Nevada Antelope Mule Deer Bighorn Sheep

Unit 021, 022

Nevada Hunting Guide — Antelope, Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep

Nevada's 021, 022 pronghorn hunt group covers the Santa Rosa Range subregion in north-central Nevada. Draw data and quotas are managed at the group level by NDOW.

View Draw Odds Nevada Hunting Guide

Antelope Hunting in Unit 021, 022

Nevada's 021, 022 pronghorn hunt group covers the Santa Rosa Range subregion in north-central Nevada. Draw data and quotas are managed at the group level by NDOW.

Where to Find Pronghorn in 021, 022

Pronghorn use sagebrush flats and rolling bench country at the edges of the Santa Rosa Range. Glass from ridge-top vantage points and scout water during late summer.

How to Hunt 021, 022 Pronghorn

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Antelope Success Rates

Group-level success data is published in the NDOW hunt information sheet.

Antelope Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Rifle— Early Season	50	1,606	3.1%
Archery— Early Season	15	37	40.5%
Muzzleloader— Early Season	4	17	23.5%

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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NDOW publishes draw odds at the 021, 022 group level.

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 021, 022

Nevada Unit 021 is a northern-Nevada mule deer unit managed under NDOW's mule deer hunt framework. Expect sage and pinyon-juniper country with pockets of aspen and isolated high-country habitat.

Where to find mule deer in Unit 021

Glass north-facing aspens at the highest elevations early in the season, then shift to mid-elevation PJ and sage benches as temperatures drop. Watch transition zones during the rut.

How to hunt Unit 021 mule deer

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Success tracks the broader NV northern-unit average. Check current NDOW hunt information sheets for rifle, archery, and muzzleloader splits.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Late Season	25	747	3.3%	0
Rifle— Limited Entry	7	58	12.1%	1
Rifle— Limited Entry	15	100	15.0%	0
Rifle— Late Season	9	55	16.4%	0
Archery— Late Season	20	53	37.7%	0
Muzzleloader— Late Season	5	26	19.2%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

NDOW publishes unit-level draw statistics annually. Use the Draw Odds tool for recent-year percentages and trend data.

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 021, 022

Units 021 and 022 cover the Jarbidge Mountains and Independence Range in northern Elko County — the highest, most rugged sheep country in northern Nevada, with peaks above 10,800 ft and the 113,000-acre Jarbidge Wilderness at the core. The combined 021, 022 California bighorn tag is a once-in-a-lifetime Nevada sheep hunt and among the state's most-applied multi-year waits. Jarbidge village and Mountain City are the closest services; Wells and Elko on I-80 are the full-service hubs.

Where to Find California Bighorn in Units 021 / 022

The 021, 022 sheep group puts rams on some of the highest, most rugged terrain in the Great Basin. Expect to glass cliff-and-basin country in the Jarbidge Wilderness and the Independence Range interior.

Jarbidge Wilderness Interior

The 113,000-acre Jarbidge Wilderness is the non-motorized core of Unit 021. Rams use the cliff benches on Jarbidge Peak, Matterhorn, Cougar Peak, and Square Top. Glass from adjacent ridgelines before planning a stalk — the wilderness is foot-and-horseback-only, so every mile counts.

Independence Range (Unit 022)

Unit 022 wraps the Independence Range south and west of Jarbidge, with sheep habitat centered on rimrock bands and the steepest canyon faces. NDOW's unit sheet highlights the upper drainages where year-round water and cliff complexes overlap.

Transition Benches and Lambing Cliffs

Late-season rams drop off the highest peaks to mid-elevation cliff benches. Scout these during pre-season — rams visit them on predictable schedules once weather pushes them off the summits.

How to Hunt California Bighorn in Units 021 / 022

This is a once-in-a-lifetime Nevada sheep tag. Treat it like one.

Scout Months Out

Plan at least two summer scouting trips. Identify three to five specific ram groups and pattern their daily routines. The Jarbidge Wilderness rewards hunters who already know where "their" ram is before opening day.

Horseback or Pack-In

Outfitters run pack strings into Jarbidge Wilderness trailheads. If you aren't experienced at multi-day wilderness backpack hunts, the cost of a wilderness-experienced outfitter is worth it on a once-in-a-lifetime tag.

Glass Hard, Move Less

Set up on a high glassing bench at first light and stay there. California bighorn in this range are wary — sustained optics work locates rams far better than covering ground. Plan glassing sessions of 4-6 hours without moving.

Plan for Weather

Opening dates for northern sheep hunts intersect early Jarbidge snow. Pack for real winter conditions even on August-September hunts — weather at 9,000+ ft shifts in hours.

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Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Rifle65%

We cite NDOW's published draw-statistics page rather than estimate success. The 021, 022 California bighorn group has historically issued single-digit tags annually against ~800+ combined three-year applicants, making it one of Nevada's hardest sheep draws.

