Unit 115 Unit 115
The huntable flanks of the Snake Range wrapped around Great Basin National Park
Eastern Nevada — White Pine County (Snake Range / Great Basin) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
642
sq mi
Public land
90%
approx.
Elevation
5,000–11,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 115 covers the southern Snake Range and the Snake Valley benches in far eastern White Pine County against the Utah line, with Great Basin National Park occupying the high crest at its core — and the park is closed to hunting. It is a genuine four-species unit: antelope on the valley floors post the highest success (roughly nine of ten tags filled recently), while elk and mule deer are the draw-tag headliners and a lone premium desert-style bighorn tag rounds it out. Expect a rugged, high-desert-to-alpine hunt where knowing exactly where the national park boundary falls is the single most important piece of scouting.
Terrain
Broad sagebrush valleys (Snake Valley, Spring Valley) climbing through pinyon-juniper and mahogany benches into the steep canyons and ridgelines of the Snake Range. The alpine crest and Wheeler Peak country sit inside Great Basin National Park and are off-limits, so hunters work the west-side canyons, the south-end washes, and the valley edges.
Cover: Wyoming big sagebrush and greasewood on the valley floors, dense pinyon-juniper on the mid slopes, mountain mahogany and bitterbrush benches higher up, and aspen, limber pine, and meadow pockets around springs and canyon heads.
Landmarks: Snake Range · Great Basin National Park boundary · Mount Washington · Williams Creek · Strawberry Creek · Lincoln Canyon · Lexington Canyon · Chokecherry Canyon · Johns Wash · Murphy's Wash · Big Spring Wash · Snake Valley · Spring Valley · Granite Peak Ranch
Access
Overwhelmingly public BLM and Forest Service land with a good network of two-track roads, but the high country belongs to Great Basin National Park and is closed to all hunting. Paved access comes via US 6/50, US 93, and NV 487 to Baker, plus Utah SR 21 and the Gandy Road from the east; White Pine County roads and jeep trails reach the canyons. Private inholdings sit around the Shoshone and Baker agricultural fields and near the Granite Peak Ranch — verify boundaries and get permission before crossing.
Managers: BLM Ely District, USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, NPS Great Basin NP (closed to hunting)
Access points: US 6/50 · US 93 · NV 487 (Baker) · Utah SR 21 · Gandy Road (Utah) · White Pine County roads
Species notes
Pronghorn
common qualityThe high-percentage tag in this unit — recent antelope hunters posted success around 92%. Bucks hold on the open sagebrush floors of Snake and Spring valleys.
- →Glass the valley flats and low benches at first and last light with a tripod before committing to any move.
- →In dry early seasons key on the limited water — springs, stock tanks, and guzzlers concentrate antelope.
- →Use terrain (swales, low rises, road cuts) to close the last distance on a bedded buck in open country.
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityA solid draw-tag elk unit. The highest densities run from Lincoln Canyon to Strawberry Creek; early-season elk feed on the ag fields around Shoshone and retreat to the benches by day. Roughly six of ten tags filled recently.
- →Early season, watch the agricultural fields around Shoshone at dawn and dusk, then follow elk back onto the benches and into the sand dunes to the west.
- →During the rut, glass the west-side canyons for bulls that drift off the national park to find cows — but know exactly where the park line is.
- →Later in the year work Lexington and Chokecherry Canyon on the southeast side and the Murphy's/Johns Wash country for post-rut bulls in thick cover.
Mule Deer
common opportunityFair deer density; much of the best summer range sits inside the park and closed. Success runs near the low-50s percent, driven by timing and glassing more than raw numbers.
- →Early season, hunt the west side from Williams Creek north to Strawberry Creek where deer numbers are best — but many deer are still up on park ground and unhuntable.
- →Late in the year shift to the south-end washes — Johns Wash, Murphy's Wash, Big Spring Wash — and Lexington Canyon, which improves as deer move down.
- →Grind glass over the pinyon-mahogany edges; late migration puts bucks in reachable low country.
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyA once-in-a-lifetime premium tag with a tiny quota — a single ram taken in recent data. Sheep hold in the rugged rock of the Snake Range outside the park.
- →If you draw this tag, scout hard and lean on NDOW biologists and the unit sheep survey data before the season.
- →Focus on the steep, broken rimrock and canyon walls; plan a spot-and-stalk hunt with top-tier optics.
- →Confirm the national park boundary in the field — sheep country abuts closed ground.
Pro tips
- →Know the Great Basin National Park boundary cold — it is the crux of every hunt here, and there is no hunting inside the park.
- →This unit rewards patience late: south-end washes and west-side canyons fill in as animals migrate off the park crest.
- →Antelope on the valley floors are the surest bet — glass Snake and Spring valleys and hunt the water.
- →Watch the ag fields around Shoshone for early-season elk, then pattern them back to the benches.
- →Come with high-clearance 4WD and recovery gear; storms turn dirt roads and washes rough fast.
Watch out for
- !Great Basin National Park occupies the high country and is entirely closed to hunting — a boundary mistake ends your hunt.
- !Private inholdings around Shoshone, Baker, and the Granite Peak Ranch require permission before crossing.
- !Wilderness areas prohibit vehicles and wheeled game carriers — plan pack-outs accordingly.
- !Water is limited; early-season success hinges on knowing the reliable springs and guzzlers.
- !Weather swings fast at elevation — early snow can strand rigs on the mountain roads.
Logistics
Baker is the closest outpost with limited food, lodging, and fuel and is the gateway to Great Basin National Park; Ely to the west is the nearest full-service town (fuel, groceries, motels, repair). Plan to be self-contained — haul drinking water, extra fuel, and spare tires. High-clearance and 4WD are recommended, and summer thunderstorms or early snow can quickly change road conditions. Cell service is minimal off the highways; carry a satellite communicator and leave an itinerary.
Nearest towns: Baker, NV, Shoshone, NV, Garrison, UT, Ely, NV
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: NDOW Mule Deer Hunt Info Sheet — Units 114, 115 · NDOW Elk Hunt Info Sheet — Units 111-115 · NPS Great Basin National Park · GoHunt Nevada Unit 115 Profile (secondary cross-check)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 115 in Nevada?
- Unit 115 (Unit 115) covers about 642 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,000 to 11,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 115?
- Approximately 90% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM Ely District, USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, NPS Great Basin NP (closed to hunting). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 115?
- Pronghorn, Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Nevada agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 115 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.