How big is Unit 101 in Nevada?

Unit 101 (Unit 101) covers about 437 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,200 to 11,300 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.

What species does the catalog list for Unit 101?

Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Mountain Goat, Moose. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Nevada agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.

Unit 101 Unit 101

The East Humboldt Range: high, steep mule deer country with elk, antelope and a coveted trickle of goats.

Northeastern Nevada — Elko County (NDOW Units 101-109, East Humboldt/Ruby area) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12

Mule deer buck trotting across open prairie at dusk

Area

437

sq mi

Public land

55%

approx.

Elevation

5,200–11,300

feet

Motorized

limited

access

Overview

Unit 101 sits south of Interstate 80 near Wells and is built around the East Humboldt Range, the rugged sister range to the Rubies. It runs from valley-bottom benches around 5,200 ft to Man on the Mountain-scale peaks near 11,300 ft, holding a large mule deer population plus elk, antelope and small numbers of mountain goats. It is one of the more productive — but harder-access — deer units in the group, hemmed by private benchland and a big block of designated Wilderness. Antelope post the highest success here (~73%), with deer and elk requiring more work.

Terrain

A steep, alpine mountain core (the East Humboldt Range) surrounded by rolling hills, deep and shallow swales, benches and flats. The high country is glassy, near-vertical goat-and-deer terrain; the lower unit is classic Great Basin bench-and-flat country. Much of the mountain interior is roadless Wilderness reachable only on foot.

Cover: Sagebrush dominates the lower slopes and benches, grading into aspen, mountain mahogany, pinyon-juniper and mixed conifer upslope, with alpine meadows, cliffs and rock near the crest. Deer use the mahogany and timber for thermal and security cover.

Landmarks: East Humboldt Range · East Humboldt Wilderness (32,364 acres) · Angel Lake / Angel Creek · Lizzies Basin, Secret-Starr, Smith Lake, Winchell Lake trailheads · Man on the Mountain Peak (~11,300 ft) · Ruby Mountains (adjacent to the south) · Interstate 80 / Wells (north)

Access

Public access is limited in much of Unit 101 by private properties on the benches surrounding the East Humboldt Range, and vehicle access is further restricted by the 32,364-acre East Humboldt Wilderness, which is foot/horse only. Legal foot access into the Wilderness is via the Lizzies Basin, Secret-Starr, Smith Lake and Winchell Lake trailheads. Where you can reach public ground, expect to hike hard — the deer push away from roads and trailheads as the season wears on. Cell service is very limited, especially on the east side.

Managers: USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, BLM, Private (bench and valley ranches)

Access points: Angel Lake Road (Angel Creek/Angel Lake campgrounds) · Lizzies Basin trailhead · Secret-Starr trailhead · Smith Lake trailhead · Winchell Lake trailhead

Species notes

Pronghorn

common quality

Antelope post the unit's highest success (~73% over five years) on the sagebrush benches and flats surrounding the range. Limited-draw tags mean a located buck is usually a good one.

→Glass the open sagebrush benches and flats from high vantage points early and late.
→Key on water during warm early seasons — antelope pattern to reliable sources.
→Use swales and terrain folds to stalk within range of a spotted buck across the open country.
→Focus on the lower, gentler ground away from the steep mountain core where antelope live.

Mule Deer

abundant quality

Unit 101 carries a large mule deer population in the highly productive East Humboldt Range, though five-year success (~35%) reflects tough access and steep terrain more than a shortage of deer. Late rifle and late archery seasons are best for a trophy-class buck.

→Hunt the late rifle/late archery windows when the rut moves mature bucks and pulls some to lower elevations.
→Glass the mahogany and timber shadows relentlessly — bucks bed in thermal cover and are easy to miss.
→Be willing to hike into the Wilderness or over a ridge; the best bucks live a canyon away from vehicle access.
→Work the transition zones between sagebrush benches and the timbered upper slopes at first and last light.

