Nevada Mule Deer Pronghorn Bighorn Sheep

Unit 011 (Sheldon / Vya)

Nevada Hunting Guide — Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Bighorn Sheep

Unit 011 is the Sheldon / Vya country of far northwest Nevada — a high, remote sagebrush-and-mahogany landscape along the Oregon and California borders. NDOW's 011-013 hunt sheet describes the unit group as roughly 1,400 square miles with less than 5% private land, and the agency's biologists note that mule deer here are widely distributed at lower densities than most Nevada units. Success is driven by glassing mahogany stands and bitterbrush, and by hunting near the limited water sources earlier in the season.

View Draw Odds Nevada Hunting Guide

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 011

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 011

NDOW's hunt information sheet points to specific high-country pockets inside the broader 011-013 unit group. The Unit 011 portion centers on the country north of the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge boundary around the Vya Rim.

Hays Canyon Peak south to Packsaddle Spring

The NDOW sheet calls out this corridor — extending east to include Boulder Mountain — as a recommended focus area. Mahogany stringers and bitterbrush flats on the upper elevations hold the best deer density in this part of the unit.

Vya Rim north of Highway 8A

NDOW recommends scouting the Vya Rim from Highway 8A north to the Oregon border, including Crooks Lake, Holy Lake, and the upper elevations north of Gravelly Spring. These pockets catch late-season deer movement along the rim.

Cherry Mountain east of Wall Canyon Reservoir

NDOW explicitly notes this area as productive, particularly later in the regular deer season. Worth a look when earlier-season glassing farther west stops paying off.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 011

Unit 011 rewards glassing discipline and water-source work. Tactics here lean on the same realities NDOW's biologist comments describe: scattered deer, low density, remote country.

Glass Mahogany and Bitterbrush

The NDOW hunt sheet is explicit: "Hunter success will largely be dictated by the amount of time and effort spent glassing the mahogany stands and bitterbrush." Plan on long sessions on ridgelines with good optics rather than still-hunting.

Hunt Water Early Season

NDOW notes that earlier in the season, deer are tied to the limited distribution of water. Identifying and watching a reliable spring, tank, or creek bottom during the first weeks of the season is often more productive than chasing ridgelines in the heat.

Respect the Unit 012 Wilderness

Unit 012 (part of the same hunt group) contains significant designated wilderness. NDOW's sheet specifies that motorized equipment, mechanized transport, and wheeled game carriers are prohibited in wilderness areas. Plan pack-out logistics accordingly if a wounded deer or a kill drifts across that boundary.

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Mule Deer Success Rates

NDOW does not publish unit-specific trophy-class or success-percentage numbers in the 011-013 hunt information sheet. The agency's Draw Odds chart on this page pulls directly from published NDOW draw results — use it to track tag allocations and multi-year draw patterns for unit group 011-013.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Mid Season	40	607	6.6%	1
Rifle— Limited Entry	15	40	37.5%	1
Rifle— Limited Entry	30	51	58.8%	0
Rifle— Early Season	15	37	40.5%	0
Archery— Early Season	25	37	67.6%	1
Muzzleloader— Early Season	5	29	17.2%	1

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Mule deer draw odds for the 011-013 group are published by NDOW each year in their draw results. The chart on this page is keyed to that same data — open it in the Draw Odds Engine to compare tags issued, applicants, resident vs non-resident splits, and year-over-year trends for the full group.

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 011

Unit 011 is the Sheldon / Vya country in northern Washoe County — high-desert sage-steppe in the far northwest corner of Nevada against the Oregon and California borders. Per NDOW's Antelope 011 hunt information sheet, the unit covers roughly 600 square miles with less than 5% private land, centered on the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge and features including Holy Lake, Crook Lake, Vya Rim, and Massacre Bench. There are no developed campgrounds inside the unit — services are in Cedarville, California and Gerlach, Nevada.

Where to Find Antelope in Unit 011

Pronghorn in Unit 011 use the broad sagebrush flats and rim-and-bench terrain of the Sheldon / Vya country in far northwest Nevada.

Sheldon NWR Sage Flats

The Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge's sagebrush-steppe is the core antelope habitat in the unit. Rolling open country gives pronghorn the visibility and escape terrain they want; glass from refuge roads and low rims to locate herds.

Holy Lake, Crook Lake & Water Developments

NDOW's hunt information sheet specifically names Holy Lake and Crook Lake as landmark water features in Unit 011. Seasonal water across the refuge and surrounding BLM land concentrates pronghorn during hot early-season hunts.

Vya Rim & Massacre Bench

The Vya Rim and Massacre Bench — also called out in NDOW's 011 hunt sheet — provide the breaks and benches that structure how antelope move through otherwise open country. Use the rim edges as glassing platforms.

