Unit 263 (McCullough Range, Highland Range and Lucy Gray Mountains)
Nevada Hunting Guide — Bighorn Sheep
Unit 263 covers about 1,015 square miles of southern Clark County: the McCullough Range, the Highland Range and the Lucy Gray Mountains, all on BLM land. NDOW's sheet says little about where to hunt, pointing only to the stretch between McCullough Pass and Black Mountain. It's clear about the work, though. The terrain is steep, rocky and physically demanding.
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Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 263
Unit 263 covers about 1,015 square miles of southern Clark County: the McCullough Range, the Highland Range and the Lucy Gray Mountains, all on BLM land. NDOW's sheet says little about where to hunt, pointing only to the stretch between McCullough Pass and Black Mountain. It's clear about the work, though. The terrain is steep, rocky and physically demanding.
Where to Find Bighorn Sheep in Unit 263: McCullough Pass to Black Mountain
McCullough Pass to Black Mountain
NDOW's sheet for Unit 263 names a single place to hunt. In the McCullough Range, hunters tend to find bighorn between McCullough Pass and Black Mountain. That's everything the sheet says about where the sheep are, and we won't add to it.
The McCullough Range, Highland Range and Lucy Gray Mountains
The unit takes in three ranges. Its terrain goes from rolling hills at the south end of the Highland Range to the rugged, broken cliffs that cover much of the rest. McCullough Mountain is the high point. Crescent Peak, Black Mountain, Sheep Mountain and Black Hill are the other tall named summits inside the line.
With only one area named, scouting has to fill the gap. Learn the country between McCullough Pass and Black Mountain first, since that's where NDOW says hunters tend to find sheep. Then decide how much of the broken cliff country beyond it you're willing to cover on foot, keeping in mind how steep and rocky NDOW says it is.
The ground NDOW draws for this tag
A bighorn sheep tag for this group is good in unit 263, about 1,015 square miles measured on NDOW's own boundary, in Clark County. The named ranges inside the line are McCullough Range, Lucy Gray Mountains and Highland Range. The highest named points are McCullough Mountain (7,013 ft), Crescent Peak (5,960 ft) and Black Mountain (5,092 ft), and the lowest named ground sits near 1,710 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 24 springs inside it, Group Springs, Highland Spring, Railroad Spring and Ora Hanna Spring among them.
Unit 263 terrain and land status
Measured from the unit boundary, not from the agency write-up
The lay of it
- 1,744–4,911 ft on a terrain sample , averaging 3,280 ft ; peaks can run higher.
- 1,015.5 sq mi inside the boundary. Big enough that picking one drainage beats driving three.
Water on the ground
- 201 tanks
- 9 springs
- 312 stream segments
- 22 lakes
Counts from mapping data, so this is how many exist, not how many hold water in a dry year. Sitting water only pays where you find fresh tracks.
Named features inside the unit
Glass from: McCullough Range (7,013 ft), Crescent Peak (5,960 ft), Lucy Gray Mountains (5,675 ft), Black Mountain (5,092 ft)
Holding ground: McCullough Pass (3,692 ft), Beer Bottle Pass (3,506 ft), Hidden Valley (3,040 ft), Lewis Holes, Burro Springs
Every one of these was tested against the unit polygon before it went on the map. They are starting points, not agency recommendations.
How to Hunt Bighorn Sheep in Unit 263: BLM roads, wilderness lines and steep rock
Bighorn Sheep Success Rates
Any ram, any legal weapon: 6 of 6 hunters afield (100%). Figures are NDOW's own, from its 2025 Big Game Hunt Data.
Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds
| Season | Tags | Applicants | Draw % | Pts (n/p) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rifle — Late Season ram only (resident) | 5 | 1,677 | 0.3% | — |
| Rifle — Late Season ram only (nonresident) | 1 | 4,942 | 0.0% | — |
Data from 2025 draw results. Each row is one residency pool — read the label before the number. This agency publishes no point thresholds, so the Pts column stays blank and these are pool odds, not what a point total draws.
Open in Draw Odds EngineFrom NDOW's 2025 Big Game Hunt Data. Demand is NDOW's count of tags awarded plus first-choice applicants who did not draw; its draw rate is tags over demand.
- Any ram, any legal weapon — Residents: 1,677 demand for 5 tags, a 0.3% draw rate; Nonresidents: 4,942 demand for 1 tag, a 0.0% draw rate.
NDOW's hunt data publishes no points-required figure, so none is given here.
Unit Logistics & Expectations
Frequently Asked Questions
Which units does a Nevada bighorn sheep tag for 263 cover?
What was hunter success for bighorn sheep on units 263 in 2025?
How hard is the bighorn sheep draw for units 263?
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Upgrade to Pro — $49/yrSources & Verification
Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-10-25.
- Hunt Information Sheet — Desert bighorn sheep, 263 — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Access, Recommended hunting areas, Biologist comments · accessed 2026-10-25
- 2025 Nevada Big Game Hunt Data — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Seasons, quotas and tags issued, Demand and draw rate by residency, Hunters afield, successful hunters and hunter success, Days hunted · accessed 2026-10-25
- NDOW Hunt Unit Boundaries — unit groups (ArcGIS) — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Units 263, 1,015 square miles · accessed 2026-10-25
- Geographic Names Information System — named features inside the group — U.S. Geological Survey · supports: McCullough Range, Lucy Gray Mountains, Highland Range, McCullough Mountain 7,013 ft, Crescent Peak 5,960 ft · accessed 2026-10-25