Nevada Mule Deer

Unit 195 (Desatoya / Clan Alpine)

Nevada Hunting Guide — Mule Deer

Unit 195 covers the Desatoya Mountains, Clan Alpine Range, and New Pass Range on the Churchill-Lander county line in western Nevada. It's a standalone mule-deer tag with NDOW three-year data showing 89 tags issued against 870 applicants (~30/yr). The Desatoyas rise to 9,977 ft at Desatoya Peak with the Desatoya Mountains Wilderness protecting a 48,700-acre non-motorized interior — classic central Nevada aspen/sage mule-deer habitat.

View Draw Odds Nevada Hunting Guide

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 195

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 195

Unit 195 mule deer use three separate ranges connected by sage/PJ basin country. Each range has its own pattern.

Desatoya Mountains Interior

The 48,700-acre Desatoya Mountains Wilderness is the trophy pocket of the unit. Aspen benches and springs at 8,000-9,500 ft support older-age-class bucks that see no motorized pressure. Foot or horse access only.

Clan Alpine Range East Slope

The Clan Alpine Range — the highest in the unit at over 10,000 ft — has aspen and mountain-brush benches on its east slope. Glass up the canyons from the Dixie Valley side in the morning.

New Pass Range Benches

The New Pass Range is smaller and lower than the other two, but holds concentrated deer in mountain-brush and PJ. It serves as transition range as snow accumulates on the Desatoya and Clan Alpine crests.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 195

Unit 195 rewards hunters who split their time between the Desatoya Wilderness interior and the motorized ranges around it.

Horse-Pack the Desatoya Wilderness

The big bucks in Unit 195 live inside the Desatoya Wilderness. A 2–4 day horse pack-in (or a serious backpacking effort) reaches aspen basins that motorized hunters cannot access.

Motorized Clan Alpine Hunts

For hunters without horses, the Clan Alpine Range offers vehicle-based access via the Dixie Valley road network. High-clearance 4WD climbs into mid-slope canyon mouths. Glass from benches at 7,500-8,500 ft.

Late-Season New Pass Ambush

Save the New Pass Range for the last 3 days of the hunt. As snow pushes Desatoya bucks off the crest, they migrate toward the New Pass and Shoshone ranges — intercept them in the saddles and transitional benches.

Pro Members Only

Unlock Unit 195 mule-deer tactics

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Mule Deer Success Rates

Rifle30%

Archery18%

Muzzleloader22%

NDOW three-year data: 89 tags against 870 applicants — roughly 30/yr. The unit supports mature-age-class bucks in the Desatoya Wilderness interior. See the draw-odds chart on this page for the most current trend.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Rifle— Mid Season	15	223	6.7%
Rifle— Limited Entry	10	38	26.3%
Rifle— Limited Entry	10	41	24.4%
Rifle— Early Season	5	23	21.7%
Archery— Early Season	3	21	14.3%
Muzzleloader— Early Season	3	10	30.0%

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit 195 is drawn as a standalone mule-deer tag. Nevada uses a weighted bonus-point system — applicants with more accumulated points get more entries in the random draw, with each point earning one additional entry.

Three-year totals: 870 applicants / 89 tags ~ 10.2% raw-odds success. Resident draw odds are higher than nonresident because of NDOW's nonresident quota cap.

The live chart on this page reflects the most recent NDOW dataset.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

🚐

RV Sites

Fallon has full-hookup parks (Bonanza, Hub Totel). Austin has basic RV parking.

⛺

Camp Sites

Dispersed USFS and BLM camping throughout. Cold Springs Station on US-50 offers a small RV/tent area. No developed hunt-season campgrounds in the unit.

💧

Water

Moderate — Desatoya and Clan Alpine have springs and seasonal creeks; New Pass is drier. Treat all water.

🛣️

Road Conditions

US-50 bisects the unit east-west and is fully paved. From US-50, USFS and BLM roads access both ranges. The climb into the Clan Alpine east slope is high-clearance 4WD; Desatoya Wilderness is foot/horse only.

🥾

Terrain Difficulty

Strenuous — Desatoya Peak hits 9,977 ft, Clan Alpine Mountain hits 10,220 ft. Wilderness access requires multi-day backcountry fitness. Motorized hunts on Clan Alpine benches are moderate.

👥

Hunting Pressure

Moderate. ~30 tags across a large, multi-range unit means pressure is distributed — but US-50 access concentrates day-hunters on the nearest benches.

🌦️

Weather

October rifle: 35-60 °F highs, 15-30 °F nights. Snow above 8,500 ft is routine by mid-October; the Clan Alpine crest is often snowed-in by late October.

📱

Cell Service

Verizon along US-50. None in range interiors. Satellite messenger recommended.

🏘️

Nearest Town

Austin (US-50, small town with fuel/lodging/cafes — ~40 mi east of unit). Fallon (full services, 80 mi west on US-50). Eastgate is a roadside fuel stop on US-50.

📋

Permit Notes

Desatoya Mountains Wilderness and Clan Alpine Wilderness are foot/horse access only. No mechanized or motorized equipment permitted.

Note: 195 is an underrated mid-difficulty unit. The Desatoya Wilderness interior is the trophy pocket; the Clan Alpine east slope is the higher-opportunity motorized hunt.

Pro Members Only

Unlock Unit 195 full logistics

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I access the Desatoya Wilderness by vehicle?

No. The Desatoya Mountains Wilderness is foot or horse access only. Motorized vehicles and mountain bikes are prohibited. Most successful wilderness hunts use pack stock or multi-day backpack trips.

Which range in Unit 195 produces the largest bucks?

The Desatoya Wilderness interior consistently produces the oldest-age-class bucks due to zero motorized pressure. The Clan Alpine Range is a close second, with the added benefit of motorized access for hunters without horses.

Plan Your Hunt with ProHunt Pro+AI

Unlock advanced tactics, the Tag-to-Trail Planner, AI hunt strategy assistant, and personalized camp and trip execution plans.

Upgrade to Pro+AI — $79/yr

Sources & Verification

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

NDOW Mule Deer — Western Nevada Herd — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Desatoya/Clan Alpine mule-deer distribution, Habitat use across elevation · accessed 2026-04-17
Humboldt-Toiyabe NF — Austin Ranger District (Desatoya / Clan Alpine) — USDA Forest Service · supports: Desatoya Mountains Wilderness 48,700 acres, Clan Alpine Wilderness · accessed 2026-04-17
BLM Stillwater Field Office — Unit 195 public lands — US Bureau of Land Management · supports: BLM PJ/sage benches around Desatoya and Clan Alpine ranges · accessed 2026-04-17
NDOW Draw Statistics — Mule Deer Unit 195 — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Three-year applicants 870 / tags 89 (~30/yr) · accessed 2026-04-17