Unit 072 Unit 072
The Jarbidge Mountains proper: 10,000-ft peaks, wilderness elk and deer, plus antelope on the fringes.
Northeastern Nevada — Elko County (NDOW Area 7, Jarbidge Mountains) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
635
sq mi
Public land
92%
approx.
Elevation
6,000–10,700
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Unit 072 is a ~635-square-mile unit built around the Jarbidge Mountains in the far north of Elko County, between the Jarbidge-Charleston County Road and the O'Neil Basin County Road on the Idaho line. Jarbidge Peak tops out near 10,700 ft and several neighboring summits exceed 10,000 ft, and the USFS Jarbidge Wilderness makes up roughly half of the summer range. Mule deer are strong here (about 52% five-year success), elk are a genuine draw as part of the storied Jarbidge herd (about 52 recent harvest), and antelope hold on the lower sage fringes. This is high, rugged, snow-prone country where access can flip to a backcountry effort once storms arrive.
Terrain
Steep, glacier-carved high mountains — Jarbidge Peak (~10,700 ft) and a cluster of 10,000-ft summits — dropping through timbered slopes and aspen to sagebrush basins. The core hunts as rugged, high-elevation wilderness country; the margins open into sage flats and benches.
Cover: Alpine and subalpine up high, with conifer timber, aspen, mountain mahogany and willow-lined drainages on the slopes, transitioning to big sagebrush and grass-steppe in the lower basins.
Landmarks: Jarbidge Peak (~10,700 ft, unit high point) · Jarbidge Mountains / Jarbidge Wilderness (~49% of summer range) · Jarbidge River drainage · O'Neil Basin · Jarbidge-Charleston County Road (west boundary corridor) · O'Neil Basin County Road (east) · Idaho state line (north)
Access
Overwhelmingly public, dominated by Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and the Jarbidge Wilderness. Primary vehicle access is the Jarbidge-Charleston County Road and the O'Neil Basin County Road, but from late October through winter snow can close both and cut off vehicle access; hunters can sometimes reach the north side from Idaho via National Forest Roads 073 and 074 off the Three Creek Road. The wilderness core is closed to motorized use — expect to hike or pack in.
Managers: USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, BLM, Private (scattered basin parcels)
Access points: Jarbidge-Charleston County Road (west) · O'Neil Basin County Road (east) · National Forest Roads 073 / 074 from Three Creek Road, Idaho (north side) · Jarbidge townsite trailheads into the wilderness
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer are a strong draw with about 52% five-year success, holding in the aspen, mahogany and timbered slopes of the Jarbidge Mountains and dropping to the sage in fall. The late rifle season is prime for a mature rutting buck.
- →Glass timbered and aspen slopes and high basins morning and evening.
- →Hunt the late rifle season for rutting bucks pushed lower by weather.
- →Be willing to hike into the wilderness and high basins away from road pressure.
- →Watch weather closely — snow moves deer down and can also strand you.
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityElk are a genuine draw here as part of the renowned Jarbidge herd, with about 44% five-year success and solid recent harvest. Archers and muzzleloader hunters get strong rutting action in the high timber, and the wilderness holds bulls that see less pressure.
- →Hunt the high timber and aspen basins where bulls bugle during the rut.
- →Locate bugling bulls at dawn and dusk, then close with wind and terrain.
- →Work water and wallows in the high country during warm early seasons.
- →Pack into the wilderness core for less-pressured, mature bulls — plan for a real backcountry effort.
Pronghorn
limited opportunityAntelope hold on the lower sagebrush basins and fringes of the unit rather than the high mountains, with about 71% five-year success on limited tags. A fringe opportunity relative to the deer and elk that define Unit 072.
- →Glass the open sage basins and lower benches, especially toward O'Neil Basin, at first and last light.
- →Key on water and green pockets during warm early seasons.
- →Stalk located bucks using swales and terrain folds across the open ground.
Moose
transient lowNevada's small, expanding Shiras moose herd reaches this far-northeast Jarbidge country, and a stray animal occasionally appears — incidental and a novelty rather than a huntable target.
- →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
- →This is an elk-and-deer unit first — hunt the high Jarbidge timber and aspen basins.
- →Watch the forecast: snow closes the county roads and can strand vehicles, but it also drives game down.
- →If roads close from the Nevada side, the Idaho approach via Forest Roads 073/074 off Three Creek Road can still get you in from the north.
- →Save the late rifle season for weather-driven, lower-elevation buck movement.
- →Plan a genuine backcountry effort — horses or serious fitness for the wilderness core, and antelope only on the lower sage fringes.
Watch out for
- !Heavy early snow (late October onward) can close the Jarbidge-Charleston and O'Neil Basin roads and strand vehicles.
- !Jarbidge Wilderness core is closed to motorized use — mechanized access ends at the boundary.
- !Steep, high, avalanche- and cold-prone terrain demands winter preparedness.
- !No cell coverage in the mountains — carry a satellite communicator.
- !Scattered private parcels in the basins — verify boundaries.
Logistics
Tiny, seasonal Jarbidge sits at the unit's edge with very limited supplies; Jackpot on US-93 to the far east has motels and general supplies, and Elko to the south is the full-service hub. Camping is dispersed on Forest ground and at trailheads. Cell coverage is nonexistent in the mountains — carry offline maps and a satellite communicator. This is high, remote country: come fully self-sufficient with cold-weather gear, water, and horses or a strong back for the wilderness.
Nearest towns: Jarbidge, Jackpot, Elko
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: NDOW Hunt Information Sheets · BLM/USFS Jarbidge Cooperative Elk Herd Carrying Capacity Study · GOHUNT Nevada Unit 072 Profile (secondary cross-check)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 072 in Nevada?
- Unit 072 (Unit 072) covers about 635 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,000 to 10,700 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 072?
- Approximately 92% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, BLM, Private (scattered basin parcels). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 072?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Pronghorn, Moose. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Nevada agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 072 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.