Nevada desert bighorn sheep hunting in unit 181
Unit 181 is a single unit in Churchill and Mineral counties: 1,521,345 acres, 45.4% public land, mostly BLM (390,627 acres), measured from BLM's surface management map. In 2025, NDOW issued 7 desert bighorn ram tags here across 3 hunts; 7 hunters went afield and 6 were successful (86% of those who hunted, worked out from NDOW's two figures). NDOW's draw rate for the resident any-legal-weapon hunt (Nov 20 - Jan 1) was 1%: 4 tags for a demand of 376.
Part of a unit: NDOW splits unit 181 for rams at State Route 839: 181 East is the part east of the highway and 181 West the part west of it (CR 25-07). Each has its own tags. The map and the land figures cover the whole units.
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 forestNational wildlife refugeState landBureau of ReclamationMilitary and Energy DepartmentTribal landUnit 181Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Units | 181 |
|---|---|
| County | Churchill and Mineral |
| NDOW region | Western Region |
| Size | 1,521,345 acres (2,377 square miles) |
| Public land | 45.4% (690,061 acres) |
| Desert bighorn ram tags, 2025 | 7 issued, quota 7 |
| Successful hunters, 2025 | 6 of 7 afield |
| Resident any-legal-weapon draw rate, 2025 (NDOW) | 1% (4 tags, demand 376) |
| Nonresident any-legal-weapon draw rate, 2025 (NDOW) | 0.2% (1 tag, demand 609) |
| Resident desert bighorn ram season, any legal weapon, 2026 | November 20 to January 1; November 20 to January 1 |
| Towns in and near it | Fallon, Fallon Station, Fernley, Lovelock and Yerington |
How many desert bighorn sheep tags does NDOW issue in unit 181?
NDOW issued 7 desert bighorn ram tags for unit 181 in 2025, against a quota of 7. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Bighorn Sheep Any Ram (181 East) | Resident | Any legal weapon | Nov 20 - Jan 1 | 4 | 4 | 376 | 1% | 4 | 4 | 100% |
| Desert Bighorn Sheep Any Ram (181 West) | Resident | Any legal weapon | Nov 20 - Jan 1 | 2 | 2 | 350 | 0.6% | 2 | 1 | 50% |
| Desert Bighorn Sheep Any Ram (181 West) | Nonresident | Any legal weapon | Nov 20 - Jan 1 | 1 | 1 | 609 | 0.2% | 1 | 1 | 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 desert bighorn sheep in unit 181?
6 of 7 hunters afield were successful in 2025, 86% 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 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 86% | 181 East; 181 West |
| 2024 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 100% | 181C (East Portion); 181D (West Portion) |
| 2023 | 4 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 91% | East portion of 181C; West portion of 181D |
| 2022 | 2 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 92% | 181 |
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 desert bighorn sheep season in unit 181 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3151 | Resident Nelson (Desert) Bighorn Sheep | Any Ram - Any Legal Weapon | 181 East*B | Nov 20 - Jan 1 | Nov 20 - Jan 1 |
| 3151 | Resident Nelson (Desert) Bighorn Sheep | Any Ram - Any Legal Weapon | 181 WestC | Nov 20 - Jan 1 | Nov 20 - Jan 1 |
| 3251 | Nonresident Nelson (Desert) Bighorn Sheep | Any Ram - Any Legal Weapon | 181 WestC | Nov 20 - Jan 1 | Nov 20 - Jan 1 |
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 181?
45.4% of unit 181 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 690,061 of 1,521,345 acres. The largest share is BLM, 390,627 acres or 25.7%.
| Manager | Acres | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Military and Energy Department | 453,500 | 29.8% |
| BLM | 390,627 | 25.7% |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 216,869 | 14.3% |
| National wildlife refuge | 79,658 | 5.2% |
| Tribal land | 47,581 | 3.1% |
| State land | 2,907 | 0.2% |
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 181: Pronghorn antelope (181 - 184), Mule deer (181 - 184).
How do you get to unit 181?
Highways through it: US 95 (about 50 miles inside), US 50 (about 25 miles inside), NV 839 (about 14 miles inside), US 50 Alt (about 10 miles inside) and NV 120 (about 9 miles inside). Along its boundary: NV 361, I-80, US 95 Alt and NV 116. Towns and places inside: Fallon and Fallon Station. Nearby: Fernley (5 miles), Lovelock (13 miles) and Yerington (20 miles).
Which units border unit 181?
8 hunt units touch unit 181. Their public land and their own desert bighorn sheep group:
| Unit | Public land | Desert bighorn sheep page | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 041 | 77.8% | No desert bighorn sheep group page | Pershing, Churchill, Washoe |
| Unit 043 | 47.3% | No desert bighorn sheep group page | Pershing, Churchill |
| Unit 171 | 97.9% | No desert bighorn sheep group page | Nye |
| Unit 182 | 82% | 044, 182 | Churchill, Pershing |
| Unit 183 | 80.5% | 183, 153 | Churchill, Lander, Pershing |
| Unit 184 | 96.8% | 184 | Lander, Churchill |
| Unit 203 | 57.5% | No desert bighorn sheep group page | Lyon |
| Unit 205 | 59.9% | 205 | Mineral, Nye |
Questions hunters ask
How many desert bighorn sheep tags are there in unit 181?
NDOW set a quota of 7 desert bighorn ram tags for unit 181 in 2025 and issued 7, across 3 hunts by residency, weapon and season. In 2024 it issued 7.
What is hunter success for desert bighorn sheep in unit 181?
In 2025, 6 of the 7 hunters NDOW counted afield took a desert bighorn ram here, 86% across every hunt in the group.
How hard is it to draw a desert bighorn sheep tag in unit 181?
NDOW's draw rate for the 2025 resident any-legal-weapon hunt here was 1%: a quota of 4 against a demand of 376. For nonresidents it was 0.2% (1 tag, demand 609). NDOW describes the draw rate as quota divided by demand; it does not account for bonus points.
When is desert bighorn sheep season in unit 181 in 2026?
For Nelson (desert) bighorn rams, NDOW's 2026-2027 regulation sets: resident any legal weapon, November 20 to January 1; resident any legal weapon, November 20 to January 1; nonresident any legal weapon, November 20 to January 1.
How much public land is in unit 181?
45.4% of the 1,521,345 acres, measured from BLM's surface management map; the largest share is BLM, 390,627 acres.
What is the closest town to unit 181?
Fallon and Fallon Station are inside the unit. Just outside: Fernley (5 miles) and Lovelock (13 miles).
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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.
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