Unit 265 Unit 265
Lake Mohave's rugged shoreline peaks — a healthy, accessible desert bighorn unit
Southeastern Nevada — Clark County (South Eldorado Mountains) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
274
sq mi
Public land
95%
approx.
Elevation
640–5,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 265 covers the southern Eldorado Mountains along the Colorado River and Lake Mohave, near Nelson and Searchlight in southeastern Clark County. Roughly half the unit lies within Lake Mead National Recreation Area, giving it good access and classic desert-sheep terrain. It is a dedicated, effectively once-in-a-lifetime desert bighorn ram unit with a very healthy herd; sheep are the only hunted big-game resource here.
Terrain
Steep, rocky desert mountains and slickrock canyons dropping to the Lake Mohave shoreline. Broken ridges, washes, and cliff-bands make for prime spot-and-stalk sheep country with strong glassing from the ridgelines and river breaks.
Cover: Mojave desert scrub — creosote, brittlebush, cholla and cactus on the bajadas, sparse desert grasses and pockets of riparian growth in canyon bottoms and along the river. Open, cover-poor terrain that favors glassing.
Landmarks: Ireteba Peaks / Ireteba Peaks Wilderness · Keyhole Canyon · White Rock Wash · Eldorado Mountains · Lake Mohave / Colorado River · Nelson & Eldorado Canyon
Access
Nearly all public, split between Lake Mead NRA (NPS) on the river side and BLM land to the west. Good road access via the Nelson/Eldorado Canyon corridor off SR 165 and spurs off US-95, plus boat access from Lake Mohave. The Ireteba Peaks Wilderness is non-motorized. Standard NRA rules apply on the park side.
Managers: NPS Lake Mead National Recreation Area, BLM
Access points: SR 165 / Nelson & Eldorado Canyon Road · US-95 corridor west of the range · Cottonwood Cove Road · Lake Mohave boat access · Ireteba Peaks Wilderness (foot only)
Species notes
Bighorn Sheep
abundant trophyA very healthy, high-density desert bighorn herd centered on Ireteba Peaks, Keyhole Canyon, and White Rock Wash. A prized, essentially once-in-a-lifetime ram tag with recent harvest success at 100% and reliable trophy potential.
- →Glass the Ireteba Peaks, Keyhole Canyon, and White Rock Wash country where most rams live
- →Work the steep cliff-bands and river-break escarpments at first and last light
- →Pattern water in warm months — guzzlers, seeps, and the lake edge concentrate sheep
- →Consider boat access off Lake Mohave to reach otherwise remote shoreline canyons
- →Stage off the Nelson/Eldorado Canyon roads, then hunt on foot into the wilderness
Pro tips
- →Focus scouting on Ireteba Peaks, Keyhole Canyon, and White Rock Wash — the core ram ground
- →Rams hold on the steepest, roughest rock; glass cliff-bands and river breaks, not open slopes
- →A boat on Lake Mohave opens remote shoreline canyons other hunters can't easily reach
- →Hunt water hard in warm weather — guzzlers, seeps, and the lake edge draw sheep
- →Know where Lake Mead NRA and Ireteba Peaks Wilderness rules apply before you drive or camp
- →Glass long from ridgelines at dawn; the open terrain rewards optics over walking
Watch out for
- !Roughly half the unit is Lake Mead NRA — follow NPS regulations on the park side
- !Ireteba Peaks Wilderness is non-motorized; know the boundary
- !Extreme low-desert heat and limited natural water early in the season
- !Steep, loose rock and cliff exposure on stalks near the river breaks
- !Boaters and other lake recreationists share the shoreline corridor
Logistics
Nelson is a tiny outpost; get fuel, lodging, and full services in Boulder City, Searchlight, or Laughlin. Cottonwood Cove offers a marina and launch on Lake Mohave for boat-assisted access. Camp on BLM land or at NRA sites; day-hunting from Boulder City or Searchlight is practical. Cell service is patchy in the canyons. Access via US-95 and SR 165.
Nearest towns: Nelson, Searchlight, Boulder City, Laughlin, Cottonwood Cove
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: NDOW Hunt Information Sheets · NPS Lake Mead National Recreation Area · BLM Ireteba Peaks Wilderness
FAQ
- How big is Unit 265 in Nevada?
- Unit 265 (Unit 265) covers about 274 square miles, ranging from roughly 640 to 5,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 265?
- Approximately 95% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: NPS Lake Mead National Recreation Area, BLM. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 265?
- Bighorn Sheep. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Nevada agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 265 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.