Unit 183 Unit 183
The rugged Clan Alpine Mountains north of Highway 50: one of the region's best antelope and desert-bighorn units, with scattered high-desert mule deer.
West-central Nevada — Churchill County (NDOW Area 18) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,465
sq mi
Public land
93%
approx.
Elevation
3,400–9,967
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Unit 183 is a large (~1,465 sq mi) unit centered on the Clan Alpine Mountains and their flanking valleys, sitting between Dixie Valley to the west and Edwards Creek Valley to the east and rising just north of US Highway 50. It is overwhelmingly BLM country, including the Clan Alpine Mountains Wilderness, and holds one of the area's stronger antelope populations (about 90% five-year success) plus a steady, prized desert bighorn herd (roughly 270 animals in the range) that supports a very high-success ram hunt. Desert mule deer are scattered at moderate densities (about 46% success). Expect remote, physical, water-limited hunting with the highway as your only nearby lifeline.
Terrain
A steep, high desert range flanked by broad valleys. Dixie Valley and Edwards Creek Valley floors sit near 3,400-5,500 ft, while the Clan Alpine crest climbs to Mount Augusta at about 9,967 ft — nearly a mile and a half of relief. The range is rugged and canyon-cut, hunting as open glassing ground on the fans and sage benches with rocky, broken cliff country and timbered pockets up high where sheep and deer hold.
Cover: Salt-desert scrub and greasewood on the valley floors, big sagebrush and bitterbrush on the fans and benches, and mountain mahogany, scattered aspen, juniper and pinyon plus spring-fed riparian brush in the higher canyons. Springs and green pockets concentrate game in the dry country.
Landmarks: Clan Alpine Mountains · Mount Augusta (~9,967 ft, range high point) · Clan Alpine Mountains Wilderness · Dixie Valley (west) · Edwards Creek Valley (east) · New Pass Range (east) · US Highway 50 (south boundary) · Highway 722 / Carroll Summit Road (south)
Access
Nearly all public BLM land, but a large part of the core range lies within the Clan Alpine Mountains Wilderness, which is closed to motorized and mechanized travel — the high sheep and deer ground is foot- or horse-access only. Dirt and gravel roads off US-50, Highway 722 and the Dixie Valley and Edwards Creek Valley bottoms give access to the range flanks and canyon mouths. Private ranch parcels sit in the valley bottoms; respect property lines and any water/ranch inholdings.
Managers: BLM (Carson City District / Stillwater Field Office), Private (valley-bottom ranches in Dixie & Edwards Creek Valleys)
Access points: US Highway 50 (south side, Middlegate/Cold Springs area) · Highway 722 / Carroll Summit Road (southeast) · Dixie Valley Road (west flank) · Edwards Creek Valley roads (east flank)
Species notes
Pronghorn
common qualityAntelope are the unit's premier draw, with about 90% five-year success and a solid harvest, reflecting good buck quality across the sage flats of Dixie and Edwards Creek Valleys. Tags are limited-draw, so an outing here is a well-earned, high-odds opportunity at a mature buck.
- →Glass the broad sage flats and low benches of both flanking valleys from vantage points at first and last light.
- →Key on water sources and green pockets in warm early seasons; bucks pattern to water.
- →Use washes, swales and terrain folds to stalk into a located buck across the open ground.
- →Scout pre-season to inventory and pattern the better bucks before pressure builds.
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyThe Clan Alpine desert bighorn herd has held steady near 270 animals and supports a small, very high-success ram hunt (essentially 100% five-year success on a handful of tags). Drawing this tag is a once-in-a-lifetime Nevada event — plan the trophy hunt accordingly.
- →Focus the steep escarpments, rims and canyon heads of the Clan Alpine crest inside and around the Wilderness where rams hold.
- →Glass across canyons from high vantages at dawn and dusk and be ready to relocate over multiple days.
- →Watch reliable springs and guzzlers during late-summer heat — sheep tie to water.
- →Plan foot/horse access into the Wilderness and pack for extended, rugged backcountry days.
Mule Deer
limited opportunityDesert mule deer are scattered through the range at moderate densities (about 46% five-year success), holding in the higher mahogany, aspen and canyon country and around water. It's an opportunity deer unit where the better bucks live in the roughest, least-accessible ground.
- →Glass upper canyons, mahogany benches and shaded draws morning and evening.
- →Hunt near reliable springs and green riparian pockets, especially early in the season.
- →Hike into the Wilderness and canyon heads off the roads for older, less-pressured bucks.
- →Let late-season movement and cooler weather pull bucks into the open for you.
Pro tips
- →Map the water first — springs and guzzlers dictate where sheep, deer and antelope hold in this dry range.
- →Know the Clan Alpine Wilderness boundary: no motorized/mechanized travel inside, so plan foot or horse access for the high country.
- →Bring top-tier optics and a tripod; this unit rewards patient glassing over road hunting.
- →For antelope, split your time between Dixie Valley and Edwards Creek Valley to find the best buck groups.
- →Carry extra fuel and water — nearest reliable services are Fallon or Austin, both a long way off.
Watch out for
- !Clan Alpine Mountains Wilderness — motorized and mechanized travel prohibited; game carts and vehicles not allowed inside.
- !Private ranch and water parcels in Dixie Valley and Edwards Creek Valley — know property lines.
- !Steep, rugged bighorn/deer terrain far from help; no cell service off the highway.
- !Dirt roads become impassable when wet, and early snow can close the high country abruptly.
Logistics
Fallon to the west and Austin to the east on US-50 are the practical resupply points for fuel, food and lodging; Middlegate and Cold Springs offer limited highway services only. Off the highway there are no services — carry extra fuel, water and recovery gear. Camping is dispersed on BLM ground. Cell coverage is essentially absent once you leave the US-50 corridor, and dirt roads turn to mud after rain or snow.
Nearest towns: Fallon, Middlegate, Cold Springs (Hwy 50), Austin
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: NDOW Hunt Information Sheets · NDOW Big Game Status Report (unit-group & bighorn data) · Clan Alpine Mountains — Wikipedia (geography/elevation) · Friends of Nevada Wilderness — Clan Alpine Mountains Wilderness
FAQ
- How big is Unit 183 in Nevada?
- Unit 183 (Unit 183) covers about 1,465 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,400 to 9,967 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 183?
- Approximately 93% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM (Carson City District / Stillwater Field Office), Private (valley-bottom ranches in Dixie & Edwards Creek Valleys). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 183?
- 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 183 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.