Unit 252, Nevada

Elevation ranges from approximately 4,580 feet on desert flats and washes to around 8,187 feet at the summit of Stonewall Mountain (per BLM HMA data). Topography is varied: steep, rocky mountain slopes on Stonewall Mountain, transitioning to rolling hills, dry washes, and broad desert flats at lower elevations. The northern Kawich Range (Kawich Peak reaches 9,401 ft) lies in the broader geographic neighborhood; the bulk of unit 252 encompasses Stonewall Mountain and the surrounding basins.

Unit 252 is primarily public land managed by the BLM Tonopah Field Office (1553 S. Main St., Tonopah, NV 89049; 775-482-7800). Primary highway access is via U.S. Route 95; the unit can be accessed from US-95. Some vehicle access is provided around the perimeter of the unit, but much of the interior requires hiking. Portions of the unit fall within or adjacent to the Nellis Air Force Base restricted area; no access is allowed south of the Nellis AFB northern and western boundary for national security reasons — this closure is strongly enforced. Nearest services: Goldfield (closest town), Tonopah (~50 miles north, full services), and Beatty (~50 miles southeast). Camping is available on BLM land in the open portions of the unit.

Lower elevations (below ~6,000 ft) are dominated by desert shrubland: sagebrush, blackbrush, and scattered desert grasses. Upper elevations on Stonewall Mountain support pinyon-juniper woodland mixed with mountain mahogany and desert brush. Riparian corridors are minimal; water sources are scattered and seasonal throughout the unit. No alpine or aspen zones are present at the unit's elevation range.

Mule deer are present throughout the unit but in very low densities. NDOW notes that few, if any, deer are to be found in units 252, 253, and 254; the greatest densities and highest harvest rates in the unit group occur in unit 251. Water availability is limited throughout much of the area, making scouting and map study essential. Desert bighorn sheep historically inhabited Stonewall Mountain; the Stonewall population experienced severe decline due to Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (M.ovi), and unit 252 does not appear in the 2025-26 NDOW bighorn quota table, indicating no authorized harvest. Wild burros (not horses) are managed in the Stonewall Herd Management Area (~23,887 total acres, AML 5-8 burros). Predators including mountain lion and coyote are present. The unit also supports typical Great Basin desert fauna: jackrabbit, cottontail, chukar, golden eagle, and various raptors. No established elk or pronghorn hunts are conducted within unit 252.

1. NDOW reports harvest statistics at the unit GROUP level (251-254 combined); figures cannot be disaggregated to unit 252 alone. 2. The tag_quota of 15 reflects the 2025-26 resident ALW Hunt 1331 quota (CR 25-13); total tags across all seasons and residency types for unit group 251-254 is higher. 3. hunter_success_pct of 93% is calculated from 2025 harvest data (14 harvested / 15 hunters afield); survey return rate was 33%, so actual field success may differ. 4. Desert bighorn sheep: unit 252 does not appear in the 2025-26 NDOW bighorn quota table (CR 25-13); harvest is effectively closed. 5. The Stonewall HMA is managed for wild burros (AML 5-8), not wild horses — the draft incorrectly stated wild horses. 6. Mountain lion and chukar are listed as present species; season dates and unit-specific quotas were not verified from primary NDOW sources.