Nevada Mule Deer Elk Moose Pronghorn

Unit 74 (Big Smoky Valley)

Nevada Hunting Guide — Mule Deer, Elk, Moose, Pronghorn

Unit 74 covers the Big Smoky Valley and adjacent mountain ranges in central Nye County. The unit spans between the Toiyabe and Toquima Ranges — two major Great Basin sky islands — and includes BLM valley floor terrain and the foothill approaches to both ranges. Mule deer use the valley edge and lower mountain slopes through the fall season with good public land access via NV-376.

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Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 74

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 74

Unit 74 spans the broad Big Smoky Valley corridor between two major central Nevada mountain ranges. Deer are found along both the Toiyabe foothills to the west and Toquima foothills to the east.

Toquima Range Foothills (East)

The western slope of the Toquima Range above Monitor Valley and the Big Smoky Valley margin holds good deer numbers in PJ and sagebrush habitat. Access via county roads east of NV-376.

Toiyabe Range Foothills (West)

The east-facing slopes of the Toiyabe above Big Smoky Valley are BLM land with sagebrush, PJ, and some aspen at upper elevations. Less access pressure than the Austin canyon areas to the north.

Valley Floor Sagebrush

The broad valley floor has extensive sagebrush habitat that deer use for travel corridors between ranges. Morning and evening, deer move through openings and along hillside edges — glass from elevated positions along the valley rim.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 74

Unit 74 offers a combination hunt — valley-floor and lower-elevation terrain that is more accessible than the high wilderness units to the north, with BLM roads penetrating much of the huntable country.

Two-Range Strategy

Hunt the Toquima foothills in the morning (sun comes from behind you looking west), then transition to Toiyabe foothills in the afternoon. The valley floor drives are quick via NV-376, allowing flexibility between access points.

BLM Road Grid

A network of BLM roads branches from NV-376 into both range systems. Drive slowly at dawn and dusk, and glass frequently — Big Smoky Valley bucks often feed in sagebrush openings well into first light.

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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 74 tags are part of NDOW's 071-079, 091 mule deer unit group. See the live Draw Odds chart for current statistics. Nevada's weighted bonus-point system applies.

Elk Hunting in Unit 74

Nevada Unit 74 covers the eastern flank of the Ruby Mountains south of Lamoille Canyon, encompassing some of the most dramatic elk habitat in Elko County. The Rubies rise sharply from the valley floor to over 11,000 feet, creating a diversity of aspen parks, subalpine basins, and creek-bottom meadows that support a quality Rocky Mountain elk herd. Bulls in this unit can reach exceptional size in the lush, well-watered terrain below the Ruby Crest.

Where to Find Elk in Unit 74

Unit 74 elk concentrate in the aspen-fringed creek drainages and subalpine basins on the eastern Ruby Mountains between Lamoille Canyon and the southern Ruby Wilderness boundary.

Lamoille Creek Drainage

The lower Lamoille Canyon area and its flanking benches see consistent elk use, especially in early season when bulls inhabit the upper aspen parks before moving lower as snow pushes them down. Access from Lamoille Canyon Road (USFS 660) to the wilderness boundary.

Eastern Ruby Benches and Aspen Parks

Mid-elevation aspen stands on the east face of the Rubies — between roughly 7,000 and 9,000 feet — provide the core summer and early fall elk range. Focus on meadow edges at first and last light.

Creek-Bottom Wallows

During the September rut, locate wallows in the muddy margins of perennial streams draining east from the Rubies. Bulls work these wallow sites repeatedly during peak rut activity.

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How to Hunt Elk in Unit 74

Unit 74 rewards hunters who combine high-elevation glassing with aggressive rut calling in the aspen and creek-bottom terrain of the eastern Rubies.

High-Country Glassing

Access the Ruby Crest Trail system and glass east-facing basins and aspen parks in early morning light. Bulls often hold to subalpine terrain through September before working lower. A spotting scope and patience pay off in this open, tilted terrain.

Rut Calling in Aspen Parks

During the September/October rut, bugling and cow calling from aspen park edges draws rutting bulls effectively. Set up with the wind in your face from the drainage bottom and stay mobile — call-shy bulls benefit from a locate-and-move approach rather than stationary setups.

Post-Rut Feeding Meadows

Later-season hunters should focus on mid-elevation feeding meadows adjacent to aspen stands as elk shift to pre-winter feeding patterns. Glass and stalk tactics in open terrain are most effective after the rut subsides.

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Elk Success Rates

Elk hunters in Unit 74 benefit from quality Ruby Mountains habitat with relatively limited access compared to more road-dense units. The 072-074 draw group tags are issued in limited numbers, keeping pressure manageable for drawn hunters in this steep, productive terrain.

