Nevada Mule Deer Moose

Unit 71 (Toiyabe Range North)

Q: What draw group covers Unit 71 mule deer?

Unit 71 is part of NDOW's 071-079, 091 mule deer unit group. Your tag covers all units in this central Nevada group for the designated season.

Q: Is Austin a good base for a Unit 71 hunt?

Yes — Austin on US-50 is the classic base for the eastern Toiyabe. It has fuel, a few motels, and limited grocery options. For expanded services, Battle Mountain (~50 mi north) or Fallon (~100 mi west) offer more options.

Q: Do Nevada moose tags apply to only one unit or the entire draw pool?

Nevada moose tags issued from the multi-unit draw pool typically allow hunting across all units in the listed pool — not just the specific unit you applied from. Confirm the exact tag restrictions in your tag documentation and current NDOW regulations before hunting.

Nevada Hunting Guide — Mule Deer, Moose

Unit 71 covers the northern Toiyabe Range in Lander County — the tallest and largest mountain range in central Nevada. The Toiyabe Range is a classic Great Basin "sky island," rising to 11,773 ft at Arc Dome and spanning 120 miles north-south in near-total isolation from other ranges. Unit 71 encompasses the northern Toiyabe sections with canyon systems draining into the Reese River Valley to the east and Smith Creek Valley to the west. Mule deer populations are strong throughout the range in the sagebrush, aspen, and mountain mahogany habitat zones.

View Draw Odds Nevada Hunting Guide

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 71

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 71

Unit 71 spans the northern Toiyabe Range — a massive, linear sky island rising from the Great Basin floor. Deer occupy distinct elevation zones that shift through the season.

Alpine Crest and Sub-Alpine Zone (8,500–11,000 ft)

Through early October, bucks use the high crest terrain and upper canyon basins of the northern Toiyabe. The range is relatively isolated with limited access roads, keeping pressure low on upper-elevation habitat.

Mid-Elevation Aspen and Mountain Mahogany (6,500–8,500 ft)

The most productive mule deer habitat in the Toiyabe is the aspen-conifer-mountain mahogany zone. Focus on north-facing slopes with aspen pockets adjacent to open sagebrush parks and canyon heads. NDOW recommends hunting "one canyon beyond" road access as pressure builds.

Reese River Valley Edge (5,500–6,500 ft)

The east-facing foothills above the Reese River Valley are accessible via US-50 from Austin and county roads. Sagebrush benches and pinyon-juniper transition hold deer through late season.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 71

The northern Toiyabe Range demands physical commitment — the isolation and limited road access mean the best deer are found well off pavement.

Austin as Base Camp

Austin (on US-50 at the base of the eastern Toiyabe) is the primary staging town for Unit 71 hunts. From Austin, BLM and forest roads climb the eastern face of the range, providing vehicle access to the 7,000–8,000 ft zone. The best deer country begins where the roads end.

Spot-and-Stalk in Canyon Systems

Glass the canyon heads and aspen pockets from elevated ridgelines at dawn. The Toiyabe's north-south orientation creates consistent wind patterns — approach from above and into the prevailing west wind when closing on spotted bucks.

Foot-Access Interior

The Toiyabe Range Crest Trail (Humboldt-Toiyabe NF) traverses the entire range. Multi-day backpacking hunts into the interior consistently produce the best bucks — most hunters stop at road-accessible terrain.

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Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Mid Season	763	2,144	35.6%	0
Rifle— Mid Season	63	1,443	4.4%	1
Rifle— Mid Season	50	1,077	4.6%	0
Rifle— Limited Entry	260	451	57.6%	0
Rifle— Limited Entry	360	623	57.8%	0
Rifle— Mid Season	230	340	67.6%	0
Archery— Early Season	330	363	90.9%	1
Archery— Late Season	25	105	23.8%	0
Muzzleloader— Early Season	142	205	69.3%	0
Muzzleloader— Early Season	160	30	100.0%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit 71 tags are drawn as part of NDOW's Unit Group 071-079, 091 — a large central Nevada unit grouping. Nevada's weighted bonus-point system applies. This is a moderately competitive draw for Nevada mule deer. See the live Draw Odds chart above for current statistics.

Moose Hunting in Unit 71

Nevada's small moose population includes animals in the Toiyabe Range and surrounding central Nevada mountain systems. Unit 71 covers the northern Toiyabe Range — one of Nevada's primary moose habitats alongside the Ruby Mountains. The Nevada moose draw combines an enormous multi-unit grouping from the northern Rubies south through the Toiyabe system. Any drawn tag provides access to hunt wherever moose are found across the entire multi-unit pool, making pre-season moose location the most critical preparation task.

