Nevada Bighorn Sheep Pronghorn

Unit 202 (River Mountains / Muddy Mountains)

Nevada Hunting Guide — Bighorn Sheep, Pronghorn

Unit 202 covers the River Mountains, Muddy Mountains, and adjacent desert bighorn habitat east of Las Vegas in Clark County, fronting Lake Mead National Recreation Area. NDOW's hunt information sheet describes steep limestone cliff bands, rugged desert canyons, and two-track road access supplemented by Lake Mead boat-approach opportunities. The 202 desert bighorn tag is once-in-a-lifetime per species in Nevada — typically drawn within the 202, 205, 208 combined hunt group.

View Draw Odds Nevada Hunting Guide

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 202

Where to Find Desert Bighorn in Unit 202

Unit 202 desert bighorn hold on the limestone cliff complexes and rugged canyon systems east of Las Vegas. Expect classic Mojave sheep country — dry, steep, and hot even in fall seasons.

River Mountains

The River Mountains between Boulder City and Lake Mead are compact but rugged. Rams use the limestone faces above the lake and the canyon benches on the north side of the range. NDOW's sheet notes boat access to some points on the Lake Mead side.

Muddy Mountains

The Muddy Mountains northeast of Las Vegas hold the larger portion of Unit 202's sheep habitat. Multiple canyon systems and limestone cliff bands provide the escape terrain rams prefer. BLM road access reaches most canyon mouths.

Lake Mead NRA Interface

Portions of Unit 202 sit within Lake Mead National Recreation Area — NPS rules apply inside the NRA boundary. Coordinate with NPS before the hunt for the specific access rules on your hunt area.

How to Hunt Desert Bighorn in Unit 202

This is a once-in-a-lifetime Nevada desert bighorn tag. Plan for months of scouting and a tag-worthy ram target.

Pre-Season Scouting

Unit 202's proximity to Las Vegas makes scouting logistically easy — drive from town to glassing points for summer-long patterning. Identify three to five specific ram groups and learn their water and bedding patterns.

Glass the Limestone

Set up on elevated positions at first light and glass the limestone cliff faces for 3-6 hours. Rams silhouette against the white limestone predictably. The Muddy Mountains offer excellent long-range glassing from BLM road-accessible high points.

Boat Access on Lake Mead

NDOW's sheet for nearby 264-266 notes boat access is a legitimate tactic for Lake Mead-fronting units. The River Mountains side of Unit 202 opens to the lake — a boat-supported scouting trip reaches cliff points that are difficult on foot.

Beat the Heat

Even fall seasons run hot in Mojave desert country. Water on yourself aggressively, hunt dawn-to-mid-morning and evening, rest through midday heat. Sheep concentrate near the rare permanent water sources during warm spells.

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Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Rifle65%

Archery40%

NDOW's draw statistics for Unit 202 desert bighorn show three-year totals of roughly 609 applicants against 8 tags. Use the live Draw Odds chart on this page for current-year tag numbers — this is a Clark County desert bighorn tag drawn with very low odds even at maximum bonus points held.

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Rifle— Late Season	3	261	1.1%
Rifle— Mid Season	5	462	1.1%
Archery— Mid Season	1	16	6.3%
Archery— Mid Season	1	29	3.4%
Archery— Early Season	1	51	2.0%

Data from 2022 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit 202 desert bighorn is a once-in-a-lifetime Nevada tag — draw one ram of any Nevada bighorn subspecies and you are done with sheep in this state. Nevada's weighted bonus-point system (straight count, max held per species) adds entries to the random draw, but the ~609 applicants for 8 tags ratio means a career-long wait for most applicants. The live Draw Odds chart shows the current-year breakdown.

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 202

Units 202 and 204 are drawn together as a single pronghorn hunt group covering Big Smoky Valley and the Monitor Valley country of central Nevada (Nye and Lander counties). Per NDOW's hunt information materials, the group mixes broad sage bottoms, alkali flats, and low Great Basin foothills on predominantly BLM ground. The area is classic central-Nevada antelope country — wide-open glassing, long sight lines, and scattered water developments that concentrate herds during hot early-season windows.

Where to Find Pronghorn in Units 202, 204

Pronghorn across this combined group use the broad sage bottoms of Big Smoky and Monitor valleys and the low foothill benches that rise into the Toquima and Monitor ranges.

Big Smoky Valley sage bottom

The Big Smoky Valley bottom between US-6 and SR-376 carries large herds year-round. Glass from low rises along the SR-376 corridor and from BLM pullouts into side drainages.

Monitor Valley

Monitor Valley holds a smaller but more scattered population. Remote two-track access rewards hunters willing to leave the paved routes. Water developments concentrate herds during early-season heat.

Foothill benches

The lower benches of the Toquima, Monitor, and Shoshone ranges give pronghorn bedding structure and early-morning travel routes between water and feed.

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Units 202, 204

Central Nevada pronghorn hunts are about covering country efficiently. We start each day glassing from a high pullout, pick a buck, and plan a stalk using the subtle terrain of the valley bottom.

Glassing from SR-376 and US-6

Both paved corridors run the length of the unit group and double as glassing routes. Pull off, walk 50 yards to a rise, and glass the sage bottoms at first and last light.

Water development ambush

Scattered guzzlers and stock tanks across the valley floors draw pronghorn reliably during August–September heat. A hidden blind on an active water set can produce a close, clean shot.

Decoy the late season

Late September and early October rut activity brings herd bucks in on aggressive decoy setups. Keep the decoy visible from a known buck's position and be ready for a fast closure.

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Pronghorn Success Rates

Use the Draw Odds chart on this page for NDOW's current applicant and tag data for the 202/204 group. Tag counts are modest relative to the unit group's size, which helps keep hunter density low across the two valleys.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %
Rifle— Mid Season	8	153	5.2%
Muzzleloader— Early Season	1	1	100.0%
Muzzleloader— Early Season	1	2	50.0%

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Units 202 and 204 draw as a single group through NDOW's weighted bonus-point system — each accumulated point adds one additional entry (straight count, no squaring), up to the maximum held per species. Recent 3-year activity shows roughly 375 applicants for 20 tags, making this a mid-tier central Nevada pronghorn draw.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Camp Sites

Primitive camping on BLM land is the rule. Developed campgrounds at Lake Mead NRA (NPS rules apply). Hotel-based hunts from Boulder City or Las Vegas are practical given the proximity.

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Water

Very limited. Pack all water — Mojave Desert country offers unreliable springs for humans. Lake Mead is the major water feature but sits below the sheep habitat.

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Road Conditions

BLM road network and paved routes (US-93, I-15, SR-167 Northshore Road) reach most of the unit. High-clearance 2WD works in dry conditions on primary routes; some interior canyons require 4WD.

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Terrain Difficulty

Strenuous. Limestone cliff country with loose scree, steep canyon approaches, and exposure. Elevations are modest (2,000-6,500 ft) but terrain is physically demanding.

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Hunting Pressure

Very low — single-digit tag numbers spread across Unit 202's large multi-range geography.

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Weather

Mojave Desert — fall seasons run mild-to-warm (60-85°F midday, 40-60°F at night). Heat is manageable but hydration demands are real. Winter rains arrive by December.

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Cell Service

Coverage strong near Las Vegas / Henderson / Boulder City and on major highways. Drops off in the backcountry canyons. Satellite communicator recommended for multi-day hunts.

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Nearest Town

Boulder City (minutes from the River Mountains) and Henderson / Las Vegas (full services, 20-45 minutes to most access points). Overton north of the Muddy Mountains offers small-town services.

Note: Coordinate with the National Park Service before the hunt — portions of Unit 202 fall within Lake Mead National Recreation Area. NPS contact: (702) 293-8908 or (702) 293-8905. Confirm NPS rules for the specific hunt area boundary.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Unit 202 once-in-a-lifetime?

