Unit 113 Unit 113
The Kern Mountains and Antelope Valley on the Utah border — border-country elk tied to the Goshute Reservation
Eastern Nevada — White Pine County (Nevada-Utah line) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
674
sq mi
Public land
90%
approx.
Elevation
5,600–9,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 113 is a large, remote unit in far-eastern White Pine County spanning the Kern Mountains, the South Mountains, and Antelope Valley up to the Nevada-Utah state line. Its elk are famously variable, moving on and off the adjacent Goshute Indian Reservation and back and forth across the state line, so timing and snow matter as much as location. Pronghorn are the most dependable draw here, holding Antelope Valley and the growing Pleasant Valley segment, while mule deer live at lower densities in the high canyons of the Kern Mountains. Much of the east side is reached from Utah, and the whole unit demands self-sufficiency.
Terrain
Isolated desert ranges rising out of broad valleys along the Utah line. Deer and resident elk hold the timbered upper canyons of the Kern Mountains — Blue Mass, Ferry's, Mallory, Tungstonia, Smith, and Grass Valley — and the South Mountains around Sanford Springs and Gravel Wash; pronghorn range the open floors of Antelope and Pleasant Valleys. Water is scarce, so springs and guzzlers drive game distribution.
Cover: Sagebrush and grass valleys grading through pinyon-juniper into mountain mahogany, aspen, and scattered conifer in the high canyons; agricultural meadows in Pleasant Valley that draw elk.
Landmarks: Kern Mountains · South Mountains · Antelope Valley · Pleasant Valley · Blue Mass Canyon · Ferry's Canyon · Mallory Canyon · Tungstonia · Smith Canyon · Grass Valley · Sanford Springs · Gravel Wash · Mormon Canyon · The Badlands · Goshute Indian Reservation (adjacent)
Access
Predominantly BLM Ely District land with Humboldt-Toiyabe ground on the higher Kern Mountains, agricultural private parcels in Pleasant Valley, and the Goshute Indian Reservation bounding the unit. Access to the east side requires entering from Utah on Highway 21 or the Gandy Road. A network of maintained county roads and rough two-tracks serves the unit; high-clearance and extra spares are recommended. Private property generally does not limit access, but boundaries and the state line must be respected.
Managers: BLM, USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF
Access points: Utah Highway 21 · Gandy Road (Utah) · Antelope Valley county roads · two-tracks into the Kern Mountains canyons
Species notes
Pronghorn
common qualityThe most dependable tag in the unit — recent success has run near 79%. Antelope hold the Little Hills toward Sulphur Springs and a growing herd in Pleasant Valley, with numbers tied to water distribution.
- →Glass the open valley floors of Antelope and Pleasant Valleys at dawn and dusk, then stalk through swales and low rims.
- →Hunt near guzzlers and springs in hot, dry conditions — reference NDOW's Water Development Atlas for locations, including two guzzlers on the east side of Antelope Valley.
- →Work the Little Hills toward Sulphur Springs and the private meadows and ag ground in Pleasant Valley.
- →Carry a GPS — the state line and the Unit 112/113 boundary both cut through open antelope country.
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityElk numbers swing with movements off the Goshute Indian Reservation and across the state line. Resident elk live in Grass Valley, Tungstonia, and Mallory and Ferry's Canyons; recent success has run near 65%, but a hunt can hinge on where the herd is that week.
- →Target the resident pockets first — Grass Valley, Tungstonia, Mallory and Ferry's Canyons hold elk most years.
- →Check the two east-Antelope-Valley guzzlers and the year-round ground in Sanford Spring, Mormon Canyon, and Gravel Wash.
- →In rut and snow years, glass the Pleasant Valley agriculture and the lower Mormon Canyon and Badlands where elk push off the reservation.
- →Stay flexible and be ready to relocate — this herd moves on and off the reservation and between Nevada and Utah.
Mule Deer
limited opportunityA lower-density deer unit that still offers good hunting for those who climb. The best habitat is the upper Kern Mountains canyons and the South Mountains; success has run in the low-50% range.
- →Hunt the upper elevations of the Kern Mountains — Blue Mass, Ferry's, Mallory, Tungstonia, Smith, and Grass Valley Canyons.
- →In the South Mountains, work the Sanford Springs and Gravel Wash areas.
- →Get well away from roads into the high canyons; effort matters more than deer density here.
- →Hunt near reliable water early in the season, then expand as cooler weather spreads deer onto the slopes.
Pro tips
- →Elk here are a moving target — success often depends on catching the herd on the Nevada side, so build in scouting time and be ready to relocate.
- →Pronghorn are the steadier draw; focus Antelope and Pleasant Valleys and hunt the guzzlers in dry weather.
- →Access the east side from Utah via Highway 21 or the Gandy Road, not from the Nevada interior.
- →Carry a GPS with the unit and state-line boundaries loaded — both run through open, featureless country.
- →Use NDOW's Water Development Atlas to find the guzzlers that hold both elk and antelope in this dry unit.
Watch out for
- !The Goshute Indian Reservation bounds the unit and hunting is not allowed on it — know exactly where the line is and keep elk hunts on public NV ground.
- !The Nevada-Utah state line cuts through the unit; a tag is state-specific, so a GPS is essential in Antelope Valley and the east side.
- !No cell service and no services inside the unit — carry a satellite communicator and self-recovery gear.
- !Private agricultural parcels in Pleasant Valley require permission before entry.
- !Summer thunderstorms and early fall snow can make two-tracks impassable and strand rigs.
Logistics
This is deep border country — plan to be fully self-contained. The nearest full services are in Ely, well to the west; Baker (near Great Basin NP) and the tiny community of Gandy, Utah offer limited help. There are no developed facilities inside the unit. Haul all drinking water, and carry extra fuel, spare tires, and recovery gear. Cell service is essentially nonexistent, so bring a satellite messenger and leave a detailed itinerary. Remember the east side is reached through Utah.
Nearest towns: Ely, NV, Baker, NV, Gandy, UT
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: NDOW Elk Hunt Information Sheet, Units 111-115 · NDOW Mule Deer Hunt Information Sheet, Units 111-113 · NDOW Pronghorn Antelope Hunt Information Sheet, Units 111-114
FAQ
- How big is Unit 113 in Nevada?
- Unit 113 (Unit 113) covers about 674 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,600 to 9,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 113?
- Approximately 90% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 113?
- Pronghorn, Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Nevada agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 113 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.