Unit 121 Unit 121
Cherry Creek and North Egan Range mule deer country north of Ely
Eastern Nevada — White Pine & Elko Counties (Cherry Creek / Egan Ranges) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,262
sq mi
Public land
92%
approx.
Elevation
5,900–10,400
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 121 spans the Cherry Creek and North Egan ranges, the Butte and Maverick Springs mountains, and the broad Steptoe and Butte valleys in northern White Pine and southern Elko counties. It is best known as a solid, deep mule deer unit — recent buck hunters filled better than two of three tags — while it also carries a good draw-tag elk herd and antelope that stronghold in Steptoe Valley. Public access is excellent across a dense two-track network, with only pockets of private friction.
Terrain
Long north-south fault-block ranges rising from sagebrush valleys through pinyon-juniper into mahogany, aspen, and open ridgelines. Deer and elk live the timbered mid-to-high country; antelope hold the open valley floors between the ranges.
Cover: Sagebrush and greasewood valleys, dense pinyon-juniper on the slopes, mountain mahogany pockets, and quaking aspen and mountain brush near the crest and canyon heads.
Landmarks: Cherry Creek Range · North Egan Range · Butte Mountains · Maverick Springs Range · Steptoe Valley · Butte Valley · Telegraph Peak · Smith Valley · Gleason Creek · Bothwick Creek · Taylor Canyon · Cottonwood Canyon · McDermid Creek · Goshute Basin · US 93
Access
Access is good with a good network of two-track roads whose quality shifts with the weather; private property generally does not limit hunting, though you must know where it is and get permission to cross. The main exception is McDermid Creek, where access is blocked by private property. US 93 is the paved spine through Steptoe Valley. High-clearance vehicles and extra spare tires are recommended, and winter snowstorms can change conditions fast.
Managers: BLM Ely District, USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF
Access points: US 93 (Steptoe Valley) · Cherry Creek roads · Egan Range two-tracks · Butte Valley roads
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityThe marquee species and a genuinely good deer unit — recent success ran near 69%. Densities are highest in the Smith Valley, Gleason Creek, and Bothwick Creek areas, which also draw the most hunters; mature bucks scatter to the quieter north end.
- →Start where the deer are thickest — Smith Valley, Gleason Creek, Bothwick Creek — but expect company; road and hunter density is high there.
- →For a mature buck, work the north end and secondary pockets: Telegraph Peak, Paris Creek, Snow Creek, Taylor and Cottonwood canyons, and Goshute Basin.
- →Late rifle and late archery seasons are best for locating trophy bucks as they drop and rut; grind glass over the pinyon-mahogany edges at first and last light.
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityA good draw-tag elk unit with success near 60%. Elk use the timbered Cherry Creek and Egan high country, moving on rut and weather.
- →Locate bulls in the higher timbered elevations of the Cherry Creek and North Egan ranges, then still-hunt the mahogany and aspen pockets.
- →Glass valley edges and canyon mouths at dawn and dusk where elk feed out and pull back into cover.
- →During the September rut listen for bugles in the upper drainages; post-rut bulls hold in thick mid-elevation timber.
Pronghorn
common qualityA high-percentage antelope tag — recent success near 88%. Steptoe Valley is the stronghold, with antelope using much of the ground between the Cherry Creek Range and US 93.
- →Glass Steptoe Valley and the open flats between the ranges early and late with the sun at your back.
- →Key on the big-game guzzlers and reliable water in this dry unit — antelope pattern tightly to it.
- →Hunt water and open ground away from heavy livestock and feral-horse concentrations, which antelope avoid.
Pro tips
- →For numbers hunt Smith Valley/Gleason/Bothwick; for a mature buck fade to the quieter north end and side canyons.
- →Save the best deer expectations for late season, when bucks concentrate and rut.
- →Steptoe Valley plus the guzzlers is your antelope playbook — hunt water, avoid horse-and-cattle-heavy flats.
- →McDermid Creek is gated by private property — plan an alternate route in.
- →Carry extra spares; the two-track network is extensive but rough and weather-sensitive.
Watch out for
- !Access to McDermid Creek is blocked by private property.
- !Private parcels are scattered through the valleys — know boundaries and get permission before crossing.
- !Wilderness areas prohibit vehicles and wheeled game carriers.
- !The unit is very water-limited; scout reliable water before an early hunt.
- !Winter storms can turn two-tracks to mud and strand rigs.
Logistics
Ely to the south is the full-service hub for fuel, groceries, motels, and vehicle repair; Wells and West Wendover to the north also have services. Cherry Creek and McGill offer only minimal supplies. Plan on dispersed camping on public land — bring drinking water, extra fuel, and spare tires. Cell service is spotty off US 93; carry a satellite communicator.
Nearest towns: Ely, NV, McGill, NV, Cherry Creek, NV, Currie, NV, Wells, 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 — Unit 121 · NDOW Antelope Hunt Info Sheet — Units 078, 105-107, 121 · NDOW Elk Hunt Info Sheet — Units 111-115 (adjacent Schell/Egan context) · GoHunt Nevada Unit 121 Profile (secondary cross-check)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 121 in Nevada?
- Unit 121 (Unit 121) covers about 1,262 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,900 to 10,400 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 121?
- Approximately 92% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM Ely District, USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 121?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Pronghorn. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Nevada agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 121 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.