How big is Unit 105 in Nevada?

Unit 105 (Unit 105) covers about 726 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,500 to 10,262 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.

How much public land is in Unit 105?

Approximately 90% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.

What species does the catalog list for Unit 105?

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.

Unit 105 Unit 105

Spruce Mountain and the south Pequops — the elk engine of the eastern unit group

Eastern Nevada — Elko County · Last reviewed 2026-07-12

Bull elk standing at the edge of dark timber

Area

726

sq mi

Public land

90%

approx.

Elevation

5,500–10,262

feet

Motorized

extensive

access

Overview

Unit 105 wraps Spruce Mountain and the south end of the Pequop Mountains in eastern Elko County, southeast of Wells between Clover and Independence valleys. It is the elk stronghold of its group — NDOW notes it holds high elk densities and produces a majority of the group's elk harvest, and recent draw hunters have filled bull tags at roughly half. Mule deer are present only as a thin resident herd on arid, tree-heavy ground, while a small band of antelope holds along the south end of Spruce Mountain and out in Clover Valley. Access is excellent, with an extensive road network and very little private land.

Terrain

A high, isolated desert range — Spruce Mountain rises to roughly 10,200 feet as the dominant landform, with the south Pequops and the South Pequop Wilderness Study Area to the north, ringed by sagebrush basins in Clover and Independence valleys. Elk use all elevations of Spruce Mountain; deer and antelope key on the benches and lower slopes. This is arid country with limited natural water and numerous man-made guzzlers and troughs.

Cover: Wyoming big sagebrush flats grading into dense pinyon-juniper woodland on the mid slopes, with small pockets of mountain mahogany and aspen and meadow stringers around the higher springs. BLM-NDOW habitat enhancement work has opened roughly 10,000 acres of decadent woodland on Spruce Mountain.

Landmarks: Spruce Mountain · South Pequop Mountains · South Pequop Wilderness Study Area · Clover Valley · Independence Valley · Spruce Mountain Ridge · U.S. 93 · I-80 (Wells)

Access

Overwhelmingly public BLM land (Elko District, Wells Field Office) with an extensive road network and only scattered private parcels, mostly on the Clover Valley floor. NDOW rates access excellent throughout. Reach the unit from I-80 at Wells to the north or U.S. 93 running south toward Ely; graded and two-track BLM roads climb Spruce Mountain from Clover and Independence valleys. Most of the mountain is drivable, but as the season wears on animals push into the canyons away from the roads.

Managers: BLM

Access points: I-80 / Wells · U.S. 93 · Clover Valley roads · Independence Valley roads · Spruce Mountain BLM roads

Species notes

Rocky Mountain Elk

common quality

The headline species and the group's elk engine — NDOW reports high elk densities on Spruce Mountain and a majority of the unit group's elk harvest here, with recent bull-tag success near 48%. Elk use all portions of Spruce Mountain and the South Pequop WSA.

→Hunt all elevations of Spruce Mountain — elk range top to bottom; glass the open enhancement burns and mahogany edges at first and last light.
→In dry early seasons key on the guzzlers, springs, and troughs; natural water is scarce and elk pattern tightly around it.
→Focus on the roughly 10,000 acres of BLM-NDOW habitat treatments on Spruce Mountain, which pull elk into improved forage.
→Elk move back and forth to Valley Mountain in neighboring Unit 109, so hunt the seams between the two, especially in late/cold weather.
→Get a canyon off the road once pressure builds — bulls tuck into brushy pinyon-juniper draws out of sight of vehicles.

Mule Deer

limited opportunity

A small resident herd only — Units 104-109 serve mainly as transition and winter range for the more productive Ruby/East Humboldt units, so densities are low and cover is heavy. Recent success across the group runs near 35%. Success here is a function of glassing time, not deer numbers.

→Grind glass over the mahogany stands and sage-brush benches on the upper slopes where the resident bucks hold.
→Hunt away from roads — deer push into hidden canyons a ridge off the vehicle access once the season opens.
→Early season, work close to the few reliable springs and guzzlers; deer spread onto the higher tables as it cools.

Pronghorn

limited opportunity

A small band of antelope holds along the south end of Spruce Mountain and out on the Clover Valley flats. Tags are scarce but recent draw success has been very high (near 88%) — this is a high-odds hunt on a small population.

→Glass the open sage flats of Clover Valley and the low benches off the south end of Spruce Mountain at first and last light.
→In the hot early season, watch the water — antelope tie to springs and stock tanks in August-September.
→Judge bucks from long range on a tripod before committing; use swales and terrain folds to close the last stretch in the open.

Pro tips

→This is an elk-first unit — if you draw a bull tag, Spruce Mountain top to bottom is your plan.
→Learn the guzzlers and springs before you go; in this arid country water dictates where the animals are early.
→Hunt the BLM-NDOW habitat treatment blocks on Spruce Mountain for improved forage and elk use.
→Watch the Unit 105/109 boundary — elk trade back and forth to Valley Mountain, especially late and in cold snaps.
→Wild-horse overuse has degraded parts of the range; seek out the pockets still carrying good forage.

Watch out for

!Very little water occurs naturally — a dry early season concentrates game but also means you must haul your own drinking water.
!Limited to no cell service off I-80; carry a satellite communicator and leave an itinerary.
!Scattered private parcels sit on the Clover Valley floor — verify boundaries before crossing.
!Wild horses have overutilized much of the range, thinning forage in places; scout for the better habitat pockets.
!Early snow can slick the upper Spruce Mountain roads and strand a rig without 4WD and recovery gear.

Logistics

Stage out of Wells (I-80) for the closest fuel, groceries, and motels; Elko, Wendover, and Ely offer fuller services and RV parks. There are no developed campgrounds inside the unit — dispersed camping on BLM land is the norm, and hunters typically camp near tree cover or a reliable spring. Haul in drinking water; natural water is scarce. Cell service is limited to nonexistent off the interstate corridor, so bring a satellite messenger. Standard-clearance vehicles reach much of the mountain, but 4WD helps on the upper two-tracks and after storms.

Nearest towns: Wells, NV, Wendover, NV, Elko, NV, Ely, NV

Nearby units

Unit 109 · Unit 109 Unit 078 · Unit 078 Unit 107 · Unit 107 Unit 106 · Unit 106

Seasons & regulations

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

Research sources: NDOW Elk Hunt Info Sheet — Units 078, 105-107, 109 · NDOW Mule Deer Hunt Info Sheet — Units 101-109 · GoHunt Nevada Unit 105 Profile (secondary cross-check)

FAQ

How big is Unit 105 in Nevada?: Unit 105 (Unit 105) covers about 726 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,500 to 10,262 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
How much public land is in Unit 105?: Approximately 90% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
What species does the catalog list for Unit 105?: 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 105 on your map.

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

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