Nevada desert bighorn sheep hunting in unit group 162 - 163
Unit group 162 - 163 is NDOW's tag group for units 162 and 163 in Nye and Eureka counties: 2,000,418 acres, 98.6% public land, mostly BLM (1,107,143 acres), measured from BLM's surface management map. In 2025, NDOW issued 2 desert bighorn ram tags here across 1 hunt; 2 hunters went afield and 1 was successful (50% of those who hunted, worked out from NDOW's two figures). NDOW's draw rate for the resident any-legal-weapon hunt was 1%: 2 tags for a demand of 198.
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 landMilitary and Energy DepartmentTribal landUnit group 162 - 163Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Units | 162, 163 |
|---|---|
| County | Nye and Eureka |
| NDOW region | Southern Region |
| Size | 2,000,418 acres (3,126 square miles) |
| Public land | 98.6% (1,973,350 acres) |
| Desert bighorn ram tags, 2025 | 2 issued, quota 2 |
| Successful hunters, 2025 | 1 of 2 afield |
| Resident any-legal-weapon draw rate, 2025 (NDOW) | 1% (2 tags, demand 198) |
| 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 162 and 163?
NDOW issued 2 desert bighorn ram tags for unit group 162 - 163 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Bighorn Sheep Any Ram | Resident | Any legal weapon | Nov 20 - Jan 1 | 2 | 2 | 198 | 1% | 2 | 1 | 50% |
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 162 and 163?
1 of 2 hunters afield was successful in 2025, 50% 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 | 1 | 50% | 162 - 163 |
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0% | 162 - 163 |
| 2023 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 100% | 162 - 163 |
| 2022 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 67% | 162 - 163 |
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 162 and 163 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 | 163, 162 | 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 162 and 163?
98.6% of unit group 162 - 163 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 1,973,350 of 2,000,418 acres. The largest share is BLM, 1,107,143 acres or 55.3%.
| Manager | Acres | Share |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 1,107,143 | 55.3% |
| National forest | 866,207 | 43.3% |
| Military and Energy Department | 4,752 | 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).
The units in this group
| Unit | County | Square miles | Public land | Towns | Other species' pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 162 | Nye, Eureka | 1,949 | 98.8% | Pronghorn antelope (161 - 162), Mule deer (161 - 164), Elk (161 - 164, 171 - 173) | |
| Unit 163 | Nye, Eureka | 1,177 | 98.4% | Pronghorn antelope (131, 145, 163 - 164), Mule deer (161 - 164), Elk (161 - 164, 171 - 173) |
How do you get to units 162 and 163?
No numbered highway crosses it. Along its boundary: NV 82, US 6, US 50 and NV 376.
Which units border units 162 and 163?
8 hunt units touch the group. Their public land and their own desert bighorn sheep group:
| Unit | Public land | Desert bighorn sheep page | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 134 | 98.2% | 134, 251 | Nye |
| Unit 143 | 96.8% | No desert bighorn sheep group page | Eureka |
| Unit 145 | 96.8% | No desert bighorn sheep group page | Eureka |
| Unit 155 | 96.7% | No desert bighorn sheep group page | Eureka, Lander |
| Unit 161 | 96.9% | 161 | Nye, Lander |
| Unit 164 | 95.2% | 131, 132, 164 | Nye |
| Unit 173 | 96.3% | 173 (North) | Nye, Lander |
| Unit 251 | 98.4% | 134, 251 | Nye |
Questions hunters ask
How many desert bighorn sheep tags are there in units 162 and 163?
NDOW set a quota of 2 desert bighorn ram tags for unit group 162 - 163 in 2025 and issued 2, across 1 hunt by residency, weapon and season. In 2024 it issued 1.
What is hunter success for desert bighorn sheep in units 162 and 163?
In 2025, 1 of the 2 hunters NDOW counted afield took a desert bighorn ram here, 50% across every hunt in the group.
How hard is it to draw a desert bighorn sheep tag in units 162 and 163?
NDOW's draw rate for the 2025 resident any-legal-weapon hunt here was 1%: a quota of 2 against a demand of 198. 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 162 and 163 in 2026?
For Nelson (desert) bighorn rams, NDOW's 2026-2027 regulation sets: resident any legal weapon, November 20 to January 1.
How much public land is in units 162 and 163?
98.6% of the 2,000,418 acres, measured from BLM's surface management map; the largest share is BLM, 1,107,143 acres.
What is the closest town to units 162 and 163?
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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