Nevada desert bighorn sheep hunting in unit group 183, 153
Unit group 183, 153 is NDOW's tag group for units 153 and 183 in Churchill, Lander and Pershing counties: 1,309,237 acres, 83% public land, mostly BLM (1,086,102 acres), measured from BLM's surface management map. In 2025, NDOW issued 10 desert bighorn ram tags here across 2 hunts; 10 hunters went afield and 10 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 1%: 9 tags for a demand of 861.
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 refugeBureau of ReclamationMilitary and Energy DepartmentUnit group 183, 153Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Units | 153, 183 |
|---|---|
| County | Churchill, Lander and Pershing |
| NDOW region | Western Region |
| Size | 1,309,237 acres (2,046 square miles) |
| Public land | 83% (1,086,102 acres) |
| Desert bighorn ram tags, 2025 | 10 issued, quota 10 |
| Successful hunters, 2025 | 10 of 10 afield |
| Resident any-legal-weapon draw rate, 2025 (NDOW) | 1% (9 tags, demand 861) |
| Nonresident any-legal-weapon draw rate, 2025 (NDOW) | 0.1% (1 tag, demand 778) |
| Resident desert bighorn ram season, any legal weapon, 2026 | November 20 to January 1 |
| Towns in and near it | None within 25 miles |
How many desert bighorn sheep tags does NDOW issue in units 153 and 183?
NDOW issued 10 desert bighorn ram tags for unit group 183, 153 in 2025, against a quota of 10. 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 | Nov 20 - Jan 1 | 9 | 9 | 861 | 1% | 9 | 9 | 100% |
| Desert Bighorn Sheep Any Ram | Nonresident | Any legal weapon | Nov 20 - Jan 1 | 1 | 1 | 778 | 0.1% | 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 units 153 and 183?
10 of 10 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 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 100% | 183, 153 |
| 2024 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 100% | 183, 153 |
| 2023 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 100% | 183, 153 |
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 units 153 and 183 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 | 183, 153 | Nov 20 - Jan 1 | Nov 20 - Jan 1 |
| 3251 | Nonresident Nelson (Desert) Bighorn Sheep | Any Ram - Any Legal Weapon | 183, 153 | 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 units 153 and 183?
83% of unit group 183, 153 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 1,086,102 of 1,309,237 acres. The largest share is BLM, 1,086,102 acres or 83%.
| Manager | Acres | Share |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 1,086,102 | 83% |
| Military and Energy Department | 171,887 | 13.1% |
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).
The units in this group
| Unit | County | Square miles | Public land | Towns | Other species' pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 153 | Lander, Pershing | 582 | 89.2% | Pronghorn antelope (141, 143, 151 - 156), Mule deer (151 - 156) | |
| Unit 183 | Churchill, Lander, Pershing | 1,463 | 80.5% | Pronghorn antelope (181 - 184), Mule deer (181 - 184) |
How do you get to units 153 and 183?
Highways through it: NV 121 (about 7 miles inside). Along its boundary: US 50 and NV 305.
Which units border units 153 and 183?
7 hunt units touch the group. Their public land and their own desert bighorn sheep group:
| Unit | Public land | Desert bighorn sheep page | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 045 | 95.1% | 045 | Pershing |
| Unit 151 | 59.4% | No desert bighorn sheep group page | Lander, Humboldt, Pershing |
| Unit 152 | 63.7% | No desert bighorn sheep group page | Lander, Eureka |
| Unit 156 | 94.5% | No desert bighorn sheep group page | Lander |
| Unit 181 | 45.4% | 181 (East, West) | Churchill, Mineral |
| Unit 182 | 82% | 044, 182 | Churchill, Pershing |
| Unit 184 | 96.8% | 184 | Lander, Churchill |
Questions hunters ask
How many desert bighorn sheep tags are there in units 153 and 183?
NDOW set a quota of 10 desert bighorn ram tags for unit group 183, 153 in 2025 and issued 10, across 2 hunts by residency, weapon and season. In 2024 it issued 9.
What is hunter success for desert bighorn sheep in units 153 and 183?
In 2025, 10 of the 10 hunters NDOW counted afield took a desert bighorn ram here, 100% across every hunt in the group.
How hard is it to draw a desert bighorn sheep tag in units 153 and 183?
NDOW's draw rate for the 2025 resident any-legal-weapon hunt here was 1%: a quota of 9 against a demand of 861. For nonresidents it was 0.1% (1 tag, demand 778). NDOW describes the draw rate as quota divided by demand; it does not account for bonus points.
When is desert bighorn sheep season in units 153 and 183 in 2026?
For Nelson (desert) bighorn rams, NDOW's 2026-2027 regulation sets: resident any legal weapon, November 20 to January 1; nonresident any legal weapon, November 20 to January 1.
How much public land is in units 153 and 183?
83% of the 1,309,237 acres, measured from BLM's surface management map; the largest share is BLM, 1,086,102 acres.
What is the closest town to units 153 and 183?
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.
Nevada hunting Western Region All desert bighorn sheep groups