quotas
012* 917 Sept 1 - Oct 30 Extensive wilderness restricts vehicle access;  helicopter surveys may be conducted during this hunt 2
032* 918 Sept 1 - Oct 30 Helicopter surveys may be conducted during this hunt 1
033* 919 Sept 1 - Oct 30 Helicopter surveys may be conducted during this hunt 1
066, 068 920 Sept 1 - Oct 30 N/A 1

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