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 74 elk tags are issued through NDOW's 072-074 eastern Ruby Mountains draw group. Tags are limited — accumulate bonus points and apply annually. Check the ProHunt Draw Odds chart for current application statistics and historical trends.

Moose Hunting in Unit 74

Nevada Unit 74 includes the eastern Ruby Mountains near Lamoille Canyon — high-quality moose habitat with willow-lined creek drainages, beaver pond complexes, and the lush riparian corridors that characterize the best Nevada moose habitat. Moose are rare in this unit by tag design: Nevada issues very few moose permits statewide, and Unit 74 draws from the same large northeastern Nevada tag pool shared across dozens of units.

Where to Find Moose in Unit 74

Moose in Unit 74 use the willow-choked creek drainages and riparian margins of Lamoille Creek and the eastern Ruby Mountains drainage system.

Lamoille Creek Riparian Corridor

The willow and aspen margins along Lamoille Creek from the canyon mouth eastward onto the valley floor provide core moose habitat. Look for tracks, droppings, and browsed willows to locate travel corridors before season.

Eastern Ruby Mountain Beaver Ponds

Where beaver have created pond complexes in the smaller eastern drainage creeks, moose concentrate for forage and thermoregulation. These ponds are often tucked into side drainages and require off-trail travel to locate.

Mid-Elevation Willow Benches

Benches between 6,500 and 8,000 feet with dense willow growth and reliable moisture provide summer and fall moose foraging habitat. Access via Forest Service trail systems from Lamoille Canyon Road.

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How to Hunt Moose in Unit 74

A rare draw, Unit 74 moose hunting rewards systematic pre-season scouting of the Lamoille Creek drainage system combined with rut-calling tactics in September.

Pre-Season Riparian Scouting

Walk the Lamoille Creek riparian corridor and side drainages thoroughly before season opens. Identify willow browsing, fresh tracks, and bedding areas. Moose ranges are predictable once located — return to known feeding areas.

Rut Calling

September is prime moose calling time. Use cow calls and light antler raking from dense willow cover. Rutting bulls in Nevada respond particularly well to calling, as low bull density makes competition responses strong.

Still-Hunting Willow Margins

Move slowly along willow-lined creek margins at first and last light, stopping frequently to listen. Moose in thick cover reveal themselves by movement sounds — cracking willows and splashing are reliable locating clues.

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Moose Success Rates

Drawn moose hunters in Nevada's northeastern draw group enjoy high success rates relative to other western states — the extremely limited tag pool ensures essentially no competition in the field for the hunter who has scouted effectively.

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 74 moose tags draw through NDOW's northeastern Nevada moose group: 061, 062, 064, 066-068, 071-077, 081, 101-103. Tags issued statewide are extremely limited — typically 0–1 per unit or group. Apply every year and accumulate bonus points. Check the ProHunt Draw Odds chart for current statistics.

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 74

Nevada Unit 74 includes the Ruby Valley floor and open sagebrush terrain on the eastern side of Elko County, where pronghorn use the wide sagebrush flats and open benches between mountain foothills. This is classic Great Basin pronghorn country — vast, open, and deceptively productive for hunters willing to cover ground to find bands of antelope among the sage.

Where to Find Pronghorn in Unit 74

Pronghorn in Unit 74 occupy the open sagebrush flats and valley benches on the eastern side of Elko County, particularly in the Ruby Valley and adjacent terrain.

Ruby Valley Floor

The open sage-steppe of Ruby Valley provides classic pronghorn foraging habitat. Bands of 10–30+ animals are common here in late summer and early fall. Glass valley terrain from elevated BLM roads before committing to a stalk.

Eastern Ruby Foothills Benches

The transition zone between the Ruby Mountains foothills and the valley floor — characterized by sagebrush, bitterbrush, and native grasses — holds pronghorn year-round. Animals move between the valley floor and lower foothills benches with temperature and forage availability.

Water Source Convergence Points

Natural water sources including springs and stock ponds on BLM land attract pronghorn reliably in the heat of late summer. Locate these sources on maps before scouting and glass from downwind positions.

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How to Hunt Pronghorn in Unit 74

Glass-and-stalk is the primary pronghorn tactic in Unit 74's open Ruby Valley terrain, combined with decoy and calling during the August–September rut period.

Long-Range Glassing and Stalk

Glass from elevated terrain using a quality spotting scope, identify a target animal, then plan a stalk using terrain breaks, sage swales, and creek margins. In open Ruby Valley, cover distance quickly while using every bit of available relief.

Rut Decoy and Calling

During the August pronghorn rut, a buck decoy combined with challenge grunts can draw dominant bucks into shooting range. Set up decoys on open flats visible from 400+ yards to maximize the territorial response from dominant bucks.

