Unit 252 Unit 252
Stonewall Mountain and the northern Grapevines, wedged against the Nellis boundary west of US 95
South-Central Nevada — Nye County · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
408
sq mi
Public land
98%
approx.
Elevation
4,600–8,200
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 252 is a compact, arid unit in southern Nye County built around Stonewall Mountain, Paiute Mesa, and the northern tip of the Grapevine Mountains, lying west of US Highway 95 between Goldfield and Beatty and just north of Death Valley National Park. It is a hard, thinly populated big-game unit — mule deer are sparse and the eastern edge across US 95 falls inside the closed Nellis Air Force Range — so plan a low-density, high-effort hunt across brushy desert terrain. No unit-specific harvest data was available, so expectations here are set from geography rather than a track record.
Terrain
Open desert flats and mesas rising to isolated peaks — Stonewall Mountain and the northern Grapevines are the high ground above surrounding brush basins. Roads reach most of the foothills, but the higher and more broken country requires hiking through brushy desert terrain.
Cover: Great Basin–Mojave transition brush: shadscale, saltbush, greasewood, and sagebrush on the flats grading into scattered pinyon-juniper and blackbrush on the higher slopes of Stonewall Mountain and the Grapevines.
Landmarks: Stonewall Mountain · Paiute Mesa · Grapevine Mountains (north end) · Stonewall Flat · Sarcobatus Flat · US Highway 95 · Death Valley NP boundary (west)
Access
Overwhelmingly public BLM land (Battle Mountain District, Tonopah Field Office), reached off US Highway 95 with roads accessing most of the foothills; deeper and higher country requires hiking. The eastern portion across US 95 lies within the Nellis Air Force Range and is closed to public entry — do not cross the range boundary. The western edge abuts Death Valley National Park, where separate NPS rules apply.
Managers: BLM
Access points: US Highway 95 (Goldfield / Scottys Junction / Beatty) · Stonewall Mountain foothill roads · Paiute Mesa roads
Species notes
Mule Deer
limited lowDeer are sparse across this unit — NDOW notes few if any deer in the 252-254 country — so this is a low-density, low-expectation deer hunt driven by scouting and water rather than herd numbers.
- →Concentrate early efforts within a mile or two of the few perennial water sources; deer disperse only after late-fall precipitation.
- →Glass the higher, brushier slopes of Stonewall Mountain and the northern Grapevines where the little cover and moisture concentrate deer.
- →Study maps hard before the hunt — success here comes from knowing water and terrain, not from covering random ground.
Pronghorn
limited opportunityThe open flats around Stonewall Flat and the edges of Sarcobatus Flat can hold scattered antelope typical of these south-central Nevada basins. Numbers are low and tags limited; treat any opportunity as a glassing hunt across big, empty country.
- →Glass the wide-open flats and low benches at dawn and dusk and use the sparse terrain relief to stalk.
- →Key on water in dry conditions — the few springs and tanks concentrate animals.
- →Cover ground with quality optics from high points before committing to any approach.
Pro tips
- →Set expectations low — this is a thin, high-effort desert unit, not a numbers hunt.
- →Find and mark every reliable water source before the hunt; it is the single biggest driver of where animals will be.
- →Know precisely where the Nellis range boundary sits east of US 95 and never cross it — the closure is strictly enforced.
- →Watch the western Death Valley National Park boundary, where hunting is not allowed and NPS rules apply.
- →Come with 4WD and recovery gear; deeper country is rough and remote.
Watch out for
- !The eastern portion across US 95 is inside the closed Nellis Air Force Range — accidental entry brings serious consequences.
- !The western boundary abuts Death Valley National Park; confirm you are on BLM ground before hunting.
- !Water is very scarce; failing to scout it wastes the trip.
- !No cell service and no facilities inside the unit — a breakdown or injury is serious without a satellite communicator.
- !Deer densities are genuinely low here — manage expectations and consider it a scouting-driven hunt.
Logistics
Plan to be self-contained. Fuel, food, and lodging are in Goldfield, Beatty, and Tonopah along US 95; there are no services inside the unit. Camp near foothill roads and haul your own water. Cell service is limited to nonexistent away from the highway — carry a satellite messenger. Bring extra fuel, water, spare tires, and recovery gear, and confirm BLM fire restrictions before you go.
Nearest towns: Goldfield, NV, Beatty, NV, Scottys Junction, NV, Tonopah, NV
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 251, 252, 253, 254 · NDOW Hunt Information Sheets · GoHunt Nevada Unit 252 Profile (secondary cross-check)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 252 in Nevada?
- Unit 252 (Unit 252) covers about 408 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,600 to 8,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 252?
- Approximately 98% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 252?
- Mule Deer, Pronghorn. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Nevada agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 252 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.