How to Hunt Antelope in Unit 011

Classic Great Basin antelope tactics work well on the Sheldon's open high-desert terrain.

Long-Range Spot and Stalk

Glass from elevated positions along the plateau edges to locate herds, then plan stalks using terrain features. Washes, rimrock breaks, and subtle ridges provide stalking cover in this open landscape. Pronghorn eyesight is legendary — any movement at 500+ yards will be detected. Patience and terrain awareness are essential.

Water Hole Ambush

During hot September hunts, set up a ground blind on an active refuge spring or water development. Antelope visit water predictably during midday heat. In this vast open country with minimal stalking cover, sitting water is often the most effective tactic.

Decoy Tactics

During the rut, pronghorn decoys attract territorial bucks. Set up a decoy visible from a herd buck's position and wait. The open Sheldon terrain gives bucks long lines of sight to spot and approach decoys.

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Pronghorn Success Rates

See the Draw Odds chart on this page for current NDOW harvest and success data for Unit 011 antelope. NDOW's 011 hunt information sheet describes the unit as roughly 600 square miles with less than 5% private land, so the hunt is almost entirely public access.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Rifle— Early Season	30	491	6.1%
Archery— Early Season	5	23	21.7%
Archery— Early Season	10	21	47.6%
Muzzleloader— Early Season	4	5	80.0%
Muzzleloader— Early Season	4	11	36.4%

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit 011 antelope tags are drawn as a stand-alone 011 group in NDOW's annual draw. The Draw Odds chart on this page reflects NDOW's published draw results — use it for current odds and bonus-point trendlines.

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 011

Units 011 and 013 form a northwestern Nevada bighorn sheep hunt group in the remote, rugged mountain country west of the Black Rock Desert. This is a true long-odds tag — NDOW stats show roughly 223 applicants for about 1 tag on a 3-year rolling window. We treat any 011/013 tag as the trip of a lifetime and plan around backcountry camps, mapped glassing benches, and water-focused scouting.

Where to Find Bighorn in Units 011 & 013

The 011/013 group covers far northwestern Nevada — remote rimrock country west of the Black Rock Desert. California bighorn there concentrate in broken escarpments with escape terrain and reliable water.

Rimrock escape terrain

Glass steep canyon rims and volcanic escarpments at dawn. Sheep bed on shaded ledges with unbroken vertical drops below them.

Spring and seep networks

This is dry country. Every reliable spring or seep concentrates sheep and sheep sign. We spend scouting trips mapping water first and everything else second.

How to Hunt Bighorn in Units 011 & 013

Expect a backcountry camp, long foot approaches, and multiple glassing sessions per ram located.

Summer scouting

Multiple pre-season trips to locate rams and map access. We scout twice per hunt day — dawn and last light — and move camp to stay near sign.

Backcountry camp

The country is too remote for daily truck returns. Plan a spike camp with a week of water staged or a route to a reliable spring.

Shot discipline

Opportunities are often cross-canyon at long range. We practice rifle positional work out to 500 yards and pass on anything we don't have a confident rest for.

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Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Draw odds and tag counts on this page come directly from NDOW. Nevada California bighorn hunts in productive units generally post very high success once the tag is drawn — the hard part is drawing.

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Early Season	1	223	0.4%	0

Data from 2022 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Nevada uses a weighted bonus-point system — one extra entry per point held, straight count — with no squaring. The 011/013 group is one of Nevada's longest-odds sheep hunts, averaging roughly 223 applicants for only about 1 tag on a 3-year rolling window. Expect a decade-plus point-building horizon for most applicants.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Camp Sites

No developed campgrounds inside the unit group. NDOW recommends tent-style camps near tree cover or perennial water adjacent to the hunting area. Trailer and RV hunters are confined to better road systems in the valley floors and face long daily drives to their hunt area.

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Water

Limited. Drinking water typically must be hauled in from home or the nearest town. NDOW's biologist comments note that deer are tied to water earlier in the season, so the same scarce springs that hold deer are also the only on-unit water hunters can rely on.

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Road Conditions

NDOW describes roads in the unit group as ranging from high-standard dirt to jeep trails. Many hunting areas are only accessible by 4WD vehicles or ATV.

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Terrain Difficulty

Remote, high-desert basin-and-range country. Forty-nine Mountain and the Coleman Canyon area on the northeast end of the Vya Rim are the only spots NDOW flags as significant access problems — the rest of the unit has good public-land access.

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Hunting Pressure

Low. The unit group is roughly 1,400 square miles with less than 5% private land and deer at lower densities than most Nevada units, spreading hunters thinly.

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Weather

Pack for extreme cold swings — NDOW notes burn restrictions are common, so confirm campfire status with the local BLM office before the hunt. Tire chains, extra gas, extra water, and spare tires are specifically recommended by the agency.

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Cell Service

Expect none off the main highways. Plan for satellite communication if you need reliable contact.

