Nevada Bighorn Sheep Mule Deer

Unit 045 (Stillwater Range)

Nevada Hunting Guide — Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer

Nevada Unit 045 covers the Stillwater Range in Churchill County — a rugged north-south spine west of Dixie Valley. Desert bighorns use the range's limestone escape terrain and arid canyon systems. NDOW issues a small standalone Unit 045 ram quota separate from the combined 045/153 hunt.

View Draw Odds Nevada Hunting Guide

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 045

Where to Find Bighorn in Unit 045

The Stillwater Range runs ~50 miles north-south, and bighorns cluster in specific escape-terrain pockets along the spine.

Mid-Range Limestone

The central Stillwater Range has the highest-quality limestone escape terrain — we focus our glassing here during the first days of a hunt.

Dixie Valley East Slope

Rams use the east-facing slopes above Dixie Valley in cool hours, retreating to shaded ledges during heat. Glass from ridgeline spur roads off Dixie Valley Road.

Guzzler Circuits

NDOW guzzlers along the range tie bighorn movement to predictable routes during dry spells.

How to Hunt Unit 045 Bighorn

Unit 045 is remote — base camping in the range and thorough pre-season scouting are the keys to success.

Base Camp Centrally

We set up a base camp off Dixie Valley Road with access to multiple glassing spurs. Day-tripping from Fallon wastes too much hunt time.

Patient Glassing

The Stillwater Range rewards slow, methodical glassing from elevated benches. We grid-scan for 2-3 hours per session with 85mm+ spotting scopes.

Wind and Approach

Desert bighorn have excellent eyesight. Stalks should use terrain to break outline — we approach in low light and close the final distance on hands and knees.

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Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Rifle65%

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Early Season	2	160	1.3%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit 045 (standalone) averaged 162 applicants for 2 rifle ram tags across a three-year window. Nevada uses a weighted bonus-point system — one extra entry per point held, straight count. Refer to the live chart on this page for current NDOW point-tier breakdowns.

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 045

Unit 045 covers the Santa Rosa Range in Humboldt County north of Winnemucca — a compact forested range with the Santa Rosa-Paradise Peak Wilderness at its core. The unit holds migratory mule deer that summer at high elevation and shift to lower-elevation wintering grounds as snow accumulates. We treat Unit 045 as a high-country glassing hunt with good road access.

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 045

Santa Rosa mule deer follow a classic high-to-low migration pattern.

Paradise Peak Backcountry

Mature bucks summer in the high basins around Paradise Peak (9,737 ft) and the Santa Rosa Crest. We glass from Forest Service roads that climb toward the wilderness boundary.

Aspen Transition Zones

As hunting season begins, bucks shift into aspen-sage transition at 7,000-8,500 ft. These mosaic habitats between forested basins and sagebrush benches hold the bulk of huntable bucks in October.

Canyon Mouths

Late-season hunters work the canyon mouths that drain the range east into Paradise Valley and west into the Quinn River Valley. Migratory bucks funnel through these corridors.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 045

Unit 045 mule deer tactics center on migration timing and glassing.

Forest Road Access

Hinkey Summit Road (FR 084) and the Singas Creek road give high-clearance access to the range crest. We base camp at mid-elevation dispersed sites and run glassing circuits from the road network.

Dawn Glassing

Pick a knob overlooking multiple aspen pockets and set up before first light. Bucks feed in the open for 60-90 minutes after sunrise before bedding in timber.

Weather-Driven Timing

The first snow of the season pushes Santa Rosa bucks out of the high basins. If the forecast shows weather arriving during our hunt, we reposition to intercept the migration corridors lower on the range.

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Rifle30%

Archery18%

Muzzleloader22%

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Mid Season	20	64	31.3%	0
Rifle— Limited Entry	10	14	71.4%	1
Rifle— Early Season	10	14	71.4%	1
Archery— Early Season	15	15	100.0%	0
Muzzleloader— Early Season	10	15	66.7%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit 045 draws roughly 120 applicants for about 60 tags on recent three-year averages — one of Nevada's most drawable mule deer hunts for residents. Nevada's weighted bonus-point system adds one additional entry per bonus point held (straight count, one-for-one). Low-point and first-point applicants have realistic odds here.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Water

Limited — some springs exist. Carry primary drinking water.

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Road Conditions

Dixie Valley Road is graded gravel from US-50 — passable to 2WD. Range spurs are high-clearance two-track.

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Terrain Difficulty

Strenuous. Steep limestone, loose rock, and long glassing approaches.

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Hunting Pressure

Very low — 2 tags over 3 years across a 50-mile range.

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Weather

October-November rifle highs 50-75°F; early snow possible above 8,000 ft.

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Cell Service

None in the range. Coverage in Fallon and along US-50.

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Nearest Town

Fallon (1 hr west) for fuel, groceries, and lodging. Austin (1.5 hr east) as a secondary option.

Note: The Stillwater Range is a classic central Nevada desert bighorn experience — remote, demanding, and rewarding for hunters who commit to patient glassing.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between Unit 045 standalone and the 045/153 combined hunt?

NDOW issues both a small standalone Unit 045 quota and a larger combined 045/153 quota that is also valid in the Desatoya Mountains. The standalone Unit 045 tag is restricted to the Stillwater Range only; the combined tag gives the hunter a choice of two mountain ranges.

How tough is the Unit 045 standalone draw?

Unit 045 standalone averaged 162 applicants for 2 rifle ram tags over a three-year window. Nevada uses a weighted bonus-point system — one extra entry per point held, straight count — making accumulated points the realistic route to drawing this tag.

What makes Unit 045 one of Nevada's best mule deer draws?

Unit 045 combines favorable draw odds (roughly 120 applicants for 60 tags) with a productive migratory herd in the Santa Rosa Range. Forest Service road access is good, and the range holds a true migration pattern that late-season hunters can intercept. Nevada's weighted bonus system (one extra entry per point) makes this a realistic first-point application.

When should I plan a Santa Rosa Range mule deer hunt?

Early-season rifle hunters work the high basins near Paradise Peak. Mid-season hunters focus on aspen-sage transitions at 7,000-8,500 ft. Late-season hunters intercept the migration at canyon mouths where the range drops into Paradise Valley and the Quinn River drainage.

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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 Desert Bighorn Unit 045 — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Unit 045 — Stillwater Range · accessed 2026-04-17
BLM Stillwater Field Office — Land Administration — Bureau of Land Management · supports: Public land coverage in Churchill County · accessed 2026-04-17
Desert Bighorn Sheep — Stillwater herd — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Stillwater Range bighorn population · accessed 2026-04-17
Santa Rosa Ranger District — USDA Forest Service — Humboldt-Toiyabe NF · supports: 31,000-acre Santa Rosa-Paradise Peak Wilderness, Paradise Peak 9,737 ft · accessed 2026-04-17
NDOW Hunt Information Sheets — Unit Group 041-045 — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Unit group management, Draw statistics · accessed 2026-04-17