Unit 045 Unit 045
The Tobin Range — 95% public, near-vertical mule deer country over open-basin pronghorn
North-Central Nevada — Pershing County · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
401
sq mi
Public land
95%
approx.
Elevation
4,700–9,775
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 045 is the heart of the Tobin Range and Fish Creek Mountains in Pershing County, a compact but rugged unit rising from 4,700-foot valley floor to 9,775-foot Mount Tobin. It is almost entirely public land, making it one of the more access-friendly units in the region. Pronghorn hunting on the surrounding flats is the high-success draw (~74%), backed by a mule deer herd in the timbered high country and a very small desert bighorn presence. Roads are good low and poor high — the upper Tobin is a foot-hunter's unit.
Terrain
Steep, dramatic vertical relief on the Tobin Range and Fish Creek Mountains, crowned by Mount Tobin, dropping off to flat-to-mild sagebrush valleys in Buffalo, Jersey and Pleasant valleys. The mountains hunt as a strenuous hike-in; the valleys hunt as open-country glassing.
Cover: Sagebrush dominates most of the unit, with pinyon-juniper and mountain mahogany stands timbering the mid-to-upper Tobin Range, plus bitterbrush on the transition benches.
Landmarks: Tobin Range · Mount Tobin · Fish Creek Mountains · Buffalo Valley · Jersey Valley · Pleasant Valley · Grass Valley · Panther Canyon · Smelser Pass
Access
Overwhelmingly public BLM land. Buffalo Valley and Jersey Valley roads access the east side of the Tobin Range; the Pleasant Valley-Grass Valley road forms the west boundary. Road access is good in the low country and poor in the higher terrain — few roads reach the upper Tobin, but the whole range is hikeable.
Managers: BLM Winnemucca District, BLM Battle Mountain District
Access points: Buffalo Valley Road · Jersey Valley Road · Pleasant Valley-Grass Valley Road · Panther Canyon / Smelser Pass roads
Species notes
Pronghorn
common qualityAntelope on the Buffalo, Jersey and Pleasant valley flats deliver the unit's most reliable hunting, with five-year success around 74%. A drawn tag here is a strong bet for a buck.
- →Glass the open sage valleys at dawn and dusk from valley-edge vantage points
- →Work water sources and stock tanks in the dry early season
- →Use rolling terrain and washes to break your outline on stalks
- →Cover ground by vehicle on valley roads to locate herds, then stalk on foot
Mule Deer
limited opportunityA resident mule deer herd holds in the timbered pinyon-juniper and mahogany of the Tobin Range. Five-year success runs around 52% — respectable for the effort, but this is a hike-in opportunity hunt, not a road hunt.
- →Climb into the upper Tobin timber and glass canyon heads at first light
- →Hunt the mahogany and pinyon-juniper edges above the sage line
- →Focus north-facing slopes and shaded draws holding bucks
- →Be ready to backpack camp or make long daily climbs — few roads go high
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyA tiny desert bighorn presence exists on the roughest Tobin escarpments; only a rare resident-only tag is issued and harvest is incidental. Frame this as a premium, once-in-a-lifetime-caliber opportunity, not a countable herd.
- →Glass the steepest rimrock and cliff bands of the Tobin Range
- →Confirm current sheep hunt availability with NDOW before planning
- →Locate rams from distance and plan technical foot access
- →Hunt near reliable water early in the season
Pro tips
- →Lean on the 95% public land — this is one of the most access-open units around; the constraint is vertical, not ownership
- →Antelope in the valleys are the money hunt; deer require earning it on foot in the high Tobin
- →For deer, plan to camp high or accept long daily climbs — the best country has no roads
- →Pre-mark springs and tanks for early-season water hunts
- →Choose your basecamp by side: Battle Mountain for the east Tobin, Winnemucca for the west
Watch out for
- !Upper Tobin roads are poor and can be snowed out early — don't count on driving high
- !Steep, remote terrain with no cell service; be self-sufficient and share your plan
- !Desert bighorn opportunity is minimal and resident-restricted — verify before building a plan around it
- !Summer/early-fall heat and scarce water demand you pack in your own
Logistics
Battle Mountain (I-80, to the northeast) is closest for the east-side Tobin hunts; Winnemucca serves the west side. Both offer fuel, motels, groceries and basic sporting goods. Camping is dispersed on BLM throughout — plenty of options given the public-land majority. Cell service is poor to absent in the interior valleys and mountains; carry maps, water and spare tires.
Nearest towns: Battle Mountain, Winnemucca, Lovelock
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: NDOW Hunt Unit Boundaries (unit 045 legal description) · GoHunt Nevada Unit 045 Profile (elevation/ownership/access cross-check) · NDOW 2023 Big Game Hunt Unit Map Insert
FAQ
- How big is Unit 045 in Nevada?
- Unit 045 (Unit 045) covers about 401 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,700 to 9,775 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 045?
- Approximately 95% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM Winnemucca District, BLM Battle Mountain District. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 045?
- 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 045 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.