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Nearest Town

Cedarville, CA (via Highway 299 from Alturas) and Gerlach, NV (via Highway 447 from Reno) are the two access gateways. NDOW's hunt sheet identifies both as the places to find fuel, food, vehicle repair, and motels.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How remote is Unit 011 really?

Very. NDOW's hunt sheet describes the area as 'incredibly remote' and tells hunters to be prepared for limited facilities inside the unit. Cedarville, CA and Gerlach, NV are the service towns, and drinking water typically has to be hauled in. Treat this as a backcountry trip, not a motel-based hunt.

Can I run a wheeled game carrier in this unit?

Not if you're inside the Unit 012 wilderness. NDOW's sheet calls out that motorized equipment, mechanized transport, wheeled game carriers, and chainsaws are all prohibited in designated wilderness areas. If you hunt the Unit 011 side exclusively, the standard rules apply — check your tag's actual boundaries before opening day.

Where do I focus my scouting time?

NDOW highlights three anchor areas: Hays Canyon Peak south to Packsaddle Spring and east to Boulder Mountain; the Vya Rim north of Highway 8A to the Oregon border (Crooks Lake, Holy Lake, upper elevations north of Gravelly Spring); and Cherry Mountain east of Wall Canyon Reservoir, which tends to shine later in the season.

How much private land is there in Unit 011?

Per NDOW's Antelope 011 hunt information sheet, less than 5% of the unit is private — the hunt is effectively all-public. Most of the unit is inside the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge or on adjacent BLM ground.

Are there any developed campgrounds inside Unit 011?

No. NDOW's 011 hunt information sheet indicates there are no developed campgrounds inside the unit — camping is dispersed on refuge and BLM land. Cedarville, California and Gerlach, Nevada are the closest towns for services.

How long does it take to draw Nevada Units 011 & 013 bighorn?

Units 011/013 is one of Nevada's longest-odds bighorn draws — roughly 223 applicants for about 1 tag over a 3-year rolling window. Nevada uses a weighted bonus-point system (one extra entry per point held, straight count), so most applicants should plan on a decade-plus of point-building before a realistic draw.

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-17.

Mule Deer Hunt Information Sheet — Unit Group 011, 012, 013 — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Unit group is approximately 1,400 square miles with less than 5% private land, Access via Highway 299 east from Alturas/Cedarville or Highway 447 north from Reno/Gerlach, Unit 012 contains significant designated wilderness with motorized/mechanized transport prohibited (including wheeled game carriers and chainsaws), Recommended areas: Hays Canyon Peak south to Packsaddle Spring and east to Boulder Mountain; Vya Rim north of Highway 8A to OR border (Crooks Lake, Holy Lake, upper elevations north of Gravelly Spring); Cherry Mountain east of Wall Canyon Reservoir, Deer are widely distributed at lower densities than some other Nevada units, Success is dictated by time spent glassing mahogany stands and bitterbrush, Earlier in the season deer are tied to limited water distribution, Services (fuel, food, vehicle repair, motels) available in Cedarville and Gerlach, No developed campgrounds in the unit; tent-style camps recommended, Drinking water typically must be hauled from home or nearest town, Forty-nine Mountain and Coleman Canyon on NE Vya Rim are the only significant access problems · accessed 2026-04-16
Antelope Hunt Information Sheet — Unit 011 — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Unit 011 is roughly 600 sq mi with less than 5% private land, Landmark water features include Holy Lake and Crook Lake, Vya Rim and Massacre Bench are notable terrain features, Service towns listed: Cedarville (CA) and Gerlach (NV), No developed campgrounds inside Unit 011 · accessed 2026-04-16
California Bighorn Sheep — Nevada Species Overview — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: California bighorn range in northwestern Nevada, Habitat description, Subspecies background · accessed 2026-04-17
NDOW Bighorn Sheep Hunt Information Sheets — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Units 011/013 draw data, Weighted bonus-point mechanic · accessed 2026-04-17
High Rock Canyon / Black Rock Desert — Northwestern Nevada — US Bureau of Land Management · supports: Remote BLM wilderness, Foot-access country, Dispersed camping on surrounding BLM land · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 011 (Sheldon / Vya)

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 011

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 011

Hays Canyon Peak south to Packsaddle Spring

Vya Rim north of Highway 8A

Cherry Mountain east of Wall Canyon Reservoir

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 011

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 011

Where to Find Antelope in Unit 011

Sheldon NWR Sage Flats

Holy Lake, Crook Lake & Water Developments

Vya Rim & Massacre Bench

How to Hunt Antelope in Unit 011

Pronghorn Success Rates

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 011

Where to Find Bighorn in Units 011 & 013

Rimrock escape terrain

Spring and seep networks

How to Hunt Bighorn in Units 011 & 013

Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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