Unit 171 Unit 171
Wide-open pronghorn country on the dry western edge of the Toiyabe/Shoshone deer group
Central Nevada — Nye County (Management Area 17) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
712
sq mi
Public land
100%
approx.
Elevation
4,569–8,630
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 171 is the low, dry western unit of Management Area 17, spread across the Paradise Range, the west slope of the Shoshone Mountains and the surrounding Ione and Gabbs valleys near Gabbs, Ione and Berlin in remote Nye County. NDOW is blunt that deer densities here are low because of limited deer habitat — the neighboring Toiyabe (173) and Shoshone (172) high country holds the real deer numbers. Where 171 shines is antelope: it is 100% public, open pronghorn country with strong success. Come for solitude, sage and a good antelope tag rather than a trophy buck.
Terrain
Broad sagebrush valleys (Ione, Gabbs) rising into low-to-moderate desert ranges — the Paradise Range and western Shoshone Mountains. Deer habitat is limited and patchy; the unit is dominated by open, rolling sage flats ideal for antelope.
Cover: Big sagebrush and desert brush across the valleys and low foothills, with scattered pinyon-juniper on the slopes and thin pockets of mountain brush and mahogany at the higher, more limited elevations.
Landmarks: Paradise Range · Shoshone Mountains (west slope) · Ione Valley · Gabbs Valley · Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park · Reese River area
Access
Effectively 100% public with no wilderness inside the unit, so motorized access is broad. US Highway 50 borders Area 17 to the north and SR-376 runs the east side; SR-361 reaches Gabbs and SR-844 climbs to Ione and Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park. Graded valley and BLM roads parallel the ranges. Watch for a few scattered mining claims and small private parcels around Gabbs and Ione.
Managers: BLM Battle Mountain (Tonopah / Mount Lewis), USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF (fringe)
Access points: US Highway 50 (north) · SR-361 (Gabbs) · SR-844 (Ione / Berlin) · SR-376 (east) · Ione and Gabbs valley BLM roads
Species notes
Pronghorn
common qualityThe standout of the unit. Open sage valleys hold a solid antelope population and success is excellent (~89%) with a meaningful number of tags relative to the other species. Good buck quality for a hunter who glasses the flats.
- →Glass the open sage of Ione and Gabbs valleys from high points at first and last light
- →Judge bucks from long range, then use rolling terrain and dry washes to close
- →In dry years, sit water and green feed where herds concentrate
- →Cover ground by vehicle between glassing points, then stalk on foot
Mule Deer
limited opportunityDeer are widely scattered and densities are low by NDOW's own assessment — 171 has limited deer habitat and the better deer country lies east in units 172 and 173. It still produces a fair number of animals for its tag volume, but at modest success (~34%).
- →Focus on the limited high, open habitat above the pinyon-juniper in the Paradise Range and western Shoshones
- →Hunt the few pockets of mahogany, aspen and mountain brush near reliable water
- →Glass early and late — hot, dry conditions push deer to shade and water and off their feet mid-day
- →Be willing to hunt into units 172/173 country if you drew a group tag and want higher deer densities
Pro tips
- →Come for the antelope — pronghorn are the real opportunity here, and the open Ione/Gabbs sage is made for glass-and-stalk hunting
- →Set realistic deer expectations; NDOW itself calls deer habitat limited, so don't expect the density of the Toiyabe units next door
- →In dry years, inventory water first — it dictates where both deer and antelope will be
- →Use the extensive road network to glass many basins and valleys efficiently, then hunt on foot away from the roads
- →Base out of Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park or Gabbs to cut the long daily drives
Watch out for
- !Low deer densities and limited habitat — a buck tag here is a work-for-it hunt, not a high-odds one
- !Very limited services and no reliable cell coverage; be self-sufficient and carry a satellite communicator
- !Scattered active and abandoned mining claims/workings around Gabbs and Ione — mind boundaries and open shafts
- !Water is scarce; dry years can leave big stretches of the unit unproductive
- !Long dirt approaches can wash out or turn to mud after storms
Logistics
Remote central Nevada with minimal services. Gabbs has limited amenities; full fuel, groceries and lodging come from Round Mountain/Carvers, Austin or Tonopah, all a significant drive. Expect primitive dispersed camping with few developed sites (Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park offers a small developed campground), no dependable cell service in the field, and dirt-road travel. Carry extra fuel, water and recovery gear.
Nearest towns: Gabbs, Ione, Round Mountain / Carvers, Austin, Tonopah
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: NDOW Mule Deer Unit Group 171-173 Hunt Information Sheet · NDOW 2023 Big Game Hunt Unit Map · HuntPilot Nevada Unit 171 guide (100% public, 4,569-8,630 ft, ~454,781 acres cross-check)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 171 in Nevada?
- Unit 171 (Unit 171) covers about 712 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,569 to 8,630 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 171?
- Approximately 100% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM Battle Mountain (Tonopah / Mount Lewis), USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF (fringe). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 171?
- 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 171 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.