Nevada Mule Deer Elk Moose

Unit 73 (Toiyabe / Arc Dome)

Nevada Hunting Guide — Mule Deer, Elk, Moose

Unit 73 covers the southern Toiyabe Range and the Arc Dome area in Nye County — home to the 115,000-acre Arc Dome Wilderness and the Toiyabe Range's highest peak at 11,773 ft. This is remote, rugged Great Basin sky-island country with excellent mule deer populations in pristine habitat. The unit's isolation and wilderness character keep hunting pressure low and buck quality high.

View Draw Odds Nevada Hunting Guide

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 73

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 73

The Arc Dome Wilderness anchors Unit 73 — a roadless, 115,000-acre wilderness where hunting pressure is light and deer are relatively undisturbed.

Arc Dome Summit Basin (10,000–11,773 ft)

The high terrain around Arc Dome holds bucks through the early season. Access requires a major commitment — the nearest trailhead is a long drive on rough roads followed by a strenuous hike. Hunters who make the effort find very little competition.

Reese River / Corral Canyon Systems

The canyon systems draining east toward the Reese River provide accessible mid-elevation terrain (7,000–9,000 ft) with aspen and mountain mahogany. Big Creek and Corral Canyon are among the more accessible entry points from the east side of the range.

West-Side Valleys (Smoky Valley)

The west-facing drainages above Smoky Valley (accessed from NV-376 / US-6) give alternative access to mid-elevation deer habitat with fewer hunters due to longer approach roads.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 73

Unit 73 is for committed backcountry hunters — the Arc Dome Wilderness guarantees a primitive, roadless hunt with minimal competition.

Wilderness Backpack Hunt

The most productive deer in Unit 73 live in the Arc Dome Wilderness interior. Access from the Big Creek Trailhead (east side, off US-50 south) or the Columbine Campground area (reached via Smoky Valley Road on the west). Plan for 3+ day backpacking with full wilderness camp.

Boundary Canyon Approach

For a less committing option, hunt the wilderness boundary canyon systems at 7,000–8,500 ft where roads end and foot travel begins. These transition zones often hold good deer numbers that have been pushed out of the easily-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.

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Unit 73 tags are part of NDOW's 071-079, 091 mule deer draw group. Check the live Draw Odds chart for current applicant numbers and odds. Nevada's weighted bonus-point system applies.

Elk Hunting in Unit 73

Nevada Unit 73 covers the Independence Mountains in northeastern Elko County — part of NDOW's 072-074 elk draw group. The Independence Mountains rise to over 10,000 ft and are blanketed with extensive aspen forest, mountain mahogany, and subalpine meadows that provide exceptional elk habitat. This unit group produces quality bulls and draws less applicant attention than the famous Ruby Mountains units to the south.

Where to Find Elk in Unit 73

Unit 73 elk occupy the Independence Mountains' aspen-conifer forests, mountain mahogany benches, and subalpine meadows of northeastern Elko County.

Independence Mountains Aspen Zone (7,500–9,500 ft)

The extensive aspen forests on the north-facing slopes of the Independence Mountains are the core elk habitat in Unit 73. Aspen groves on canyon walls and ridge benches hold cows and bulls throughout the season — glass the forest edges and the open parks within the aspen from ridge positions at dawn and dusk.

Mountain Mahogany Ridges

Mid-elevation mountain mahogany zones (7,000–8,500 ft) on the southern and eastern Independence Mountain slopes provide critical pre-rut forage. Bulls use these dense browse areas during August and early September to build mass before the rut begins.

Subalpine Meadow Springs

The upper meadow complexes near range crest springs (9,000–10,200 ft) attract elk during warm weather. Find active wallows in the aspen-fringed spring areas before season — locating wallows with fresh mud and rub trees is the most reliable scouting investment in this unit.

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 73

The Independence Mountains in Unit 73 offer more accessible elk hunting than the designated wilderness to the south, with a Humboldt-Toiyabe NF road network allowing hunters to reach within hiking distance of quality habitat.

