Unit 261 - 268 (Southern Nevada Mule Deer Group)
Nevada Hunting Guide — Mule Deer
Nevada's 261-268 mule deer unit group covers southern Clark County and southeastern Lincoln County — the Mormon, Virgin, Muddy, and Spring ranges plus the desert country wrapping around Lake Mead. It is classic southern-desert mule deer habitat: low elevations, pinyon-juniper mosaics on the ridges, and Mojave scrub on the flats. Tags are drawn through NDOW's big-game draw and are the southernmost public mule deer opportunity in the state.
Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 261 - 268
Nevada's 261-268 mule deer unit group covers southern Clark County and southeastern Lincoln County — the Mormon, Virgin, Muddy, and Spring ranges plus the desert country wrapping around Lake Mead. It is classic southern-desert mule deer habitat: low elevations, pinyon-juniper mosaics on the ridges, and Mojave scrub on the flats. Tags are drawn through NDOW's big-game draw and are the southernmost public mule deer opportunity in the state.
Where to Find Mule Deer in Units 261-268
Concentrate scouting on the pinyon-juniper shoulders of the Mormon Mountains, the Virgin Mountains above Mesquite, and the higher benches of the Muddy Range. NDOW's herd density is highest where a reliable water source (spring, guzzler, or stock tank) sits within a mile of cover. Deer shift to higher, cooler north-face pockets during early-season warmth and drop onto flatter flats with the first cold snap.
How to Hunt the 261-268 Group
Mule Deer Success Rates
Success across the 261-268 group typically runs in the 25–40% band on rifle tags — the country is big and the deer are spread thin, but the buck quality is respectable for southern NV. Tag holders who scout water and stay mobile outperform those who sit a single glassing point all week.
Mule Deer Draw Odds
| Season | Tags | Applicants | Draw % | Pts Req |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rifle— Late Season | 30 | 765 | 3.9% | 0 |
| Rifle— Limited Entry | 20 | 146 | 13.7% | 0 |
| Rifle— Limited Entry | 30 | 195 | 15.4% | 1 |
| Rifle— Early Season | 20 | 97 | 20.6% | 0 |
| Archery— Early Season | 17 | 55 | 29.1% | 1 |
| Muzzleloader— Early Season | 15 | 32 | 46.9% | 0 |
Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.
Open in Draw Odds EngineWith roughly 200 tags issued across the three-year window against 2,944 applicants, the 261-268 group sits in a moderate draw band. NDOW squares each applicant's bonus points before summing chances, so a 5-year point holder carries 25 extra chances into the draw — meaningful, but not decisive. Most first-time applicants should expect to build 3–5 points before drawing a rifle tag in this group.
Unit Logistics & Expectations
Frequently Asked Questions
Which ranges make up Nevada Units 261-268?
How many mule deer tags are issued in 261-268?
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Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-17.
- NDOW Hunt Information Sheets — Mule Deer Unit Group 261-268 — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Herd distribution, Season framework, Hunter strategy · accessed 2026-04-17
- Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest — Spring Mountains NRA and Las Vegas Ranger District — USDA Forest Service · supports: Spring Mountains public land, Forest road system · accessed 2026-04-17
- BLM Southern Nevada District — Bureau of Land Management · supports: Muddy / Mormon Mountains public access, Desert tortoise critical habitat overlaps · accessed 2026-04-17
- NDOW Hunt Draw — Bonus Points — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Bonus point formula, Application timeline · accessed 2026-04-17