Unit 021 Unit 021
A desert-range unit just north of Reno — Dogskin, Petersen and Fort Sage mountains — with respectable deer and antelope but heavy private ground and urban-interface rules.
Western Nevada — Washoe County, north of Reno (NDOW Area 2) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
437
sq mi
Public land
62%
approx.
Elevation
4,500–7,800
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 021 is a roughly 440-square-mile unit in western Nevada immediately north of Reno, built around Dogskin Mountain, Petersen Mountain, the Fort Sage Mountains and Seven Lakes Mountain. It runs from sagebrush desert floor up through pinyon-juniper to aspen on the higher slopes, topping out near 7,800 feet. Mule deer are the primary draw (about 53% five-year success on a decent tag pool, with a mule deer population estimated around 450), and antelope are present at lower density but post strong success (roughly 81%) thanks to very light hunting pressure. This is an urban-interface unit: only about 62% public, with meaningful private ground, scattered residences and Washoe County no-shooting zones to navigate.
Terrain
Desert valleys and sagebrush flats rising into a set of steep, rocky desert ranges — Dogskin, Petersen, Fort Sage and Seven Lakes — with canyons, benches and timbered upper slopes. It hunts as glassing-and-hiking country: fair vehicle access to public blocks, with some of the better ground reachable only on foot.
Cover: Desert brush and big sagebrush across the lower valleys and benches, transitioning to scattered pinyon-juniper on the mid-slopes and pockets of aspen and mountain mahogany in the higher, wetter draws.
Landmarks: Dogskin Mountain · Petersen Mountain · Fort Sage Mountains · Seven Lakes Mountain · Palomino Valley · US 395 corridor (west)
Access
About 62% public — mostly BLM — but this is an urban-interface unit with substantial private land, scattered residences and subdivisions woven through the valleys near Reno. Road access to the public blocks is fair, though some areas are foot-access only and others are pinched off by private ground. Washoe County no-shooting/discharge zones apply near occupied buildings (shooting is prohibited within a set distance of an occupied structure) — carry county maps and confirm boundaries before hunting.
Managers: BLM, Private (residential parcels, ranches and inholdings)
Access points: US 395 / Red Rock Road corridor (west) · Palomino Valley Road · Fort Sage / Doyle-area access from the California side (west) · BLM dirt roads into Dogskin and Petersen mountains
Species notes
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer are the unit's primary hunt, with a population estimated around 450 deer and about 53% five-year success. Migration and winter-range dynamics matter here, and the mahogany, aspen and pinyon-juniper of the higher ranges hold bucks for hunters willing to climb above the roads and private ground.
- →Glass the pinyon-juniper benches, aspen draws and mahogany pockets of Dogskin, Petersen and the Fort Sage ranges morning and evening.
- →Get above the road corridors and away from private ground — the better bucks use the steep, quieter upper slopes.
- →Hunt migration and winter-range timing; deer move with weather and cooling temperatures.
- →Scout access carefully in advance to find legal public routes into the good country around private inholdings.
Pronghorn
limited qualityAntelope densities are low and locating animals takes work, but very light hunter pressure delivers a strong roughly 81% five-year success and a quality, uncrowded hunt for the tag holder who scouts.
- →Glass the sagebrush flats and valley benches — Palomino Valley and the open desert basins — from high points at first and last light.
- →Cover ground to find the scattered bands; antelope are thin here, so glass-time and mobility pay off.
- →Key on water sources during warm early seasons in this dry desert country.
- →Scout pre-season to pin down where the animals are living before opening day, given the low densities.
Pro tips
- →Do your access homework first — this urban-interface unit is only ~62% public with private ground and no-shooting zones threaded throughout.
- →For deer, climb into the pinyon-juniper, aspen and mahogany of Dogskin, Petersen and the Fort Sage ranges, above the roads and houses.
- →Antelope are thin but the ~81% success reflects light pressure — scout hard to locate the few bands, then hunt them uncrowded.
- →Hunt migration and later-season timing for the best deer movement as weather cools.
- →Carry Washoe County maps and confirm discharge-restriction boundaries near occupied buildings before you shoot.
- →Use the Reno base for easy logistics, but plan to hike away from the crowded, road-accessible edges.
Watch out for
- !Only about 62% public with substantial private land, subdivisions and inholdings — trespass risk is real, so verify boundaries.
- !Washoe County no-shooting/discharge zones apply near occupied buildings — know where you legally can and cannot shoot.
- !Urban-interface unit means more hunters and recreationists near the road-accessible ground.
- !Antelope densities are low — expect to work to find animals despite the high success rate.
- !Sierra-front storms can snow in the higher ranges and slick up dirt roads late in the season.
Logistics
Reno/Sparks sit just south and provide every service — lodging, groceries, fuel and gear — and most of the unit is within an hour's drive. That proximity is the unit's blessing and curse: easy logistics but more people, private ground and no-shooting zones. Cell service works across most of the unit but drops out in some canyons. Camping options include dispersed sites on the BLM blocks away from residences. Because the unit borders the Reno urban area, verify shooting-restriction boundaries and private lines carefully.
Nearest towns: Reno, Sparks, Cold Springs, Doyle, California
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: NDOW Mule Deer Unit Group 021 Hunt Information Sheet (mule deer population ~450, ~175 sq mi core deer area, mostly public, December seasons/migration & winter range) · NDOW Pronghorn Antelope Unit Group 021/022 Hunt Information Sheet (low antelope density, low hunter numbers, quality hunt) · GOHUNT — Nevada Unit 021 Unit Profile (elevation 4,500–7,800 ft, ~62.1% public, 437 sq mi, Dogskin/Petersen/Fort Sage/Seven Lakes mountains, pinyon-juniper to aspen, Washoe County no-shooting zones, ~1 hr from Reno)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 021 in Nevada?
- Unit 021 (Unit 021) covers about 437 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,500 to 7,800 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 021?
- Approximately 62% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, Private (residential parcels, ranches and inholdings). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 021?
- Mule Deer, Pronghorn. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Nevada agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 021 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.