Unit 107 Unit 107
The checkerboard unit near Wells — the access problem, not the game, defines it
Eastern Nevada — Elko County · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
164
sq mi
Public land
55%
approx.
Elevation
5,700–8,300
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Unit 107 is a small unit just southeast of Wells in eastern Elko County, in the Independence Valley and north Goshute Valley country below the interstate. Its defining feature is land ownership: NDOW describes it as checkerboarded public and private for most of its area, which can make access nearly impossible without permission to cross private ground. Elk move through seasonally at moderate densities, but the tangled ownership has historically kept harvest very low. Mule deer are a thin resident herd and a small band of antelope uses the valleys. This is a unit where sorting out legal access is the whole game.
Terrain
Sagebrush valley floors and low benches broken by the toes of the surrounding ranges, in the Independence and north Goshute valley country south of I-80. Arid, with limited natural water and scattered wildlife water developments. Elk move through seasonally rather than holding resident numbers; game distribution is shaped as much by which sections are accessible as by habitat.
Cover: Wyoming big sagebrush flats and low benches grading into scattered pinyon-juniper on the higher ground, with meadow and spring pockets. Wild-horse overuse has degraded forage in parts of the unit group.
Landmarks: Independence Valley · Goshute Valley (north) · Snow Water Lake (playa) · Pequop Summit / I-80 · U.S. 93 junction · checkerboard section lines
Access
Most of the unit is checkerboarded public and private land — alternating sections from the historic railroad land grant — and NDOW warns this can make access nearly impossible without permission to cross private parcels. Public BLM sections exist but are often landlocked behind private ones. I-80 and U.S. 93 bound and cross the area, but reaching public ground legally requires knowing exactly where the section lines fall. Verify ownership on a current land-status layer before hunting and secure written permission where crossing private is unavoidable.
Managers: BLM, Private (railroad checkerboard)
Access points: I-80 (Wells / Pequop Summit) · U.S. 93 · Independence Valley roads
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
transient opportunityElk use the unit seasonally at moderate densities, but NDOW notes the complicated land ownership has historically led to very little harvest. Recent group-wide bull success runs near 49%, yet on-the-ground opportunity here is gated by access far more than by elk numbers.
- →Solve access first — map the checkerboard sections and lock down legal entry to public ground or permission across private before you hunt.
- →Watch for elk moving through seasonally; time your hunt to when animals are using accessible public sections.
- →Key on guzzlers and springs early in this arid country, and glass the low benches and canyon mouths at first and last light.
- →Neighboring Spruce Mountain (Unit 105) is the group's elk core — expect movement between it and this ground.
Mule Deer
limited opportunityA small resident herd on transition and winter range, like the rest of Units 104-109 — low densities and heavy tree cover, with recent group success near 35%. Access, not deer, is the limiting factor here.
- →Identify the accessible public benches and glass the mahogany and sage edges at first and last light.
- →Hunt away from roads and off the private sections into the pinyon-juniper draws where bucks hold.
- →Work close to reliable springs and guzzlers early in the season.
Pronghorn
limited opportunityA small band of antelope uses the Independence and Goshute valley flats. Tags are scarce, but recent draw success has been very high (near 88%) on this small, water-tied population — where you can legally reach it.
- →Glass the open valley flats at first and last light from accessible public ground.
- →In the hot early season, hunt the water — antelope tie to springs and stock tanks in August-September.
- →Judge bucks from long range on a tripod, then use terrain folds to close in the open.
Pro tips
- →Access is the entire challenge — before anything else, map the checkerboard and pin down legal public entry or written permission.
- →Carry a current land-ownership layer and check it at every section line; a wrong turn puts you on private ground.
- →Because elk are transient here, stay mobile and hunt them when they're on accessible public sections.
- →Consider the neighboring core unit (105/Spruce Mountain) for context — elk trade across these boundaries.
- →Scout the guzzlers and springs; in this arid unit, water plus legal access is the winning combination.
Watch out for
- !Checkerboard public/private ownership covers most of the unit — trespass risk is high and many public sections are effectively landlocked.
- !Do not rely on 'corner crossing' or assumed access; confirm boundaries and get permission where needed.
- !Very little natural water — haul your own drinking water.
- !Elk are seasonal and harvest has historically been very low here; set expectations accordingly.
- !Cell service fades off the I-80 corridor; carry a satellite communicator.
Logistics
Wells, right on I-80, is the closest base for fuel, groceries, and motels, with Elko, Wendover, and Ely offering fuller services and RV parks. There are no developed campgrounds inside the unit; dispersed camping is limited by the checkerboard ownership, so camp on clearly public BLM ground or in town. Haul in drinking water — natural water is scarce. Cell service is decent along the I-80 corridor but drops off quickly into the valleys; carry a satellite messenger. Because ownership is the crux, come with a current land-status GIS layer or OnX-style map and confirm boundaries constantly.
Nearest towns: Wells, NV, Wendover, NV, Elko, NV, Ely, NV
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 107 Profile (secondary cross-check)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 107 in Nevada?
- Unit 107 (Unit 107) covers about 164 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,700 to 8,300 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 107?
- Approximately 55% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, Private (railroad checkerboard). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 107?
- 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 107 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.