Unit 076 Unit 076
Big sagebrush-and-mountain country north of Wells: strong antelope, rutting elk, and a shot at a late-season buck.
Northeastern Nevada — Elko County (NDOW Area 7) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
699
sq mi
Public land
82%
approx.
Elevation
5,200–8,760
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 076 is a roughly 699-square-mile block of far northeastern Nevada in the Thousand Springs / Goose Creek country, centered north of Wells near the old railroad stop of Contact and south of Jackpot. It is overwhelmingly public BLM and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest ground built around Knoll Mountain, the Granite Range and Gollaher Mountain, and hunts as classic Great Basin sagebrush-steppe rising into scattered timbered ridges. Antelope are the headline (about 74% five-year success), elk offer solid rutting action (about 61%), and mule deer are present at moderate densities (about 53%) with the late season best for a mature buck. A very small number of Nevada's expanding Shiras moose also turn up here — essentially a novelty.
Terrain
Broad sagebrush flats, benches and swales broken by rugged, isolated mountains — Knoll Mountain, the Granite Range and Gollaher Mountain — that top out near 8,760 ft. It hunts as open glassing country low down, with timbered ridges, draws and mahogany pockets up high where deer and elk hold and where the best late-season movement concentrates.
Cover: Big sagebrush and grass-steppe dominate the flats and lower slopes, giving way to mountain mahogany, aspen pockets, and scattered conifer on the upper ridges. Creek bottoms and springs hold green riparian cover that concentrates game in the dry early seasons.
Landmarks: Knoll Mountain · Granite Range · Gollaher Mountain · Salmon Falls Creek drainage · Thousand Springs Valley · Goose Creek country (to the north) · US 93 corridor (Contact–Jackpot)
Access
About 82% public — a mix of BLM sagebrush ground and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest on the higher mountains — with generally excellent dirt-road access across public land. Private ranch parcels sit in the valley bottoms and along creek corridors, so verify ownership before crossing to reach public ground. The US 93 corridor between Contact and Jackpot is the main paved artery, with a web of gravel and two-track roads feeding the mountains.
Managers: BLM, USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, Private (valley bottoms/ranches)
Access points: US Highway 93 (Contact–Jackpot corridor) · Salmon Falls Creek Road / Thousand Springs Valley roads · BLM and Forest Service two-tracks into Knoll Mountain and the Granite Range · Gollaher Mountain area roads
Species notes
Pronghorn
common qualityAntelope are the unit's strongest draw, with roughly 74% five-year success reflecting good buck quality and productive sagebrush habitat across the flats and benches. Tags are limited-draw, so a hunt here usually means a well-earned opportunity at a mature buck.
- →Glass the big sagebrush flats and low benches from high points at first and last light — antelope live by their eyes in open country.
- →Key on springs, creek bottoms and stock water during warm early seasons; bucks pattern to water in this dry country.
- →Use swales and terrain folds to close on a located buck rather than chasing across open ground.
- →Scout pre-season to inventory bucks and find groups away from the deer/elk crowds, since seasons overlap.
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityRocky Mountain elk are well established, with about 61% five-year success — strong for a Great Basin unit. Archery and muzzleloader hunters get good rutting action in the timber and mahogany of the higher country.
- →Hunt the aspen, mahogany and timbered upper ridges of Knoll Mountain and the Granite Range where bulls hold and bugle.
- →Locate bugling bulls at dawn and dusk, then use wind and terrain to slip in through the cover.
- →Work springs and wallows in the high country during warm early archery/muzzleloader seasons.
- →Push into the roughest, least-roaded heads of the drainages once pressure builds.
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer are present at moderate densities (about 53% five-year success). Focus effort on the higher elevations early, and hunt the late season when deer drop to lower ground and the rut pulls mature bucks into the open — this is the best window for a trophy-class buck.
- →Glass sagebrush slopes, mahogany edges and high draws morning and evening.
- →Hunt the higher country early, then follow deer down as early snow pushes them to winter range.
- →Save your hardest effort for the late rifle season when rutting bucks move most.
- →Hike off the road corridors — the better bucks live away from vehicle disturbance.
Moose
transient lowNevada's small, expanding Shiras moose herd reaches into this far-northeastern country, and a couple of animals are taken here on rare once-in-a-lifetime tags. Treat it as a novelty, not a huntable target — this is an antelope/elk/deer unit first.
- →Check willow-choked creek bottoms and riparian pockets where a stray bull might feed.
- →Do not plan a trip around moose; focus effort on the unit's real strengths.
Pro tips
- →Come for the antelope — roughly 74% success and quality bucks make it the unit's headline hunt.
- →For elk, hunt the archery/muzzleloader rut in the timber and mahogany of Knoll Mountain and the Granite Range.
- →Save your hardest deer effort for the late season when snow drops bucks to lower ground and the rut fires up.
- →Scout water hard — springs, creeks and stock tanks concentrate game across this dry country.
- →Assume no cell coverage: carry offline maps, a paper map, extra fuel and recovery gear.
- →Verify ownership before crossing valley-bottom ranch parcels to reach public ground.
Watch out for
- !Remote with little to no cell service — a breakdown or injury is a serious problem; go self-sufficient.
- !Unmaintained dirt/gravel roads get muddy and impassable after rain or early snow.
- !Private ranch parcels sit in the valley bottoms and along creeks — confirm boundaries before crossing.
- !Overlapping deer/elk/antelope seasons cause crowding on the main access roads.
- !Draw odds are competitive; plan bonus points accordingly.
Logistics
Wells (south on I-80) is the practical hub for fuel, groceries, lodging and basic gear; Jackpot to the north has casinos, fuel and rooms; tiny Contact sits inside the unit's corridor with minimal services. Elko is the full-service regional center. Dispersed camping is easy on the surrounding BLM and Forest ground. Cell service is limited to nonexistent across most of the unit — download offline maps, carry a paper backup, and tell someone your plan. Carry extra fuel, water and recovery gear; roads are dirt and gravel two-tracks that punish the unprepared.
Nearest towns: Wells, Contact, Jackpot, Elko
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT — Nevada Unit 076 Unit Profile (699 sq mi, 5,200–8,760 ft, ~82% public, BLM/USFS, Knoll Mountain, Granite Range, Gollaher Mountain, sagebrush, road access, limited cell) · NDOW Hunt Information Sheets (unit descriptions, access, recommended areas) · NDOW Boundary Unit Descriptions (Units 076/077/079/081 — Thousand Springs, Goose Creek, Pequop Mountains area, Elko County)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 076 in Nevada?
- Unit 076 (Unit 076) covers about 699 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,200 to 8,760 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 076?
- Approximately 82% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, Private (valley bottoms/ranches). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 076?
- Pronghorn, Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Moose. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Nevada agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 076 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.