Unit 205, Nevada

The unit encompasses approximately 1,295 square miles of classic Great Basin basin-and-range topography. Two primary mountain ranges — the Gillis Range (high point 7,572 ft, USGS quad Ryan Canyon) and the Gabbs Valley Range (high point 7,247 ft at Mount Ferguson) — rise steeply from broad, wide-open desert valleys and alluvial fans. Walker Lake (elevation ~4,000 ft) lies on the western edge. Slopes are steep and rocky throughout the ranges, with broken canyon terrain making foot access necessary from most 2-track roads. Basin floors range roughly 4,000–5,000 ft.

Unit 205 is predominately BLM public land (approximately 70.8%), managed primarily by the BLM Tonopah Field Office (1553 South Main Street, Tonopah, NV 89049; 775-482-7800), with a portion under BLM Carson City Field Office (5665 Morgan Mill Road, Carson City, NV 89701; 775-885-6000). The Walker River Reservation (Walker River Paiute Tribe) on the western fringe is closed to public hunting. US Highway 95 forms the western boundary of the unit, running through Hawthorne (full services: gas, food, lodging, medical, vehicle repair). State Route 361 forms the eastern and southern boundary east of Hawthorne and provides primary eastern access. A network of 2-track dirt roads off US-95 and SR-361 reaches all portions of both mountain ranges from multiple directions. Four-wheel-drive vehicles are required for most backcountry roads. The Gabbs Valley Range Wilderness Study Area (~81,811 acres, Mineral County, BLM Carson City Field Office) within the unit requires non-motorized access. Camping is permitted on public BLM lands throughout. Mina (on US-95) provides limited services and serves as a southern staging point. Recommended access staging for bighorn: Wildhorse Canyon, Paint Rock Canyon, Red Rock Canyon, Rhyolite Pass (Gabbs Valley Range southeast of Mount Ferguson), Chukar Ridge, Rand Ridge, Blue Sphinx Mine area; Gillis Range access via Paymaster Canyon, Sheeps Head Canyon, Ryan Canyon, Indian Head Peak area.

Sagebrush dominates from basin floors through mid-elevations on both ranges. Higher elevations support bitterbrush, single-leaf pinyon pine, Utah juniper, and mountain mahogany. Riparian corridors exist along Walker Lake and the Walker River system on the western boundary. Open valley floors include classic Great Basin shrub steppe. Water developments (guzzlers) supplement sparse natural water sources. Feral burros have historically degraded habitat near the Excelsior Mountains and Gabbs Valley.

Desert bighorn sheep are the primary game species, occupying the steep rocky faces of both the Gillis and Gabbs Valley ranges year-round; the unit group 205/207 population was estimated at 233 animals in October 2023, down from prior years due to poor lamb recruitment (3-year average of 11 lambs:100 ewes) and a suspected disease-related die-off in fall 2023. Mountain lion predation is a documented management concern; lion removal has been identified as a potential management action to support herd recovery. Pronghorn are distributed across Mineral County valleys and alluvial fans, surveyed in areas including Townsite, Calvada, Marrietta, Whiskey Flat, Stewart Valley, and Garfield Flat; the MA 20 estimate was 263 animals in 2023. Mule deer are present in low numbers as part of the interstate MA 20 migratory herd (unit group 202/205-208 combined population ~280 adults); deer summer in California (X-12 unit) and migrate into Nevada in winter, though mild winters have reduced Nevada-side use in recent years. Mountain lions are resident predators in both ranges. Feral horses and burros compete with big game for water and forage. Upland birds including chukar (rocky canyons and slopes) and sage grouse (sagebrush flats) are present. Small game including cottontail and jackrabbit are common.

1. Public land percentage (~70.8%) sourced from GoHunt unit profile. 2. Bighorn sheep quota: 3 resident + 1 nonresident tags (CR 25-13, 2025-2026 season, Nov 20-Jan 1). Harvest of 6 and 100% success from 2023-24 Big Game Status Book (6 tags issued unit 205). 3. Mule deer quota is 40 resident ALW tags for unit group 202, 205-208 combined (CR 25-13 2025 recommended; 45 was the 2024 approved quota). Unit 205 not broken out individually. 4. Pronghorn quota of 15 is for unit group 205-208 combined (CR 25-13); 92% success rate and 263-animal MA 20 population from 2023-24 Big Game Status Book. 5. Bighorn population of 233 animals (unit group 205, 207) from October 2023 aerial survey. 6. Lion removal claim ('2 lions removed from Mount Ferguson') was incorrect — the 2 lions removed were from the unit 206/208 predator management program; corrected to reflect that lion removal has been identified as a potential management action for unit 205. 7. Gabbs Valley Range WSA: 81,811 acres per Friends of Nevada Wilderness; managed by BLM Carson City Field Office. 8. Season dates reflect 2025-2026 regulations.