Unit 132 Unit 132
A huge, remote Nye County unit built around the Grant and Quinn Canyon high country.
Central Nevada – Grant & Quinn Canyon Ranges · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,797
sq mi
Public land
97%
approx.
Elevation
5,500–10,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 132 is a big, remote block of eastern Nye County covering the Grant Range and Quinn Canyon Range, with most of the mountain mass sitting inside the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. It is almost entirely public — better than 97% — with genuine roadless backcountry that rewards backpack hunters. The unit is best known as a quality mule deer range (recent success near 70%), backed by good antelope numbers, a solid elk tag, and a premium once-in-a-lifetime bighorn draw.
Terrain
Roughly 4,500 feet of relief from rocky desert basins up to timbered peaks. Lower elevations are open, rocky desert grades; the higher country breaks into deep canyons and forested ridgelines with true roadless pockets.
Cover: Mostly pinyon pine, juniper, mountain mahogany and sagebrush at lower and middle elevations, opening to grassy meadows with spruce and mahogany — and aspen stringers — in the high country.
Landmarks: Grant Range · Quinn Canyon Range · Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest · Railroad Valley · White River Valley · Sunnyside Ponds
Access
Almost entirely public ground, with the mountainous core in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. The unit holds substantial roadless areas ideal for backpack hunting; expect to leave the truck and hike to reach the best high-country terrain. This is a remote unit with no close services.
Managers: USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, BLM
Access points: U.S. Highway 6 (Currant / north) · State Route 318 (White River Valley / Sunnyside, east) · Nye County backroads into the range fronts · Forest roads into the Grant and Quinn Canyon ranges
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityThe marquee tag. This is primarily a migratory deer unit, but hunting can be good across all seasons, and recent success has run near 70% — high for Nevada. Late-season tags carry low draw odds and access excellent roadless country.
- →Hunt the roadless backcountry on foot — the deep canyons and high meadows hold the better bucks.
- →Work the pinyon-juniper and mahogany transition benches at dawn and dusk.
- →For late tags, position for the migration and glass the routes off the high country as weather moves deer down.
Pronghorn
common qualityStrong antelope opportunity on the surrounding valley flats, with success in the low-90s percent for drawn hunters.
- →Glass the open sage flats of Railroad and White River valleys along the range fronts.
- →Set up on water and long-range vantage points; antelope here are patternable off the flats.
- →Judge bucks carefully with a spotting scope before committing to a stalk across open ground.
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityA dependable elk unit with success in the mid-50s percent. Elk use the timbered high country and canyon heads in the Grant and Quinn Canyon ranges.
- →Focus on the high meadows, spruce and mahogany pockets and reliable water in the forest core.
- →Glass canyon heads at first light and be prepared to pack into roadless timber.
- →Cover ground between water sources; elk shift with pressure in this big, open-to-timber unit.
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyA premium, essentially once-in-a-lifetime draw. The rugged Grant and Quinn Canyon escarpments are classic sheep country.
- →Focus on the steepest, most broken cliff bands in the two ranges.
- →Invest heavily in pre-season glassing to locate rams in remote terrain.
- →Plan a multi-day, self-supported effort — services and roads are far off.
Pro tips
- →This unit rewards hikers — the best deer and elk live in the roadless Grant and Quinn Canyon backcountry.
- →Split your effort by elevation: valley flats for antelope, mid-slope benches for deer, timbered high country for elk.
- →Late-season deer tags combine low draw odds with quality country — a real sleeper opportunity.
- →Scout water sources; in a unit this large, animals concentrate around reliable springs and meadows.
Watch out for
- !Genuinely remote with no close services — a breakdown or injury is a long way from help.
- !Big country and 4,500 feet of relief demand fitness and a real backcountry plan.
- !No cell coverage; carry paper maps, GPS and a satellite communicator.
Logistics
There are no real services inside or beside the unit — Currant on U.S. 6 is a tiny stop, and Ely or Tonopah are the nearest towns for fuel, lodging and supplies. Treat this as a self-supported backcountry hunt: bring everything, expect no cell coverage, and be ready to backpack into roadless country. Sunnyside Ponds off SR-318 offer afternoon fishing.
Nearest towns: Currant, Nyala, Ely, Tonopah
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT — Nevada Unit 132 Profile · NDOW Hunt Unit Boundaries · NDOW Big Game Status Report
FAQ
- How big is Unit 132 in Nevada?
- Unit 132 (Unit 132) covers about 1,797 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,500 to 10,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 132?
- Approximately 97% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, BLM. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 132?
- Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Rocky Mountain Elk, 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 132 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.