Nevada Bighorn Sheep Pronghorn

Unit 014 (Black Rock Desert / Calico Hills)

Nevada Hunting Guide — Bighorn Sheep, Pronghorn

Unit 014 covers the Black Rock Desert margins and Calico Hills volcanic country of Humboldt County in far northwestern Nevada — one of the most isolated and scenically dramatic desert bighorn environments in the American West. With approximately 176 applicants in the standalone draw, Unit 014 offers desert bighorn draw odds that are favorable by Nevada standards. The Calico Mountains and associated volcanic rimrock rising above the Black Rock Desert playa provide quintessential desert sheep habitat: exposed lava flows, isolated ridge systems, and open alkaline basins that define the northern Great Basin.

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Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 014

Where to Find Bighorn Sheep in Unit 014

Unit 014 bighorn sheep occupy the volcanic rimrock, basalt cliff bands, and isolated ridge systems of the Calico Hills and associated ranges rising above and around the Black Rock Desert playa. This is quintessential open desert sheep country — vast, treeless, and requiring serious glassing discipline to cover effectively.

Calico Hills Core Habitat

The Calico Mountains and Calico Hills form the primary rocky terrain in Unit 014. Volcanic basalt cliffs and rimrock at elevations of 5,000–7,000 feet provide the cliff habitat desert bighorn require. The colorful volcanic rock formations (giving the "Calico" name) create a distinctive landscape and excellent thermal environments for sheep in autumn. Glass methodically across these rim systems from opposing ridges or high valley positions.

Black Rock Desert Eastern Margin

The eastern edge of the Black Rock Desert playa is bordered by low rocky ridges and lava benches that sheep use as travel corridors between isolated range clusters. Early morning and late evening movement across these lower bench areas is most active — glass at first and last light from positions overlooking the playa margins and adjacent rocky terrain.

Isolated Volcanic Ridges

Several isolated volcanic ridges east and northeast of the main Black Rock playa fall within Unit 014 boundaries. These smaller, isolated range fragments hold sheep that are rarely pressured. Identifying and glassing these lesser-known ridges via satellite imagery pre-hunt can yield surprising results — particularly for mature rams seeking solitude away from more accessible terrain.

Water Focal Points

The hyper-arid environment around the Black Rock Desert makes any water source a critical sheep focal point. NDOW maintains wildlife water developments in some northwestern Nevada units — contact the Winnemucca district office for current guzzler locations in Unit 014. Natural springs are rare and seasonal.

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How to Hunt Bighorn Sheep in Unit 014

Hunting Unit 014 is a true wilderness desert expedition. The Black Rock Desert region is one of the most remote areas in the contiguous United States — plan accordingly with full self-sufficiency, redundant navigation, and emergency communication.

Navigation in Black Rock Country

The Black Rock Desert playa is featureless and disorienting — a GPS with offline maps loaded is not optional, it's mandatory. The unit has few landmarks and limited cell coverage. Download satellite imagery of the entire unit before departing and load unit boundary polygons. Navigating by landmarks alone in this country at night or in flat light is dangerous.

Playa Crossing Caution

The Black Rock Desert playa becomes completely impassable when wet — rain events turn the dry lake bed into deep, vehicle-swallowing mud. Never attempt to cross the playa after recent precipitation or when wet weather is forecast. Stick to established perimeter routes. Multiple hunters have required rescue after driving onto the playa in marginal conditions.

Systematic Glassing Strategy

Set up glassing positions above the Calico Hills rim systems before first light. Cover cliff faces systematically from top to bottom, then scan open bench areas and saddles. Sheep in this unit are not heavily pressured, so they are often visible at rest on cliff faces for hours. Patience and thorough optic coverage beats hurried hiking in this terrain.

Stalk Execution

Use the volcanic ridge systems for cover on approach. The open terrain limits cover options — plan each stalk step-by-step using satellite imagery and on-the-ground terrain reading before committing. Wind shifts on ridge systems can be unpredictable; have a backup approach route planned if the primary stalk is blown.

