Unit 035 Unit 035
The Jackson Mountains northwest of Winnemucca: a top-tier California bighorn unit paired with excellent, high-success pronghorn.
Northwestern Nevada — Humboldt County (Jackson Mountains) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,707
sq mi
Public land
81%
approx.
Elevation
4,100–9,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 035 covers the Jackson Mountains and the surrounding Slumbering Hills, Bloody Run Hills, Desert Valley and Kings River country northwest of Winnemucca in Humboldt County. It is a standout for two species: California bighorn sheep — one of Nevada's premier trophy ram units, having produced 160-inch-plus rams alongside neighboring 034 — and pronghorn, which post outstanding success here (about 93% five-year). Mule deer are a moderate hunt (low-40s percent) in the higher, broken terrain. At roughly 81% public it runs a bit lower than the surrounding desert units because of private ag ground in the valleys and the Winnemucca interface, but access is generally good outside the Jackson Mountains wilderness.
Terrain
Basin-and-range: largely flat sage and desert valley floors (Desert Valley, Kings River Valley) rising into the steep, rugged Jackson Mountains topped by King Lear Peak (~8,900 ft), with the lower Slumbering Hills and Bloody Run Hills nearer Winnemucca. It hunts as open glassing country in the valleys and a steep, rocky foot-hunt in the range and wilderness interiors.
Cover: Big sagebrush, greasewood and grass-steppe across the valleys and lower hills, grading into bitterbrush, mountain mahogany and scattered aspen and spring-fed riparian pockets in the higher Jackson Mountains that hold deer and provide cover.
Landmarks: Jackson Mountains · King Lear Peak (~8,900 ft) · North & South Jackson Mountains Wilderness · Slumbering Hills · Bloody Run Hills · Desert Valley / Kings River Valley · Bottle Creek Road · U.S. Highway 95 (east boundary corridor)
Access
Predominantly BLM public land with good road access except for the two wilderness areas in the Jackson Mountains, which are foot-only. Bottle Creek Road splits the unit (east toward the Bloody Run and Slumbering Hills, west into the Jackson Mountains), and U.S. 95 anchors the eastern edge near Winnemucca. Private agricultural parcels in Desert Valley and the Kings River bottoms lower the public percentage — identify ownership before crossing to reach public ground.
Managers: BLM, Private (Desert Valley / Kings River agricultural ground)
Access points: U.S. Highway 95 (Winnemucca–Orovada corridor) · Bottle Creek Road (central north-south route) · State Route 140 (north access) · Jungo Road (south) · BLM roads into the Jackson Mountains foothills
Species notes
Pronghorn
abundant qualityAn excellent antelope unit — five-year success runs near 93%, among the better pronghorn hunts in the region. Good numbers and quality bucks across Desert Valley, the Kings River country and the flats below the Jackson Mountains.
- →Glass the broad sage valleys and benches from high points at first and last light — this is prime open pronghorn country.
- →Key on water and green ag edges in warm early seasons; bucks pattern to reliable water.
- →Use the low hills, swales and terrain folds to close on a located buck across the open flats.
- →With success this high, patience and glassing to find the best buck matter more than covering ground.
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyA premier California bighorn unit and an essentially once-in-a-lifetime tag — the Jackson Mountains rank with neighboring 034 as top ram country in Nevada, producing 160-inch-plus rams. Expect a genuinely physical sheep hunt in steep, roadless terrain.
- →Focus on the steepest, most broken rock of the Jackson Mountains, including the roadless wilderness interiors where the best rams live.
- →Plan for a hard, boots-heavy, multi-day hunt — much of the sheep country is foot-only wilderness.
- →Invest heavily in pre-season glassing to locate and pattern rams before opening day.
- →Be water-conscious and self-sufficient; the range interior is remote and dry.
Mule Deer
common opportunityA moderate desert deer hunt (low-40s percent success). Deer hold to the higher, broken terrain and spring pockets of the Jackson Mountains rather than the open valleys — this plays second fiddle to the antelope and sheep.
- →Hunt the higher Jackson Mountains and their springs and mahogany pockets, especially early and late in the season.
- →Glass canyon heads and aspen stringers at first and last light where bucks bed and shade.
- →Be willing to hike into the wilderness and roadless country for the better, less-pressured bucks.
- →Water sources are key movement hubs in this dry range — hunt near them.
Pro tips
- →This is a bucket-list unit for two tags: draw the antelope for near-93% success, or the California bighorn for a shot at a 160-plus ram.
- →Sheep hunters — plan for a hard, foot-only wilderness hunt in the Jackson Mountains; it earns its reputation as physical.
- →Base out of Winnemucca; full services on I-80 make logistics far easier than the surrounding remote units.
- →For antelope, glass Desert Valley and the Kings River flats and hunt water and ag edges in early heat.
- →Verify private ownership in Desert Valley and the Kings River bottoms before crossing to public ground.
- →Bottle Creek Road is the key artery — know which side of it your hunt (and tag area) falls on.
Watch out for
- !The two Jackson Mountains wilderness areas are closed to motorized travel — sheep and high-country deer hunts are foot-only.
- !Private agricultural ground in Desert Valley and the Kings River bottoms breaks up access — confirm ownership before crossing.
- !Range interior has no cell service and no services — go self-sufficient with water, fuel and recovery gear.
- !Early snow can seal the high Jackson Mountains and complicate late sheep/deer access.
- !Bighorn tags are very few — treat any draw as a rare, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Logistics
Winnemucca, at the southeast corner on I-80, is a full-service hub with lodging, groceries, fuel, gear and outfitters — a major advantage over the more isolated units nearby. Orovada (north on U.S. 95) has limited fuel and supplies, and Denio is minimal. Camp dispersed on BLM ground; there are no interior services in the Jackson Mountains. Cell coverage exists near Winnemucca and the U.S. 95 corridor but fades to nothing in the range interior — carry offline and paper maps and a satellite communicator. Roads are good on the main routes and rough two-track deeper in.
Nearest towns: Winnemucca, Orovada, Denio
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT — Nevada Unit 035 Unit Profile (Jackson Mountains, Slumbering Hills, Bloody Run Hills, 1,705 sq mi, elevation 4,100–9,000 ft, ~81.3% public BLM, deer/antelope/California bighorn, two wilderness areas, Winnemucca SE corner) · GOHUNT — Nevada bighorn application strategy (units 035 and 068 best trophy potential; 034 & 035 produced 160-inch-plus California rams) · NDOW 2025-2027 Big Game Seasons (Unit 035 boundary: Bottle Creek Road, SR-140, Jungo Road, U.S. 95; Jackson Mountains / Bloody Run / Slumbering Hills)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 035 in Nevada?
- Unit 035 (Unit 035) covers about 1,707 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,100 to 9,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 035?
- Approximately 81% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, Private (Desert Valley / Kings River agricultural ground). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 035?
- Pronghorn, Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Nevada agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 035 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.