Unit 281 Unit 281
Scattered desert rams on a remote, off-limits range inside the Nellis complex
Southern Nevada — Clark County (Pintwater Range, Nevada Test and Training Range) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
270
sq mi
Public land
100%
approx.
Elevation
3,000–6,200
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Unit 281 is the Pintwater Range in northwestern Clark County, a long, rugged north-south desert range in the western half of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge complex north of Las Vegas. Like its neighbors, it lies almost entirely within the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), co-managed by the U.S. Air Force (Nellis) and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and is closed to general public access — this is a permit-only desert bighorn hunt. Sheep are scattered at low density over big, dry country, but the herd sees almost no pressure and recent success has been strong on the handful of tags issued.
Terrain
A steep, narrow desert range rising sharply from Three Lakes Valley on the east and Desert/Mercury valleys on the west. Rocky spines, cliff faces and cut canyons hold sheep above wide, open basins. It hunts as a long-range glassing game from vantage points, with hard hikes to reach rams.
Cover: Mojave and transitional Great Basin desert scrub — creosote, bursage and blackbrush on the bajadas, with Joshua trees and scattered pinyon-juniper on the higher, rockier slopes. Sparse cover, minimal water.
Landmarks: Pintwater Range · Three Lakes Valley · Desert Valley · Nevada Test and Training Range boundary · Desert National Wildlife Refuge (western, closed portion)
Access
Federal land throughout, but access is severely restricted. The Pintwater Range sits inside the NTTR, where general public entry is prohibited. Bighorn tag holders and their hunting party must meet NTTR safety and security requirements: pass a criminal-history background check, be at least 14 on opening day, and attend the mandatory Nellis Air Force Base hunter safety briefing, with party size limited. Only any sliver of the unit outside the NTTR boundary is open to general public use. Entry, escort and timing are arranged through NDOW and Nellis Natural Resources — there is no drive-up access.
Managers: USAF Nellis / Nevada Test and Training Range, USFWS Desert National Wildlife Refuge, BLM
Access points: U.S. 95 corridor near Indian Springs (staging outside the range) · Nellis-controlled range roads (escorted access only)
Species notes
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyDesert bighorn are the only big-game species and the entire purpose of the unit. The Pintwater herd is low-density but lightly hunted; recent five-year data shows high hunter success (around 75%) on very few tags. A genuine once-in-a-lifetime desert sheep opportunity.
- →Glass long and glass often — set up on high vantages and grid the rocky faces and saddles at first and last light
- →Anchor your search to water: identify guzzlers and springs on NDOW maps and concentrate glassing on those basins
- →Expect to burn days locating a mature ram; patience and optics beat mileage in this terrain
- →Prepare for steep, loose rock approaches once you find a ram — plan the stalk carefully in open country where sheep see far
Pro tips
- →Begin the NTTR access process (background check + Nellis briefing) immediately after drawing — it takes lead time
- →Do your scouting on maps and NDOW hunt information sheets; on-the-ground pre-scouting inside the closed range generally isn't possible
- →Hunt the water — Pintwater rams orient to guzzlers and springs in this arid range
- →Keep the party small and fully briefed on Nellis rules to avoid ending the hunt on a technicality
- →Build your kit around Mojave heat and dryness: water, shade, sun protection and durable footwear
Watch out for
- !The unit lies within the active Nevada Test and Training Range — never enter without clearance and escort; unauthorized entry is a federal offense
- !Extreme aridity and heat with almost no natural water — you must pack in your own
- !No cell service and long distances from help; injuries or breakdowns are high-consequence
- !Strict enforcement of party-size, age and security requirements by Nellis
Logistics
No services within the unit. Stage from Las Vegas or Indian Springs along U.S. 95 for fuel, lodging, water and supplies. Because the hunt runs through the NTTR, entry and logistics must be coordinated with Nellis Natural Resources and NDOW ahead of time. Cell coverage is essentially nonexistent off the highway — carry a satellite communicator, plenty of water and full self-recovery gear. No developed campgrounds; camping follows your access arrangement.
Nearest towns: Indian Springs, Las Vegas, Mercury, Pahrump
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: NDOW Big Game Hunting Seasons (CR 25-07, 2025-2027) — NTTR unit access requirements · Nevada Bighorn Sheep Hunts — eRegulations (unit 281 = Pintwater Range, NTTR rules) · USFWS Desert National Wildlife Refuge — About / ranges & bighorn habitat · Friends of Nevada Wilderness — Desert NWR (western half closed incl. Desert-Pintwater)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 281 in Nevada?
- Unit 281 (Unit 281) covers about 270 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,000 to 6,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 281?
- Approximately 100% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USAF Nellis / Nevada Test and Training Range, USFWS Desert National Wildlife Refuge, BLM. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 281?
- 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 281 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.