Unit 271 Unit 271
Rugged desert bighorn stronghold in the Mormon and East Mormon Mountains
Southeastern Nevada — Lincoln County (Mormon Mountains) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
890
sq mi
Public land
92%
approx.
Elevation
2,800–7,412
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Unit 271 covers the Mormon and East Mormon Mountains in southern Lincoln County, just north of Interstate 15 and west of the Utah line above Mesquite. It is best known as a premium desert bighorn sheep unit — the Mormons hold one of the region's better ram herds, and recent draw hunters have posted roughly two-thirds success on a genuinely once-in-a-lifetime tag. Mule deer also occur in the higher pinyon-juniper country but at low density, with recent buck success near 40 percent. Expect steep, rocky, waterless terrain and a physically demanding hunt.
Terrain
Rugged rocky ridges, cliff faces, steep canyons and rimrock rising from desert flats to 7,412-foot Mormon Peak. Bighorn hold on the cliffs, rims and canyon heads near water; the scattered mule deer live in the higher brush and pinyon-juniper benches.
Cover: Creosote and desert shrub at lower elevations grading into blackbrush, mountain brush, and pinyon-juniper woodland on the upper slopes and peaks.
Landmarks: Mormon Mountains · East Mormon Mountains · Mormon Peak (7,412 ft) · Moapa Peak · Davidson Peak · Mormon Mountains Wilderness · Horse Spring · Wiregrass Spring · Hackberry Spring · Interstate 15 · State Route 317 (Rox Crossing) · State Route 318
Access
Almost entirely public land administered by the BLM, including the Mormon Mountains Wilderness where no mechanized or motorized travel of any kind is allowed. Reach the unit from the south off several Interstate 15 interchanges, from the southwest via State Route 317 up to the Rox Crossing, and from the north via Lyman Crossing eastward off State Route 318. There is no public access on the west side along SR 317 between Rox and Carp because of private lands and railroad right-of-way closures. Many unmaintained dirt roads within the unit allow off-road vehicle travel but are prone to flash flooding and erosion — caution advised.
Managers: BLM
Access points: Interstate 15 interchanges (south side) · State Route 317 to Rox Crossing · Lyman Crossing off State Route 318 (north) · unmaintained BLM dirt roads
Species notes
Bighorn Sheep
common trophyThe marquee species and a true once-in-a-lifetime desert bighorn tag. A large herd occupies the Mormons in moderate densities, and recent ram hunters have averaged around 67 percent success. Rams are often tied to reliable water in hot, dry conditions.
- →Study maps to locate every water source before the hunt — sheep concentrate at artificial guzzlers and developments, which are more dependable than the natural springs in dry years.
- →Focus glassing on Horse Spring, Wiregrass Spring and the Hackberry Spring/guzzler areas, plus Davidson Peak and the East Mormons and the Davies Spring and Whitmore Mine areas.
- →Glass the cliff faces, rims and canyon heads at first and last light, then use terrain to close on a bedded ram.
- →Be prepared to hike several miles in rugged rock and pack a ram out — plan the retrieve before the shot.
Mule Deer
limited opportunityDeer are present but thinly spread through the higher mountain brush and pinyon-juniper. Numbers are low and success is driven by glassing time; recent buck success has run near 40 percent for the few tags.
- →Hunt the upper elevations and pinyon-juniper benches near Mormon Peak where cover and forage concentrate the few deer.
- →Key on water and the transition between desert shrub and mountain brush, especially in warm early conditions.
- →Cover ground with quality optics rather than still-hunting — deer densities are too low to bump birds walking.
Pro tips
- →This is a bighorn-first unit — if you draw the sheep tag, build the whole hunt around water sources and be ready for a hard pack-out.
- →Inventory the guzzlers and artificial water developments in advance; they hold sheep more reliably than natural springs in drought.
- →The Mormon Mountains Wilderness is mechanized-transport-free — plan foot access and retrieval inside it.
- →Avoid the west side along SR 317 between Rox and Carp; private land and railroad closures block public access there.
- →Watch the weather — unmaintained dirt roads flash-flood and erode, and can strand a rig deep in the unit.
Watch out for
- !Mormon Mountains Wilderness prohibits all mechanized and motorized travel, including bikes and game carts.
- !No public access on the west side along SR 317 from Rox north to Carp due to private lands and railroad right-of-way closures.
- !Interior dirt roads are prone to flash flooding and erosion and can become impassable after storms.
- !Extremely rugged, rocky, and largely waterless — heat, dehydration, and difficult pack-outs are real hazards.
- !Limited to no cell service once off Interstate 15.
Logistics
Plan to be fully self-contained. The towns of Mesquite, Glendale and Moapa provide most services — fuel, food, and lodging — with Mesquite the largest. Primitive camping is available throughout most of the hunting area on BLM land; there are no developed campgrounds inside the unit. Haul in your own water. Interstate 15 puts the unit within easy reach of the Las Vegas area, but once off pavement the dirt roads demand high clearance and four-wheel drive. Cell coverage is limited to nonexistent away from the interstate — carry a satellite communicator.
Nearest towns: Mesquite, Glendale, Moapa, Carp
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: NDOW Desert Bighorn Sheep Hunt Info Sheet — Unit Group 271, 242 · NDOW Mule Deer Hunt Info Sheet — Unit Group 271, 272 · GoHunt Nevada Unit 271 Profile (secondary cross-check)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 271 in Nevada?
- Unit 271 (Unit 271) covers about 890 square miles, ranging from roughly 2,800 to 7,412 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 271?
- 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 271?
- 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 271 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.