Nevada Unit 213 Bighorn Sheep Hunting Guide
Nevada Unit 213 is one of the state's limited-quota desert bighorn sheep units, and for the handful of hunters who draw a tag here, it offers a true wilderness-caliber sheep hunt on ground that is entirely open to the public. Spanning 383,825 acres with elevations ranging from 4,532 to 7,972 feet, this unit sits squarely in classic desert bighorn country — broken rock, steep canyon systems, and arid basin-and-range topography that defines southern Nevada sheep hunting.
What makes Unit 213 worth a hard look for any hunter chasing desert bighorn in Nevada is its access: 100% of the unit is public land, meaning every acre of available habitat is open to hunters who draw a tag, without the access headaches that plague many Western big game units split between private and public ownership. There is no general season here — every bighorn sheep opportunity in Unit 213 comes through Nevada's limited-quota draw system, and tags are scarce by design, as they are for all desert bighorn sheep hunts across the state.
This article breaks down what the available harvest data, tag quota trends, and trophy history tell hunters about Unit 213, and how to approach the application process for this unit through HuntPilot.
HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 213 Worth Applying For?
For hunters building a long-term sheep hunting strategy, Unit 213 deserves serious consideration, with some caveats grounded in the data.
On the positive side, the unit is 100% public land — there are no landowner permission issues, no fee-access complications, and no need to negotiate with private ranches to get into prime bighorn habitat. Every hunter who draws a tag here has full legal access to hunt the entire unit. That's a meaningful advantage over many limited-entry sheep units in the West where private land checkerboards limit where tag holders can actually go.
The harvest data shows a unit that produces results for the hunters who do draw. In 2024, 5 hunters harvested 4 rams, an 80% success rate. In 2022, 16 hunters harvested 10 rams for a 62% success rate. These are strong numbers for a species that is notoriously difficult to hunt even with a tag in hand — desert bighorn require extensive glassing, physical conditioning, and the ability to close difficult stalks across broken terrain. A success rate consistently in the 60-80% range across these years suggests that hunters who draw Unit 213 and put in the scouting time have a legitimate shot at connecting.
That said, 2023 was a different story — 4 hunters and only 1 harvest, a 25% success rate. This kind of year-to-year swing is common in low-sample-size sheep units; a handful of hunters missing opportunities, weather disrupting a hunt window, or rams simply being harder to pattern in a given year can swing the percentage dramatically when the total hunter count is this small. Hunters should view the harvest percentages here as directional rather than statistically bulletproof — four years of data ranging from 25% to 100% success tells us this is a unit where outcomes vary, not one with a single reliable number to bank on.
The tag quota data shows the Any Ram hunt grew from 3 tags in 2024 to 4 tags in 2025, a 33% increase. That's a positive signal for hunters hoping for more opportunity to eventually draw, though it remains an extremely limited-quota hunt by nature — desert bighorn tags anywhere in Nevada are scarce, and Unit 213 is no exception.
Trophy history for the counties overlapping this unit is limited, meaning there isn't a deep or consistent record of trophy-class rams coming out of this specific geography compared to some of Nevada's more storied desert sheep country. That doesn't mean mature rams aren't present — desert bighorn populations are managed conservatively and rams are judged on maturity and horn mass in the field rather than purely on record-book potential — but hunters expecting this unit to be a go-to spot for chasing elite-class entries should temper those expectations based on what the data currently shows.
Bottom line: Unit 213 is worth applying for if a hunter's primary goal is a quality desert bighorn hunt on fully public land with a realistic chance at a mature ram, backed by harvest data that leans favorable in three of the last four years. It is not a unit to apply for based on trophy pedigree alone, since the record history here is thin. For hunters focused on opportunity, access, and a straightforward public-land hunt, this unit checks the right boxes.
Access & Terrain
Unit 213's terrain runs from 4,532 feet at the valley floors up to 7,972 feet at its highest points — a span of nearly 3,500 vertical feet that is typical of the basin-and-range desert bighorn habitat found throughout southern and central Nevada. Hunters should expect steep, rocky slopes, broken canyon rims, and open desert basins that demand long-range glassing before any approach is attempted. This is rugged, physically demanding country, and desert bighorn hunting here rewards hunters who are prepared for extended days covering difficult ground on foot.
With 100% public land, access is not a limiting factor in this unit — every acre is open to a tag holder, and there's no need to identify private inholdings or negotiate landowner permission. The unit carries 0% wilderness designation, so there are no wilderness-specific access restrictions or guide requirements to account for when planning a hunt here.
The elevation range and terrain type both point to classic desert bighorn habitat: steep broken rock faces, rimrock, and canyon country where rams use vertical terrain as their primary defense. Hunters should plan for significant time glassing from vantage points before committing to a stalk, and should be in strong physical condition given the terrain relief across the unit.
