Unit 206 Unit 206
Big, near-total-public desert-sheep country in the Excelsior Mountains and Garfield Hills
West-Central Nevada — Mineral & Esmeralda Counties · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
985
sq mi
Public land
97%
approx.
Elevation
5,000–8,800
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 206 is a rugged 985-square-mile block south of Hawthorne, made up of two steep, rocky ranges — the Excelsior Mountains and the Garfield Hills — plus the Candelaria and Miller Mountain country toward the California line. It's almost entirely public (roughly 97 percent) and best known for an expanding desert bighorn herd built by NDOW and Nevada Bighorns Unlimited transplants. Mule deer, pronghorn, and the occasional black bear round out a big-country, water-limited unit.
Terrain
Two steep, rocky desert ranges rising out of arid valleys, with substantial vertical relief and lots of ground to cover. It hunts as spot-and-stalk desert terrain — glass the rims, ridgelines and canyon heads, then commit to long stalks, keeping natural and man-made water sources central to your plan.
Cover: Salt desert scrub and big sagebrush on the flats and bajadas, scattered pinyon-juniper and rocky outcrops on the higher slopes; sparse and arid overall with game concentrated near water.
Landmarks: Excelsior Mountains · Garfield Hills · Candelaria Hills / historic Candelaria · Miller Mountain · Highway 95 · Highway 360 (Basalt/Coaldale area)
Access
Nearly all public land with good highway framing (Highway 95 to the north/east and routes toward Basalt and Coaldale to the south), but the interior is big, rough and remote. Most travel is on primitive BLM roads and requires high-clearance four-wheel drive; expect long approaches and lots of walking. Watch for restricted ground tied to the nearby Hawthorne Army Depot on the northern edge of the area.
Managers: BLM, USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF
Access points: Highway 95 (Hawthorne–Mina–Luning corridor) · Highway 360 / Basalt–Coaldale area · Candelaria access road · Primitive BLM roads into the Excelsior and Garfield ranges
Species notes
Bighorn Sheep
common trophyThe marquee hunt. A healthy and expanding desert bighorn herd, actively supplemented by NDOW/NBU transplants, supports a premium once-in-a-lifetime ram tag with strong success (recent harvest around five rams, low-80s percent). A genuine trophy-caliber sheep unit.
- →Glass the steep rims and escape terrain of the Excelsior Mountains and Garfield Hills at first light
- →Locate rams from a distance, then plan a patient stalk using terrain and wind
- →Center your camp and glassing on reliable water sources (natural and developed guzzlers)
- →Plan a multi-day, water-hauling backcountry effort — this is big, waterless country
Pronghorn
limited opportunityAntelope are scattered across the valleys and open foothills; success on the small tag quota is high (mid-70s percent). Thinly distributed, so the challenge is finding them, not closing the deal once you do.
- →Glass open valley floors and sage flats from elevated vantage points
- →Watch water sources during warm early hunts
- →Cover ground and use terrain to stalk located bucks
Mule Deer
limited opportunityA modest desert mule-deer presence, but the small tag posts a solid success rate (near 60 percent) for hunters who work the higher, better-covered country. A spot-and-stalk hunt, not a numbers unit.
- →Focus on the higher pinyon-juniper slopes, canyon heads and rocky pockets with cover and water
- →Hunt first and last light and glass patiently
- →Be ready to hike well away from roads
Black Bear
transient lowBlack bears are marginal here — 206 is well east of Nevada's core Sierra-front bear range, so any bear is transient. Managed within a broad western-Nevada bear area (mid-30s percent success across that area); do not plan a trip around it.
- →Only a bonus if you cross fresh sign — check the higher, wetter drainages and food sources
- →Treat bear as opportunistic while pursuing other tags
Pro tips
- →This is an expanding, transplant-supported bighorn herd — if you draw a ram tag, treat 206 as a serious trophy-sheep hunt and scout water sources hard
- →It's 'big country': budget for long approaches, lots of glassing, and hauling your own water
- →Verify access around the Hawthorne Army Depot boundary on the north edge of the area
- →High-clearance 4WD is essential; interior BLM roads are rough and turn impassable when wet
- →Don't build a trip around bear — it's a marginal, transient species this far east of the Sierra front
- →Historic sites like Candelaria dot the unit; respect mining hazards and stay out of old shafts and adits
Watch out for
- !Restricted federal ground associated with the Hawthorne Army Depot near the northern boundary
- !Extremely arid, waterless terrain — dehydration and vehicle-stranding are the primary hazards
- !Abandoned mines and open shafts around Candelaria and other historic districts
- !Rough primitive roads become impassable when wet; carry recovery gear and spare tires
- !No cell service away from the Highway 95 corridor
Logistics
Hawthorne on Highway 95 is the main hub for fuel, groceries and lodging; Mina and Luning offer minimal services, and the Coaldale/Basalt junction area to the south is sparse. Camping is dispersed on BLM ground — pack in all your water, as reliable sources are scarce. Cell service is limited to the highway corridor; carry a satellite communicator and offline maps.
Nearest towns: Hawthorne, Mina, Luning, Coaldale
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 2023 Big Game Hunt Unit Map Insert · GOHUNT Nevada Unit 206 Profile (secondary cross-check)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 206 in Nevada?
- Unit 206 (Unit 206) covers about 985 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,000 to 8,800 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 206?
- Approximately 97% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 206?
- Bighorn Sheep, Pronghorn, Mule Deer, 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 206 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.