Unit 208 Unit 208
Low-density desert-bighorn ground in the Candelaria Hills and Excelsior Mountains — a small unit best joined to its neighbors.
Southwestern Nevada — Mineral / Esmeralda County line (NDOW Area 20) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
257
sq mi
Public land
97%
approx.
Elevation
4,000–8,700
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 208 is a compact ~257-square-mile block of southwestern Nevada centered on the Candelaria Hills, Excelsior Mountains and Miller Mountain, straddling the Mineral–Esmeralda county line south of Mina along US-95. It is almost entirely public desert with low overall game densities — desert bighorn are the main draw and carry the best recent harvest (roughly 83% five-year ram success), while antelope and mule deer are scarce. This is a small unit typically hunted in combination with its sister units; plan to cover a lot of dry country.
Terrain
Rugged, rocky desert hills and low ranges rising from broad, arid basins — the Candelaria Hills and Excelsior Mountains climb toward roughly 8,700 ft at Miller Mountain out of flats near 4,000 ft. It hunts as spread-out glassing country where you cover the whole unit to find the pockets holding game.
Cover: Salt desert scrub and shadscale on the basins, big sagebrush and bitterbrush on the bajadas, with scattered pinyon-juniper and mahogany on the higher slopes and rimrock. Springs and guzzlers are the game magnets in an otherwise dry unit.
Landmarks: Candelaria Hills · Excelsior Mountains · Miller Mountain · US-95 (Mina–Coaldale corridor) · Columbus Salt Marsh (south) · Candelaria mining district
Access
Nearly all BLM public land, reached by desert two-tracks and mining roads off US-95 between Mina and Coaldale. The historic Candelaria mining district means active and abandoned claims and workings dot the unit — respect posted ground and steer clear of open shafts and hazards. ATVs and side-by-sides are useful for the rough spur roads; high-clearance 4WD is the minimum.
Managers: BLM (Stillwater / Tonopah field offices), Private (mining claims and scattered ranch parcels)
Access points: US-95 between Mina and Coaldale Junction · Candelaria / mining-district access roads · BLM two-tracks into the Excelsior Mountains and Candelaria Hills
Species notes
Bighorn Sheep
limited qualityDesert bighorn are the unit's marquee tag and account for the best recent harvest here (roughly 83% five-year ram success on a small quota across the Candelaria/Excelsior country). It's a premium, essentially once-in-a-lifetime draw — sheep numbers are modest, so expect to hunt hard across rough desert ranges.
- →Glass the rocky rims, chutes and broken slopes of the Excelsior Mountains and Candelaria Hills from first light.
- →Locate and watch water sources (springs, guzzlers) pre-season and during warm hunts — rams tie to reliable water.
- →Be willing to cover the whole unit and drift into adjoining sister units; sheep concentrate in scattered pockets.
- →Judge rams carefully from a distance before committing to a long stalk in steep, loose ground.
Pronghorn
limited opportunityAntelope are thin here with only incidental recent harvest; tags are very limited draw. Expect a scattered, low-density hunt across the basins and to work for a representative buck.
- →Glass the open sagebrush and shadscale flats and low benches at dawn and dusk.
- →Key on the few dependable water sources during warm early seasons.
- →Cover ground between glassing points — low densities mean long looks between animals.
- →Consider hunting the broader unit complex rather than betting on one basin.
Mule Deer
limited lowMule deer are scarce in this small, dry unit with negligible recent harvest. Deer hold in the higher pinyon-juniper and mahogany pockets near water, but densities are too low to plan a trip around.
- →Focus on the upper pinyon-juniper, mahogany and rimrock near reliable water.
- →Glass shaded north slopes morning and evening.
- →Treat any mature buck as an incidental bonus while hunting sheep or antelope.
- →Hunt the least-disturbed heads of the ranges away from mining roads.
Pro tips
- →Hunt 208 in combination with its neighboring units — it's small and low-density, and the best strategy is covering the broader complex.
- →Water is everything: inventory springs and guzzlers before the hunt, since game concentrates on the few reliable sources.
- →Watch for abandoned mine shafts and workings throughout the Candelaria district — a real safety hazard, especially in the dark.
- →Run high-clearance 4WD or an ATV/side-by-side; many access spurs are rough mining two-tracks.
- →Pull NDOW's Hunt Information Sheet for the current bighorn quota and water-source list before you commit.
Watch out for
- !Open shafts and unstable workings across the historic Candelaria mining district.
- !Extreme heat and very scarce water on early hunts.
- !Low overall game densities — success here often depends on hunting the wider unit group, not just 208.
- !Clay/mining roads become impassable when wet; scattered private claims and posted ground require care.
Logistics
No towns inside the unit; Mina is the nearest tiny stop, with Coaldale Junction a fuel/road crossing. Fuel and basic services at Hawthorne (northwest) and full services at Tonopah (east). Camping is dispersed on BLM ground with no developed campgrounds in-unit. Cell service is essentially absent off US-95 — carry a satellite communicator, ample water, extra fuel and recovery gear.
Nearest towns: Mina, Coaldale Junction, Hawthorne, Tonopah
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 2021 Desert Bighorn Ram Hunt Summary · GoHunt — Nevada Unit 208 Profile
FAQ
- How big is Unit 208 in Nevada?
- Unit 208 (Unit 208) covers about 257 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,000 to 8,700 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 208?
- Approximately 97% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM (Stillwater / Tonopah field offices), Private (mining claims and scattered ranch parcels). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 208?
- Bighorn Sheep, Pronghorn, 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 208 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.