How big is Unit 071 in Nevada?

Unit 071 (Unit 071) covers about 406 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,200 to 9,915 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.

What species does the catalog list for Unit 071?

Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Moose. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Nevada agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.

Unit 071 Unit 071

Bruneau sage flats climbing to Copper Mountain: strong antelope, good deer, and rutting Jarbidge-complex elk.

Northeastern Nevada — Elko County (NDOW Area 7, Jarbidge country) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12

Mule deer buck trotting across open prairie at dusk

Area

406

sq mi

Public land

90%

approx.

Elevation

5,200–9,915

feet

Motorized

moderate

access

Overview

Unit 071 is a ~406-square-mile unit on the Idaho line just west of the Jarbidge Wilderness in northern Elko County. It runs from rolling sagebrush hills along the Bruneau River in the northwest up to Copper Mountain (about 9,915 ft) in the center, with the north half largely Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and the south a mix of BLM and private. Antelope are the standout (about 80% five-year success), mule deer hunt well with a good late-season buck window, and the unit shares in the well-known Jarbidge elk complex with bulls bugling in the timber. Access is broadly public and mostly road-reachable, with steeper wilderness pockets requiring boot or horse.

Terrain

Rolling sage hills and benches along the Bruneau River in the west rise steeply eastward toward Copper Mountain and the Jarbidge Wilderness edge. The west hunts as open glassing country; the east is steep, timbered and rugged near the wilderness boundary.

Cover: Big sagebrush and grass-steppe dominate the flats and lower slopes, with aspen, mountain mahogany, willow creek bottoms and conifer stringers on the higher slopes and in the drainages toward Copper Mountain.

Landmarks: Copper Mountain (~9,915 ft, unit high point) · Bruneau River (northwest, lowest ground) · Copper Basin · Jarbidge Wilderness boundary (east) · Charleston Reservoir · Rough Hills Wilderness Study Area · Diamond A Desert / Diamond A Ranch (northeast corner) · State Route 225 (Mountain City Highway) corridor

Access

Broadly public with excellent vehicle access to most of the unit via Forest and BLM roads. Elko County Road 746 branches off State Route 225 toward Charleston Reservoir and is a key western route. Some areas — the Rough Hills WSA and the steep Jarbidge Wilderness edge — require hiking or horses. Private ground includes the Diamond A Ranch near the northeast corner in the otherwise-BLM Diamond A Desert.

Managers: USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, BLM, Private (Diamond A Ranch and valley parcels)

Access points: State Route 225 (Mountain City Highway) · Elko County Road 746 toward Charleston Reservoir · Bruneau River / Copper Basin area roads · Forest Service road network toward Copper Mountain

Species notes

Pronghorn

common quality

Antelope are the unit's top draw, with about 80% five-year success across the sagebrush hills and benches, especially the more open western ground. Limited-draw tags translate to a genuine opportunity at good bucks.

→Glass the rolling sage flats and benches west toward the Bruneau from high points at dawn and dusk.
→Key on water and green riparian pockets during warm early seasons.
→Use terrain folds and swales to close on a located buck across the open country.
→Scout pre-season to inventory bucks away from the elk and deer crowds.

Mule Deer

common opportunity

Mule deer hunt well here with about 52% five-year success, scattered across the sage and holding in the higher aspen and mahogany toward Copper Mountain. The late rifle season is the best window for a mature rutting buck.

→Glass sage slopes, aspen edges and high draws morning and evening.
→Hunt the late rifle season if you hold that tag — rutting bucks move most.
→Climb toward Copper Mountain and the wilderness edge to get away from road pressure.
→Let water and season drive movement patterns in this dry-to-timbered gradient.

Rocky Mountain Elk

common quality

Rocky Mountain elk are well established as part of the Jarbidge complex, with about 48% five-year success. Archers and muzzleloader hunters enjoy strong rutting action in the timber and aspen toward Copper Mountain and the wilderness edge.

→Hunt the aspen and timbered upper slopes toward Copper Mountain where bulls bugle during the rut.
→Locate bugling bulls at first and last light, then slip in with the wind through the aspen.
→Work water and wallows in the high country during warm early seasons.
→Push into the steep wilderness-edge country once pressure builds — bulls retreat to the roughest heads of the drainages.

Moose

transient low

Nevada's small, expanding Shiras moose herd reaches the far-northeast Jarbidge country, and a stray animal occasionally appears — incidental and a novelty, not a huntable target here.

→Check willow-lined creek bottoms and riparian pockets where a wandering moose might hold.
→Do not plan a trip around moose — expectations should be near zero.

Pro tips

→Hunt antelope in the open western sage toward the Bruneau — the unit's highest-percentage species.
→For elk, work the timber and aspen toward Copper Mountain and the wilderness edge during the rut.
→Save the late rifle deer season for a shot at a mature rutting buck.
→Use Elko County Road 746 and SR 225 as your backbone, then branch onto Forest roads.
→Be ready to hike or pack into the Rough Hills WSA and wilderness edge where trucks can't go.

Watch out for

!Private ground including the Diamond A Ranch near the northeast corner — verify boundaries in the Diamond A Desert.
!Steep, rugged wilderness-edge terrain near Copper Mountain requires real fitness or horses.
!Early-season snow can close eastern and wilderness-edge roads quickly.
!Sage two-tracks turn greasy and impassable after rain.
!No meaningful cell coverage in the backcountry.

Logistics

Tiny Jarbidge and Charleston offer minimal seasonal services; Mountain City to the west has limited fuel and supplies, and Elko is the full-service hub well to the south. Camping is dispersed on Forest and BLM ground. Cell coverage is essentially nonexistent in the backcountry — carry offline maps and a plan. Come fully self-sufficient with water, recovery gear and extra fuel; roads to the wilderness edge get rough.

Nearest towns: Jarbidge, Charleston, Mountain City, Elko

Nearby units

Unit 061 · Unit 061 Unit 072 · Unit 072 Unit 062 · Unit 062 Unit 073 · Unit 073

Seasons & regulations

This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:

Research sources: NDOW Pronghorn Antelope Unit Group 061/062/064/071/073 Info Sheet · NDOW Hunt Information Sheets · GOHUNT Nevada Unit 071 Profile (secondary cross-check)

FAQ

How big is Unit 071 in Nevada?: Unit 071 (Unit 071) covers about 406 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,200 to 9,915 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
How much public land is in Unit 071?: Approximately 90% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, BLM, Private (Diamond A Ranch and valley parcels). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
What species does the catalog list for Unit 071?: Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Moose. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Nevada agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.

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