Water Hole Ambush

In the heat of late summer, ambush at natural water holes or stock tanks during midday and afternoon. Approach against the wind, build a low natural blind, and wait. Pronghorn visit water sources predictably when temperatures exceed 90°F.

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Pronghorn Success Rates

Pronghorn success rates in Nevada's limited-draw units are generally strong for drawn hunters — the combination of high pronghorn visibility in open terrain and low hunting pressure after draw makes harvest rates favorable compared to over-the-counter states.

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Draw odds data not available for this specific unit/species combination in our database.

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Unit 74 pronghorn draws as a standalone unit — check NDOW's current tag allocation and ProHunt Draw Odds for application statistics. Apply with maximum bonus points for best odds on quality tags in this Elko County unit.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Camp Sites

Dispersed BLM camping throughout the valley. No fee campgrounds.

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Road Conditions

NV-376 paved through the valley. BLM access roads are gravel/dirt — high clearance recommended.

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Terrain Difficulty

Easy to moderate. Valley floor and lower foothills accessible. Upper range terrain requires more effort but is not wilderness-level commitment.

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Hunting Pressure

Light. Big Smoky Valley is off the main hunting radar compared to the famous wilderness units to the north.

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Weather

Fall temperatures 30–65°F. Valley floor is lower elevation than adjacent units — less extreme weather.

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Cell Service

No service in the valley. Limited in Tonopah and Austin.

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Nearest Town

Tonopah (~40 mi south on US-6/NV-376) — fuel, grocery, lodging. Austin (~60 mi north) — minimal services.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I access both the Toquima and Toiyabe Ranges from Unit 74?

Yes — Unit 74 spans the valley between both ranges. Your tag (drawn as part of the 071-079, 091 group) covers hunting across all units in the group, so both range systems within Unit 74 are fully huntable.

What makes Unit 74 a quality elk hunting destination?

Unit 74 sits on the eastern face of the Ruby Mountains near the famous Lamoille Canyon — a lush, high-elevation landscape of glacially carved terrain with aspen parks, subalpine meadows, and permanent streams. This diverse habitat supports strong bull development, and limited tag numbers keep hunting pressure below what you'd see on more accessible units.

What is the best access point for elk hunting in Unit 74?

The primary access is NV-227 (Ruby Valley Road) south from Elko, turning west into Lamoille Canyon Road (USFS 660). Thomas Canyon Campground serves as the main trailhead hub for wilderness access. For the southern portions of Unit 74, Ruby Valley Road provides access to BLM/NF lands on the eastern Ruby flanks.

Do moose actually live in Nevada Unit 74?

Yes — Nevada's moose population has expanded steadily into the Ruby Mountains and northeastern Nevada mountain ranges since the 1990s. Unit 74's Lamoille Creek drainage provides quality willow and riparian habitat that supports a resident moose population, though overall numbers remain low compared to core moose states like Wyoming or Idaho.

How many years of bonus points does it take to draw a moose tag in Unit 74's draw group?

Nevada moose draw odds depend heavily on annual tag allocation and applicant pool. Most drawn moose hunters in Nevada's northeastern group have 5–15+ preference points accumulated. Check the ProHunt Draw Odds tool for current statistics — allocation can vary year to year.

Is Unit 74 pronghorn country flat enough for a first-time antelope hunter?

Yes — the Ruby Valley floor and eastern Elko County benches that form the core of Unit 74 pronghorn habitat are among the most user-friendly pronghorn terrain in Nevada. The main challenge is the long-range shooting required in open country, so bring a rifle capable of accurate shots to 400 yards and practice at distance before your hunt.

When is the pronghorn rut in Unit 74?

Nevada pronghorn rut typically peaks in late August through mid-September, coinciding with most archery and early rifle seasons. Dominant bucks are highly territorial during this period and respond well to decoy and calling tactics, making it the most exciting and productive time to hunt.

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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 74 (Big Smoky Valley)

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 74

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 74

Toquima Range Foothills (East)

Toiyabe Range Foothills (West)

Valley Floor Sagebrush

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 74

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Elk Hunting in Unit 74

Where to Find Elk in Unit 74

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 74

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Moose Hunting in Unit 74

Where to Find Moose in Unit 74

How to Hunt Moose in Unit 74

Moose Success Rates

Moose Draw Odds

Pronghorn Hunting in Unit 74

Where to Find Pronghorn in Unit 74

How to Hunt Pronghorn in Unit 74

Pronghorn Success Rates

Pronghorn Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

Unit 73 — Toiyabe/Arc Dome

Unit 75 — Monitor/Toquima Overlap

Unit 72 — Ruby Mountains Elk

Unit 76 — Elko County / Ruby Valley Moose

Unit 74 — Eastern Ruby Mountains Elk

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification