Unit 032 Unit 032
The Pine Forest Range: a compact, near-all-public sky island prized for its California bighorn source herd.
Northern Nevada — Humboldt County (NDOW Area 3) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
623
sq mi
Public land
91%
approx.
Elevation
4,100–9,458
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 032 is a compact ~623-square-mile unit in far-northern Humboldt County built around the Pine Forest Range and McGee Mountain, with the southern Pueblo Mountains on its edge. It is roughly 91% public — almost entirely BLM — and rises from desert valley floor to Duffer Peak near 9,458 ft, a genuine high-desert sky island with alpine lakes. The standout is California bighorn sheep: the Pine Forest herd is a well-known, disease-free source population used to seed other ranges, and it supports the unit's most productive sheep opportunity (about 8 rams taken over the period). Mule deer (~41% success) and antelope (~47%) round out a rugged, hike-in unit.
Terrain
A steep, compact mountain island rising sharply from desert flats to Duffer Peak at roughly 9,458 ft — the biggest vertical relief in this corner of Nevada. The Pine Forest Range holds glacial cirques and small alpine lakes up high; the surrounding country is open sagebrush basin. Road access reaches the flanks, but the best country up high is foot-access only.
Cover: Desert salt-brush and big sagebrush on the flats and lower slopes, grading into mountain mahogany, aspen and scattered conifer on the range, with willow and green riparian pockets around the high lakes and creeks. Chukar hold in the rocky lower Pine Forest country.
Landmarks: Pine Forest Range / Duffer Peak (~9,458 ft, unit high point) · McGee Mountain · Southern Pueblo Mountains · Blue Lakes (alpine) · Onion Valley Reservoir · Knott Creek Reservoir
Access
About 91% public — almost entirely BLM ground, including a Pine Forest Range wilderness study area up high. Road access to the range flanks and reservoirs is good, but the high country and range core are reached only by hiking, and demand real physical preparation. Scattered private parcels sit in the valley bottoms around water. Primary approaches come off US 95 and the Kings River / Leonard Creek road systems, with the Blue Lakes trail accessing the alpine high country.
Managers: BLM, Private (scattered valley parcels)
Access points: US 95 corridor (staging via Orovada/Winnemucca or Denio) · Kings River Road / Leonard Creek Road systems · Onion Valley Reservoir and Knott Creek Reservoir roads · Blue Lakes trailhead (foot access to the high country)
Species notes
Bighorn Sheep
common trophyCalifornia bighorn are the unit's signature. The Pine Forest herd is a healthy, disease-free source population that NDOW has repeatedly used to transplant sheep into other ranges, and it supports the area's most productive sheep tag — roughly 8 rams taken with essentially full success, a premium once-in-a-lifetime draw.
- →Glass the rocky rims, cirque headwalls and broken slopes of the Pine Forest Range core from long-range vantage points.
- →Hike in — the best sheep country is above the roads and demands fitness and a full-season commitment.
- →Locate rams during pre-season scouting around the high basins and lakes, then plan foot approaches through the rock.
- →Focus on the steepest escape terrain near Duffer Peak where mature rams hold.
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer inhabit the Pine Forest Range at moderate density, with roughly 41% five-year success — a work-for-it deer hunt where fitness and glassing the high country matter more than raw deer numbers.
- →Glass mahogany, aspen and the high sagebrush benches of the Pine Forest Range morning and evening.
- →Be prepared to hike above the road system — the better bucks live in the rugged upper country.
- →Scout water and high lakes during warm early seasons where deer hold near green cover.
- →Hunt the transition between the alpine high country and the sagebrush flanks as weather pushes deer down.
Pronghorn
limited opportunityAntelope are present at lower density in the sagebrush basins around the mountain, with about 47% five-year success. This is a secondary opportunity in a unit defined by its high country, not a prime pronghorn basin.
- →Glass the open sagebrush flats and benches skirting the Pine Forest Range from high points at first and last light.
- →Key on scarce water sources during warm early seasons; bucks pattern to water in this dry country.
- →Cover ground between scattered groups — density is lower here than in the big valley units to the east.
- →Use terrain folds to close on located bucks across the open basins.
Pro tips
- →Bighorn is the reason to hunt here — the Pine Forest source herd makes this one of the area's better sheep tags; treat it as a once-in-a-lifetime hike-in hunt.
- →Get in shape: the Pine Forest Range is steep and compact, and the best country for all species is foot-access above the roads.
- →Glass the high cirques, rims and basins around Duffer Peak for sheep and mature deer.
- →Use Onion Valley/Knott Creek reservoirs and the Blue Lakes trail as staging points into the high country.
- →Come prepared for real mountain weather — the alpine zone gets snow and cold fast despite the desert setting.
- →Assume no cell coverage and long drives to services; stage and fuel in Winnemucca.
Watch out for
- !Steep, rugged high country demands fitness — the range core is foot-access only and unforgiving.
- !Fast-moving fall storms and early snow at 9,000+ ft can strand hunters or make the alpine zone hazardous.
- !Very remote with little to no cell service — go self-sufficient and prepared for breakdowns.
- !Scattered private parcels around valley water — verify ownership before crossing to reach public ground.
- !Long distances to fuel and services; top off in Winnemucca before heading in.
Logistics
This is remote country — Denio (northeast, near the Oregon line) and Orovada offer only minimal fuel and provisions, so Winnemucca on I-80 is the full-service hub for lodging, groceries, fuel and gear before the long drive in. Camping is dispersed on BLM ground; the Onion Valley and Knott Creek reservoir areas and Blue Lakes are popular staging and camp spots. Cell service is limited to nonexistent — download offline maps and carry a paper backup. Roads reach the range flanks, but plan on hiking to hunt the high country, and carry recovery gear for the two-tracks.
Nearest towns: Denio, Orovada, Winnemucca, Kings River Valley
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 bighorn sheep management (Pine Forest Range herd as a disease-free California bighorn source population, mule deer + antelope, Pine Forest Range/McGee Mountain) · GOHUNT — Nevada Unit 032 Unit Profile (elevation 4,100–9,458 ft, ~623 sq mi, ~91.4% public, Pine Forest Range and southern Pueblo Mountains, good road access with hike-in high country, chukar in Pine Forest Range, limited cell service, rugged terrain)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 032 in Nevada?
- Unit 032 (Unit 032) covers about 623 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,100 to 9,458 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 032?
- Approximately 91% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, Private (scattered valley parcels). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 032?
- Bighorn Sheep, 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 032 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.