Nevada Bighorn Sheep

Unit 272 (Specter Range / Bare Mountain)

Nevada Hunting Guide — Bighorn Sheep

Unit 272 covers the Specter Range, Bare Mountain, and adjacent desert country west of Las Vegas in Nye County. This is low-density desert bighorn habitat with small ram groups using scattered cliff bands and guzzler-maintained water. A Unit 272 tag is truly once-in-a-lifetime.

View Draw Odds Nevada Hunting Guide

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Unit 272

Where to Find Bighorn in Unit 272

Unit 272 bighorn are scattered across isolated cliff systems.

Specter Range

The Specter Range holds a small resident herd using limestone cliff bands. Access is via BLM two-track off US-95 south of Beatty.

Bare Mountain

Bare Mountain's volcanic cliffs hold another distinct ram group. The Lathrop Wells / Amargosa Valley side provides the practical approach.

Guzzler Hubs

With no natural water, every NDOW guzzler in Unit 272 is a potential anchor. We request the current guzzler map and plan our hunt around active drinkers.

How to Hunt Bighorn in Unit 272

Unit 272 rewards patient, water-focused hunting.

Guzzler Surveillance

We set up blinds within long-range shooting distance of active guzzlers and burn daylight waiting for rams to water. Trail cameras during scouting tell us which drinkers are producing ram traffic.

Long-Glass Days

Bighorn density is low here, so we plan long glassing sessions from knobs covering multiple sub-ranges. Expect slow hunting with high reward if a shooter ram materializes.

Weather Triggers

After monsoon moisture, bighorn disperse away from guzzlers as natural tinajas fill. We watch weather patterns and shift tactics accordingly.

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Bighorn Sheep Success Rates

Rifle65%

Bighorn Sheep Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Late Season	1	73	1.4%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit 272 is one of Nevada's lowest-tag desert bighorn units — roughly 2 tags per year against about 117 three-year applicants. Nevada uses a weighted bonus-point system where each point grants one additional random-draw entry (straight count). This is a long-haul application for most hunters.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Water

None — haul all drinking water.

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Road Conditions

US-95 paved access. BLM two-track throughout the interior; high-clearance required.

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Terrain Difficulty

Strenuous — remote desert limestone and volcanic ridges. Elevations 2,500-6,500 ft.

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Hunting Pressure

Minimal — low tag count and remoteness filter traffic.

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Cell Service

Spotty along US-95. Satellite communicator required for interior.

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Nearest Town

Beatty (15-30 mi) for fuel and basics. Pahrump or Las Vegas (60-90 mi) for full services.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why are Unit 272 draw odds so tough?

Unit 272 issues only about 2 tags per year against roughly 117 applicants. The low tag count reflects the small resident bighorn population. Nevada's weighted bonus system adds one entry per point, but most Unit 272 tags go to long-point-history applicants.

Are there natural water sources in Unit 272?

Very limited. Desert bighorn in Unit 272 depend heavily on NDOW-maintained guzzlers during dry periods. Request the current guzzler map from NDOW's Southern Region office when planning your hunt.

Free Hunt Planning Tools

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-17.

NDOW Unit 272 boundary — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Nye County desert bighorn unit · accessed 2026-04-17
Desert Bighorn — western Nye County herds — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Low-density desert population · accessed 2026-04-17
BLM Southern Nevada District access — Bureau of Land Management — Southern Nevada · supports: BLM two-track access, Desert National Wildlife Refuge perimeter · accessed 2026-04-17