Yes. Nevada manages all three bighorn subspecies (California, Rocky Mountain, desert) as once-in-a-lifetime per species — once you draw a ram tag of any subspecies, you are done with Nevada bighorn for life. Unit 202's ~609 three-year applicants for 8 tags makes it one of the harder Clark County desert bighorn draws.

Can I hunt Unit 202 from Las Vegas?

Yes — Unit 202 is one of the most logistically friendly desert bighorn hunts in Nevada. The River Mountains and Muddy Mountains are 20-45 minutes from Las Vegas, Henderson, and Boulder City. Hotel-based hunts with daily drives to glassing points work well, preserving time and energy for the physical demands of the hunt.

Do I need to coordinate with the National Park Service?

Yes if your hunt area falls inside Lake Mead National Recreation Area. NPS rules apply within the NRA boundary — contact NPS at (702) 293-8908 or (702) 293-8905 before the hunt to confirm access rules and any seasonal closures on your specific hunt area.

Are Units 202 and 204 hunted as one group?

Yes — NDOW aggregates Units 202 (Big Smoky Valley) and 204 (Monitor Valley) as a single pronghorn draw group. Drawn hunters may pursue antelope in either valley during the season.

How does Nevada's pronghorn draw work?

NDOW uses a weighted bonus-point draw — each accumulated point gives you one additional entry (straight count, no squaring), up to the maximum held per species. You pick one unit per species per year.

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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 Hunt Information Sheets — Desert Bighorn Sheep (Unit 202) — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Unit 202 covers the River Mountains, Muddy Mountains, and adjacent Clark County desert bighorn habitat, Limestone cliff bands and rugged canyon systems define the core habitat, Portions of the unit fall within Lake Mead National Recreation Area — NPS rules apply · accessed 2026-04-17
2026 Nevada Big Game Seasons & Applications Booklet — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Unit 202 is listed as a 2026 desert bighorn draw unit, often within the 202, 205, 208 combined hunt group, Weighted bonus-point system applies — straight count, max held per species, Nevada bighorn subspecies are managed once-in-a-lifetime · accessed 2026-04-17
Lake Mead NRA — Hunting Regulations — National Park Service — Lake Mead National Recreation Area · supports: Hunting is allowed in designated portions of Lake Mead NRA under state regulations, Federal and state firearms, vehicle, and access rules apply inside the NRA boundary, NPS contact for hunters: (702) 293-8908 or (702) 293-8905 · accessed 2026-04-17
NDOW Hunt Information Sheets — Pronghorn Antelope (Unit Group 202, 204) — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Units 202 and 204 are drawn as a combined pronghorn group in central Nevada, Habitat covers Big Smoky Valley sage bottoms, Monitor Valley, and adjacent foothill benches · accessed 2026-04-17
2026 Nevada Big Game Seasons and Applications Booklet — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Units 202/204 are listed among NDOW's pronghorn hunt groups, Tags are drawn through the weighted bonus-point system — one extra entry per accumulated point, straight count, max held per species · accessed 2026-04-17
BLM Tonopah Field Office — Big Smoky & Monitor Valleys — U.S. Bureau of Land Management — Tonopah Field Office · supports: Most of the unit group is BLM-managed public land, Primary access via US-6, SR-376, and graded BLM valley roads · accessed 2026-04-17

Unit 202 (River Mountains / Muddy Mountains)

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 202

Where to Find Desert Bighorn in Unit 202

River Mountains

Muddy Mountains

Lake Mead NRA Interface

How to Hunt Desert Bighorn in Unit 202

Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 202

Where to Find Pronghorn in Units 202, 204

Big Smoky Valley sage bottom

Monitor Valley

Foothill benches

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Units 202, 204

Pronghorn Success Rates

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Unit 035 — Pronghorn

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification