Nevada mule deer hunting in unit 231
Unit 231 is a single unit in Lincoln County: 1,138,286 acres, 96.5% public land, mostly BLM (1,098,545 acres), measured from BLM's surface management map. In 2025, NDOW issued 135 antlered mule deer tags here across 6 hunts; 128 hunters went afield and 73 were successful (57% of those who hunted, worked out from NDOW's two figures). NDOW's draw rate for the resident any-legal-weapon hunt was 4%: 69 tags for a demand of 1,549.
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 landNational Park ServiceUnit 231Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Units | 231 |
|---|---|
| County | Lincoln |
| NDOW region | Southern Region |
| Size | 1,138,286 acres (1,779 square miles) |
| Public land | 96.5% (1,098,651 acres) |
| Antlered mule deer tags, 2025 | 135 issued, quota 135 |
| Successful hunters, 2025 | 73 of 128 afield |
| Resident any-legal-weapon draw rate, 2025 (NDOW) | 4% (69 tags, demand 1,549) |
| Nonresident any-legal-weapon draw rate, 2025 (NDOW) | 0.3% (4 tags, demand 1,282) |
| Resident antlered mule deer season, any legal weapon, 2026 | October 5 to 31 |
| Towns in and near it | Pioche, Mount Wilson, Ursine and Caliente |
How many mule deer tags does NDOW issue in unit 231?
NDOW issued 135 antlered mule deer tags for unit 231 in 2025, against a quota of 135. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer Antlered | Resident | Any legal weapon | Oct 5 - Oct 31 | 69 | 69 | 1,549 | 4% | 63 | 43 | 68% |
| Mule Deer Antlered | Resident | Archery | Aug 10 - Sep 9 | 36 | 36 | 115 | 31% | 35 | 13 | 37% |
| Mule Deer Antlered | Resident | Muzzleloader | Sep 10 - Oct 4 | 20 | 20 | 81 | 25% | 20 | 11 | 55% |
| Mule Deer Antlered | Nonresident | Any legal weapon | Oct 5 - Oct 31 | 4 | 4 | 1,282 | 0.3% | 4 | 3 | 75% |
| Mule Deer Antlered | Nonresident | Archery | Aug 10 - Sep 9 | 4 | 4 | 310 | 1% | 4 | 2 | 50% |
| Mule Deer Antlered | Nonresident | Muzzleloader | Sep 10 - Oct 4 | 2 | 2 | 102 | 2% | 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 mule deer in unit 231?
73 of 128 hunters afield were successful in 2025, 57% across the group's hunts. For the resident any legal weapon hunt (Oct 5 - Oct 31), NDOW reports 51% of the harvest were bucks with 4 or more points. The group year by year:
| Year | Hunts | Quota | Tags issued | Hunters afield | Successful hunters | Success, all hunts | Labels NDOW used for the group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 135 | 135 | 128 | 73 | 57% | 231 |
| 2024 | 6 | 109 | 109 | 95 | 47 | 49% | 231 |
| 2023 | 6 | 71 | 71 | 66 | 33 | 50% | 231 |
| 2022 | 6 | 63 | 63 | 59 | 33 | 56% | 231 |
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.
What other mule deer hunts cover these units?
NDOW's other 2025 mule deer hunts with exactly this unit group:
| Hunt | Residency | Weapon | Season | Quota | Tags issued | Demand | NDOW draw rate | Hunters afield | Successful | Hunter success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer Guided Antlered | Nonresident | Any legal weapon | Oct 5 - Oct 31 | 3 | 3 | 116 | 3% | 3 | 1 | 33% |
| Mule Deer Junior | Resident | Special weapon restriction | Aug 10 - Oct 31 | 67 | 67 | 188 | 36% | 58 | 42 | 72% |
Source: NDOW Big Game Hunt Statistics (2022 to 2025; 2025 from NDOW's 2025 hunt data workbook).
When is mule deer season in unit 231 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1331 | Resident Mule Deer - Antlered | Any Legal Weapon | 231 | Oct 5 - Oct 31 | Oct 5 - Oct 31 |
| 1332 | Nonresident Mule Deer - Antlered | Any Legal Weapon | 231 | Oct 5 - Oct 31 | Oct 5 - Oct 31 |
| 1371 | Resident Mule Deer - Antlered | Muzzleloader | 231 | Sep 10 - Oct 4 | Sep 10 - Oct 4 |
| 1372 | Nonresident Mule Deer - Antlered | Muzzleloader | 231 | Sep 10 - Oct 4 | Sep 10 - Oct 4 |
| 1341 | Resident Mule Deer - Antlered | Archery | 231 | Aug 10 - Sep 9 | Aug 10 - Sep 9 |
| 1342 | Nonresident Mule Deer - Antlered | Archery | 231 | Aug 10 - Sep 9 | Aug 10 - Sep 9 |
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 231?
96.5% of unit 231 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 1,098,651 of 1,138,286 acres. The largest share is BLM, 1,098,545 acres or 96.5%.
| Manager | Acres | Share |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 1,098,545 | 96.5% |
| State land | 106 | under 0.1% |
| Military and Energy Department | 6 | under 0.1% |
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).
Other species NDOW groups with unit 231: Pronghorn antelope (115, 231, 242), Elk.
How do you get to unit 231?
Highways through it: NV 322 (about 18 miles inside) and NV 85 (about 7 miles inside). Along its boundary: US 93 and NV 319. Towns and places inside: Pioche, Mount Wilson, Ursine and Dry Valley. Nearby: Caliente (11 miles).
Which units border unit 231?
4 hunt units touch unit 231. Their public land and their own mule deer group:
| Unit | Public land | Mule deer page | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 115 | 93.6% | 114, 115 | White Pine |
| Unit 222 | 98.3% | 221 - 223 | Lincoln, White Pine |
| Unit 223 | 97.3% | 221 - 223 | Lincoln |
| Unit 242 | 97.3% | 241 - 245 | Lincoln |
Questions hunters ask
How many mule deer tags are there in unit 231?
NDOW set a quota of 135 antlered mule deer tags for unit 231 in 2025 and issued 135, across 6 hunts by residency, weapon and season. In 2024 it issued 109.
What is hunter success for mule deer in unit 231?
In 2025, 73 of the 128 hunters NDOW counted afield took an antlered mule deer here, 57% across every hunt in the group. For the resident any legal weapon hunt (Oct 5 - Oct 31), NDOW reports 51% of the harvest were bucks with 4 or more points.
How hard is it to draw a mule deer tag in unit 231?
NDOW's draw rate for the 2025 resident any-legal-weapon hunt here was 4%: a quota of 69 against a demand of 1,549. For nonresidents it was 0.3% (4 tags, demand 1,282). NDOW describes the draw rate as quota divided by demand; it does not account for bonus points.
When is mule deer season in unit 231 in 2026?
For antlered mule deer, NDOW's 2026-2027 regulation sets: resident archery, August 10 to September 9; resident muzzleloader, September 10 to October 4; resident any legal weapon, October 5 to 31; nonresident archery, August 10 to September 9; nonresident muzzleloader, September 10 to October 4; nonresident any legal weapon, October 5 to 31.
How much public land is in unit 231?
96.5% of the 1,138,286 acres, measured from BLM's surface management map; the largest share is BLM, 1,098,545 acres.
What is the closest town to unit 231?
Pioche, Mount Wilson and Ursine are inside the unit. Just outside: Caliente (11 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.