Unit 077 Unit 077
Big, arid Thousand Springs Valley country near Wells with checkerboard land ownership — scout hard and earn your animals.
Northeastern Nevada — Elko County (NDOW Area 7) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
895
sq mi
Public land
53%
approx.
Elevation
4,900–8,300
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 077 is a large (roughly 895-square-mile) block of northeastern Nevada in the Thousand Springs country near Wells, stretching toward the Utah line east of the Snake Mountains. It is primarily dry desert basin-and-range with scattered mountains and limited water, and its public-land share is only about 53% — well below most rural Nevada units — because of the classic railroad-grant checkerboard ownership along the I-80/rail corridor. Antelope are the standout (about 74% five-year success), elk are well established and consistently harvested (about 61%), and mule deer are present but scattered (about 53%). Nevada's expanding Shiras moose occasionally turn up here as a once-in-a-lifetime novelty.
Terrain
Wide, dry sagebrush valleys, benches and playa flats broken by scattered low mountain ranges topping out around 8,300 ft. Water is the limiting factor — this is arid country where game concentrates near the few springs, seeps and stock tanks, and where methodical glassing from vantage points beats still-hunting.
Cover: Predominantly big sagebrush, shadscale and greasewood desert-steppe with grass, giving way to mahogany and scattered timber on the higher ridges. Riparian green at the sparse water sources is a game magnet in the dry seasons.
Landmarks: Thousand Springs Valley · Snake Mountains (western flank) · Salmon Falls Creek drainage · Interstate 80 / Union Pacific rail corridor · Utah state line (east) · Wells (southwest)
Access
Only about 53% public — notably low for rural Nevada — because of the checkerboard of alternating public and private (railroad-grant/ranch) sections along the historic rail corridor. That interlocking pattern means legal access to some public parcels is constrained; use current land-ownership mapping to confirm you can reach and stand on public ground, and don't cross private without permission. Main access is off Interstate 80 near Wells and the network of BLM/ranch dirt roads reaching north and east into Thousand Springs Valley.
Managers: BLM, Private (railroad-grant checkerboard / ranches), USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF (higher ground)
Access points: Interstate 80 (Wells interchange) · Thousand Springs Valley roads (north) · Salmon Falls Creek Road · BLM two-tracks off the frontage/rail corridor
Species notes
Pronghorn
common qualityAntelope are the unit's strongest hunt, with roughly 74% five-year success across the open sagebrush valleys. The wide, arid basins are prime pronghorn country, and limited-draw tags mean a good chance at a mature buck for those who scout.
- →Glass the broad sagebrush flats and benches from high points at first and last light.
- →Key hard on the few water sources — springs, seeps and stock tanks — in this dry country.
- →Use terrain folds and swales to close on a located buck across open ground.
- →Confirm you're on huntable public land before the stalk — the checkerboard makes this critical.
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityRocky Mountain elk are well established with about 61% five-year success, and elk are consistently harvested here. Archery and muzzleloader hunters get good rutting action where the herds hold in the timbered and mahogany pockets of the higher ground.
- →Locate bulls on the higher ridges and around water during warm early seasons, then hunt the rut at dawn and dusk.
- →Work springs and wallows in the high country during archery/muzzleloader seasons.
- →Glass the transition between sagebrush basins and timber where elk feed and bed.
- →Verify access route on the checkerboard before committing to a stalk.
Mule Deer
limited opportunityMule deer are scattered at modest densities (about 53% five-year success) across this arid unit. It isn't a numbers machine, but the late season is the best window as deer move to lower ground and rutting bucks show themselves.
- →Glass mahogany edges, higher draws and sagebrush slopes morning and evening.
- →Hunt the late season when snow and the rut concentrate and move bucks.
- →Focus on the higher, better-watered ranges rather than the dry open basins.
- →Cover ground with optics — deer are thin, so glassing efficiency wins.
Moose
transient lowNevada's small, expanding Shiras moose herd reaches into this northeastern country, and a couple of animals are taken on rare once-in-a-lifetime tags. Treat any moose as incidental — this is an antelope/elk/deer unit.
- →Check willow-lined creek bottoms and riparian pockets where a stray bull might feed.
- →Do not plan a trip around moose here; focus on the unit's real strengths.
Pro tips
- →Run a current land-ownership map — at ~53% public with a railroad checkerboard, access is the single biggest challenge here.
- →Antelope are the headline: glass the open sagebrush basins and hunt near the scarce water.
- →For elk, key on the higher ranges and water sources, and hunt the early rut.
- →Deer are thin — cover ground with glass and save your best effort for the late season.
- →Carry extra water and fuel; this is dry, remote desert with little to no cell service.
- →Never cross private to reach public without permission — the checkerboard makes trespass easy to do by accident.
Watch out for
- !Low public-land share (~53%) with a railroad-grant checkerboard — some public parcels are hard or impossible to access legally.
- !Very dry country with limited water; carry your own and plan for the heat early season.
- !Limited to no cell service — go self-sufficient with offline maps and a paper backup.
- !Dirt roads get muddy and impassable after rain or early snow.
- !Trespass risk is high near the checkerboard — verify boundaries constantly.
Logistics
Wells, right on I-80, is the practical base for fuel, food, lodging and supplies; Montello and Oasis are tiny outposts to the east with minimal services; Elko is the full-service hub to the west. Dispersed camping is available on the BLM ground, but confirm you're on public land first given the checkerboard. Carry plenty of water, extra fuel and a good spare — this is dry, remote country with limited or no cell service. Download offline maps and a current land-ownership layer before you go.
Nearest towns: Wells, Montello, Oasis, Elko
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT — Nevada Unit 077 Unit Profile (895 sq mi, 4,900–8,300 ft, ~53% public, near Wells, dry desert with scattered water, elk/mule deer/antelope, 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 077 in Nevada?
- Unit 077 (Unit 077) covers about 895 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,900 to 8,300 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 077?
- Approximately 53% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, Private (railroad-grant checkerboard / ranches), USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF (higher ground). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 077?
- 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 077 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.