Unit 283 Unit 283
The northern Sheep and East Desert ranges — remote desert bighorn country reaching toward Alamo
Southern Nevada — Clark & Lincoln Counties · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
483
sq mi
Public land
98%
approx.
Elevation
4,000–9,912
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Unit 283 covers the northern reaches of the Sheep Range along with the East Desert Range and Elbow Range, straddling north-central Clark County and extending into south-central Lincoln County. Like its neighbor 284, it lies within the USFWS Desert National Wildlife Refuge and is a premium, draw-only desert bighorn sheep unit. Recent harvest ran 100% success on a very small number of ram tags. It is remote, steep and access-restricted — a genuine once-in-a-lifetime tag.
Terrain
Jagged peaks, precipitous outcroppings and very steep canyons typify the northern Sheep Range, with the lower, more broken East Desert and Elbow ranges to the west and north. Bighorn hold the cliff bands and canyon rims; the hunt is glass-then-climb into rugged, remote terrain.
Cover: Diverse for a desert range: creosote-bush and blackbrush scrub on the low slopes grading into pinyon-juniper woodland, with fir-pine and bristlecone pine on the highest ground of the Sheep Range crest.
Landmarks: East Desert Range · Elbow Range · Black Hills · Joe May Canyon · Wagon Canyon · Dead Horse Ridge · East Pahranagat Guzzler #5
Access
The unit lies within the USFWS Desert National Wildlife Refuge (DNWR); hunter access is fair at best due to refuge restrictions on vehicles and camping. Travel is limited to designated routes such as the Alamo Road corridor, and hunters must learn and follow DNWR rules before hunting. Contact the DNWR office (702-646-3401 / 702-375-4006) for current road and closure status.
Managers: USFWS Desert National Wildlife Refuge, BLM
Access points: Alamo Road (north–south refuge corridor) · Mormon Well Road (north end) · Approaches from US 93 / Alamo side toward Joe May and Wagon canyons
Species notes
Bighorn Sheep
common trophyDesert bighorn are the premier draw-only species and the reason to hold this tag. The northern Sheep, East Desert and Elbow ranges hold resident sheep on their cliff systems; recent five-year success was 100% on a very small number of ram tags. Expect a mature, fully-legal ram after committed glassing and climbing.
- →Work the Black Hills, the country west of Joe May Canyon and north to Wagon Canyon, and Dead Horse Ridge
- →Glass toward the East Pahranagat Guzzler #5 area and other water sources that concentrate sheep
- →Use the Alamo Road corridor to reach trailheads, then hunt on foot into the steep interior
- →Plan self-supported multi-day pushes — this is remote country far from services
Mule Deer
limited opportunityA small resident mule deer population uses the higher fir-pine and pinyon-juniper habitat of the northern Sheep Range, but the unit is drawn and managed primarily for desert bighorn and deer are incidental.
- →Focus the higher timbered north slopes of the Sheep Range if pursuing deer
- →Expect very low densities — opportunity only, not a deer destination
Pro tips
- →Call the DNWR office before scouting — refuge road status and camping limits shape the whole hunt
- →The Black Hills / Joe May–Wagon Canyon country is the recommended core to start
- →Guzzlers and springs (e.g., East Pahranagat Guzzler #5) are the best places to locate sheep
- →Stage from Alamo for the northern end rather than driving up from Las Vegas
- →Treat this as a remote fitness hunt — steep, rocky and far from help
Watch out for
- !Unit lies within the Desert National Wildlife Refuge — strict vehicle and camping restrictions, no off-route travel
- !Remote terrain far from services; a breakdown or injury is a serious problem
- !Water is scarce; carry what you need and don't rely on interior guzzlers flowing
- !Weather can swing from desert heat to snow between the valleys and the Sheep Range crest
Logistics
Some services (fuel, limited supplies) are available in Alamo to the north; full services are in Las Vegas well to the south. Primitive camping is the rule inside the refuge, subject to DNWR restrictions. Cell coverage is unreliable in this remote country. Access is primarily via US 93 and the Alamo Road refuge corridor.
Nearest towns: Alamo, Las Vegas
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 Information Sheet — Units 283 & 284 · NDOW Hunt Information Sheets · USFWS Desert National Wildlife Refuge
FAQ
- How big is Unit 283 in Nevada?
- Unit 283 (Unit 283) covers about 483 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,000 to 9,912 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 283?
- Approximately 98% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFWS Desert National Wildlife Refuge, BLM. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 283?
- 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 283 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.