Nevada desert bighorn sheep hunting in unit group 242, 271
Unit group 242, 271 is NDOW's tag group for units 242 and 271 in Lincoln and Clark counties: 1,240,012 acres, 96.5% public land, mostly BLM (1,190,767 acres), measured from BLM's surface management map. In 2025, NDOW issued 3 desert bighorn ram tags here across 2 hunts; 3 hunters went afield and 2 were successful (67% of those who hunted, worked out from NDOW's two figures). NDOW's draw rate for the resident any-legal-weapon hunt was 0.8%: 2 tags for a demand of 245.
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 ReclamationTribal landUnit group 242, 271Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Units | 242, 271 |
|---|---|
| County | Lincoln and Clark |
| NDOW region | Southern Region |
| Size | 1,240,012 acres (1,938 square miles) |
| Public land | 96.5% (1,196,170 acres) |
| Desert bighorn ram tags, 2025 | 3 issued, quota 3 |
| Successful hunters, 2025 | 2 of 3 afield |
| Resident any-legal-weapon draw rate, 2025 (NDOW) | 0.8% (2 tags, demand 245) |
| Nonresident any-legal-weapon draw rate, 2025 (NDOW) | (1 tag, demand ) |
| Resident desert bighorn ram season, any legal weapon, 2026 | November 20 to January 1 |
| Towns in and near it | Caliente, Mesquite and Panaca |
How many desert bighorn sheep tags does NDOW issue in units 242 and 271?
NDOW issued 3 desert bighorn ram tags for unit group 242, 271 in 2025, against a quota of 3. 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 | 245 | 0.8% | 2 | 1 | 50% |
| Desert Bighorn Sheep Any Ram | Nonresident | Any legal weapon | Nov 20 - Jan 1 | 1 | 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 242 and 271?
2 of 3 hunters afield were successful in 2025, 67% 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 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 67% | 242, 271 |
| 2024 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 100% | 242, 271 |
| 2023 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 80% | 242, 271 |
| 2022 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 71% | 242, 271 |
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 242 and 271 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 | 271, 242** | 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 242 and 271?
96.5% of unit group 242, 271 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 1,196,170 of 1,240,012 acres. The largest share is BLM, 1,190,767 acres or 96%.
| Manager | Acres | Share |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 1,190,767 | 96% |
| State land | 5,403 | 0.4% |
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 242 | Lincoln | 1,050 | 97.3% | Caliente, Panaca and Beaverdam | Pronghorn antelope (115, 231, 242), Mule deer (241 - 245), Elk (241, 242) |
| Unit 271 | Lincoln, Clark | 888 | 95.5% | Mesquite | Mule deer (271, 272) |
How do you get to units 242 and 271?
No numbered highway crosses it. Along its boundary: I-15, NV 317, NV 319 and US 93. Towns and places inside: Caliente, Mesquite, Panaca and Beaverdam.
Which units border units 242 and 271?
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 223 | 97.3% | 221, 223 | Lincoln |
| Unit 231 | 96.5% | No desert bighorn sheep group page | Lincoln |
| Unit 241 | 99.3% | 241 | Lincoln |
| Unit 243 | 90.3% | 243 | Lincoln, Clark |
| Unit 244 | 68.4% | 244 | Clark |
| Unit 267 | 39.4% | 267 | Clark |
| Unit 268 | 75.9% | 268 | Clark |
| Unit 272 | 71.5% | 272 | Clark |
Questions hunters ask
How many desert bighorn sheep tags are there in units 242 and 271?
NDOW set a quota of 3 desert bighorn ram tags for unit group 242, 271 in 2025 and issued 3, across 2 hunts by residency, weapon and season. In 2024 it issued 4.
What is hunter success for desert bighorn sheep in units 242 and 271?
In 2025, 2 of the 3 hunters NDOW counted afield took a desert bighorn ram here, 67% across every hunt in the group.
How hard is it to draw a desert bighorn sheep tag in units 242 and 271?
NDOW's draw rate for the 2025 resident any-legal-weapon hunt here was 0.8%: a quota of 2 against a demand of 245. 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 242 and 271 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 242 and 271?
96.5% of the 1,240,012 acres, measured from BLM's surface management map; the largest share is BLM, 1,190,767 acres.
What is the closest town to units 242 and 271?
Caliente, Mesquite and Panaca are inside the group.
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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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