Unit 242, Nevada

Unit 242 is bounded on the north by US Highway 93 and State Route 319, on the east by the Utah state line, on the south by Tule Flat Road, and on the west by State Route 317. Elevations range from approximately 2,600 feet on the desert floor of the Tule Desert in the south to 7,400–7,600 feet at the peaks of the Clover Mountains. The Clover Mountains Wilderness contains rolling hills, rugged peaks, jagged rhyolite outcrops (the range is a former volcanic region with colorful pink, red, yellow, and orange formations), narrow twisting canyons, cliffs, ridges and saddles, and perennial streams including Cottonwood Creek. The southern portion of the unit grades into classic Mojave Desert basin terrain with dry lake beds and bajadas. The Bunker Peak area and Lime Mountain along the Utah state line form important winter range at mid-to-lower elevations on the east and south flanks of the Clover Mountains.

Unit 242 is approximately 97.7% public land managed by BLM (Caliente Field Office, Ely District). There is minimal private agricultural land with negligible effect on hunter access. Primary highway access: State Route 319 crosses the northern boundary near Caliente; US Highway 93 provides access from the west through Caliente and connects to multiple points in adjoining units; State Route 317 (running south from Caliente toward the Utah line) gives access to the western boundary of unit 242 and the western edge of the Clover Mountains Wilderness. Tule Flat Road forms the southern boundary and has several spur roads branching north toward mule deer winter range. Numerous unmaintained dirt and two-track roads exist throughout the unit allowing OHV access across most of the non-wilderness terrain. The Clover Mountains Wilderness (85,748 acres, established November 30, 2004, BLM-managed) prohibits all mechanized travel including motor vehicles, bicycles, wheeled game carts, and aircraft — access within the wilderness boundary is on foot or stock only. Summer thunderstorms can damage unimproved dirt roads. No national forest lands are present in this unit.

The unit spans a dramatic elevational gradient producing several distinct cover types. The lowest southern elevations (Tule Desert margin) support creosote bush, Joshua trees, and various cacti. Mid-elevation slopes and basins are dominated by sagebrush, native grasses, and scattered mountain mahogany. Pinyon-juniper woodland is the dominant cover type throughout most of the Clover Mountains; dense closed-canopy pinyon-juniper stands limit understory and restrict quality mule deer habitat in many areas — NDOW has conducted mechanical pinyon-juniper removal and prescribed fire to improve conditions. Old-growth ponderosa pine and quaking aspen occur at higher elevations within the Clover Mountains Wilderness. Riparian corridors along perennial streams support ash, cottonwood, and willow. Feral horse populations compete with wildlife for forage and water throughout the unit — the BLM Caliente Complex (AML = 0) held an estimated 1,500+ animals as of 2024-2025, and the BLM conducted bait-and-water trap gathers in 2024 to reduce excess numbers.

Mule deer are the primary big game species; the Clover Mountains hold the highest densities in the 241-245 unit group. Deer spend summer in high-elevation basins and move to lower pinyon-juniper winter range (Bunker Peak area along the state line, south to Lime Mountain) by late October. Rocky Mountain Elk are present in the unit (unit group 241-242); a small resident population occupies the Clover Mountains and moves across the Nevada-Utah border, with most elk concentrated in unit 242. Pronghorn antelope occupy the unit as part of the larger unit group 115/231/242. Desert Bighorn Sheep (Nelson subspecies) inhabit the unit in common management with adjacent unit 271 (southern Lincoln/Clark County border area); the combined 271/242 population has declined in recent years (estimated approximately 200 animals in 2025 per available data) and nonresident tags have been eliminated; NDOW notes mature ram numbers and distribution are unknown in this unit. Mountain lion are confirmed resident predators. Non-game wildlife confirmed in the Clover Mountains Wilderness includes bobcat, badger, kit fox, golden eagle, prairie falcon, peregrine falcon, and various reptiles. Chukar partridge occur in rocky canyon terrain. Feral horses are present in high densities and compete with wildlife for forage and water.

1. Mule deer quota (45 res ALW) and harvest data (27 harvested, 68% success) are for unit group 241-245, not unit 242 alone; unit 242 (Clover Mountains) holds the highest deer densities within the group. 2. Elk season dates and harvest data are for unit group 241-242 combined; most elk are concentrated in unit 242 per NDOW. 3. Bighorn sheep quota and population figures are for combined unit group 271/242; the population has declined significantly (from ~300 in 2022 to ~200 in 2025 per GoHunt); 0 resident tags were allocated for the 2026 draw. Nonresident tags were eliminated in prior seasons. NDOW notes mature ram numbers and distribution are 'unknown' in this unit. 4. Pronghorn tags are for unit group 115/231/242 combined. 5. Public land percentage (97.7%) is from GoHunt profile; no independently sourced BLM acreage breakdown specific to unit 242 boundary was found. 6. Feral horse population in the BLM Caliente Complex estimated at ~1,503 horses as of 2024-2025 (AML=0); BLM conducted bait-and-water trap gathers in 2024. 7. Clover Mountains Wilderness acreage of 85,748 acres is per Public Law 108-424 as cited by Wilderness.net.