Where to Find Moose in Unit 71

Toiyabe Range moose occupy willow-rich riparian zones and wet mountain meadows in the central Toiyabe canyon systems. Sightings are rare but confirmed — NDOW surveys the population periodically.

Canyon-Bottom Riparian Zones

The permanent-water canyon bottoms of the northern Toiyabe — Reese River tributaries, Smith Creek Canyon, and associated drainages — provide the willow and aquatic vegetation that moose require. These are the most likely locations to find resident Toiyabe moose.

High Mountain Meadows (8,000–10,000 ft)

During summer and early fall, moose move to high mountain meadows with alpine grasses and forbs. The upper canyon basins accessible via the Toiyabe Crest Trail are worth glassing for moose during pre-season scouting.

How to Hunt Moose in Unit 71

A Nevada moose tag for Unit 71 covers the entire massive multi-unit draw pool — the tag holder can hunt wherever moose are confirmed across the full pool. NDOW wildlife officer consultation before the season is essential to understand current population locations.

Contact NDOW First

Before investing in detailed hunt planning, contact the NDOW regional office for the Toiyabe area (Elko or Winnemucca office) to learn current moose population status and any areas with confirmed recent activity. NDOW biologists track moose more closely than most other species given their rarity.

Willow-Thicket Stalking

Toiyabe moose hunting is close-range work in riparian cover. Glass canyon bottoms from above to spot moose in the willows, then plan a downwind stalk through the heavy vegetation. Shots are typically <100 yards in this terrain.

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Moose Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Early Season	2	18,538	0.0%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Unit 71 moose tags are part of NDOW's statewide multi-unit pool: 061, 062, 064, 066-068, 071-077, 081, 101-103. Total tags issued statewide are typically 1–5 per sex per year. Draw odds are a tiny fraction of 1% — this is one of the rarest big-game draws in the contiguous United States. Bonus points provide only marginal advantage at these tag numbers.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Camp Sites

Dispersed camping on Humboldt-Toiyabe NF and BLM land. No developed campgrounds in Unit 71 proper. Toiyabe Campground (USFS) is accessible from Austin area.

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Road Conditions

US-50 (paved) runs east of the range through Austin. Forest/BLM roads climb the east face — gravel/dirt, high clearance recommended. Western access roads from US-361 are rougher.

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Terrain Difficulty

Strenuous. Toiyabe Range rises sharply from valley floor (5,500 ft) to crest (11,000+ ft). Canyon systems are long and demanding.

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Hunting Pressure

Low to moderate. The remote nature of the northern Toiyabe keeps overall pressure light relative to more accessible Nevada ranges.

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Weather

Fall temperatures 20–60°F. Snow above 8,000 ft from early October. The Toiyabe's elevation and exposure mean rapid weather changes — prepare for full winter conditions on multi-day hunts.

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Cell Service

No service in the mountains. Limited in Austin. Satellite communicator recommended.

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Nearest Town

Austin (~15 mi east on US-50) — fuel, limited groceries, lodging. Battle Mountain (~50 mi north) — expanded services.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What draw group covers Unit 71 mule deer?

Unit 71 is part of NDOW's 071-079, 091 mule deer unit group. Your tag covers all units in this central Nevada group for the designated season.

Is Austin a good base for a Unit 71 hunt?

Yes — Austin on US-50 is the classic base for the eastern Toiyabe. It has fuel, a few motels, and limited grocery options. For expanded services, Battle Mountain (~50 mi north) or Fallon (~100 mi west) offer more options.

Do Nevada moose tags apply to only one unit or the entire draw pool?

Nevada moose tags issued from the multi-unit draw pool typically allow hunting across all units in the listed pool — not just the specific unit you applied from. Confirm the exact tag restrictions in your tag documentation and current NDOW regulations before hunting.

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-18.

NDOW Big Game Hunting — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Unit boundaries, Species and season info · accessed 2026-04-18
NDOW Draw System — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Draw odds, Application deadlines · accessed 2026-04-18

Unit 71 (Toiyabe Range North)

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 71

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 71

Alpine Crest and Sub-Alpine Zone (8,500–11,000 ft)

Mid-Elevation Aspen and Mountain Mahogany (6,500–8,500 ft)

Reese River Valley Edge (5,500–6,500 ft)

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 71

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Moose Hunting in Unit 71

Where to Find Moose in Unit 71

Canyon-Bottom Riparian Zones

High Mountain Meadows (8,000–10,000 ft)

How to Hunt Moose in Unit 71

Moose Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

Unit 72 — Austin/Toiyabe Range

Unit 71 — Moose (ultra-limited)

Unit 66 — Ruby Mountains Moose

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification