Unit 154 Unit 154
The high northern Toiyabe crest above the Reese River: draw-friendly antelope on the valley floors and a mountain mule deer hunt up top.
Central Nevada — Lander County (Northern Toiyabe Range) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,007
sq mi
Public land
96%
approx.
Elevation
5,200–10,100
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 154 covers the northern Toiyabe Range and its flanking valleys in Lander County, near Austin — a big (roughly 1,000 sq mi), overwhelmingly public (~96%) unit that climbs from sage valley floors past 10,000 feet on the Toiyabe crest. Antelope draw comparatively easily and success runs in the low-70s percent across the open valleys, while mule deer are a true mountain hunt in the timbered high country with tougher success (mid-40s). It offers good public access, with the best deer country reachable only on foot.
Terrain
Dramatic basin-and-range relief: broad sage valleys (Reese River to the west, Grass Valley to the east) rising steeply into the high, timbered northern Toiyabe Range. It hunts as glassing country on the flats and benches for antelope and a steep, high-elevation foot-hunt in the aspen and mahogany for deer.
Cover: Big sagebrush, bitterbrush and grass on the valleys and lower slopes, grading into pinyon-juniper, mountain mahogany, aspen stands and scattered conifer with spring-fed riparian stringers in the high canyons that hold deer.
Landmarks: Northern Toiyabe Range · Reese River Valley (west) · Grass Valley (east) · Toiyabe crest high country · Austin (to the south)
Access
Overwhelmingly public — BLM valley and foothill ground with the high Toiyabe Range managed by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (Austin-Tonopah Ranger District). Good public access via valley and canyon roads, but the higher range interior is foot-only, and portions of the Toiyabe crest fall within designated wilderness closed to motorized travel. Private inholdings are mainly the Reese River Valley ranches.
Managers: BLM, USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF
Access points: Reese River Valley Road / SR 305 corridor · Grass Valley roads off US 50 · Forest Service canyon roads into the Toiyabe Range · access from Austin (US 50)
Species notes
Pronghorn
common qualityA draw-friendly antelope hunt with strong success in the low-70s percent. Pronghorn work the open sage of the Reese River and Grass valleys and the benches on either side of the range.
- →Glass the broad valley floors and benches from high points at dawn and dusk.
- →Key on water sources and any green ground in the dry valleys.
- →Inventory bucks by covering ground with the truck early, then stalk a located shooter using terrain folds.
- →Hunt the valley margins away from ranch pressure for less-disturbed bucks.
Mule Deer
common opportunityA genuine mountain deer hunt — success sits in the mid-40s percent. Deer hold to the timbered high country, aspen pockets and springs of the northern Toiyabe Range, with better movement on the cooler and later seasons.
- →Hunt high — get into the aspen, mahogany and conifer of the Toiyabe crest where the better bucks summer.
- →Glass canyon heads, springs and north-slope timber at first and last light.
- →Be prepared to hike and camp off the roads; the deer country is steep and foot-access.
- →Time the archery or later rifle seasons for cooler weather and improved deer movement.
Pro tips
- →Play the unit's two lanes: easy-drawing valley antelope with strong success, and a steeper high-country mule deer hunt.
- →For deer, get high into the Toiyabe aspen and mahogany — the better bucks are up top, off the roads.
- →Scout the Reese River and Grass valley floors for antelope water and glassing vantage before the opener.
- →Know the Humboldt-Toiyabe wilderness boundaries on the crest — motorized travel is closed there.
- →Late-season timing helps deer movement, but be ready for snow to seal the high country.
Watch out for
- !Reese River Valley ranch inholdings are private — respect fences and posted ground.
- !Designated wilderness on the Toiyabe crest is closed to motorized travel — know the boundaries.
- !Limited cell service across much of the unit — plan for self-recovery.
- !High canyon and crest roads get snowy and impassable late in the season.
- !Water is scarce in the valleys — carry plenty.
Logistics
Austin, just south on US 50, offers limited lodging, fuel and general supplies; Battle Mountain (north on I-80) is the fuller-service hub for groceries, fuel and gear. Camp dispersed on BLM or Forest ground — there are no interior services. Cell coverage is limited across much of the unit; carry offline and paper maps, extra fuel and water, and recovery gear. Access is via valley and canyon dirt roads that get slick when wet and snowy up high late in the year.
Nearest towns: Austin, Battle Mountain
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT — Nevada Unit 154 Unit Profile (Northern Toiyabe Range largest landmark, ~1,005 sq mi, elevation 5,200–10,100 ft, ~96.1% public, mule deer/antelope, good public access with hiking-only areas, limited cell) · NDOW Hunt Information Sheets (unit descriptions, access, recommended areas — Lander/western Eureka County unit group 15)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 154 in Nevada?
- Unit 154 (Unit 154) covers about 1,007 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,200 to 10,100 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 154?
- Approximately 96% 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 154?
- Pronghorn, 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 154 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.