Unit 145 Unit 145
A high, open sage-and-pinyon deer unit built around the Fish Creek Range and Mahogany Hills west of Eureka.
Central Nevada — Eureka & Nye Counties (Fish Creek Range) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
452
sq mi
Public land
96%
approx.
Elevation
6,900–8,600
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 145 straddles the Eureka–Nye county line, taking in the Fish Creek Range, the Mahogany Hills and the Mountain Boy Range above the northern end of Antelope Valley, with the town of Eureka tucked into its northeastern corner. It is almost entirely public — better than 95% — a rolling mix of big sagebrush basins and pinyon-juniper hills laced with public roads. It hunts primarily as a mule deer unit with modest, high-success antelope tags and a token elk presence; expect an average-buck unit that gets better after early snow pushes migratory deer down off adjacent high country.
Terrain
High desert relief: broad sage valley floors near 7,000 feet rising gradually through pinyon-juniper foothills to a scatter of 8,000-foot-plus peaks and ridges in the Fish Creek Range and Mahogany Hills. It is big, rolling, glassable country rather than sheer alpine terrain.
Cover: Large sagebrush basins on the flats grading into hills timbered with pinyon pine and juniper; scattered mountain mahogany on the higher slopes and small aspen pockets along the few reliable water sources.
Landmarks: Fish Creek Range · Mahogany Hills · Mountain Boy Range · Antelope Valley · Fish Creek Valley · U.S. Highway 50
Access
Overwhelmingly BLM public land managed out of the Mount Lewis / Battle Mountain and Tonopah field offices, with only scattered private parcels — mostly ranch and mining ground near Eureka and along the valley bottoms. A dense web of public roads runs from maintained gravel down to rough 4WD and ATV two-tracks; most of the unit is reachable with a capable truck.
Managers: BLM, Private
Access points: U.S. Highway 50 (Eureka corridor, north) · Fish Creek Valley / Antelope Valley county roads · BLM roads into the Fish Creek Range and Mahogany Hills
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityThe marquee tag and the reason most hunters draw this unit. It behaves largely as a migratory deer unit — recent success has run around 50%, average for Nevada — and the best hunting often comes after an early storm pushes deer down off neighboring high country into the 145 pinyon-juniper.
- →Glass the pinyon-juniper and mahogany transition benches at first and last light where the timber meets open sage.
- →Watch the weather: a snow event in adjacent high units can flood migratory bucks into the Fish Creek Range foothills.
- →Cover ground with the truck and spotting scope, then still-hunt the timbered pockets and canyon heads holding bucks.
Pronghorn
limited qualityA small-quota, high-success antelope tag — only a handful of permits, but drawn hunters connect at a high rate (recent success near 80%). Antelope hold on the open sage of Antelope and Fish Creek valleys.
- →Glass the wide-open sage flats of Antelope Valley and the valley fronts from high vantage points.
- →Hunt water sources and pattern bucks moving between feeding flats in the heat.
- →With few tags out, take time to size up multiple bucks before committing to a long open-ground stalk.
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited lowA marginal, low-density elk presence — a token quota with recent success only around 12%. Elk move through the higher pinyon-mahogany country but are not a reliable draw here.
- →Focus on the highest mahogany and timber pockets near reliable water in the Fish Creek Range.
- →Treat it as an opportunity tag: locate a herd during scouting and stay on them, as animals are thin and shift with pressure.
- →Be prepared to cover a lot of country between sightings in this open, low-density unit.
Pro tips
- →This is a weather-driven deer unit — a well-timed storm is worth more than any single glassing spot.
- →Split the country by elevation: valley sage for the few antelope, timber-edge benches and canyon heads for deer.
- →Use the extensive road network to cover ground and glass, then hike into the mahogany pockets bucks retreat to.
- →Scout water in this dry unit; animals concentrate on the handful of reliable springs and stock sources.
Watch out for
- !Respect the scattered private ranch and mining parcels near Eureka and in the valley bottoms — verify boundaries before crossing.
- !Open country and modest peaks still mean long days and long drives from help; a breakdown is a serious problem here.
- !Limited cell service — do not rely on a phone for navigation or emergencies.
- !Late-season snow can close or grease the higher BLM roads quickly.
Logistics
Eureka, in the unit's northeast corner on U.S. 50, has fuel, groceries, lodging and a few private RV parks; Carlin and Elko to the north offer full services. There are no developed public campgrounds inside the unit, so plan to dispersed-camp on BLM ground. Cell coverage is limited to nonexistent away from the highway — carry paper maps, a GPS and a satellite communicator.
Nearest towns: Eureka, Carlin, Elko, Austin
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT — Nevada Unit 145 Profile · NDOW Mule Deer Units 141-145 Hunt Information Sheet · NDOW Big Game Hunt Unit Map
FAQ
- How big is Unit 145 in Nevada?
- Unit 145 (Unit 145) covers about 452 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,900 to 8,600 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 145?
- Approximately 96% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, Private. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 145?
- Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Rocky Mountain Elk. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Nevada agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 145 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.