Rut Calling in the Aspen Forests

Set up near active wallows in the aspen zone during the September rut and use a combination of cow mews and bull bugles. Independence Mountains bulls are undisturbed by hunting pressure and respond aggressively to calls. Canyon acoustic effects amplify bugling — locate a calling position on a ridge where your sound carries into multiple drainages.

Forest Road Glassing Circuit

Drive Humboldt-Toiyabe NF roads slowly at first and last light, glassing open meadow parks and forest edges at 300–600 yards. Once a target bull is identified from the road, execute a ground stalk with strict wind discipline.

Deep Drainage Spike Camp

The most undisturbed bulls in Unit 73 are in the drainages 3–5 miles from forest road access. Pack in a spike camp at 8,500–9,000 ft for access to elk that rarely encounter hunters.

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Elk Success Rates

See the Draw Odds chart for current NDOW harvest data on the 072-074 Independence Mountains elk group. This group is one of Nevada's less-publicized but highly productive elk draw units — hunters frequently report quality bull encounters.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts Req
Rifle— Mid Season	30	789	3.8%	1
Rifle— Late Season	30	272	11.0%	1
Rifle— Early Season	140	724	19.3%	0
Rifle— Early Season	20	202	9.9%	0
Rifle— Late Season	20	90	22.2%	0
Rifle— Mid Season	90	752	12.0%	0
Rifle— Mid Season	10	208	4.8%	0
Rifle— Late Season	20	88	22.7%	0
Rifle— Early Season	40	640	6.3%	0
Rifle— Early Season	20	217	9.2%	0
Archery— Early Season	110	143	76.9%	1
Archery— Early Season	25	81	30.9%	0
Archery— Early Season	25	104	24.0%	1
Archery— Early Season	9	27	33.3%	0
Muzzleloader— Early Season	55	220	25.0%	1
Muzzleloader— Early Season	10	129	7.8%	0
Muzzleloader— Early Season	7	167	4.2%	1
Muzzleloader— Early Season	8	95	8.4%	0
Muzzleloader— Mid Season	6	111	5.4%	1
Muzzleloader— Early Season	25	64	39.1%	0

Data from 2025 draw results. Resident odds shown.

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Unit 73 elk tags draw as part of NDOW's Unit Group 072-074 — the Independence Mountains group in northeastern Elko County. This group typically requires fewer bonus points than the Ruby Mountains 062/064/066-068 group while still producing excellent elk hunting. See the live Draw Odds chart for current statistics and point requirements.

Moose Hunting in Unit 73

Nevada Unit 73 falls within NDOW's northeastern Nevada moose draw group — one of the rarest tags in the western United States. Moose in the Independence Mountains area use riparian willow corridors along the creek drainages and marshy terrain in the mountain valleys of northeastern Elko County. Expect a multi-decade wait for a Nevada moose tag through the preference point system.

Where to Find Moose in Unit 73

Moose in Unit 73 concentrate in the riparian zones of the Independence Mountains' creek drainages in northeastern Elko County.

Creek Drainage Willow Thickets

Willow-choked creek corridors draining the Independence Mountains are the primary moose habitat. Focus systematic searches on drainages with permanent water and dense willow margins at first and last light.

Mountain Valley Wet Meadows

Valley bottom wet meadows and beaver pond areas in the broader Independence Mountains terrain attract moose for forage. Glass these open areas from elevated terrain before entering dense vegetation.

Riparian-Conifer Transition

The edge between dense riparian vegetation and adjacent spruce-fir forest is productive for locating bedded moose at midday. Move slowly along these transition zones with strict wind discipline.

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How to Hunt Moose in Unit 73

Moose hunting in Unit 73 follows standard northeastern Nevada riparian tactics — rut calling, still-hunting dense willows, and elevated glassing of wetland complexes.

Rut Calling

Bull moose are aggressively responsive to cow vocalizations during the September-October rut. Use a megaphone-style birch-bark call near dense riparian cover. Expect close-range encounters — be prepared for shots inside 75 yards in thick willow habitat.

Still-Hunting Willows

Move slowly and deliberately through riparian willow corridors at first light, pausing to listen and glass openings every 30–50 yards. Wind direction is paramount — approach from downwind or crosswind throughout.

Wetland Glassing

Glass open marshy terrain and beaver pond systems from elevated hillside vantage points before descending into dense vegetation. Early morning glassing is most productive before moose move into heavy cover for midday rest.

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Moose Success Rates

Nevada moose tags are among the rarest in the western states — often 0–5 statewide per year across the entire northeastern Nevada draw group. Drawn hunters enjoy very high success rates and essentially no competition in the field. Consult NDOW for current population data on the expanding Nevada moose herd.

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.

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Unit 73 moose tags draw as part of NDOW's large northeastern Nevada moose group: 061, 062, 064, 066-068, 071-077, 081, 101-103. Tag numbers are extremely small — plan to apply for many consecutive years before drawing. See the ProHunt Draw Odds chart for current statistics.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Camp Sites

Columbine Campground (USFS, west access) and dispersed backcountry camping in wilderness. East side: dispersed BLM/USFS camping near Big Creek trailhead.

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Road Conditions

US-6/US-95 (paved) south of the unit. NV-376 west approach is paved. Access roads into the wilderness boundary are gravel/dirt — 4WD/high clearance required.

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Terrain Difficulty

Very strenuous. The Arc Dome Wilderness is roadless — all access on foot. Elevation gain from valley floor to crest is 5,000–6,000 ft.

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Hunting Pressure

Very light in the wilderness interior. One of Nevada's most remote mule deer hunting areas.

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Weather

October temperatures 20–60°F. The Toiyabe crest above 10,000 ft can see blizzard conditions in October — build a conservative weather margin into your hunt schedule.

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Cell Service

None in the mountains or wilderness. Satellite device required for safety on extended wilderness hunts.

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Nearest Town

Tonopah (~50 mi south on US-6) — fuel, grocery, lodging. Austin (~40 mi north on US-50) — minimal services.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Arc Dome Wilderness?

The Arc Dome Wilderness is a 115,000-acre designated wilderness encompassing the highest terrain of the southern Toiyabe Range. Arc Dome at 11,773 ft is Nevada's second-highest peak. The wilderness is entirely roadless and managed for primitive recreation. All hunting in the wilderness is foot/horse access only.

What draw group covers Unit 73 elk?

Unit 73 elk tags draw from NDOW's 072-074 Independence Mountains group in northeastern Elko County. A drawn tag is valid across all three units in the group.

How does Unit 73 compare to the Ruby Mountains for elk hunting?

Unit 73's Independence Mountains produce quality elk in less-pressured terrain that typically requires fewer bonus points to draw than the Ruby Mountains 062/064/066-068 group. The Independence Mountains have extensive aspen forest and comparable elk densities — a strong alternative for hunters accumulating Nevada points.

Are there actually moose in Unit 73?

Yes — Nevada's moose population is small but expanding, primarily concentrated in northeastern Nevada mountain ranges including the Independence Mountains area of Unit 73. The population is growing slowly and NDOW issues a small number of tags annually for the entire northeastern Nevada group that includes Unit 73.

How long does it take to draw a Nevada moose tag?

Nevada moose tags are among the rarest in the West. With typically 0–5 tags issued statewide per year across a large draw group, expect to apply for 20+ years before drawing through Nevada's weighted bonus-point system. Apply every year and accumulate points consistently.

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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 73 (Toiyabe / Arc Dome)

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 73

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 73

Arc Dome Summit Basin (10,000–11,773 ft)

Reese River / Corral Canyon Systems

West-Side Valleys (Smoky Valley)

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 73

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Elk Hunting in Unit 73

Where to Find Elk in Unit 73

Independence Mountains Aspen Zone (7,500–9,500 ft)

Mountain Mahogany Ridges

Subalpine Meadow Springs

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 73

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Moose Hunting in Unit 73

Where to Find Moose in Unit 73

How to Hunt Moose in Unit 73

Moose Success Rates

Moose Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

Unit 72 — Austin/Toiyabe Range

Unit 74 — Big Smoky Valley

Unit 68 — Ruby Mountains Elk

Unit 73 — Independence Mountains Moose

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification