Unit 022 Unit 022
Big private-checkered desert-and-mountain country north of Reno: a quality antelope draw with scattered deer and a premium sheep tag.
Northwestern Nevada — Washoe/Pershing County (NDOW Area 2) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,519
sq mi
Public land
41%
approx.
Elevation
4,000–8,700
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 022 is a roughly 1,500-square-mile block just north of Reno-Sparks, wrapping the Pah Rah, Virginia and Fox ranges around the eastern side of Pyramid Lake and running out into the Smoke Creek Desert. It is defined as much by its land status as its terrain: only about 41% is public, with large private ranches and the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation limiting where you can actually hunt. Antelope are the headline here — roughly 81% five-year success on low-density but low-pressure bucks — while mule deer are scattered at moderate success (~57%), and a very limited California bighorn tag rounds it out as a premium, once-in-a-lifetime draw.
Terrain
Varied high-desert terrain that ranges from rolling sagebrush hills to steep canyons, and from alkali salt-brush flats to plateaus and rocky peaks. It bottoms out near 4,000 ft in the Smoke Creek Desert and tops out at roughly 8,700 ft at Tule Peak in the Virginia Range. The unit hunts as open glassing country low down, with rugged, rock-broken slopes and canyons on the mountain flanks.
Cover: Desert salt-brush and big sagebrush across the flats and lower slopes, with scattered stands of pinyon and juniper on the mid-elevations and pockets of aspen in the higher draws. Green riparian seeps and water sources concentrate game in dry country.
Landmarks: Virginia Range / Tule Peak (~8,700 ft, unit high point) · Pah Rah Range · Fox Range · Smoke Creek Desert (~4,000 ft, unit low point) · Pyramid Lake (western edge) · Pyramid Lake Highway / SR 445 · SR 447 (eastern access, via I-80 at Wadsworth/Fernley)
Access
Only about 41% of the unit is public — a genuine checkerboard of BLM, large private ranches and tribal land. Road access to the public parcels is decent, but private holdings and locked gates restrict entry, especially in the northern portions and around the Virginia Mountains, which are notoriously hard to reach. The Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation forms the western edge and is not open to general public hunting. Central access is off Pyramid Lake Highway (SR 445); the eastern edge is reached from I-80 and SR 447 north toward Gerlach.
Managers: BLM, Private (large ranches), Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation (tribal)
Access points: Pyramid Lake Highway / SR 445 (central) · SR 447 north of Wadsworth (eastern edge) · I-80 corridor (Wadsworth/Fernley staging) · BLM dirt roads off the highways
Species notes
Pronghorn
limited qualityAntelope are the unit's strongest draw despite low overall density — roughly 81% five-year success reflects good buck quality and very light hunter pressure. Expect to work to locate animals, but a tag here usually means an unpressured, quality opportunity.
- →Glass the big sagebrush flats and low benches from high points at first and last light — antelope live by eyesight in open country.
- →Key on the limited water sources and green seeps during warm early seasons; bucks pattern to water.
- →Cover ground between scattered groups — densities are low, so miles behind the glass matter more than in a numbers unit.
- →Scout the accessible public parcels ahead of time so you are not burning hunt days sorting out where you can legally be.
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer are scattered across the ranges at moderate density, with roughly 57% five-year success. This is a work-for-it deer unit where knowing the public/private lines and hunting the rougher canyons pays off more than raw deer numbers.
- →Glass sagebrush slopes, pinyon-juniper edges and higher aspen draws in the Pah Rah, Virginia and Fox ranges morning and evening.
- →Hunt the rougher, less-accessible canyons where private-land pressure pushes bucks onto huntable public ground.
- →Late-season cold and rut movement give the best chance at a mature buck in the open.
- →Confirm land status before every stalk — the checkerboard makes it easy to drift onto private or tribal ground.
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyCalifornia bighorn occupy the rugged range cores and support a very small, highly coveted tag — essentially a once-in-a-lifetime premium draw with only a handful of animals taken. Success on those rare tags runs high, but opportunity is minimal.
- →Treat a sheep tag as a full-season commitment — glass the rocky, broken slopes and rims of the range cores relentlessly.
- →Locate rams during pre-season scouting from long-range vantage points, then plan foot approaches through the rock.
- →Focus on the steepest, least-accessible escape terrain where mature rams hold.
Pro tips
- →Come for the antelope — ~81% success on lightly pressured bucks is the unit's headline, even at low density.
- →Do your land-status homework first: at ~41% public, knowing exactly where you can hunt is the single biggest factor here.
- →Respect the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation boundary on the west side — it is tribal land, closed to general public hunting.
- →Expect locked gates and hard access in the northern portions and the Virginia Mountains; plan public-ground routes ahead.
- →Stage out of Reno-Sparks for full services, then commit to the backcountry where cell coverage disappears.
- →A bighorn tag is a rare, premium draw — treat it as a once-in-a-lifetime, glass-hard-and-hike hunt.
Watch out for
- !Only ~41% public — a checkerboard of private ranches, BLM and tribal land makes trespass easy if you don't verify ownership.
- !The Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation on the west edge is closed to general public hunting.
- !Locked gates and private holdings block access to large areas, especially the northern unit and Virginia Mountains.
- !Shooting restrictions apply near occupied buildings given the urban-interface location — know the setbacks.
- !Dirt roads get muddy and impassable after rain or early snow.
Logistics
Reno-Sparks sits on the unit's southern doorstep and is a full-service metro for lodging, groceries, fuel and gear — a rare luxury for a Nevada hunt unit. Wadsworth, Nixon and Gerlach offer only limited fuel and provisions, so top off and stock up in the metro. Camping is dispersed on the BLM ground; there are no developed public campgrounds within the unit. Cell service is decent near the I-80/Reno fringe but drops off fast in the backcountry — carry offline maps. Access is short from Reno, but sorting legal ground is the real logistical challenge.
Nearest towns: Reno, Sparks, Wadsworth, Nixon, Gerlach
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: NDOW — Big Game Status Book and Pronghorn Antelope Units 021/022 hunt information (Pah Rah/Virginia/Fox ranges, Tule Peak ~8,700 ft, Smoke Creek Desert ~4,000 ft, low antelope density but quality low-pressure hunt, private-land/locked-gate access limits, SR 445 and SR 447 access) · GOHUNT — Nevada Unit 022 Unit Profile (elevation 4,000–8,700 ft, ~1,517 sq mi, ~40.7% public, mix of public/private/Native American land, desert brush with pinyon-juniper and high aspen, California bighorn present, shooting setbacks near buildings)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 022 in Nevada?
- Unit 022 (Unit 022) covers about 1,519 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,000 to 8,700 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 022?
- Approximately 41% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, Private (large ranches), Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation (tribal). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 022?
- Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Nevada agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 022 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.