Unit 10

The Ord Mountains (including East Ord, West Ord, and Ord Mountain peaks) form the unit's most prominent range and provide key visual reference points. Newberry Peak and the Newberry Mountains anchor the northern portion. The Rodman and Fry ranges offer additional rocky terrain.

Daggett Ridge and Minneola Ridge provide secondary navigation features. Kane Wash and Box Canyon offer drainage corridors for movement. The Newberry and Ord mountain complexes are the primary glassing platforms and sheep habitat; hunters should use these ranges as focal points rather than the broad valley floors.

Terrain is predominantly low-elevation desert, with 98% of the unit below 5,000 feet and a median elevation around 3,500 feet. The landscape is almost entirely open country—sagebrush flats, creosote scrub, and sandy bajadas dominate the valley floors. Rocky slopes and ridges of the Ord, Newberry, Rodman, and smaller ranges rise abruptly from the desert floor, offering broken terrain with desert scrub, scattered cacti, and rocky outcrops.

The highest point exceeds 6,200 feet but occupies minimal acreage. No significant forest exists; habitat is purely desert and semi-arid shrubland with localized rocky terrain where bighorn can find escape cover.

A network of roughly 714 miles of roads with 1.42 miles per square mile density provides fair access. Major roads total 68.5 miles and highways 48.6 miles, allowing vehicle approach to various parts of the unit. Road density is moderate enough to distribute pressure but adequate to reach base camps and trailheads.

The unit attracts minimal hunting pressure relative to California's higher-elevation or forested units, partly due to the demanding climate and limited water. Most access concentrates around the mountain ranges rather than the open valley floors. Staging from nearby towns is straightforward via existing infrastructure.

Unit 10 occupies roughly 502 square miles of Mojave Desert terrain in San Bernardino County. The unit encompasses portions of North Lucerne Valley, Tyler Valley, and the scattered mountain ranges that punctuate the valley floors—including the Ord, Newberry, Rodman, and Fry mountains. The area sits near but distinct from the Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow Nebo Annex, with historical settlements like Poe marking past habitation in what is now largely public desert.

The unit's boundaries capture classic low-desert landscape typical of eastern California's high desert province.

Water is severely limited—a critical constraint for hunting this unit. Named springs scattered throughout (Aztec, Willow, Newberry, Joker, Taylor, Sheep, Sweetwater, Goat, Kane, Quill) provide the only reliable sources, but their accessibility and consistency vary seasonally. Kane Wash represents the only named drainage feature; it may provide water seasonally but should not be relied upon.

Ericksen Dry Lake is typically dry. Water scarcity fundamentally shapes hunting strategy and should be your primary planning consideration. Scout spring locations and condition well in advance; pack accordingly.

Unit 10 is dedicated bighorn sheep habitat. The isolated mountain ranges—particularly the Ord, Newberry, and Rodman complexes—provide the terrain sheep require: rocky escapes, limited water sources (forcing predictable movement), and visibility for glassing. Hunt from ridgetops and high points overlooking canyon systems and drainages.

Early morning and late evening glassing from distance is standard practice. Approach routes and water sources are key; locate sheep drinking patterns near the scattered springs. The heat and distance demand physical conditioning and thorough water planning.

Success depends on patience, optics, and understanding where sheep move between refuge and sparse forage. This is a challenging but uncrowded opportunity for a specialized hunt.