Nevada Bighorn Sheep

Unit 173N (Toiyabe Range North)

Nevada Hunting Guide — Bighorn Sheep

Unit 173N covers the northern Toiyabe Range in Lander and Nye counties — high, steep country with the Arc Dome Wilderness nearby and the Toiyabe Crest above 10,000 ft. California bighorn use the alpine basins and cliff bands along the range crest. This is one of Nevada's most physically demanding bighorn hunts.

View Draw Odds Nevada Hunting Guide

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 173N

Where to Find Bighorn in Unit 173N

Northern Toiyabe bighorn are alpine animals.

Toiyabe Crest

The crest runs at 10,000-11,000 ft for miles. Bighorn hold on the east-facing cliff bands and bed in alpine cirques.

Kingston Canyon Access

Kingston Canyon road climbs into the north end of the range and gives the shortest approach to productive alpine basins.

West-Side Drainages

The west side drops into Reese River Valley. We glass from Big Creek and Stewart Creek areas for rams that use west-facing faces.

How to Hunt Bighorn in Unit 173N

Unit 173N is a pack-in hunt for most applicants.

Backcountry Camps

We backpack or horsepack into alpine cirques and camp for 5-7 days. Day-hunting from valley-floor base camps burns too much daylight on access.

Ridge-Top Glassing

Once camped high, we glass from ridge saddles covering multiple cirques. Morning and evening windows produce most ram sightings.

Weather and Snow

Alpine weather can bring snow in September. We carry four-season shelter and fuel for melting snow if high basins are dry.

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Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Rifle65%

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Rifle— Early Season	3	47	6.4%
Rifle— Early Season	1	58	1.7%
Rifle— Early Season	1	70	1.4%

Data from 2020 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit 173N issues about 4 tags per year against 120 three-year applicants. Nevada uses a weighted bonus-point system — every bonus point held gives you one additional entry in the random draw (straight count). The physical demand of this alpine hunt deters some applicants, keeping competition moderate.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Water

Good — alpine creeks and springs along most major drainages. Filter or treat.

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Road Conditions

US-50 paved. Forest Service roads into Kingston Canyon and Big Creek — high-clearance required.

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Terrain Difficulty

Very strenuous — alpine hiking at 10,000+ ft with steep off-trail routes.

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Hunting Pressure

Very low — the physical demands filter hunter traffic.

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Cell Service

None in the interior. Satellite communicator mandatory.

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Nearest Town

Austin (30-50 mi north) for fuel, basic groceries. Reno (150+ mi west) for gear and outfitters.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How physical is a Unit 173N bighorn hunt?

Unit 173N is one of Nevada's most physically demanding bighorn hunts. Expect alpine camping at 10,000+ ft, daily elevation gains of 2,000+ ft, and long backpack or horsepack approaches. Plan 6-12 months of conditioning before the hunt.

How do Nevada's weighted bonus points apply to Unit 173N?

Nevada grants one additional random-draw entry per bonus point held (straight count, one-for-one). Unit 173N's roughly 120-applicants-for-4-tags ratio means accumulated points materially improve your odds, but the draw remains probabilistic at every level.

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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 Unit 173N boundary — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Northern Toiyabe Range coverage · accessed 2026-04-17
California Bighorn Sheep — Toiyabe herd — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Alpine California bighorn habitat · accessed 2026-04-17
Austin and Tonopah Ranger Districts — USDA Forest Service — Humboldt-Toiyabe NF · supports: Toiyabe National Forest administration, Toiyabe Crest Trail · accessed 2026-04-17