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Nevada Bighorn Sheep

Unit 173S (Toiyabe Range South / Arc Dome)

Nevada Hunting Guide — Bighorn Sheep

Unit 173S covers the southern Toiyabe Range, including the Arc Dome Wilderness, in Nye County. The range crest runs above 10,000 ft with Arc Dome at 11,788 ft. California bighorn use the alpine basins and cliff systems throughout the southern Toiyabes. This is backcountry bighorn hunting at its most physical.

View Draw Odds Nevada Hunting Guide

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 173S

Unit 173S covers the southern Toiyabe Range, including the Arc Dome Wilderness, in Nye County. The range crest runs above 10,000 ft with Arc Dome at 11,788 ft. California bighorn use the alpine basins and cliff systems throughout the southern Toiyabes. This is backcountry bighorn hunting at its most physical.

Where to Find Bighorn in Unit 173S

Southern Toiyabe bighorn follow the alpine ridgeline.

Arc Dome and the Crest

Arc Dome (11,788 ft) anchors the southern crest. Bighorn use the alpine cirques and the cliff bands on both east and west faces.

Reese River Valley Side

The west side drops into the Reese River Valley. We access the west-face cliff systems from Forest Service roads climbing out of the valley floor.

Smoky Valley East

The east side overlooks the Big Smoky Valley. Kingston Canyon and similar drainages give access to east-facing bighorn terrain.

How to Hunt Bighorn in Unit 173S

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Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Rifle65%

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

SeasonTagsApplicantsDraw %Pts Req
Rifle— Late Season2553.6% 0

Data from 2023 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit 173S issues about 4 tags per year against 109 three-year applicants. Nevada uses a weighted bonus-point system — each bonus point adds one entry in the random draw (straight count, one extra entry per point). The physical demand of this wilderness hunt keeps applicant counts moderate.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Unit 173S compare to Unit 173N?
Both units cover the Toiyabe Range alpine crest with similar California bighorn habitat. Unit 173N is the northern half (Austin side); Unit 173S is the southern half including the Arc Dome Wilderness (Arc Dome 11,788 ft). Both require backcountry pack-in hunting.
Does Nevada's bonus point system help in Unit 173S?
Yes — Nevada's weighted bonus system grants one additional random-draw entry per bonus point held (straight count, one-for-one). Unit 173S's roughly 109-applicants-for-4-tags ratio means accumulated points materially improve odds, though the draw remains random.

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Sources & Verification

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

  1. NDOW Unit 173S boundary — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Southern Toiyabe Range coverage · accessed 2026-04-17
  2. Arc Dome Wilderness — USDA Forest Service — Humboldt-Toiyabe NF · supports: 115,000-acre Arc Dome Wilderness, Arc Dome 11,788 ft · accessed 2026-04-17
  3. California Bighorn Sheep — Toiyabe herds — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Alpine California bighorn · accessed 2026-04-17