Unit 282 Unit 282
The westernmost sheep range of the refuge — a rare, tightly managed desert bighorn tag
Southern Nevada — Clark County (Desert Range & Desert Hills, Desert National Wildlife Refuge) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
416
sq mi
Public land
100%
approx.
Elevation
4,000–6,900
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Unit 282 takes in the Desert Range and Desert Hills in northwestern Clark County (extending toward southwestern Lincoln County), part of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge — the largest protected continuous desert bighorn habitat in the Mojave. Much of the unit falls within the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), co-managed by the U.S. Air Force (Nellis) and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, so access is restricted and this is a permit-only sheep hunt. Very few tags are issued, and the number is managed tightly to mature-ram availability; when a tag is offered here it is a true once-in-a-lifetime hunt.
Terrain
Classic southern Nevada desert: steep, rocky north-south ridgelines rising from expansive basin floors, with cliff bands and rugged canyons holding sheep. Country is big and open — success comes from glassing enormous terrain from high vantages, then committing to long stalks.
Cover: Mojave desert scrub grading upward through blackbrush to sparse pinyon-juniper on the higher slopes. Creosote, bursage, Joshua trees and cactus dominate the flats; cover and water are both minimal.
Landmarks: Desert Range · Desert Hills · Desert National Wildlife Refuge · Nevada Test and Training Range boundary · Sheep Range (to the east) · Corn Creek Field Station (refuge headquarters, east side)
Access
All federal land, but access is limited. Portions of the unit lie within the NTTR, which is closed to general public entry; the balance is Desert NWR managed primarily for sensitive desert bighorn. Bighorn tag holders must meet NTTR safety and security requirements where applicable — criminal-history background check, minimum age 14 on opening day, and the mandatory Nellis Air Force Base safety briefing, with limited party size. Only portions outside the NTTR boundary are open to general public access. Coordinate entry and logistics with NDOW and the refuge / Nellis before the hunt.
Managers: USFWS Desert National Wildlife Refuge, USAF Nellis / Nevada Test and Training Range, BLM
Access points: U.S. 95 corridor near Indian Springs (west-side staging) · Corn Creek / Mormon Well Road area on the refuge (east-side, general public portion) · Nellis-controlled range roads (escorted access only)
Species notes
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyDesert bighorn are the sole managed big-game species. The Desert Range holds sheep at scattered, low densities across expansive terrain, and tag numbers are kept very small and tied to mature-ram availability — in some years the hunt has been curtailed for lack of mature rams. Recent limited data shows high success on the rare tag. A once-in-a-lifetime, trophy-caliber opportunity.
- →Plan for a marathon glassing hunt — grid the rocky faces, saddles and canyon heads for hours from elevated vantages
- →Key on water: locate guzzlers and springs from NDOW maps and concentrate effort on those drainages, especially in warm weather
- →Carry premium optics and be prepared to spend multiple days simply finding a legal mature ram in low-density country
- →Once a ram is located, plan the stalk carefully — open desert terrain lets sheep detect movement at long range
Pro tips
- →Confirm the hunt is actually offered before planning — tag numbers here are tiny and have been reduced or suspended in low mature-ram years
- →If any portion of your access is through the NTTR, start the background check and Nellis briefing process immediately after drawing
- →Glass water sources hardest — Desert Range rams concentrate near guzzlers and springs
- →Use NDOW hunt information sheets and refuge maps to plan, since on-the-ground pre-scouting of closed portions isn't possible
- →Build your kit for Mojave heat and distance: water capacity, sun protection, durable boots and top-tier optics
Watch out for
- !Parts of the unit are inside the active Nevada Test and Training Range — do not enter closed areas without clearance and escort
- !Tag availability is not guaranteed year to year; the hunt has been curtailed for lack of mature rams
- !Severe heat and almost no natural water — you must pack your own
- !No cell service and long distances from help; breakdowns and injuries are high-consequence
- !Respect refuge rules protecting sensitive desert bighorn habitat and any Nellis security requirements
Logistics
No services in the unit. Stage from Las Vegas or Indian Springs (U.S. 95) or, for the refuge's east side, near Corn Creek. Fuel up and carry all water before entering. Where the hunt touches the NTTR, coordinate access, escort and timing with Nellis and NDOW in advance. Cell service is negligible off the highway — bring a satellite communicator, abundant water and full self-recovery gear. Camping is dispersed and dictated by access; there are no developed campgrounds in the sheep country.
Nearest towns: Indian Springs, Las Vegas, Alamo, 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 282 = Desert Range & Desert Hills) · USFWS Desert National Wildlife Refuge — About (six ranges incl. Desert Range; 2,500–9,912 ft; largest desert bighorn habitat) · GoHunt — Nevada Unit 282 profile (Desert Range, 4,000–6,500 ft, 100% public, scattered sheep)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 282 in Nevada?
- Unit 282 (Unit 282) covers about 416 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,000 to 6,900 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 282?
- Approximately 100% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFWS Desert National Wildlife Refuge, USAF Nellis / Nevada Test and Training Range, BLM. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 282?
- 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 282 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.