Unit 281, Nevada

Terrain varies from fairly level, rolling hills on the north end to broken ledges and steep rocky canyons in the central and southern portions. Elevation ranges from approximately 3,400 feet in the valleys to over 7,000 feet at the highest peak on the north end of the unit. The unit covers the Pintwater Range along the Clark–Lincoln County line. The range borders Indian Springs Valley to the west and Three Lakes Valley to the east.

ACCESS IS EXTREMELY RESTRICTED. The entire unit is within the NTTR South Range (U.S. Department of Defense) and is co-managed with the USFWS Desert National Wildlife Refuge — there is no public access. No scouting is permitted before the season opener. Tagholders and their hunting party are only allowed access to the Pintwater Range the day before the season opener through the restricted Point Bravo Gate for the South Range. The nearest highway access is US Route 95 via the town of Indian Springs. To apply for hunts on, or gain access to the NTTR South Range, hunters and everyone in their hunting party must: (1) consent to and pass a criminal background check; (2) be 14 years of age or older; (3) attend and comply with the NTTR South Range hunter safety briefing if successful in obtaining a tag. Additionally, party size is limited to 5 including the tagholder and pets are prohibited (per NTTR rules). Season dates may be adjusted to accommodate DoD operations. Primitive camping is the rule; limited services in Indian Springs, full services in Las Vegas.

Vegetation is typical of the southern Nevada Mojave Desert. Lower bajadas and valley floors support creosote bush scrub and blackbrush. Mid-slopes carry scattered Joshua trees. Upper elevations transition into open-canopy pinyon-juniper woodland. Native grasses occur on hillsides. Permanent springs and water developments (guzzlers) exist but surface water is extremely scarce. The Pintwater Range is identified by USFWS as critical desert bighorn sheep lambing habitat.

Desert bighorn sheep (Nelson subspecies) are the primary wildlife focus; the Pintwater Range is recognized as critical lambing habitat. The September 2022 aerial survey classified 104 bighorn sheep at a ratio of 85 rams:100 ewes:54 lambs, with a population estimate of approximately 110 animals; the population is described as showing good recovery and stability following drought years. Mountain lion are present but hunting is explicitly prohibited in this unit per Nevada regulations. Other Mojave Desert wildlife expected in the unit — including coyote, kit fox, raven, and desert tortoise — are typical of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge ecosystem. No huntable mule deer or elk populations are documented in this unit by NDOW.