Nevada California bighorn sheep hunting in unit 051
Unit 051 is a single unit in Humboldt County: 1,725,917 acres, 71.3% public land, mostly BLM (941,260 acres), measured from BLM's surface management map. In 2025, NDOW issued 2 California bighorn ram tags here across 1 hunt; 2 hunters went afield and 2 were successful (100% of those who hunted, worked out from NDOW's two figures). NDOW's draw rate for the resident any-legal-weapon hunt was 0.2%: 2 tags for a demand of 873.
Data updated October 2026. Tags and harvest: NDOW hunt statistics, 2022 to 2025. Seasons: NDOW's 2026-2027 regulation with its January 2026 amendment. Land: BLM.
BLMNational forestState landBureau of ReclamationTribal landUnit 051Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Units | 051 |
|---|---|
| County | Humboldt |
| NDOW region | Western Region |
| Size | 1,725,917 acres (2,697 square miles) |
| Public land | 71.3% (1,230,672 acres) |
| California bighorn ram tags, 2025 | 2 issued, quota 2 |
| Successful hunters, 2025 | 2 of 2 afield |
| Resident any-legal-weapon draw rate, 2025 (NDOW) | 0.2% (2 tags, demand 873) |
| Resident California bighorn ram season, any legal weapon, 2026 | September 1 to October 31 |
| Towns in and near it | Fort McDermitt, Paradise Valley, Valmy and Winnemucca |
How many California bighorn sheep tags does NDOW issue in unit 051?
NDOW issued 2 California bighorn ram tags for unit 051 in 2025, against a quota of 2. Every 2025 hunt in the group, as NDOW reports it:
| Hunt | Residency | Weapon | Season | Quota | Tags issued | Demand | NDOW draw rate | Hunters afield | Successful | Hunter success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Bighorn Sheep Any Ram | Resident | Any legal weapon | Sep 1 - Oct 31 | 2 | 2 | 873 | 0.2% | 2 | 2 | 100% |
Source: NDOW Big Game Hunt Statistics (2022 to 2025; 2025 from NDOW's 2025 hunt data workbook). Demand is NDOW's count of tags awarded plus unsuccessful first-choice applicants. NDOW's draw rate is its quota divided by that demand; NDOW says it does not account for bonus points. Hunter success is successful hunters out of hunters afield.
What is hunter success for California bighorn sheep in unit 051?
2 of 2 hunters afield were successful in 2025, 100% across the group's hunts. The group year by year:
| Year | Hunts | Quota | Tags issued | Hunters afield | Successful hunters | Success, all hunts | Labels NDOW used for the group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 100% | 051 |
| 2024 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 100% | 051 |
| 2023 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 100% | 051 |
| 2022 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 100% | 051 |
Source: NDOW Big Game Hunt Statistics (2022 to 2025; 2025 from NDOW's 2025 hunt data workbook). Totals are NDOW's hunt rows added together; the success share is worked out from NDOW's own two figures. A year is shown only where NDOW published the group's hunts; NDOW sometimes splits a unit with a letter (108B, 144A) or a portion, and those labels are listed.
When is California bighorn sheep season in unit 051 in 2026?
The 2026-2027 seasons NDOW's regulation sets for this unit group:
| Hunt number | Hunt | Weapon | Unit group as NDOW prints it | 2026-2027 season | 2025-2026 season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8151 | Resident California Bighorn Sheep | Any Ram - Any Legal Weapon | 051 | Sep 1 - Oct 31 | Sep 1 - Oct 31 |
Source: NDOW Commission Regulation 25-07, 2026-2027 big game seasons, with Amendment #2 (January 2026). * Changed or added by Amendment #2. NDOW can change a season during the year; check NDOW before you go.
How much public land is in unit 051?
71.3% of unit 051 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 1,230,672 of 1,725,917 acres. The largest share is BLM, 941,260 acres or 54.5%.
| Manager | Acres | Share |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 941,260 | 54.5% |
| National forest | 289,412 | 16.8% |
| Tribal land | 19,475 | 1.1% |
Measured by FilledTag inside NDOW's unit boundaries from BLM Surface Management Agency map (national, limited scale), a generalized national map; the rest is private or not mapped. Military, Energy Department and tribal land are not counted as open to hunting (they are closed to the public or need the owner's permission).
Other species NDOW groups with unit 051: Pronghorn antelope, Mule deer, Elk.
How do you get to unit 051?
Highways through it: NV 290 (about 26 miles inside), NV 18 (about 21 miles inside), NV 789 (about 15 miles inside) and US 95 (about 3 miles inside). Along its boundary: I-80. Towns and places inside: Fort McDermitt, Paradise Valley and Valmy. Nearby: Winnemucca (on the line).
Which units border unit 051?
8 hunt units touch unit 051. Their public land and their own California bighorn sheep group:
| Unit | Public land | California bighorn sheep page | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 031 | 85% | 031 (Double Hs) | Humboldt |
| Unit 035 | 81.1% | 035 (Bloody Runs, Jacksons) | Humboldt |
| Unit 042 | 58.6% | No California bighorn sheep group page | Pershing, Humboldt |
| Unit 044 | 63.9% | No California bighorn sheep group page | Pershing |
| Unit 046 | 73% | No California bighorn sheep group page | Humboldt, Pershing |
| Unit 066 | 80.2% | No California bighorn sheep group page | Elko, Humboldt |
| Unit 068 | 49.8% | 068 | Elko, Eureka, Lander |
| Unit 151 | 59.4% | No California bighorn sheep group page | Lander, Humboldt, Pershing |
Questions hunters ask
How many California bighorn sheep tags are there in unit 051?
NDOW set a quota of 2 California bighorn ram tags for unit 051 in 2025 and issued 2, across 1 hunt by residency, weapon and season. In 2024 it issued 2.
What is hunter success for California bighorn sheep in unit 051?
In 2025, 2 of the 2 hunters NDOW counted afield took a California bighorn ram here, 100% across every hunt in the group.
How hard is it to draw a California bighorn sheep tag in unit 051?
NDOW's draw rate for the 2025 resident any-legal-weapon hunt here was 0.2%: a quota of 2 against a demand of 873. NDOW describes the draw rate as quota divided by demand; it does not account for bonus points.
When is California bighorn sheep season in unit 051 in 2026?
For California bighorn rams, NDOW's 2026-2027 regulation sets: resident any legal weapon, September 1 to October 31.
How much public land is in unit 051?
71.3% of the 1,725,917 acres, measured from BLM's surface management map; the largest share is BLM, 941,260 acres.
What is the closest town to unit 051?
Fort McDermitt, Paradise Valley and Valmy are inside the unit. Just outside: Winnemucca (on the line).
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Where these numbers come from
- Tags, quota, demand, draw rate, hunters and success: NDOW Big Game Hunt Statistics (2022 to 2025; 2025 from NDOW's 2025 hunt data workbook).
- Seasons: NDOW Commission Regulation 25-07, 2026-2027 big game seasons, with Amendment #2 (January 2026).
- Public land: BLM Surface Management Agency map (national, limited scale). Unit boundaries: NDOW hunt units.
- Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places.
FilledTag is not part of the Nevada Department of Wildlife. Numbers are copied from NDOW or measured from public maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.
Nevada hunting Western Region All California bighorn sheep groups