Unit 204 Unit 204
Rut-season mule deer and pronghorn in the Pine Grove Hills above the Walker River
West-Central Nevada — Lyon & Mineral Counties · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
449
sq mi
Public land
96%
approx.
Elevation
4,400–9,500
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 204 is built around the Pine Grove Hills east and southeast of Wellington, a compact 449-square-mile block of Toiyabe forest and sagebrush flats with the East Walker River cutting through its southern end. It's a working-hunter's unit: good road access, mostly public land, and one of the few Nevada units where buck deer can be hunted through the peak of the rut. Expect to fill a deer or antelope tag here, not to break the record book.
Terrain
A cluster of forested hills and low peaks (the Pine Grove Mountains) rising out of Pine Grove Flat and other broad valleys, with the East Walker River corridor along the southern boundary. It hunts as classic migratory mule-deer ground — glass the sage/pinyon transition and timbered pockets, then intercept deer moving off the high country as fall weather pushes them down.
Cover: Big sagebrush and bitterbrush on the flats and foothills, pinyon-juniper on the slopes, with pockets of mountain mahogany, aspen and mixed conifer in the higher Toiyabe timber; riparian willow and cottonwood along the Walker River.
Landmarks: Pine Grove Hills / Pine Grove Mountains · Pine Grove Flat · East Walker River · Lucky Boy Pass · Highway 338 · Highway 359
Access
Overwhelmingly public with strong vehicle access. Secondary and primitive roads branch off Highway 338 on the west side and Highway 359 (via Lucky Boy Pass) from the east. Scattered private ground lies along the East Walker River and near Wellington on the unit's borders — check ownership before crossing to reach public timber.
Managers: USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF, BLM
Access points: Highway 338 (West Walker / Sweetwater corridor) · Highway 359 via Lucky Boy Pass · Pine Grove Flat roads · East Walker River access
Species notes
Mule Deer
common opportunityA migratory mule-deer herd that supports a solid success rate for an opportunity unit (roughly low-40s percent). Bucks are catchable but this is a meat-and-experience unit, not a trophy destination.
- →Hunt the rut — 204 is one of the rare units open during the peak, so key on doe groups
- →Glass the sage-to-pinyon transition at first and last light
- →Time it to weather: fresh snow up high pushes migrating deer down into the Pine Grove foothills
- →Work primitive roads off Hwy 338 and Hwy 359 to reach less-pressured timber pockets
Pronghorn
common opportunityAntelope hold in the broad valleys and sage flats; success is high (roughly upper-70s percent) but tag numbers are small. A very fillable tag if you draw it.
- →Glass Pine Grove Flat and the open valley bottoms from high points
- →Locate reliable water sources and set up nearby on hot early-season days
- →Use terrain folds to close the distance on bucks located from a distance
Black Bear
limited opportunityUnit 204 sits on the eastern edge of Nevada's Sierra-front black bear range, with the Sweetwater/Pine Grove country holding some resident and transient bears. Managed as part of a broad western-Nevada bear area with modest success (mid-30s percent).
- →Focus on the higher Toiyabe timber, aspen pockets and mahogany with mast and berry crops
- →Check drainages and riparian stringers off the East Walker for sign
- →Bear activity concentrates near food and water — scout before committing
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyA premium, once-in-a-lifetime-caliber tag with a tiny quota — recent harvest is a single ram with essentially full success. If you draw it, plan a serious, multi-day effort on the rocky high ground.
- →Glass the steep, rocky rims and escape terrain of the Pine Grove high country
- →Hire local knowledge or scout hard pre-season — the tag is too rare to wing it
- →Be prepared for physically demanding, boots-first hunting away from roads
Pro tips
- →This is one of the few Nevada units where you can hunt bucks during the rut — build your strategy around that advantage
- →Snow timing is everything: a storm on the Sierra/Toiyabe crest moves migratory deer into reach
- →Antelope tags are few but success is high — treat a 204 pronghorn draw as a near-certain fill with modest effort
- →Verify private parcels along the East Walker River and near Wellington before accessing adjacent public land
- →Manage expectations — 204 is an opportunity unit for filling a freezer, not chasing giants
Watch out for
- !Scattered private inholdings along the East Walker River and unit borders near Wellington
- !Primitive roads off Hwy 338/359 can turn greasy and impassable after rain or snow — carry recovery gear
- !Little to no cell service off the paved highways
- !Bighorn and (in some years) other premium tags are extremely limited — read the current NDOW hunt sheet for what's actually available
Logistics
Wellington and Smith Valley (Lyon County) offer basic services; Yerington to the north and Hawthorne to the southeast have fuel, groceries, lodging and gas. Dispersed camping is easy on BLM and Toiyabe ground. Cell coverage is spotty to nonexistent once you leave the highways — download maps offline and carry a satellite communicator.
Nearest towns: Wellington, Smith Valley, Yerington, Hawthorne
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: NDOW Hunt Information Sheets · NDOW 2023 Big Game Hunt Unit Map Insert · GOHUNT Nevada Unit 204 Profile (secondary cross-check)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 204 in Nevada?
- Unit 204 (Unit 204) covers about 449 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,400 to 9,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 204?
- Approximately 96% 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 204?
- Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Black Bear, 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 204 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.