Rocky Mountain Elk

common quality

Elk are established across the East Humboldt/Ruby high country (~41% five-year success). Rutting bulls hold in the timber and aspen of the upper mountain and offer good archery/muzzleloader action.

→Locate bugling bulls at dawn/dusk in the high aspen and conifer, then close with the wind in your favor.
→Hunt wallows and high-country water during warm early seasons.
→Expect to hike into roadless and Wilderness ground where bulls escape pressure.
→Glass alpine basins and timbered heads of drainages for feeding elk morning and evening.

Mountain Goat

limited trophy

The East Humboldt/Ruby high country holds small mountain goat numbers with good trophy potential. Tags are extremely limited (a once-in-a-lifetime-caliber draw), so any hunt here is a rare, high-value opportunity.

→Glass the highest cliffs, alpine ledges and rock faces near the crest where goats live.
→Plan a physically demanding foot hunt into the Wilderness high country — access is on your legs.
→Scout goat groups pre-season and be prepared for steep, exposed terrain and abrupt weather.
→Treat a goat tag as a serious mountain expedition, not a road hunt.

Moose

transient low

Nevada's small, expanding Shiras moose population occasionally reaches this northeastern high country; a stray moose is possible but incidental rather than a huntable target here.

→Check willow-lined creek bottoms and riparian pockets where a stray moose might feed.
→Do not build a trip around moose — focus on the unit's deer, antelope, elk and goat opportunities.

Pro tips

→This is a hike-in unit — the deer and elk push off roads and trailheads as pressure builds, so plan to earn it on foot.
→Chase antelope for the highest odds (~73%) on the surrounding sagebrush benches.
→Hunt the late rifle/archery seasons for a rutting trophy buck in the East Humboldt Range.
→Glass the mahogany and timber shadows — bucks bed in thermal cover and blend right in.
→Know your private-bench boundaries before you cross to reach public ground; access is the main constraint here.
→A goat tag here is a rare prize — treat it as a full alpine expedition into the Wilderness high country.

Watch out for

!Private benchland surrounds the East Humboldt Range and blocks a lot of the easy access — verify boundaries carefully.
!The East Humboldt Wilderness (32,364 acres) is foot/horse only; no motorized or mechanized travel.
!Steep, alpine terrain and abrupt mountain weather demand fitness, navigation skills and proper gear.
!Cell service is very limited, especially on the east side — carry offline and paper maps.
!Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge (to the south in the unit group) does not allow big-game hunting — know where you are.

Logistics

Wells (right off I-80 at the north edge) offers motels, fuel and basic supplies; Elko is the full-service hub for lodging, groceries, fuel and gear. Improved USFS campgrounds sit at Angel Creek and Angel Lake within the unit, with dispersed camping available on surrounding federal land. Cell coverage is very limited, particularly on the east side — carry offline maps and a paper backup. Access the Wilderness core on foot from the named trailheads; much of the interior has no roads at all.

Nearest towns: Wells, Elko, Spring Creek

Nearby units

Unit 107 · Unit 107 Unit 102 · Unit 102 Unit 109 · Unit 109 Unit 075 · Unit 075

Seasons & regulations

This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:

Research sources: NDOW Mule Deer Unit Group 101-109 Hunt Information Sheet (private-bench access limits, East Humboldt/Ruby Wilderness, trailheads, campgrounds, towns, tactics) · GOHUNT — Nevada Unit 101 Unit Profile (East Humboldt Range, 5,200–11,300 ft elevation, mountain goats, late-season deer, Angel Lake, limited cell)

FAQ

How big is Unit 101 in Nevada?: Unit 101 (Unit 101) covers about 437 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,200 to 11,300 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
How much public land is in Unit 101?: Approximately 55% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, BLM, Private (bench and valley ranches). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
What species does the catalog list for Unit 101?: Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Mountain Goat, Moose. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Nevada agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.

Put Unit 101 on your map.

Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.

Get Baseline Maps What is a GMU?