Unit 269 Unit 269
Small desert range between Henderson, Boulder City, and Lake Mead
Southern Nevada — Clark County (River Mountains) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
129
sq mi
Public land
80%
approx.
Elevation
1,400–3,800
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Unit 269 is a compact desert unit centered on the River Mountains in Clark County, hemmed between Henderson, Boulder City, and the western arm of Lake Mead near Hoover Dam. It is a small, arid, urban-interface range largely within and adjacent to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, and it carries no meaningful recent big-game harvest — big-game hunting opportunity here is minimal. Desert bighorn sheep inhabit the range as part of the broader Boulder City-area herd, and a few mule deer drift the higher ground, but this is not a destination hunt unit. Manage expectations accordingly and confirm what, if anything, is open before planning around it.
Terrain
A small, sharply rugged desert range of volcanic ridges, rocky peaks, and dry washes rising from the Las Vegas/Henderson valley floor and the Lake Mead shoreline. Steep and rocky but low in elevation, with the terrain — not vegetation — providing the cover.
Cover: Sparse Mojave desert scrub — creosote, bursage, cactus, and scattered desert wash vegetation; very little tree cover.
Landmarks: River Mountains · Lake Mead (western arm) · Hoover Dam · Boulder City · Henderson · Lake Mead National Recreation Area · US Highway 93 · River Mountains Loop Trail
Access
Mostly federal ground — Lake Mead National Recreation Area on the Lake Mead side and BLM desert elsewhere — but tightly boxed in by the cities of Henderson and Boulder City and by dam/security infrastructure. Access is via US 93 and Boulder City/Henderson streets and the Lake Mead NRA road network; motorized travel within the NRA is restricted to designated roadways and target shooting is prohibited. Firearm discharge is heavily constrained by proximity to developed areas, roads, trails, and the recreation area — verify legality of any hunt before going afield.
Managers: NPS Lake Mead NRA, BLM
Access points: US Highway 93 (Boulder City/Hoover Dam) · Lake Mead NRA roadways · Boulder City and Henderson access streets
Species notes
Bighorn Sheep
common opportunityThe River Mountains hold desert bighorn as part of the well-known Boulder City-area herd, and sheep are often visible on the ridges near the lake. Hunting opportunity, however, is minimal to nonexistent in this small urban-interface range — treat sheep here primarily as resident wildlife rather than a huntable population.
- →Confirm whether any bighorn tag actually applies to this unit before planning a hunt — opportunity is very limited.
- →If legal to hunt, glass the rocky ridges and cliff bands above the Lake Mead shoreline at first and last light.
- →Work water and shaded north faces in heat; the herd stays tied to the lake and developed water.
Mule Deer
limited lowA few mule deer occupy the higher, rougher pockets of the range, but numbers are marginal in this small, hot, low-elevation desert unit and there is no meaningful harvest record. Do not plan a deer hunt around Unit 269.
- →Expect very low deer density — glass the roughest, highest terrain if you hunt here at all.
- →Focus on water and cover in the washes; deer use is sparse and seasonal.
- →Verify open opportunity and legal discharge zones before committing time to this unit.
Pro tips
- →Verify before you go — this small urban-interface unit has essentially no big-game harvest record and opportunity may be closed or negligible.
- →Know the firearm-discharge rules cold: proximity to Boulder City, Henderson, roads, trails, and Lake Mead NRA restricts where shooting is legal.
- →The River Mountains are far better known for viewing desert bighorn than for hunting them — set expectations accordingly.
- →Lake Mead NRA prohibits target practice and confines motorized travel to designated roads.
- →Use nearby Boulder City/Henderson as a base; there is no remote camping in this unit.
Watch out for
- !Urban-interface unit — firearm discharge is heavily restricted near Boulder City, Henderson, roads, trails, and developed areas.
- !Lake Mead National Recreation Area rules apply: no target shooting, motorized travel only on designated roadways.
- !No meaningful recent big-game harvest — confirm any open hunt and legal areas with NDOW and the NRA before planning.
- !Heavy non-hunting recreation (hikers and cyclists on the River Mountains Loop) shares the range.
- !Dam and security infrastructure near Hoover Dam create additional closures and access constraints.
Logistics
Unlike most Nevada units, services are immediately at hand — Boulder City, Henderson, and greater Las Vegas surround the range with full fuel, food, lodging, and cell coverage. That same urban setting is the catch: developed areas, the Lake Mead NRA, and dam infrastructure sharply limit where firearms may be discharged and where you may camp. There is no backcountry camping culture here; day access from town is the norm. Because the unit sits inside the metro edge, legal-discharge and closure questions matter far more than gear or remoteness.
Nearest towns: Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: NDOW Hunt Unit Boundaries (Unit 269 — River Mountains, Clark County) · NPS Lake Mead National Recreation Area — Hunting · NDOW Hunt Information Sheets
FAQ
- How big is Unit 269 in Nevada?
- Unit 269 (Unit 269) covers about 129 square miles, ranging from roughly 1,400 to 3,800 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 269?
- Approximately 80% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: NPS Lake Mead NRA, BLM. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 269?
- 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 269 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.