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Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Rifle65%

Desert bighorn success in Unit 014 and similar northwestern Nevada desert units runs in the 60–75% range per NDOW harvest data, reflecting the challenge of locating sheep in vast, open terrain rather than any deficiency in ram quality or numbers. Hunters who commit to aggressive pre-season scouting and arrive with solid intelligence on animal locations consistently fill their tags. Mature rams in the Calico Hills country are quality animals given the conservative management and low hunting pressure.

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Early Season	1	176	0.6%	0

Data from 2022 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit 014 standalone draw fields approximately 176 applicants — among the lowest application pressure for any Nevada desert bighorn unit. The remote, difficult-to-access nature of Black Rock Desert country and the unit's low profile suppress applications relative to more accessible Nevada sheep units. This creates a meaningful window for hunters with 5–10 preference points to draw in reasonable time. First-choice applicants with 8+ points have favorable odds compared to statewide averages. Zero-point applicants still face long timelines but meaningfully better prospects than high-pressure units. Note that Unit 014 is also available as part of the 012 & 014 combined draw — evaluate both options when applying.

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 014

Nevada Unit 14 covers the Quinn River Valley and Orovada area in northern Humboldt County — classic Great Basin antelope country of wide sage flats, dry lake beds, and brushy creek bottoms. The Quinn River corridor provides a reliable water source that concentrates pronghorn and supports healthy herd numbers in this remote northwest Nevada unit.

Where to Find Pronghorn in Unit 14

Unit 14 antelope are concentrated in the Quinn River corridor and the sage basins surrounding Orovada in northern Humboldt County.

Quinn River Corridor

The Quinn River and its associated riparian margin provide reliable water and green browse that concentrates pronghorn throughout the season. Animals are regularly seen within a mile of the river channel — glass the wide sagebrush flats on both sides of the corridor from road vantage points.

Orovada-Area Sage Basins

The broad sagebrush basins east and west of Orovada hold resident pronghorn herds. Mixed sage-and-bunchgrass flats at 4,500–5,500 ft elevation are the core habitat. Glass toward the low ridgelines early morning — herds often drift to slightly elevated ground after feeding.

Dry Lake Margins

Seasonal dry lake beds and alkali flats in the unit attract pronghorn that use them as travel corridors. The greasewood and shadscale transition zone around the playa edges is productive to glass at first light.

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Unit 14

Unit 14 is typical northwest Nevada pronghorn country — wide open, flat to gently rolling, and best hunted with a spotting scope, patience, and a willingness to crawl the last 200 yards of a stalk.

Quinn River Stalks

The river corridor provides willow and riparian cover that makes spot-and-stalk viable even on the otherwise flat terrain. Approach herd bucks from upstream or using the river bank as a screen — water-edge stalks in this area can be surprisingly effective.

Basin Glassing Strategy

Position on elevated BLM road cuts or low ridges before first light and glass at least 600 yards into the basin. Once a target buck is located, plan your approach vector using any available wash or shrub line and commit to a slow crawl under 300 yards.

Water Source Ambush

During heat-of-day hunting, a portable blind on a BLM stock tank or the Quinn River margin produces pronghorn that come to drink predictably. Scout water sources before season to identify those with fresh pronghorn tracks.

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Pronghorn Success Rates

See the Draw Odds chart for current NDOW harvest data on Unit 14 pronghorn. The Quinn River's reliable water supports consistent herd numbers and above-average harvest success rates for drawn hunters.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Draw odds data not available for this specific unit/species combination in our database.

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Unit 14 pronghorn tags draw as a stand-alone group in NDOW's annual draw. The remote Orovada location keeps applicant numbers moderate — check the live Draw Odds chart for current bonus-point requirements and tag quotas.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Camp Sites

Dispersed BLM camping throughout the unit. The Black Rock Desert is a well-known OHV/event destination with designated dispersed camping areas on the playa perimeter.

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Water

Extremely scarce. Haul all drinking water from Winnemucca or Gerlach. Contact BLM Winnemucca District and NDOW for current water development information.

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Road Conditions

NV-140 (paved north from Winnemucca) and NV-447 (paved south from Gerlach) provide outer access. Dirt BLM roads throughout the unit — high-clearance 4WD required. Black Rock Desert playa crossing is prohibited when wet or wet weather is forecast.

