Nevada Bighorn Sheep

Unit 207 (Gold Butte)

Nevada Hunting Guide — Bighorn Sheep

Nevada Unit 207 covers the Gold Butte National Monument country in far-southeastern Clark County — a 300,000-acre block of sandstone, limestone, and Mojave scrub between the Virgin River and Lake Mead. Desert bighorns roam the canyon systems and mesa rims, and NDOW draws rifle ram tags annually.

View Draw Odds Nevada Hunting Guide

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 207

Where to Find Bighorn in Unit 207

Gold Butte's mesa-and-canyon country holds bighorns concentrated near water and the sandstone/limestone escarpments. We break scouting into three segments.

Virgin Canyon Rimrock

The rimrock above the lower Virgin River canyon holds rams in shaded ledges — glass from opposite-canyon viewpoints with strong spotting scopes.

Mud Wash and Guzzler Country

The central Gold Butte plateaus host NDOW guzzlers and ephemeral tinajas. Ram movement during dry periods keys on these water points.

Whitney Pockets Limestone

The high limestone outcrops near Whitney Pockets offer escape terrain and scenic glassing. Wide-angle morning glassing from surrounding knobs produces sightings.

How to Hunt Unit 207 Bighorn

Gold Butte is remote, and the hunt rewards hunters who settle in for multi-day camps with thorough glassing.

Camp in the Unit

BLM dispersed camping is permitted across most of Gold Butte. We set up a base camp central to our glassing circuits rather than day-tripping from Mesquite.

Sandstone Scrambles

Much of the monument is cross-bedded sandstone — beautiful but slippery with smooth-soled boots. Sticky-rubber approach shoes or boots are essential.

Heat and Daylight Windows

Even late October sees 85-90°F daytime highs in Gold Butte. We glass 0500-1000 and 1500-sunset, layup during the heat.

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Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Rifle65%

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Mid Season	3	64	4.7%	0
Rifle— Early Season	2	68	2.9%	0

Data from 2023 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit 207 averaged 201 applicants for 7 rifle ram tags across a three-year window. Nevada uses a weighted bonus-point system — one extra entry per point held, straight count. The live chart on this page reflects current NDOW point-tier data.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Water

None natural reliable. Carry all drinking water. Guzzlers are wildlife-only.

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Road Conditions

Gold Butte Road is paved from I-15 for the first ~20 miles, then transitions to graded gravel and high-clearance BLM two-track. 4WD recommended for interior spurs.

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Terrain Difficulty

Strenuous. Sandstone slickrock, loose limestone, and heat exposure combine to make this tough country.

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Hunting Pressure

Low hunter density (7 bighorn tags/3 yr) but Gold Butte sees moderate recreational traffic from rockhounds and 4x4 groups.

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Weather

October-November highs 80-95°F. Monsoon thunderstorms possible through October; dry and cold January-February.

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Cell Service

Poor across the monument. Good along I-15.

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Nearest Town

Mesquite (30-45 min via I-15 and Gold Butte Road) for fuel, groceries, lodging. Overton (45 min) for southwestern access.

Note: Gold Butte is culturally significant and heavily photographed — please pack out all trash and avoid disturbing petroglyph sites during your hunt.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is hunting permitted in Gold Butte National Monument?

Yes — Gold Butte National Monument was designated in 2016, and the BLM proclamation preserves lawful hunting in accordance with state regulations. NDOW issues rifle ram tags for desert bighorn in Unit 207 as part of the annual southern Nevada bighorn draw.

What are the draw odds for Unit 207?

Unit 207 averaged 201 applicants for 7 rifle ram tags over a three-year window — reasonable by southern Nevada standards. Nevada uses a weighted bonus-point system where one extra entry per point held (straight count) boosts draw odds significantly as points accumulate.

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Sources & Verification

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

Gold Butte National Monument — Bureau of Land Management · supports: Monument designation 2016, 300,000-acre size, Hunting permitted per state regulations · accessed 2026-04-17
NDOW Big Game Unit 207 — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Unit 207 covers Gold Butte area · accessed 2026-04-17
Desert Bighorn — Gold Butte herd — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Gold Butte bighorn population · accessed 2026-04-17