Unit 162 Unit 162
The Monitor Range and Table Mountain — central Nevada's elk stronghold
Central Nevada — Nye County · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,952
sq mi
Public land
99%
approx.
Elevation
5,800–10,888
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 162 covers the Monitor Range in Nye County, anchored by the Table Mountain Wilderness, between Monitor Valley on the west and Little Fish Lake and Hot Creek valleys on the east. It is the elk heart of Area 16 — the Monitor Range holds most of the management area's elk, with the highest densities in the Table Mountain country — and it is also a strong mule deer unit with quality high-country bucks, scattered valley antelope, and a rare once-in-a-lifetime desert bighorn tag. Bordered by US-50 to the north and US-6 to the south, this is big, steep, remote country that demands camping, hiking, and real backcountry preparation.
Terrain
A long, high range core — the Monitors and the Table Mountain plateau above 10,000 feet — falling through a heavy pinyon-juniper belt to sage valley floors. Elk and deer summer in the high meadows and mountain brush; elk herds winter down on the range flanks; antelope hold the open valleys.
Cover: Sagebrush steppe on the valley floors and benches, a dense pinyon-juniper belt on the mid-slopes, and high-elevation mountain brush, meadows, aspen and pine pockets, and mountain mahogany above roughly 8,000 feet, with the broad grassy Table Mountain plateau up top.
Landmarks: Monitor Range · Table Mountain Wilderness · Monitor Valley · Butler Basin · Willow Creek · Dobbin Summit · Haystack Canyon · Sheep Mountain · Hunts Canyon · Little Fish Lake Valley
Access
Almost entirely public — Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest over the Monitor Range and BLM in the surrounding valleys. Several well-maintained roads reach the unit off US-50 (north) and US-6 (south), with major roads paralleling the range. Off-road travel is prohibited in the Table Mountain Wilderness, where motorized and mechanized transport — including wheeled game carriers and chainsaws — is not allowed; there are many trails on the east and west sides. The Dobbin Summit and Butler Basin/Willow Creek areas are more accessible to hunters without horses than the wilderness core.
Managers: USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, BLM
Access points: US Highway 50 · US Highway 6 · Monitor Valley road · Dobbin Summit road · Butler Basin/Willow Creek · Table Mountain Wilderness trailheads
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityThe defining species here — most of Area 16's elk live in the Monitor Range, with the highest densities in the Table Mountain area (though early-season hunter numbers are higher there too). The Table Mountain herd winters on the southeast side of the Monitors from Haystack Canyon to Sheep Mountain; the Butler Basin herd winters around Butler/Willow Creek and Blackrock.
- →For a horse-free hunt, work Dobbin Summit and the Butler Basin/Willow Creek area rather than the Table Mountain Wilderness core.
- →Elk typically move off Table Mountain and out of Butler Basin by the late-season hunts — time your hunt to where the herds are.
- →Hunt mature bulls away from cow-calf groups in rugged country; during the rut they move toward the cows, then pull back to refuge afterward.
- →Start looking for bulls in the higher Hunts Canyon/White Sage Canyon country and the north end of Charnac Basin and Big Flat.
Mule Deer
common qualityOne of Area 16's core deer units alongside 161, with large herds and high harvest but more hunters. The best deer hunting is in the high country above the pinyon belt, roughly 8,000 to 10,000 feet, around Table Mountain.
- →Climb above the dense pinyon-juniper and glass the open mountain brush, meadows, and mahogany pockets where the bucks live.
- →Be patient behind glass and hunt away from the roads — that's where the deer and the better bucks are.
- →Early season, hunt high near water; after measurable snow, many deer begin migrating out toward unit 163.
Pronghorn
limited opportunityAntelope occur in the low country in small scattered groups, mainly the valley bottoms — Monitor Valley and the west side of Little Fish Lake Valley, which sees less pressure. Recent draw success has been solid (around 68%) on a small quota.
- →Hunt the valley floors and toe-slopes; the west side of Little Fish Lake Valley commonly gets less hunter pressure.
- →In August, key on water — springs, tanks, and developments — especially in dry years.
- →Glass the open flats at first and last light and stalk using terrain.
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyA premium, once-in-a-lifetime desert bighorn tag — a tiny number of permits for sheep in the roughest high terrain of the Monitor Range.
- →If you draw, plan a physical multi-day backcountry hunt and glass the steepest, most broken country.
- →Scout early and work with the NDOW area biologist on recent ram and water locations.
- →Bring the best long-range optics you can and be prepared to cover rugged ground.
Pro tips
- →This is central Nevada's elk unit — build an elk hunt around Table Mountain, Butler Basin, and Dobbin Summit and match your timing to herd movements.
- →No horses? Focus on Dobbin Summit and Butler Basin/Willow Creek rather than the wilderness core.
- →For deer, get above the pinyon belt and glass hard — the quality bucks live in the high brush and meadows.
- →Elk shift off Table Mountain and out of Butler Basin by the late hunts — know where the herd is for your season.
- →The Table Mountain Wilderness is foot/horse only — plan your elk pack-out before you pull the trigger deep in.
Watch out for
- !Table Mountain Wilderness prohibits motorized and mechanized transport, including wheeled game carriers and chainsaws — a deep elk kill is a serious pack-out.
- !Big, steep, remote country with unreliable cell service — carry a satellite communicator and backcountry gear.
- !Deer migrate out toward unit 163 after early snow, and elk shift to winter range — timing mismatches can find the high country empty.
- !Early snow can close upper roads and trailheads on the Monitor Range with little warning.
- !Confirm fire, wilderness, and dispersed-camping rules with the Humboldt-Toiyabe NF and BLM before you go.
Logistics
Central Nevada is very remote and hunt areas can be many miles from services. Full services are only in Austin, Carvers/Round Mountain, Eureka, and Tonopah. Expect primitive dispersed camping with few developed campsites and some developed trailhead facilities — plan to camp and haul your own water. Cell service is unreliable to absent; carry a satellite messenger, extra fuel, and recovery gear. Horses are a real advantage for reaching the Table Mountain elk country.
Nearest towns: Tonopah, NV, Carvers, NV, Round Mountain, NV, Austin, NV, Eureka, NV
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: NDOW Elk Hunt Info Sheet — Units 161-164, 171-173 · NDOW Mule Deer Hunt Info Sheet — Units 161-164 · NDOW Antelope Hunt Info Sheet — Units 161-162 · GoHunt Nevada Unit 162 Profile (secondary cross-check)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 162 in Nevada?
- Unit 162 (Unit 162) covers about 1,952 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,800 to 10,888 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 162?
- Approximately 99% 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 162?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, 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 162 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.