Unit 078 Unit 078
The north Pequop Mountains: a compact elk unit with high seasonal densities and the occasional giant late-season buck.
Northeastern Nevada — Elko County (NDOW Area 7) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
341
sq mi
Public land
67%
approx.
Elevation
5,600–9,200
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 078 is a compact (roughly 341-square-mile) unit built around the north Pequop Mountains southeast of Wells, straddling the Interstate 80 corridor near Pequop Summit above Independence Valley. It is mostly public sagebrush and pinyon-juniper mountain country and is best known for elk — the unit holds high elk densities during parts of the year, with animals consistently taken in drainages like Nanny Creek, Sixmile Canyon and the Spud Patch burn (about 49% five-year success). Mule deer are a small resident population that occasionally produces a true trophy in the late seasons (about 53%), and antelope are only incidental here (a single limited tag with high success). Plan on physical, timbered mountain hunting.
Terrain
Steep, rugged spine of the north Pequop Mountains flanked by rolling hills, deep and shallow swales, benches and broad flats, dropping to Independence Valley at about 5,600 ft and rising to roughly 9,200 ft on the crest. It hunts as steep, physical mountain country up high with open glassing basins below — get on a vantage and let optics do the work.
Cover: Mostly big sagebrush across the flats and lower slopes, with areas of dense pinyon and juniper on the mid-slopes and small pockets of mountain mahogany and higher-elevation conifer near the crest. Burns like the Spud Patch have opened up feed that draws elk.
Landmarks: North Pequop Mountains (crest ~9,200 ft) · Independence Valley (~5,600 ft, west) · Nanny Creek · Sixmile Canyon · Spud Patch burn · Interstate 80 / Pequop Summit · Union Pacific Railroad maintenance road (south)
Access
About two-thirds public, with public vehicle access through most of the unit, though a railroad-grant checkerboard and valley ranches mean you should verify ownership before crossing. Interstate 80 over Pequop Summit is the best route to the northern part of the unit; the Union Pacific Railroad maintenance road serves the southern end; and roads out of Independence Valley reach the western flank. Higher, steeper country is walk-in from the road heads.
Managers: BLM, USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, Private (railroad-grant checkerboard / Independence Valley ranches)
Access points: Interstate 80 / Pequop Summit (north) · Union Pacific Railroad maintenance road (south) · Independence Valley roads (west) · Two-tracks into Nanny Creek and Sixmile Canyon
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityElk are the unit's signature: the north Pequops hold high elk densities during portions of the year, with about 49% five-year success. Animals are consistently harvested in Nanny Creek, Sixmile Canyon and around the Spud Patch burn, and the muzzleloader window lines up well with the rut.
- →Focus on Nanny Creek, Sixmile Canyon and the Spud Patch burn — the unit's proven elk producers.
- →Hunt the rut at dawn and dusk; the early muzzleloader season aligns with peak bugling.
- →Glass the burn edges and pinyon-juniper transitions where elk feed, then use terrain and wind to close.
- →Be ready to hike into the steep, timbered crest where bulls hold once pressure or heat pushes them up.
Mule Deer
limited qualityThe resident mule deer population is small, but the unit produces a heavy buck on rare occasions. The late rifle and late archery seasons are the best windows for locating a trophy-class buck as deer move and the rut takes hold.
- →Hunt the late rifle/late archery seasons — the clear best window for a mature buck here.
- →Glass mahogany pockets, pinyon-juniper edges and high draws from vantage points morning and evening.
- →Cover ground with optics; deer are thin, so glassing efficiency matters more than miles walked.
- →Watch the elevation bands as snow pushes deer down out of the high Pequops.
Pronghorn
limited opportunityAntelope are incidental in this mountain unit — essentially a single limited tag on the sagebrush fringes and Independence Valley flats, taken at high success. Not a reason to draw here, but a bonus opportunity for the rare tag holder.
- →Glass the lower sagebrush benches and Independence Valley flats where the few antelope range.
- →Key on water and open feeding areas at first and last light.
- →Treat it as a fringe opportunity — the unit's real draw is elk and the occasional big buck.
Pro tips
- →This is an elk unit first — start in Nanny Creek, Sixmile Canyon and around the Spud Patch burn.
- →Time the muzzleloader/early season to the rut for the best bugling action.
- →For deer, hunt the late rifle or late archery season — that's when a Pequop giant is most findable.
- →Access the north end off I-80/Pequop Summit and the south end via the railroad maintenance road.
- →Come in shape: the high Pequops are steep, physical country best hunted from vantage points with good glass.
- →Verify land ownership before crossing — a railroad checkerboard and valley ranches lace the lower ground.
Watch out for
- !Steep, rugged high country — solid physical conditioning is a must.
- !Checkerboard and valley private inholdings — confirm public boundaries before crossing.
- !Limited to no cell service off the interstate; go self-sufficient with offline maps.
- !Dirt roads get muddy and impassable after rain or early snow; Pequop Summit weathers early.
- !Small resident deer herd — manage expectations; trophy bucks are the exception, not the rule.
Logistics
Wells, west on I-80, is the closest full stop for fuel, food and lodging; West Wendover to the southeast is the other service town; Oasis is a tiny interstate outpost; Elko is the regional hub. Dispersed camping is easy on the BLM and Forest ground once you're on public land. Cell service is limited to nonexistent off the interstate — download offline maps and a land-ownership layer and carry a paper backup. This is steep country: come in shape and pack for physical mountain hunting.
Nearest towns: Wells, Oasis, West Wendover, Elko
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT — Nevada Unit 078 Unit Profile (341 sq mi, 5,600–9,200 ft, ~67% public, north Pequop Mountains, sagebrush/pinyon-juniper/mahogany, small deer herd, elk, limited cell) · NDOW Elk Hunt Information Sheet — Unit Group 078, 105-107, 109 (elk densities, Nanny Creek / Sixmile Canyon / Spud Patch burn, I-80 & Union Pacific maintenance road access, Independence Valley) · NDOW Hunt Information Sheets (unit descriptions, access, recommended areas)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 078 in Nevada?
- Unit 078 (Unit 078) covers about 341 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,600 to 9,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 078?
- Approximately 67% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, Private (railroad-grant checkerboard / Independence Valley ranches). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 078?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Nevada agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 078 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.