Nevada desert bighorn sheep hunting in unit 280
Unit 280 is a single unit in Clark, Lincoln and Nye counties: 257,762 acres, 23.9% public land, mostly national wildlife refuge (34,614 acres), measured from BLM's surface management map. In 2025, NDOW issued 5 desert bighorn ram tags here across 1 hunt; 5 hunters went afield and 3 were successful (60% of those who hunted, worked out from NDOW's two figures). NDOW's draw rate for the resident any-legal-weapon hunt was 6%: 5 tags for a demand of 84.
BLM's surface management map shows most of unit 280 as military land: the Nevada Test and Training Range overlaps the Desert National Wildlife Refuge here. NDOW's season regulation (CR 25-07) says portions of units 280, 281 and 282 are inside the range, where public access is restricted: every hunter and party member must pass a criminal history background check, be at least 14 on opening day, attend the Nellis Air Force Base hunter safety briefing, and keep the party to 5 people including the tag holder.
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 refugeMilitary and Energy DepartmentUnit 280Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Units | 280 |
|---|---|
| County | Clark, Lincoln and Nye |
| NDOW region | Southern Region |
| Size | 257,762 acres (403 square miles) |
| Public land | 23.9% (61,624 acres) |
| Desert bighorn ram tags, 2025 | 5 issued, quota 5 |
| Successful hunters, 2025 | 3 of 5 afield |
| Resident any-legal-weapon draw rate, 2025 (NDOW) | 6% (5 tags, demand 84) |
| Resident desert bighorn ram season, any legal weapon, 2026 | December 19 to January 3 |
| Towns in and near it | None within 25 miles |
How many desert bighorn sheep tags does NDOW issue in unit 280?
NDOW issued 5 desert bighorn ram tags for unit 280 in 2025, against a quota of 5. 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 | Resident | Any legal weapon | Dec 20 - Jan 4 | 5 | 5 | 84 | 6% | 5 | 3 | 60% |
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 280?
3 of 5 hunters afield were successful in 2025, 60% 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 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 60% | 280 |
| 2024 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 80% | 280 |
| 2023 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 75% | 280 |
| 2022 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 100% | 280 |
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 280 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 | 280*** | Dec 19 - Jan 3 | Dec 20 - Jan 4 |
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 280?
23.9% of unit 280 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 61,624 of 257,762 acres. The largest share is national wildlife refuge, 34,614 acres or 13.4%.
| Manager | Acres | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Military and Energy Department | 196,107 | 76.1% |
| National wildlife refuge | 34,614 | 13.4% |
| BLM | 27,010 | 10.5% |
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).
No other species has a FilledTag page for unit 280 yet.
How do you get to unit 280?
No numbered highway crosses it. Along its boundary: US 95 and NV 5.
Which units border unit 280?
2 hunt units touch unit 280; so do Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field and Nellis Air Force Range/Nevada Test Site, which NDOW's unit map marks as closed to hunting. Their public land and their own desert bighorn sheep group:
Questions hunters ask
How many desert bighorn sheep tags are there in unit 280?
NDOW set a quota of 5 desert bighorn ram tags for unit 280 in 2025 and issued 5, across 1 hunt by residency, weapon and season. In 2024 it issued 5.
What is hunter success for desert bighorn sheep in unit 280?
In 2025, 3 of the 5 hunters NDOW counted afield took a desert bighorn ram here, 60% across every hunt in the group.
How hard is it to draw a desert bighorn sheep tag in unit 280?
NDOW's draw rate for the 2025 resident any-legal-weapon hunt here was 6%: a quota of 5 against a demand of 84. 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 280 in 2026?
For Nelson (desert) bighorn rams, NDOW's 2026-2027 regulation sets: resident any legal weapon, December 19 to January 3.
How much public land is in unit 280?
23.9% of the 257,762 acres, measured from BLM's surface management map; the largest share is national wildlife refuge, 34,614 acres.
What is the closest town to unit 280?
No incorporated town or census place lies within 25 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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