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate — volcanic rim terrain at 4,500–7,000 feet with occasional technical footing on basalt talus. The main challenge is remoteness and navigation, not extreme vertical relief.

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Hunting Pressure

Extremely low. The Black Rock Desert / Calico Hills country sees very few hunters despite the favorable draw odds.

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Weather

Northern Nevada desert in October brings cold nights (20–35°F), warm afternoons, and unpredictable rain events that make playa crossings dangerous. Snow possible from mid-October at higher elevations. Wind on the open playa margins can be severe.

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Cell Service

No reliable cell service in the unit. Satellite communicator required. Nearest emergency services are in Winnemucca.

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Nearest Town

Winnemucca, NV (US-95 / I-80, approximately 70–90 miles from the Black Rock / Calico area) — full services including fuel, groceries, lodging, and sporting goods. Gerlach, NV (NV-447, south of the unit near Black Rock Desert) — very limited fuel and supplies.

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Permit Notes

Nevada NDOW desert bighorn sheep tag, Unit 014 standalone. Also available as part of combined 012 & 014 draw. Verify current season dates, shooting hours, and unit boundaries in Nevada Big Game Hunting Seasons & Regulations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between applying for Unit 014 standalone versus the combined Units 012 & 014 draw?

Nevada offers Unit 014 as a standalone draw choice and also as part of a combined Units 012 & 014 draw. The combined draw typically has slightly more applicants (around 300 combined vs. 176 standalone) but gives you access to hunt in either unit with one tag. The standalone Unit 014 draw gives you access only to Unit 014 but with the lower applicant pool. Evaluate both options based on your preference point total and whether you want the flexibility of Unit 012 access.

Is a permit required to access the Black Rock Desert playa for this hunt?

Standard access to BLM land in and around the Black Rock Desert does not require a permit for hunting purposes beyond your NDOW bighorn tag. However, the Black Rock Desert National Conservation Area has specific use restrictions — consult the BLM Winnemucca District office for current regulations. Large permitted events (Burning Man, etc.) can affect access at certain times of year, though these typically do not conflict with October hunting season.

Can I drive onto the Black Rock Desert playa to access hunting areas?

Driving on the Black Rock Desert playa is permitted when the surface is dry and hard, but is strictly prohibited when the playa is wet or when rain is imminent — vehicles that venture onto wet playa become hopelessly stuck and may require expensive extraction or recovery. The safest strategy for hunting is to use the perimeter roads and approach your hunting areas on foot or via 4WD roads on solid ground rather than relying on playa crossings.

What makes Unit 14 different from other nearby pronghorn units?

Unit 14 has the Quinn River as a central landscape feature, providing a reliable water source that concentrates pronghorn even in dry years. This gives hunters a predictable location to find animals without relying entirely on glassing wide-open basins.

How far is Orovada from the unit?

Orovada on US-95 is essentially at the doorstep of Unit 14 — within 5–20 miles of most of the unit's core hunting terrain depending on which part you're accessing. However, services in Orovada are extremely limited — fill up on fuel and supplies in Winnemucca before arriving.

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-18.

NDOW Hunting — Big Game — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Unit 014 boundaries, Season dates, Tag allocation · accessed 2026-04-18
BLM Winnemucca District Office — Black Rock Desert — Bureau of Land Management — Winnemucca District · supports: Black Rock Desert access routes, Road conditions, Land management in Unit 014 · accessed 2026-04-18
NDOW Nevada 2025-26 Big Game Regulations — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Unit 14 pronghorn draw group, Season dates and tag allocation · accessed 2026-04-18

Unit 014 (Black Rock Desert / Calico Hills)

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 014

Where to Find Bighorn Sheep in Unit 014

How to Hunt Bighorn Sheep in Unit 014

Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 014

Where to Find Pronghorn in Unit 14

Quinn River Corridor

Orovada-Area Sage Basins

Dry Lake Margins

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Unit 14

Pronghorn Success Rates

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

Unit 12 — Black Rock Desert Pronghorn

Unit 13 — Winnemucca Hills Pronghorn

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification