Unit 173 Unit 173
The Toiyabe Range crown jewel: central Nevada's top mule deer producer with an Arc Dome Wilderness high country, desert bighorn, and high-success pronghorn.
Central Nevada — Nye/Lander County (Toiyabe Range / Arc Dome Wilderness) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,563
sq mi
Public land
97%
approx.
Elevation
6,000–11,788
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Unit 173 runs the long spine of the Toiyabe Range between Austin and Tonopah, anchored by the 115,000-acre Arc Dome Wilderness and 11,788-foot Arc Dome itself. It's the premier mule deer unit of the 171–173 group — the highest deer densities and by far the largest harvest in the area — set on almost entirely public Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and BLM land. Deer are the main event (about 34% five-year success across the unit, with notably higher buck ratios inside the wilderness), a healthy desert bighorn herd makes for a premium once-in-a-lifetime tag, pronghorn tags are few but high-success, and a growing elk herd holds the south end. This is big, steep, backpack-hunt country.
Terrain
A tall, continuous mountain range rising from sagebrush valleys through a dense pinyon-juniper belt into open alpine sage, aspen and rock above 10,000 feet — capped by Arc Dome at 11,788 feet. It hunts as serious high-country work: deer concentrate above the P-J in open habitat from roughly 8,500 to 10,500+ feet, so plan to climb and glass, and the wilderness core is foot- and horse-access only.
Cover: Sagebrush and grass on the valley floors, a thick pinyon-juniper belt on the lower mountain, then open high-elevation sage basins, aspen stands, mountain brush, meadows, mountain mahogany and alpine rock up top. Perennial creeks hold rainbow, cutthroat and brown trout.
Landmarks: Toiyabe Range · Arc Dome (11,788 ft) · Arc Dome Wilderness (~115,000 acres) · Reese River Valley (west base) · Big Smoky Valley (east base) · North Twin River / Summit Creek drainages · Kingston Canyon · Toiyabe Crest National Recreation Trail
Access
Almost entirely public — Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest on the range with BLM across the valley bases and scattered private ranch parcels on the valley floors. The best deer access is up the west (Reese River) side of the Toiyabe; graded and rough forest roads reach the mountain base and canyon mouths, but the Arc Dome Wilderness core is closed to motorized travel — foot and horse only. Restricted management area A173 North covers the wilderness and adjacent crest-to-base ground from the North Twin River drainage north to Summit Creek. A high-clearance 4x4 gets you to the trailheads; the best bucks require a backpack hunt.
Managers: USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, BLM
Access points: West-side Reese River Valley roads and canyon trailheads · Big Smoky Valley roads (east base) · Kingston Canyon (north) · North Twin River / South Twin River trailheads · Toiyabe Crest Trail access
Species notes
Mule Deer
common qualityThe best deer hunt in central Nevada's 171–173 group — the greatest densities and highest harvest occur here, with roughly 34% five-year success across the unit. Buck ratios inside the Arc Dome Wilderness have historically run well above the surrounding country, so effort and elevation pay off.
- →Hunt above the dense pinyon-juniper belt in open habitat from about 8,500 to 10,500+ feet where deer concentrate during the season.
- →Work the west (Reese River) side of the Toiyabe for the best access to good deer country.
- →Backpack into the Arc Dome Wilderness for higher buck ratios and pressure-free deer.
- →Glass open alpine sage basins, aspen pockets and mahogany ridges at first and last light, then still-hunt the pockets midday.
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyA healthy desert bighorn herd inhabits the Toiyabe's rugged canyons and crest — a very small quota makes this a premium, essentially once-in-a-lifetime tag on spectacular high country.
- →Focus on the steepest, most broken canyon and rimrock terrain along the range crest where rams feed and escape.
- →Invest days pre-season glassing from high vantage points to locate and pattern a ram — it's the whole game.
- →Plan a fit, water-conscious backpack hunt into remote wilderness far from any road or help.
Pronghorn
limited qualityAntelope tags are few but success is high (~90% five-year) on the sagebrush flats of the Reese River and Big Smoky valleys flanking the range. A limited-draw opportunity in wide-open country.
- →Glass the valley sagebrush flats from low benches morning and evening.
- →Key on water and green in warm early seasons — springs and stock tanks pull bucks.
- →Use terrain folds and draws to close distance across the open flats.
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited opportunityA growing elk herd holds the south end of the Toiyabe Range. Tags are scarce and harvest is incidental, but the population is expanding.
- →Hunt the timbered and aspen pockets and meadow systems on the south side of the range.
- →Glass meadow edges and water at dawn and dusk and listen for bugles early season.
- →Be mobile and cover ground — elk here are localized, so cutting fresh sign is key.
Pro tips
- →This is the deer unit of the group — the highest densities and harvest in 171–173 are here.
- →Get above the pinyon-juniper belt and hunt 8,500–10,500+ feet; that's where the deer are during season.
- →Backpack into the Arc Dome Wilderness for higher buck ratios and zero motorized pressure.
- →Hunt the west (Reese River) side of the Toiyabe for the best access to good deer country.
- →Expect a physical hunt — steep, tall country rewards fitness and camping high over road-hunting.
- →Respect the A173 North restricted-area rules and wilderness motorized closures — verify current NDOW/Forest regs.
Watch out for
- !Arc Dome Wilderness is foot/horse only — no motorized access to the best deer ground.
- !Restricted management area A173 North carries special rules — check current NDOW hunt regulations.
- !Early snow above 10,000 feet can close the high basins and strand a backpack camp.
- !Scattered private ranch parcels on the valley floors — confirm boundaries before crossing.
- !No cell service and steep, remote terrain — an injury deep in the wilderness is a serious emergency; go prepared.
- !Bighorn and elk tags are very few — treat any draw as a rare opportunity.
Logistics
Austin (north), Carvers/Round Mountain (east) and Tonopah (south) bracket the unit and hold the only full services — fuel, lodging, groceries and limited gear. There are no services inside the range; camp dispersed on Forest Service or BLM ground or at developed sites like Kingston Canyon. Cell coverage is nonexistent across the mountain, so carry offline maps, a paper map and a satellite communicator, and pack in extra fuel, water and recovery gear. A backpack hunt into the wilderness demands full self-sufficiency.
Nearest towns: Austin, Carvers / Round Mountain, Tonopah, Kingston
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: NDOW Mule Deer Hunt Information Sheet, Units 171-173 (highest deer densities/harvest in 173, hunt above P-J at 8,500–10,500+ ft, west-side Toiyabe access, A173 North wilderness restricted area, higher buck ratios in wilderness) · GOHUNT — Nevada Unit 173 Unit Profile (~96.7% public, elevation 6,000–10,000 ft, long Toiyabe Range, Arc Dome Wilderness 115,000 acres, desert bighorn, growing elk on south end, Austin/Tonopah)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 173 in Nevada?
- Unit 173 (Unit 173) covers about 1,563 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,000 to 11,788 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 173?
- 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 173?
- Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep, 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 173 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.