Unit 625 Southwest Desert

The marquee tag. Managed as a limited-entry unit, the Southwest Desert grows better-than-average bucks on low-density desert range, with the best deer holding in the higher, brushier pockets of the Indian Peak, Wah Wah and House ranges. Draw odds require patience but the trophy potential and solitude reward the wait.

• →Glass the pinyon-juniper benches and mahogany pockets at first and last light from a high vantage across the basin
• →Concentrate on the ranges with the most cover and reliable water — Indian Peak and the Wah Wahs hold the resident bucks
• →Cover miles; deer are thinly distributed, so treat it as a spot-and-stalk numbers game across multiple ranges
• →Scout water sources and springs preseason — deer and their patterns key off them in the desert

The wide sagebrush and grass valleys between the ranges hold classic West Desert pronghorn. This is prime open-country antelope country where good bucks are killed most years on limited-entry tags.

• →Glass the open valley floors and low benches early, then plan a stalk using terrain folds and washes
• →Focus on greener flats and water in the dry desert basins where bands concentrate
• →Judge horns carefully from long range with a spotting scope before committing to a long approach

Desert bighorn inhabit the cliff-and-rimrock terrain of the House and Confusion ranges. Tags are once-in-a-lifetime desert sheep permits — extremely hard to draw — but the rams here are a genuine Great Basin trophy on rugged, lonely escape terrain.

• →Focus on the steepest cliff bands, canyon rims and rock outcrops of the House and Confusion ranges
• →Spend days behind quality optics locating and aging rams before committing
• →Hunt the feed edges off escape terrain early and late; plan long, self-supported days

A modest elk presence uses the higher, timbered pockets of the desert ranges, notably around Indian Peak. Numbers are low and scattered but elk are a secondary opportunity on this predominantly deer-and-pronghorn unit.

• →Key on the highest aspen, mahogany and conifer stringers with water in the Indian Peak area
• →Locate small groups by glassing meadow edges at dawn and still-hunting timber pockets midday

Mountain lions follow the deer through the rugged desert ranges and are pursued primarily as a winter houndsman opportunity.

• →Cut tracks on snow along the range fronts and canyon mouths after storms
• →Focus effort where deer concentrate on winter range