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Early Season	2	864	0.2%	0

Data from 2022 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

The 021, 022 California bighorn tag is among Nevada's most-applied sheep hunts — three-year totals of ~864 applicants for only 2 tags put draw odds in the fraction-of-a-percent range even with max bonus points held. Nevada's weighted bonus-point system (straight count, max held per species) grants additional entries, but this is effectively a career-long wait for most applicants. Once drawn, the hunter is done with Nevada bighorn for life.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are 021 and 022 a single hunt?

Yes — NDOW aggregates them into one pronghorn hunt group. A tag holder may hunt either unit during the published season.

Where do I find current quotas?

NDOW's annual Big Game Quotas commission regulation publishes group-level tag counts.

Is Unit 021 a trophy mule deer unit?

021 has a mix of age classes. Review NDOW's most recent hunt information sheet for age-class and antler data.

How do I access 021?

Primary access is via US-95 and BLM gravel roads north of Winnemucca. High-clearance vehicles are recommended.

Is Units 021 / 022 really once-in-a-lifetime for Nevada?

Yes. Nevada's bighorn sheep species (California, Rocky Mountain, and desert) are all managed as once-in-a-lifetime — once you draw a ram tag of any Nevada bighorn subspecies, you are done with bighorn in the state. The 021, 022 California bighorn tag is one of the most-applied Nevada sheep hunts with roughly 864 three-year applicants competing for only 2 tags.

How do Nevada bonus points work for this hunt?

Nevada uses a weighted bonus-point system — each accumulated point adds one additional entry to the random draw (straight count, max held per species). There is no weighted-bonus multiplier. Max points held are preserved until drawn, but given the tag-to-applicant ratio on 021, 022, expect a career-long wait even at maximum points.

Can I access Units 021 / 022 without an outfitter?

Yes, but most hunters use one. The Jarbidge Wilderness is roadless, foot-and-horseback-only, and covers 113,000 acres with multi-day approach distances. Experienced wilderness hunters do self-guided hunts; less-experienced hunters typically partner with a Humboldt-Toiyabe NF-permitted outfitter who runs pack strings into established camps.

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Sources & Verification

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

NDOW Big Game Hunting — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Pronghorn is legally huntable in both 021 and 022 · accessed 2026-04-17
NDOW Hunt Information Sheets — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Santa Rosa Range pronghorn distribution · accessed 2026-04-17
NDOW Hunt Draw — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Group-level draw framework · accessed 2026-04-17
NDOW Hunt Information Sheets — California Bighorn Sheep (Units 021, 022) — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Units 021 and 022 cover the Jarbidge Mountains and Independence Range in northern Elko County, Habitat centers on rimrock bands, cliff benches, and upper drainages with year-round water, California bighorn is managed as once-in-a-lifetime per species in Nevada · accessed 2026-04-17
2026 Nevada Big Game Seasons & Applications Booklet — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: The 021, 022 California bighorn hunt is drawn as a combined unit group, Nevada bighorn sheep subspecies are managed as once-in-a-lifetime, Weighted bonus points — straight count, max held per species — apply · accessed 2026-04-17
Jarbidge Ranger District — Jarbidge Wilderness — USDA Forest Service — Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest · supports: Jarbidge Wilderness is ~113,000 acres, designated non-motorized, Peaks include Jarbidge Peak and Matterhorn, both above 10,800 ft, Access is via Jarbidge village from SR-225 / Jarbidge Road; multi-day approaches are common · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 021, 022

Antelope Hunting in Unit 021, 022

Where to Find Pronghorn in 021, 022

How to Hunt 021, 022 Pronghorn

Antelope Success Rates

Antelope Draw Odds

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 021, 022

Where to find mule deer in Unit 021

How to hunt Unit 021 mule deer

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 021, 022

Where to Find California Bighorn in Units 021 / 022

Jarbidge Wilderness Interior

Independence Range (Unit 022)

Transition Benches and Lambing Cliffs

How to Hunt California Bighorn in Units 021 / 022

Scout Months Out

Horseback or Pack-In

Glass Hard, Move Less

Plan for Weather

Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

Road Conditions

Cell Service

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification

Unit 021, 022

Antelope Hunting in Unit 021, 022

Where to Find Pronghorn in 021, 022

How to Hunt 021, 022 Pronghorn

Antelope Success Rates

Antelope Draw Odds

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 021, 022

Where to find mule deer in Unit 021

How to hunt Unit 021 mule deer

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 021, 022

Where to Find California Bighorn in Units 021 / 022

Jarbidge Wilderness Interior

Independence Range (Unit 022)

Transition Benches and Lambing Cliffs

How to Hunt California Bighorn in Units 021 / 022

Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

Unit 101 — East Humboldt Mule Deer

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification