Unit 109 Unit 109
Small, arid Valley Mountain unit: an elk winter-range door off Spruce Mountain with scattered resident deer.
Northeastern Nevada — Elko County (Valley Mountain, south of Spruce Mountain) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
211
sq mi
Public land
92%
approx.
Elevation
5,900–8,200
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 109 is a compact, arid unit built around Valley Mountain in southern Elko County, sitting between the big-country neighbors of the Ruby chain to the west and Spruce Mountain (Unit 105) to the northeast. It is primarily transition and winter range rather than a resident stronghold: elk move back and forth from Spruce Mountain and can pile up here in winter, deer are a low-density opportunity in the pinyon-juniper, and antelope are incidental. Access is a strong point — extensive roads and very little private land.
Terrain
Modest Great Basin range-and-valley country centered on Valley Mountain and its associated canyons, ringed by sagebrush basins. It is lower and more arid than the Ruby high country next door — think pinyon-juniper foothills and open flats rather than alpine. Game concentrates around canyons, cover and the few reliable water sources.
Cover: Sagebrush and greasewood on the flats, extensive pinyon-juniper across the Valley Mountain slopes, with mountain mahogany and scattered aspen in the higher canyons. Cover is heavier than the open northern units — hunt the edges and openings.
Landmarks: Valley Mountain · Butte Valley (west) · Steptoe Valley (east) · Spruce Mountain / Unit 105 (northeast) · Ruby Mountains chain (west)
Access
NDOW rates Unit 109 as having excellent access, with an extensive road network and very little private land. Most of the unit is BLM ground with the higher timbered slopes under the Humboldt-Toiyabe. The unit is arid with limited natural water, so wildlife water developments and springs are important; wild-horse overuse affects vegetation on parts of the range. High-clearance and 4WD vehicles help on the two-tracks, especially in fall snow or mud.
Managers: BLM, USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF (Ely Ranger District)
Access points: BLM roads off Butte Valley and Steptoe Valley into Valley Mountain · Two-track routes accessing the Valley Mountain canyons
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityElk are the defining draw: Unit 109 seasonally holds high densities, most notably in winter, with animals moving back and forth from Spruce Mountain (Unit 105). Five-year success runs around 48% on limited tags, with Valley Mountain and its canyons the primary focus.
- →Center your effort on Valley Mountain and the associated canyons where elk concentrate.
- →Scout the seasonal movement between Spruce Mountain (105) and 109 — timing tracks the weather.
- →Locate rutting bulls in September in the higher timber, then close with the wind.
- →After the rut and with snow, hunt thick mid-elevation tree cover where lone bulls hold.
Mule Deer
limited opportunityDeer here are a low-density opportunity on transition/winter range; five-year success (~35%) reflects thin numbers and heavy pinyon-juniper cover. The unit hunts best when weather moves migratory deer down into it.
- →Glass the pinyon-juniper edges and openings on Valley Mountain morning and evening.
- →Hunt away from the roads — bucks push to security cover a canyon back under pressure.
- →Time later hunts to early storms that shift deer onto the winter range.
- →Be patient glassing shaded mahogany and timber where bucks bed.
Pronghorn
limited opportunityAntelope are incidental in this small unit, with only a trickle of harvest off the surrounding sagebrush basins. A located buck on the open flats is a bonus rather than the reason to come.
- →Glass the open Butte and Steptoe Valley flats bordering Valley Mountain from high points.
- →Key on water sources during warm early conditions in this dry unit.
- →Use terrain folds to stalk a spotted buck across the open ground.
Pro tips
- →Think elk first: 109 is a winter-range door off Spruce Mountain, and Valley Mountain is the focus.
- →Watch the weather — the unit fills as storms move elk and deer down into it.
- →In this arid unit, water and cover concentrate game early; pattern springs and guzzlers.
- →Access is easy and public-heavy, so hunt smart, not just far — glass the pinyon edges hard.
- →Wild-horse overuse hits some slopes; focus where feed and cover remain intact.
- →Set deer expectations to opportunity-level — it's a low-density resident herd.
Watch out for
- !Arid unit with limited natural water — plan your own supply.
- !Low resident deer density and heavy pinyon-juniper; success runs modest.
- !Elk presence is seasonal — a poorly timed hunt can miss the movement off Spruce Mountain.
- !Fall snow and mud make the two-tracks slick; carry 4WD and recovery gear.
- !Cell service is minimal off the highways — use offline navigation.
Logistics
Ely (south) and the I-80 towns of Wells and Elko (north) provide fuel, groceries, lodging and RV parks. There are no developed campgrounds inside the unit; dispersed camping is readily available on the surrounding BLM and Forest Service land. Carry your own water — the unit is arid with limited natural sources. Cell coverage is minimal once you leave the highways, so rely on offline and paper maps.
Nearest towns: Ely, Wells, Elko
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: NDOW Elk Unit Group 078, 105-107, 109 Hunt Information Sheet (Unit 109 excellent access, very little private land, seasonally high elk densities esp. winter, elk move between 105 and 109, Valley Mountain primary focus, arid with wildlife water developments, wild-horse overuse) · NDOW Mule Deer Unit Group 101-109 Hunt Information Sheet (Units 108-109 excellent access, transition/winter range, small resident herds, heavier tree cover, more arid; towns of Elko/Ely/Wells)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 109 in Nevada?
- Unit 109 (Unit 109) covers about 211 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,900 to 8,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 109?
- Approximately 92% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF (Ely Ranger District). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 109?
- 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 109 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.