Unit 202 Unit 202
The Wassuk Range and Mount Grant: a premium California bighorn tag over Walker Lake, with migratory deer and a marginal antelope herd.
Western Nevada — Mineral County (Wassuk Range / Walker Lake) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
893
sq mi
Public land
86%
approx.
Elevation
6,000–11,239
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Unit 202 is a large (~893-square-mile) western Nevada unit built around the rugged Wassuk Range rising steeply off the west shore of Walker Lake near Hawthorne, crowned by 11,239-foot Mount Grant. It is roughly 86% public — a mix of BLM ground and the sprawling Hawthorne Army Depot — and its signature is California bighorn sheep, which hold in the steep, rocky range core and support a small but essentially 100%-success tag. Mule deer are largely migratory (about 59% five-year success on limited local numbers), antelope are a marginal herd that has still kicked out Boone & Crockett bucks, and the unit falls within western Nevada's limited black bear range.
Terrain
Big, steep, and rocky. The Wassuk Range climbs abruptly from around 6,000 ft near Walker Lake and the surrounding basins to 11,239 ft on Mount Grant, with sheer canyons, talus and broken rimrock making up the sheep core. Lower benches and valley flats open into glassable sage country; the high range is a serious mountaineering hunt.
Cover: Salt-desert scrub and sagebrush on the valley floors and lower fans, rising through pinyon-juniper and mountain mahogany into limber pine, aspen pockets and sparse alpine on the highest slopes of Mount Grant. Water is scarce and concentrates game across the dry country.
Landmarks: Wassuk Range · Mount Grant (11,239 ft) · Walker Lake · Hawthorne Army Depot · Whiskey Flat / Hawthorne area · Corey Peak / Cory Peak vicinity
Access
About 86% public, but a major share is the Hawthorne Army Depot, which carries access restrictions and closures — do not assume the depot is open ground; verify current access rules before hunting near or on it. The balance is BLM and some Forest Service land on the Wassuk slopes. Roads reach the range base from US 95 around Hawthorne and Walker Lake; the high sheep country is foot-access only. Camping is prohibited within 100 yards of water holes, and OHV registration is required.
Managers: BLM, Hawthorne Army Depot (restricted), USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF
Access points: US 95 corridor (Hawthorne, Walker Lake, Schurz) · Cottonwood Canyon / Wassuk Range access roads · BLM roads to the range base off the highway
Species notes
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyCalifornia bighorn are the unit's crown jewel, holding in the steep, rocky heart of the Wassuk Range. The tag is tiny and highly coveted but essentially 100% success — a premium, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the hunter who draws it.
- →Treat a sheep tag as a full-season, whole-mountain effort — glass the rimrock, talus and broken canyons of the Wassuk core relentlessly from long range.
- →Locate rams during pre-season scouting from valley vantage points, then plan committed foot approaches through steep rock.
- →Focus on the most rugged, least-accessible escape terrain around and below Mount Grant where mature rams live.
- →Be ready for real mountaineering — hydration, footwear and physical conditioning define success here.
Mule Deer
limited opportunityDeer numbers are limited and largely migratory — hunters typically catch animals moving through the range rather than a big resident herd — but five-year success still runs a respectable ~59% for those who put in the effort in the right window.
- →Time your hunt to deer movement — the best odds come as animals migrate through the Wassuk country.
- →Glass mahogany and aspen pockets on the mid-slopes and the transitions between sage benches and steeper terrain.
- →Hunt water in the dry early season; sources are scarce and pull deer and other game.
- →Cover ground — with a thin, moving deer population, mobility and glassing beat sitting one spot.
Pronghorn
limited opportunityAntelope are a marginal herd here on relatively few tags, but the country has produced quality — including Boone & Crockett-class bucks — so a drawn tag carries genuine upside despite low numbers. Five-year success is high (~78%) on the small quota.
- →Glass the open sage flats and benches around the range base and adjacent basins from high points morning and evening.
- →Key on water in warm early conditions — pronghorn pattern to scarce sources in this dry country.
- →Given the marginal density, invest heavily in pre-season scouting to locate the few good bucks before opening day.
- →Use terrain folds to close on a located buck rather than chasing across open ground.
Black Bear
transient opportunityThe unit lies within western Nevada's limited, expanding black bear range, but bears here are thin and transient rather than a reliable resident population. The tag/season is managed across the western Nevada bear zone (~34% area-wide success).
- →Focus any bear effort on the higher timbered draws, aspen and riparian pockets of the Wassuk Range.
- →Work natural food sources — mast and berry pockets — at first and last light.
- →Keep expectations realistic; bear encounters this far from the Sierra core are opportunistic.
Pro tips
- →A Wassuk sheep tag is a marquee, once-in-a-lifetime draw — plan a full-season, mountaineering-grade effort around Mount Grant's rocky core.
- →Verify Hawthorne Army Depot access rules before you hunt — a big chunk of the 'public' acreage is restricted military ground.
- →For deer, hunt the migration window and stay mobile; there's no big resident herd to sit on.
- →Scout water hard for both deer and antelope in the dry early season — sources are scarce and concentrate game.
- →Antelope numbers are marginal but the buck quality can be exceptional — pre-scout to find the few standout bucks.
- →Camp 100+ yards from water holes and register your OHV — both are enforced local rules.
Watch out for
- !Hawthorne Army Depot access restrictions and closures — confirm current rules; don't assume it's open hunting ground.
- !Extremely steep, rocky Wassuk terrain and 11,239-ft Mount Grant — sheep country is a serious, hazardous climb.
- !Scarce water and long dry stretches — carry ample water and plan resupply.
- !Early high-country snow can make steep terrain dangerous and cut off upper access.
- !Local rules: no camping within 100 yards of water holes; OHV registration required.
- !Limited cell service away from Hawthorne — go self-sufficient with offline maps.
Logistics
Hawthorne on US 95 is the local hub with fuel, lodging, groceries and basic services; Walker Lake and Schurz offer limited stops, and Yerington to the north is another supply point. Camping is largely dispersed on BLM ground — remember the 100-yard-from-water rule and required OHV registration. Cell service is limited outside Hawthorne and drops off in the range. Roads reach the mountain base from the highway; beyond that expect rough two-tracks and long foot approaches into the high country.
Nearest towns: Hawthorne, Walker Lake, Schurz, Yerington
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: NDOW — Big Game Status Book and Hunt Information Sheets (Wassuk Range California bighorn, migratory mule deer, marginal antelope herd, western Nevada bear management) · GOHUNT — Nevada Unit 202 Unit Profile (Wassuk Range, ~892 sq mi, elevation ~6,000–11,000 ft, ~85.8% public incl. Hawthorne Army Depot, good sheep herd, marginal antelope with B&C bucks, migratory deer, 100-yard water-hole camping rule, OHV registration)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 202 in Nevada?
- Unit 202 (Unit 202) covers about 893 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,000 to 11,239 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 202?
- Approximately 86% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, Hawthorne Army Depot (restricted), USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 202?
- Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Nevada agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 202 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.