Unit 242 Unit 242
Rainbow Canyon to the Utah line — a big, varied deer unit with an elk and desert-sheep bonus
Eastern Nevada — Lincoln County · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,051
sq mi
Public land
92%
approx.
Elevation
3,600–9,300
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 242 is the large eastern block of the Lincoln County unit group, running from State Route 319 near Panaca east to the Utah state line and south down Rainbow Canyon toward Elgin. It spans a genuine gradient — high, well-watered mountain country in the Wilson Creek and Fairview ranges and the Clover Mountains in the north, dropping into the outer edge of the Mojave Desert in the south. Mule deer are the headline and carry the tag numbers here, with a smaller Rocky Mountain elk herd and a few desert bighorn and pronghorn tags rounding it out. Expect a self-sufficient hunt across a lot of ground.
Terrain
A north-to-south gradient: pinyon-juniper foothills climbing to the forested crests of the Wilson Creek Range and Clover Mountains in the north, then long desert bajadas, rocky ranges, and the deep gorge of Rainbow Canyon (Meadow Valley Wash) in the south. The best deer densities sit in the Clover Mountains; the southern end hunts like true desert.
Cover: Wyoming big sagebrush and bitterbrush on the benches, dense pinyon-juniper woodland across the mid-slopes, ponderosa and white fir with aspen and mahogany on the high Wilson Creek and Clover crests, and creosote-blackbrush Mojave scrub with riparian ribbons along Meadow Valley Wash in the south.
Landmarks: Wilson Creek Range · Clover Mountains · Fairview Range · Rainbow Canyon (Meadow Valley Wash) · State Route 319 · State Route 317 · Tule Flat Road · Kershaw-Ryan State Park · Beaver Dam State Park · Elgin · Eagle Valley
Access
Overwhelmingly public BLM land (Ely District, Caliente Field Office) with scattered private ranch ground in the valleys around Ursine, Eagle Valley, and along Rainbow Canyon. State Route 319 forms the north boundary from Panaca to the Utah line; State Route 317 drops south through Rainbow Canyon; Tule Flat Road roughly marks the south boundary with spur roads reaching deer winter range. Note the BLM Clover Mountains and Mormon Mountains wilderness areas within the unit are closed to motorized travel.
Managers: BLM
Access points: State Route 319 (Panaca to Utah line) · State Route 317 (Rainbow Canyon) · Tule Flat Road · US-93 (west of unit) · Kershaw-Ryan State Park access
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityThe workhorse species and the reason most hunters draw this unit — deer carry the bulk of the tags with recent success around the high 50s percent. Densities are best in the Clover Mountains and the pinyon-juniper of the Wilson Creek and Fairview ranges.
- →Concentrate on the Clover Mountains and the timbered upper Wilson Creek Range where deer density is highest.
- →Glass the pinyon-juniper edges, mahogany pockets, and sage benches at first and last light before still-hunting the timber.
- →Follow the elevation with the weather — hunt high early, then work the Tule Flat winter-range spurs as snow pushes deer down.
- →Use Rainbow Canyon and State Route 317 to reach the middle of the unit, then hike away from the road corridor.
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited qualityA modest but established Rocky Mountain elk herd in the higher mountain country; a small number of tags with strong recent success (around 70%). This is a draw-only bonus, not a numbers hunt.
- →Hunt the high Wilson Creek Range and Clover Mountains near water, aspen, and meadow pockets on the crests.
- →Locate bulls by bugling and glassing the timber edges at dawn during the early season.
- →Be prepared to cover ground and pack out from remote high country far from roads.
Bighorn Sheep
limited qualityDesert bighorn hold in the rugged rocky ranges of the unit and produce a couple of tags a year — a premium, essentially once-in-a-lifetime draw. Success runs high for the few who draw.
- →Glass steep, broken rimrock and canyon country near guzzlers and springs from long range at first light.
- →Pull a Nevada guzzler atlas and pattern rams around reliable water before the hunt.
- →Plan long approaches on foot into rough, waterless terrain; bring top-tier optics and a spotting scope.
Pronghorn
limited opportunityAntelope occur thinly on the open valley floors and sage flats in the north end of the unit. Tag numbers are tiny and animals are scattered — a low-density opportunity rather than a destination pronghorn unit.
- →Glass the open sage basins of Eagle Valley and the northern flats near water at dawn.
- →Judge bucks carefully from long range in low-density country — quality over quantity of sightings.
- →Focus early-season effort near the limited springs and stock tanks where animals concentrate.
Pro tips
- →This is a deer-first unit — if you draw the tag, plan around the Clover Mountains and Wilson Creek Range where densities are best.
- →The unit is huge and varied; decide early whether you are hunting the north mountains or the southern desert and commit, rather than burning days driving between them.
- →Scout water before an early hunt — springs, guzzlers, and stock tanks concentrate every species when it's dry.
- →Respect the BLM wilderness boundaries (Clover Mountains, Mormon Mountains) — motorized travel is prohibited and you'll need to hike in.
- →Rainbow Canyon and State Route 317 are the spine of the middle unit, but the productive ground is off the road — get away from the corridor.
Watch out for
- !Very little cell service off the main highways — carry a satellite communicator and leave an itinerary.
- !Private ranch inholdings around Ursine, Eagle Valley, and Rainbow Canyon — verify boundaries before crossing.
- !Designated wilderness (Clover Mountains, Mormon Mountains) is closed to vehicles and ATVs.
- !The southern desert is waterless and remote; a breakdown far from pavement is a serious situation.
- !Storms drop early snow on the high country and turn desert clay roads impassable.
Logistics
Base out of Caliente or Panaca for fuel, food, and motels; Pioche adds limited services. There are no towns inside the unit and no reliable cell service off the highway corridors — bring a satellite messenger. Camp tent-style near timber and water in the north or on desert benches in the south; Kershaw-Ryan and Beaver Dam state parks offer developed sites near the edges. Haul water for desert hunts, carry 4WD and recovery gear for the spur roads, and plan for long drives between the north mountains and the southern desert.
Nearest towns: Caliente, Panaca, Pioche, Ursine, Elgin
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: NDOW Mule Deer Hunt Info Sheet — Units 241-245 · NDOW Hunt Information Sheets · GoHunt Nevada Unit 242 Profile (secondary cross-check)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 242 in Nevada?
- Unit 242 (Unit 242) covers about 1,051 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,600 to 9,300 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 242?
- Approximately 92% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 242?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Bighorn Sheep, Pronghorn. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Nevada agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 242 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.