Unit 015 Unit 015
A big, dry expanse of desert ranges and playas west of Gerlach: antelope country and a snow-driven migration deer unit on the California border.
Northwestern Nevada — western Washoe County along the California line (NDOW Area 1) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,193
sq mi
Public land
89%
approx.
Elevation
3,800–6,800
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 015 is a large, roughly 1,190-square-mile block of far northwestern Nevada that runs west from Gerlach along the California line for about 60 miles, roughly 50 miles north of Reno. It is classic Great Basin desert-steppe — broad sagebrush flats and playas broken by low, steep-canyoned desert ranges, mostly below 6,800 feet. Antelope are the clear strength here (about 57% five-year success on a healthy tag pool), while mule deer are largely a winter-range proposition: few resident bucks, but numbers can build when snowstorms push deer down out of the higher California country. It is overwhelmingly public BLM land, remote and lightly hunted.
Terrain
Expansive sagebrush flats, benches and dry playas stitched together by low, rocky desert ranges with steep canyons and exposed rimrock. Most of the unit sits below 6,800 feet and hunts as long-range glassing country, with rugged canyon breaks providing security cover and steep, chukar-rich rock.
Cover: Big sagebrush, greasewood and desert shrub across the flats and valleys, with bitterbrush and scattered mountain mahogany on the higher slopes and exposed rock in the canyon country. Riparian stringers and reservoirs are scarce and pull game and birds when present.
Landmarks: Smoke Creek Desert (east) · California state line (~60 miles of western boundary) · Sand Pass / Sano area · Squaw Valley Reservoir vicinity (camping) · Gerlach (eastern tip)
Access
About 89% public, almost entirely BLM desert-steppe with no National Forest in the unit. A network of dirt and gravel roads reaches most of the country, but the steep desert canyons and some interior blocks are foot-access only, and private ranch parcels sit in the valley bottoms and around water. Playa and clay-based roads turn treacherous after rain. Sutcliffe on the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation lies just south of the unit — that reservation is tribal land and not open to general public hunting.
Managers: BLM, Private (valley bottoms and ranch parcels)
Access points: Gerlach / State Route 447 (east) · Smoke Creek Desert access roads · County/BLM roads off US 395 and Herlong, California (west) · Sand Pass Road corridor
Species notes
Pronghorn
common qualityAntelope are the unit's headline hunt, with about 57% five-year success across the broad sagebrush flats and benches. The large, open habitat and low hunter density make this a quality, uncrowded pronghorn unit for the tag holder willing to cover ground.
- →Glass the big sagebrush flats and low benches from high points at first and last light — antelope live by their eyesight in this open country.
- →Key on the scarce water sources and green stringers during warm early seasons; bucks pattern to water in the dry desert.
- →Cover ground to locate scattered bands, then use terrain folds and washes to close the final distance.
- →Scout pre-season to inventory bucks across a large unit — the animals are spread out and glass-time pays.
Mule Deer
limited opportunityThis is primarily mule deer winter range with few resident deer; the small tag pool posts about 55% five-year success. The unit shines when early snow in the higher California country pushes migrant bucks down onto the Nevada side — timing and weather drive everything.
- →Hunt the later part of the season and watch the weather — migrant bucks show up after snowstorms hit the high California country.
- →Glass the desert-range foothills, canyon breaks and bitterbrush benches where migrating deer feed and hold.
- →Focus on the western, higher-elevation edges nearer the California line where deer first drop in.
- →Don't expect resident numbers — this is a snow-and-timing hunt, so stay mobile and follow the deer.
Pro tips
- →Come for the antelope first — a big, open, lightly hunted unit with quality bucks for the patient glasser.
- →Treat deer as a weather play: hunt late and follow snowstorms pushing migrants off the California high country.
- →Cover ground and glass hard — game is spread thin across a very large unit.
- →Scout the scarce water sources; they concentrate antelope and chukar alike in the dry desert.
- →Respect the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation boundary to the south — it is tribal land, not public hunting.
- →Watch the sky: clay and playa roads become vehicle traps after rain or snow.
Watch out for
- !Very large, remote unit — game is spread out and a breakdown far from help is a serious problem.
- !Cell service fails in the steep canyons even though it works on the open flats — carry backup navigation and comms.
- !Playa and clay roads become impassable after rain or snow.
- !The Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation south of the unit is tribal land and closed to general public hunting.
- !Resident deer are few — a poorly timed trip can mean an empty unit if the snow hasn't pushed migrants down.
- !Private ranch parcels sit in the valley bottoms and around water — verify ownership before crossing.
Logistics
Gerlach at the eastern tip has a bar/motel, a small store and limited fuel; Sutcliffe (south, on the Pyramid Lake Reservation) and Herlong, California to the west offer limited supplies and fuel. Reno (about 50 miles south) is the full-service hub. Dispersed camping is easy on the surrounding BLM, and the Squaw Valley Reservoir area offers a spot with room for trailers. Cell service works across much of the open country but drops out in the steep canyons — carry offline maps and a paper backup. Gas up before you head out and carry extra water and recovery gear.
Nearest towns: Gerlach, Herlong, California, Sutcliffe, Reno
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT — Nevada Unit 015 Unit Profile (1,192 sq mi, elevation 3,800–6,800 ft, ~88.5% public, ~60 mi California border, ~50 mi N of Reno, winter-range/migration mule deer, antelope, chukar, Squaw Valley Reservoir camping, cell service in canyons) · NDOW Hunt Information Sheets (unit descriptions, access, Gerlach/Sutcliffe/Herlong supply points) · NDOW 2023 Big Game Hunt Unit Map Insert (Area 1 unit boundaries)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 015 in Nevada?
- Unit 015 (Unit 015) covers about 1,193 square miles, ranging from roughly 3,800 to 6,800 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 015?
- Approximately 89% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, Private (valley bottoms and ranch parcels). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 015?
- Pronghorn, Mule Deer. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Nevada agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 015 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.