Unit 222 Unit 222
Schell Creek Range and Mount Grafton country south of Ely — a legitimate elk unit with solid mule deer and a few valley pronghorn
Eastern Nevada — White Pine County · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
938
sq mi
Public land
99%
approx.
Elevation
6,000–11,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 222 runs the high, north–south spine of the southern Schell Creek Range and the Mount Grafton highlands roughly 30 miles south of Ely in White Pine County. It is an established elk unit — the strongest of its group, with better than half of elk hunters filling tags — backed by a solid mule deer population and a small number of pronghorn in the surrounding valleys. Reliable mountain water and largely public, roaded terrain make it a productive but scout-intensive hunt.
Terrain
A narrow, steep range flanked by gentle sagebrush foothills and cliffs, topping out near 11,000 feet at Mount Grafton. Elk and deer use the high summer range and mahogany canyons, then work the timber-and-sage transition zones — glass the openings at the edges of the aspen and mahogany at first and last light.
Cover: Sagebrush and grass valleys and foothills; pinyon-juniper on the lower mountain; aspen, mountain-mahogany and mixed conifer stringers up high; springs and seeps feeding brushy pockets.
Landmarks: Schell Creek Range · Mount Grafton · Mount Grafton Wilderness (~79,000 acres) · Egan Range (west edge) · Cave Valley · Spring Valley
Access
Almost entirely public — a mix of BLM and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, with the Mount Grafton Wilderness (about 79,000 acres) requiring non-motorized access. Abundant public roads and 4WD trails reach a starting point in nearly any part of the unit, and private land does not restrict access.
Managers: BLM, USFS Humboldt-Toiyabe NF
Access points: US-93 (Ely–Pioche corridor) · US-6/50 east of Ely · Cave Valley Road · Spring Valley roads · Forest Service roads into the Schell Creek Range
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityThe unit's headline species and the strongest elk unit in its group, with more than half of hunters filling tags. Bulls hold in the high aspen, mahogany canyons and timbered pockets of the Schell Creek Range near reliable water.
- →Scout and hunt the high aspen and mixed-conifer stringers and mahogany canyons near springs
- →Locate bugling bulls at dawn on the timber-sage edge, then move in through cover
- →Focus water sources and north-facing pockets during warm early-season spells
- →Glass the high basins and drop into the wilderness on foot for pressure-free bulls
Mule Deer
common qualityA solid mule deer population sharing the same range, with roughly one in two hunters connecting. Bucks use the mahogany, pinyon-juniper and sage transitions, keying on browse and water — sightings reward patience and understanding seasonal movement.
- →Glass mahogany benches and pinyon-juniper edges at first and last light
- →Follow the elevation with the season — high early, dropping to mid-mountain browse as it cools
- →Still-hunt brushy canyon pockets near water during midday
- →Watch the sage-timber transition where deer feed at the margins
Pronghorn
limited opportunityAntelope numbers are low, held on a few tags in the open valleys flanking the range. Bucks range the sage flats of the surrounding basins rather than the mountain itself.
- →Work the open sage of Cave Valley, Spring Valley and adjacent basins
- →Glass wide country from vehicle, then stalk located bands on foot
- →Set up near water in the valleys during warm weather
Pro tips
- →This is a real elk unit — better than half of elk hunters tag out, so build the trip around the high Schell Creek timber and water
- →Scout the Mount Grafton Wilderness edges: dropping in on foot escapes road pressure and holds mature bulls
- →Map reliable springs and seeps; both elk and deer concentrate near water during warm spells
- →Hunt the mahogany-and-aspen transition lines at first and last light for both deer and elk
- →Bring 4WD and weather-ready tires — high Forest roads deteriorate fast with fall storms
Watch out for
- !Mount Grafton Wilderness (~79,000 acres) is non-motorized — plan foot access and game retrieval accordingly
- !High-elevation weather can turn to snow and cold abruptly by late season
- !Spotty to no cell service in the mountains — carry a satellite messenger
- !Steep, rocky canyons and cliffs demand careful footing and realistic pack-out planning
- !Forest and dirt roads can become impassable when wet
Logistics
Ely (about 30 miles north) is the full-service hub — fuel, lodging, groceries and outfitters — with smaller McGill, Lund and Preston nearby; Pioche lies to the south on US-93. Camp dispersed on BLM and Forest Service land. Cell service is spotty to absent in the mountains; carry a satellite communicator, chains or good tires for the Forest roads, and be ready for early-fall storms at 10,000-plus feet.
Nearest towns: Ely, McGill, Lund, Preston
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Nevada sources:
Research sources: NDOW Elk Unit Group 222–223 hunt geometry · NDOW 2023 Big Game Hunt Unit Map insert · GoHunt Nevada Unit 222 profile (secondary cross-check)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 222 in Nevada?
- Unit 222 (Unit 222) covers about 938 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,000 to 11,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 222?
- Approximately 99% 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 222?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Nevada agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 222 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.