Unit 081 Unit 081
Nevada's far-northeast corner — the best big-game unit of the cluster, with a toehold moose herd
Northeastern Nevada — Elko County · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
664
sq mi
Public land
75.8%
approx.
Elevation
4,900–7,850
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 081 is a big (663 sq mi) unit in the very northeast corner of Nevada, the Goose Creek country wedged between Jackpot, Montello, and the Utah and Idaho state lines. It's rolling sagebrush hills, old burns, and willow-lined creek bottoms rather than a single steep range. This is the standout big-game unit of the northeast cluster: strong elk and mule deer harvest, pronghorn on the flats, and a tiny but real Shiras moose population in the riparian bottoms — a rare once-in-a-lifetime tag.
Terrain
Expansive rolling sage hills and benches broken by post-fire burns and the Goose Creek and Salmon Falls drainages. Gentler than the surrounding ranges but genuinely big country that hunts on foot and by glass, with willow and aspen creek bottoms holding the surprises.
Cover: Sagebrush-steppe and bitterbrush on the uplands, grass-and-forb regrowth in the burns, and willow, aspen, and mountain mahogany in the creek bottoms and draws.
Landmarks: Goose Creek · Salmon Falls Creek headwaters · Utah state line · Idaho state line · Montello and Jackpot approaches
Access
Predominantly BLM sage country, but private ranch inholdings line the Goose Creek willow bottoms and springs — get permission or route around the creek corridors. Access is by graded county and BLM roads off US-93 near Contact and from the Montello and Jackpot sides; long drives and no services inside the unit.
Managers: BLM Elko District, Private (ranch bottomlands & railroad checkerboard)
Access points: US-93 near Contact · Goose Creek Road · BLM/county roads from Montello · county roads from Jackpot
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityThe unit's strength — the largest elk harvest of this cluster (dozens of animals at roughly 61% success). Herds work the burns and open benches.
- →Glass post-fire burns and bench edges at first and last light where regrowth draws elk
- →Locate bugling bulls in the aspen and creek-head pockets during the early rut
- →Cover ground between glassing points — elk shift across this big rolling country
Mule Deer
common qualityA solid resident herd boosted by late-season migrants moving in from Utah and Idaho, with success around 63%. Later seasons align with the migration and the rut.
- →Hunt the late window when out-of-state migrants push into the unit
- →Work sage-and-mahogany draws and burn edges for bucks
- →Glass creek bottoms and north slopes during the rut for cruising bucks
Pronghorn
common qualityAntelope hold on the open valley flats and rolling sage, with high success near 74% on a limited tag draw.
- →Glass the broad sage flats and low benches for bucks and does at midday
- →Judge horns at long range before starting a decoy or stalk
- →Key on the few water sources during warm early hunts
Moose
limited trophyA tiny, expanding Shiras moose population — part of the herd colonizing Nevada's northeast corner from Idaho and Utah. Only a handful of tags exist; those that hunt them succeed (100% on the couple of recent tags). A true once-in-a-lifetime prize.
- →Hunt the willow and aspen creek bottoms of Goose Creek and its tributaries
- →Glass riparian corridors at dawn and dusk when moose feed in the open
- →Positively identify moose vs. elk before any shot — the herd is small and closely watched
Pro tips
- →This is the big-game anchor of the northeast cluster — elk and deer numbers justify the drive
- →Burns are magnets: post-fire regrowth concentrates elk and deer, so prioritize glassing burn edges
- →For deer, the late migration from Utah and Idaho is the difference-maker — hunt late if you can
- →Respect the Goose Creek ranch inholdings; the private ground follows the water, so plan public routes around the bottoms
- →If you're lucky enough to draw a moose tag, work the willow bottoms and confirm your target — the herd is tiny and heavily scrutinized
Watch out for
- !Private ranch inholdings along Goose Creek and the willow bottoms — trespass risk where the best cover is
- !Checkerboard private near the railroad/valley corridor — verify sections
- !Long distances to any help or fuel; interior roads impassable when wet
- !No reliable cell service — carry satellite communication
- !Moose and elk share the creek bottoms — misidentification is a serious risk in a unit with a fragile moose herd
Logistics
No services in the unit. Jackpot (north, on US-93) has fuel, lodging, and food; Wells and West Wendover on I-80 are the other resupply points; Montello has minimal services. Camp dispersed on BLM land and bring water. Long drives on graded roads that turn slick when wet. Cell service is limited to nonexistent — carry a satellite communicator.
Nearest towns: Jackpot, Montello, Contact, Wells, West Wendover
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: NDOW Hunt Unit Boundaries · NDOW Elk Unit Group 076/077/079/081 boundary map · NDOW Unit 081 Depredation Hunt Boundary Map · GoHunt Nevada Unit 081 Profile (secondary cross-check)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 081 in Nevada?
- Unit 081 (Unit 081) covers about 664 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,900 to 7,850 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 081?
- Approximately 75.8% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM Elko District, Private (ranch bottomlands & railroad checkerboard). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 081?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, 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 081 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.