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STATE OF NEVADA NELSON DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP TAG 2026

Currency:USD Category:Hunting Start Price:0.00 USD Estimated At:NA
STATE OF NEVADA NELSON DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP TAG 2026
STATE OF NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE
Mike Cox
P: 775.688.1556

BOOTH #228

The Wild Sheep Foundation in partnership with the Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn, the longest standing wild sheep advocacy organization in North America, are proud to offer the Nevada Desert Bighorn Heritage Tag provided by Nevada Department of Wildlife and Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners.

The 2026 Nelson Desert Bighorn Heritage Season is August 1 - December 31, 2026, for any ram (for hunt units associated with DOD lands, there are restricted access, limited season dates, and special requirements).

Nevada has more desert bighorn sheep than any other jurisdiction in North America.
Our vast and rugged canvas of both the Mojave and Great Basin Desert mountains are naturally suited for wild sheep.
Through the vision of NDOW wildlife biologists, collaboration with public land management agencies, and passionate support from conservation organizations, bighorn sheep restoration and water development efforts were monumental to increasing Nevada’s desert bighorn population with a January 2026 estimate of 7,000 from its low of 2,500 in 1960.
The most recent harvest data from the 2024 season was 169 rams with 6 rams scoring 170+ B&C. We are hoping that the great monsoonal rains in 2025 over much of the desert bighorn sheep distribution will result in great horn growth for 2026.

At the start of the season all desert bighorn units (except those on DOD lands) are open to this tag.
The tagholder or their licensed guide, must call the Bighorn Sheep Harvest Information Hotline prior to hunting to determine if any hunt units have been closed due to specialty tag harvest limits being reached.
Nevada’s bighorn sheep restoration program is supported in large part by the auction of this Heritage Desert Bighorn Sheep Tag.