Unit 221 Unit 221
A narrow north–south elk range walling the White River and Cave valleys.
Eastern Nevada – South Egan Range · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
767
sq mi
Public land
96%
approx.
Elevation
6,000–10,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 221 is the South Egan Range in Lincoln and southern White Pine counties, a long, slender mountain that runs north–south between the White River Valley on the west and Cave Valley on the east. It is nearly all public land laced with well-watered mahogany canyons, and it hunts as one of the better free-range elk units in this corner of the state, with solid mule deer and a small resident antelope band on the southern flats. Bighorn sheep is a premium once-in-a-lifetime draw here.
Terrain
A narrow, north-trending range with gentle, open foothills on the eastern (Cave Valley) side and abrupt cliffs and rocky faces on the western (White River Valley) side. The bigger, broken country and deep canyons sit in the north; terrain softens to milder hills toward the south.
Cover: Sagebrush and grass in the valley bottoms, rising through pinyon-juniper and curl-leaf mountain mahogany on the mid-slopes, with grassy meadows, aspen pockets and scattered spruce and mahogany stringers up high.
Landmarks: Egan Range · White River Valley · Cave Valley · Ward Mountain · Williams Creek · Blue Springs · Lion Springs
Access
The unit is bounded on the north by U.S. Highway 50, on the east and south by the Cave Valley Road, and on the west by State Route 318 and U.S. Highway 6. Private ground is minor and does not meaningfully block access; a network of BLM roads and four-wheel-drive canyon trails puts you within striking distance of any part of the range.
Managers: BLM, USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF
Access points: U.S. Highway 50 (north boundary) · State Route 318 / White River Valley (west) · Cave Valley Road (east and south) · U.S. Highway 6
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityThe standout tag in the unit. Elk densities are good and success runs in the low 50s percent, with the range's springs and mahogany canyons holding animals through the season.
- →Focus on reliable water and the mahogany canyons above it — Williams Creek, Blue Springs, Lowry Springs, Lion Springs and the Upper Terrace all hold elk.
- →Ward Mountain and the bigger, more broken country in the north tend to carry the better bull numbers.
- →Glass the gentle eastern foothills at first and last light, then still-hunt the timbered canyon heads midday.
Mule Deer
common opportunityA dependable mid-40s-percent deer unit. Bucks use the pinyon-juniper and mahogany benches, dropping to sage as weather pushes them.
- →Hunt the transition line where pinyon-juniper meets open sage, glassing at dawn and dusk.
- →Work the western cliffs and rocky faces for mature bucks holding in broken cover.
- →A cold front or early snow will concentrate deer on the lower eastern foothills.
Pronghorn
limited opportunityA small resident band, most of it in the southern end of the unit on the more open flats. Tags are few but success has been strong (high-70s percent).
- →Concentrate on the open southern flats and valley margins rather than the timbered north.
- →Glass long from a high vantage and watch water sources in dry stretches.
- →Expect low animal numbers — patience and spotting optics matter more than covering ground.
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyA premium, essentially once-in-a-lifetime draw. If you hold this tag, treat it as a full-season, e-scouting-and-boots effort.
- →Focus on the steep western escarpment — cliffs and rocky faces above the White River Valley.
- →Pre-scout with a spotting scope from valley vantage points before the season.
- →Plan for long glassing days; rams use rugged, hard-to-reach ground.
Pro tips
- →Water is the whole game on this range — build your plan around the named springs and their canyons.
- →Hunt the gentle eastern foothills for glassing and the steep western faces for mature animals holding tight.
- →The rugged north generally out-produces the softer south for elk and big deer.
- →Carry a four-wheel-drive or side-by-side to reach canyon trailheads, then hunt on foot from there.
Watch out for
- !Antelope numbers are genuinely low here — don't expect the flats to be full of bucks.
- !Long, rough two-track into the canyons; a flat or a stuck rig is a long way from help.
- !Know the boundary lines (US-50, Cave Valley Road, SR-318/US-6) — the unit is narrow and easy to cross out of.
Logistics
Ely to the north on U.S. 50/93 is the main resupply, fuel and lodging hub; Lund and Preston in the White River Valley are small ranch communities closer to the west side. Cell service is unreliable off the highways — carry paper maps or a GPS, plenty of water and recovery gear for the canyon roads.
Nearest towns: Ely, Lund, Preston, Pioche
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT — Nevada Unit 221 Profile · NDOW Big Game Status Book (unit boundaries & elk areas) · NDOW Elk Hunt Unit Group 221–223 map
FAQ
- How big is Unit 221 in Nevada?
- Unit 221 (Unit 221) covers about 767 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,000 to 10,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 221?
- 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 221?
- 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 221 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.