Unit 263, Nevada

The unit spans roughly 3,500–7,026 ft elevation. The McCullough Range is the dominant landform, with its highest point at McCullough Mountain (7,026 ft); the northern portion consists of rounded to flat-topped volcanic peaks (andesite and basalt) with a steep east-facing escarpment and a more gradual western slope. The southern McCullough terrain transitions to metamorphic rock, granite, and schist with rugged, broken cliffs. The Highland Range (approximate max elevation ~4,879 ft at Castle Peak) is roughly 10 miles long, lying south of Henderson and separated from the McCullough Range by a narrow valley. The Lucy Gray Mountains (max ~4,272 ft) lie in the far southwest of the unit, bordering Ivanpah Valley. Much of the terrain is extremely steep, rocky, and physically demanding; lower bajadas and alluvial fans provide softer rolling desert hills at range margins.

All lands are BLM-administered. Primary agency: BLM Las Vegas Field Office, 4701 N Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130, (702) 515-5000. Two major wilderness complexes require non-motorized access only: (1) North McCullough Wilderness (14,763 acres, within Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area); (2) South McCullough Wilderness (44,245 acres), now within Avi Kwa Ame National Monument (designated March 21, 2023) — motorized equipment and mechanized transport including wheeled game carriers are prohibited in all wilderness. Main paved access corridors: US Highway 95 runs along the eastern edge of the unit between Boulder City and Searchlight; Nevada State Route 164 (Joshua Tree Highway/Nipton Road) crosses the McCullough Pass area in the south. A network of county roads, gas line/powerline roads, and maintained four-wheel-drive tracks provides access to most non-wilderness portions. Full services available in Henderson, Las Vegas, and Boulder City; limited services in Searchlight and Jean. Hunting is permitted within Avi Kwa Ame National Monument per the designation proclamation.

Lower elevations (roughly below 4,000 ft) support Mojave Desert scrub: creosote bush and blackbrush scrub communities that transition into mixed scrub on alluvial fans. The Highland Range features dense Joshua tree forests in its western and southwestern portions. At higher McCullough elevations, pinyon pine and Utah juniper emerge. Multiple natural springs and artificial wildlife guzzlers are present across the unit; emergency water hauls were conducted in the McCullough Range during the 2024–2025 drought. Desert tortoise critical habitat underlies much of the lower-elevation fringe of the unit.

Desert bighorn sheep (Nelson/desert subspecies) are the primary game species and occur throughout the McCullough and Highland Ranges. The 2025-season resident quota is 5 any-legal-weapon ram tags (down from 6 approved in 2024), plus 1 nonresident tag, per CR 25-13. Two strains of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (M. ovi) have historically suppressed lamb recruitment since 2013/2015; the herd showed improvement in 2024 with all harvest swabs PCR-negative. Mountain lion presence is documented and contributes to predator-pit dynamics on bighorn herds. Mule deer occur at very low density; the broader unit group 261-268 shares a combined ALW quota of 30 resident tags. Desert tortoise (threatened) inhabits lower elevations. Gambel's quail are found along desert washes and near water sources. Golden eagles are present. No elk, pronghorn, or sage grouse are present or hunted in Unit 263.

1. Bighorn sheep resident tag quota for 2025 season is 5 (CR 25-13, Hunt 3151); 2024 approved quota was 6. The 83% success/5 harvested figure reflects the 2024 season (5 of 6 tags filled). 2. Nonresident bighorn sheep tag: 1 tag available (Hunt 3251, CR 25-13). 3. Management Ram hunt (Hunt 3171) also applies to unit group 262-266, Jan 5–Feb 20, 3 resident tags (2025). 4. Mule deer quota of 30 and harvest stats cover the combined unit group 261-268, not Unit 263 alone. 5. The 86% public land figure is sourced from GoHunt; NDOW does not publish this number directly. 6. Highland Range Wilderness is NOT confirmed within Avi Kwa Ame National Monument per Wikipedia; the monument includes South McCullough Wilderness. The Highland Range Wilderness claim has been removed from the access_land description pending verification. 7. Avi Kwa Ame National Monument designated March 21, 2023 (confirmed). Hunting remains permitted within the monument per the proclamation.