Harvest Success Rates
Nevada Unit 213's recent harvest data tells a story of a unit that, outside of one off year, has produced solid results for tag holders:
- 2025: 1 hunter, 1 harvested — 100% success
- 2024: 5 hunters, 4 harvested — 80% success
- 2023: 4 hunters, 1 harvested — 25% success
- 2022: 16 hunters, 10 harvested — 62% success
Three of the last four years show success rates at 62% or better, including a perfect 100% in 2025 (albeit on a single hunter) and 80% in 2024. The outlier is 2023, when only 1 of 4 hunters connected. Given how few hunters draw bighorn tags in any Nevada unit in a given year, these numbers should be read as trends across a small sample rather than statistically precise predictions — a single difficult season or a run of tough-to-locate rams can swing the percentage sharply when total hunter numbers are in the single digits. Still, the multi-year pattern leans favorable, with the 2022 and 2024 seasons in particular showing double-digit hunter counts and solid majority success.
Trophy Quality
Trophy record data for the counties overlapping Unit 213 shows a limited history of entries. This doesn't necessarily mean mature rams aren't being taken — Nevada's desert bighorn management is conservative by design, with low tag numbers meant to protect herd health and allow rams to reach full maturity — but it does mean hunters should not count on this unit having a deep trophy pedigree compared to some of the state's more well-documented desert sheep units.
Hunters drawing a tag here should set their expectations around harvesting a mature, legal ram rather than specifically chasing a record-book animal. Given the overall scarcity of desert bighorn tags in Nevada, simply drawing a tag and successfully taking a mature ram on fully public land is itself a significant accomplishment, independent of how that ram might score.
How to Apply
Unit 213 desert bighorn sheep tags are available exclusively through Nevada's limited-quota draw system — there is no general season for bighorn sheep in this unit or anywhere else in the state. All hunters, resident and nonresident alike, must apply through the draw to have a chance at a tag.
Nevada's draw system for bighorn sheep uses a bonus-point structure where the number of entries a hunter receives is tied to points squared, plus one entry, meaning accumulated points improve a hunter's statistical odds but do not guarantee a draw at any point level — Nevada's system remains a weighted lottery all the way up the point scale, even for hunters with many years of points invested. Nevada maintains separate resident and nonresident applicant pools, and because desert bighorn tags are extraordinarily limited statewide, even well-pointed hunters face long odds in any single unit, including Unit 213.
Successfully drawing a tag consumes a hunter's accumulated bonus points for bighorn sheep, meaning hunters who draw Unit 213 will begin rebuilding their point total from zero for future applications.
Given the statewide scarcity of bighorn tags, hunters serious about drawing Unit 213 should view this as a long-term point-building strategy rather than something to count on in any single application cycle. Application dates, fees, and current draw data change every cycle — for the most current deadlines, fees, and draw statistics specific to Unit 213, see HuntPilot's Nevada page at /states/nv and the Unit 213 page for the latest figures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the terrain like in Nevada Unit 213? Unit 213 is rugged desert bighorn habitat, ranging from 4,532 feet at its lowest elevations to 7,972 feet at its highest points. Expect steep, broken rock faces, canyon rims, and open desert basin terrain typical of basin-and-range country in southern Nevada. The unit is physically demanding to hunt, requiring long glassing sessions and difficult stalks across vertical terrain. The entire 383,825-acre unit is public land, and there is no wilderness designation here, so there are no wilderness-specific access restrictions to navigate.
What is harvest success like in Unit 213? Harvest success has varied significantly year to year but has generally trended favorable. In 2024, hunters saw 80% success (4 of 5), and in 2022, 62% success (10 of 16). The 2025 season showed 100% success on a single hunter. The exception was 2023, when only 1 of 4 hunters harvested a ram (25% success). Because hunter numbers are so small in any given year, these percentages should be read as general trends rather than precise predictors of any individual hunt.
How big are the desert bighorn sheep in Unit 213? Trophy record data for the counties overlapping this unit shows a limited history of entries, meaning this area does not carry the deep trophy pedigree of some other Nevada desert bighorn units. Hunters should approach a tag here expecting a mature, legal ram rather than specifically targeting record-book potential. Given how scarce bighorn tags are statewide, successfully harvesting any mature ram on this unit's fully public land is a notable achievement regardless of final score.
Is Unit 213 worth applying for? Yes, for hunters prioritizing public-land access and a realistic shot at success. The unit is 100% public land with no wilderness restrictions, and harvest data shows success rates of 62% or higher in three of the last four years. The tradeoff is a thin trophy record history and, like all Nevada bighorn sheep tags, an extremely competitive draw. Hunters should treat an application here as part of a long-term point strategy rather than a near-term expectation.
How does the draw system work for Nevada Unit 213 bighorn sheep? All bighorn sheep tags in Unit 213 are issued through Nevada's limited-quota draw — there is no general season. Nevada uses a bonus-points-squared system (points² + 1 entries) with separate resident and nonresident pools, and no point level guarantees a draw. The Any Ram hunt quota increased from 3 tags in 2024 to 4 tags in 2025, a 33% increase, though total tags remain extremely limited. Drawing a tag resets a hunter's bonus points to zero. Check HuntPilot's Unit 213 page for current draw odds and application details.