Unit 243 Unit 243
Meadow Valley Range desert-sheep country between Caliente and Glendale
Southeastern Nevada — Lincoln County · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
550
sq mi
Public land
90%
approx.
Elevation
1,600–5,500
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Unit 243 is a rugged desert unit built around the Meadow Valley Range, running down the west side of Meadow Valley Wash roughly 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas between Caliente and the Glendale/Moapa corner. This is desert bighorn sheep country first and foremost — steep cliffs, hidden canyons, and very little water — and recent sheep hunters have posted excellent success. Deer are a marginal, incidental presence at best. Come for the premium sheep tag and plan for a hot, waterless, boot-leather hunt.
Terrain
Classic Mojave sheep terrain — a steep, broken desert range of rocky cliffs, ledges, and tight canyons rising off the surrounding bajadas. Sheep hold in the cliff bands and rimrock; the harsh climate and scarce water dictate where animals live and where you can hunt.
Cover: Sparse creosote-blackbrush and Mojave desert scrub on the bajadas, with cacti, catclaw, and desert shrubs in the drainages; riparian threads along Meadow Valley Wash. Cover is thin — this is a glassing game.
Landmarks: Meadow Valley Range · Meadow Valley Wash · Rainbow Canyon · State Route 317 · Kane Springs · Glendale · Moapa
Access
Predominantly public BLM land (Ely District, Caliente Field Office) with private ground and the Union Pacific rail corridor threading Meadow Valley Wash. Reach the north end via State Route 317 and Rainbow Canyon out of Caliente; the south end ties to the I-15/Glendale area. Interior access is limited — much of the range is roadless, and hunters should plan on long hikes from the surrounding roads rather than driving to the sheep.
Managers: BLM
Access points: State Route 317 (Rainbow Canyon) · Kane Springs Road · US-93 (west) · Glendale / I-15 (south)
Species notes
Bighorn Sheep
common qualityThe marquee species and the reason to draw this unit — the Meadow Valley Range holds a solid desert bighorn population and recent tag holders have filled at very high rates. This is a premium, essentially once-in-a-lifetime draw.
- →Glass the steep cliff bands, ledges, and canyon heads from long range at first and last light — rams live in the roughest rock.
- →Pull a Nevada guzzler atlas and watch water sources; sheep are commonly seen near guzzlers and the few reliable springs.
- →Be prepared for long, waterless hikes into isolated canyons where pressure is lowest and the biggest rams hold.
- →Bring top-tier optics and a spotting scope on a tripod — judging rams at distance is the whole game here.
Mule Deer
limited lowDeer are a marginal presence — this is not deer country. A stray doe or small buck turns up in the wash bottoms and north end, but harvest is minimal and incidental.
- →Only worth targeting incidentally while sheep hunting; check the greener drainages and wash edges near water.
- →Do not build a trip around deer here — the terrain and forage favor sheep, not deer.
Pro tips
- →This is a sheep unit — draw the tag, then spend your scouting on water sources and cliff bands, not deer.
- →Get a guzzler atlas and glass water at dawn and dusk; guzzlers are the single best pattern in this waterless range.
- →Success correlates directly with how far you're willing to hike from the road into the roughest canyons.
- →Carry far more water than you think you need — heat, not sheep numbers, is what ends most hunts early.
- →Invest in optics; you'll find and judge most rams at long range before ever moving.
Watch out for
- !Extremely hot and waterless — heat exhaustion and dehydration are the primary hazards.
- !Steep, loose cliff and ledge terrain; a fall in remote canyon country is a serious risk.
- !Little to no cell service off the highways — carry a satellite communicator and leave an itinerary.
- !Private ground and the active Union Pacific rail line along Meadow Valley Wash — respect boundaries and the tracks.
- !Flash-flood potential in the washes during rare desert storms.
Logistics
Base out of Caliente to the north or the Glendale/Moapa and Mesquite area to the south for fuel, food, and lodging; Las Vegas is the nearest full-service hub. There are no towns inside the unit. Cell service is spotty to nonexistent off the highways — carry a satellite messenger. Haul all your drinking water; this is a hot, dry desert unit with no reliable resupply. Camp on desert benches near the road corridors and hike in.
Nearest towns: Caliente, Elgin, Glendale, Moapa, Alamo
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 243 Profile (secondary cross-check)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 243 in Nevada?
- Unit 243 (Unit 243) covers about 550 square miles, ranging from roughly 1,600 to 5,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 243?
- Approximately 90% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 243?
- 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 243 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.