Unit 032, 033 (Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge and McGee Mountain)

The east side, Big Springs Table to Idaho Canyon

NDOW splits the Sheldon into three parts. On the east side, focus on Big Springs Table, Thousand Creek Gorge, McGee, Big and Blowout mountains, and Idaho Canyon. McGee Mountain is the piece of Unit 032 that was added to this hunt in 2021, and it adjoins the refuge.

Central canyons and the Rock Springs Table rim

In the middle of the unit, sheep turn up in Hell Creek Canyon, around Virgin Creek and Alkali Peak, in Mud Springs Canyon, and along the western rim of Rock Springs Table. In the northwest corner of the Sheldon, look along the Guano-Catnip Rim and on Round Mountain. Keep in mind that the western part of the unit, known as Little Sheldon, is closed to hunting.

Water early, the rut late in the season

Early in the season, ram groups and ewe groups stay apart but may use the same water sources, so glassing around water can help. NDOW suggests internet mapping services for finding big game guzzlers. Later, rams go looking for ewes as the rut begins, from late October through mid-November. Duffer Peak and Catnip Mountain are among the named summits GNIS places inside the group.

The ground NDOW draws for this tag

A bighorn sheep tag for this group is good in units 032 and 033, about 1,470 square miles measured on NDOW's own boundary, in Humboldt County and Washoe County. The named ranges inside the line are Pine Forest Range, Idaho Canyon Range, Badger Mountains and Sage Hen Hills. The highest named points are Duffer Peak (9,401 ft), Mahogany Mountain (7,911 ft) and New York Peak (7,891 ft), and the lowest named ground sits near 4,199 feet. We don't print a land-status split for Nevada groups, because the figures we held didn't come from BLM's surface-management data; check BLM's current map for private parcels before you cross a fence or a cattle guard. GNIS names 90 springs inside it, Lone Meadow Spring, Gridley Springs, West Spring and Willow Spring among them.

From Cedarville, or from Winnemucca and Denio

Unit 033 is the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Nevada. From Cedarville, California, head east on Highway 299 and 8A. From Winnemucca, take US 95 north and State Route 140 west, continuing west past Denio. Roads run from high-standard dirt like Highway 8A to small jeep and OHV trails that are extremely rocky and passable only with four-wheel drive. Carry extra gas, two spare tires and tire chains. NDOW rates access in the unit as good.

Refuge rules, developed camps and fire closures

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service runs the refuge, and NDOW tells hunters to contact the Refuge Complex Office in Lakeview, Oregon, for its regulations. Hunters are required to stay in developed campgrounds. Sites are primitive but suit trailers or tents, most provide drinking water, and most have no trees or shade. In past seasons USFWS has closed some refuge roads during the hunt to prevent wildfires, so check with refuge staff before you go.

The nearest gas, food and lodging are in Cedarville. Vehicle repair is available in Cedarville and Gerlach. Since Cedarville is the only town on NDOW's list with gas, food and lodging together, top off there and carry the spares the sheet calls for before you head onto the refuge.

The 2025 season in NDOW's own numbers

NDOW's 2025 Big Game Hunt Data is the hunter survey behind these figures: who drew, who went, who filled a tag. Success there is NDOW's own figure, successful hunters over hunters afield.

• Any ram, any legal weapon (032, 033 - SNWR, McGee Mtn), Sep 01 - Oct 31: 3 resident tags. 3 hunters went afield and 3 filled their tag (100%). Hunters reported 2.0 days afield on average.