Nevada Mule Deer Moose

Unit 77 (Shoshone Mountains / Crescent Peak)

Nevada Hunting Guide — Mule Deer, Moose

Unit 77 covers the Shoshone Mountains and the Crescent Peak area in western Nye County — an isolated Great Basin range rising from desert playa country. The Shoshone Mountains top out around 9,225 ft at Shoshone Peak, with PJ, mountain mahogany, and sagebrush habitat supporting a resident mule deer population in relatively little-hunted terrain. Excellent BLM public land access and light competition make this unit appealing to hunters willing to explore lesser-known Nevada country.

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Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 77

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 77

Unit 77 is centered on the Shoshone Mountains — a smaller but productive central Nevada range with solid deer numbers and minimal hunting pressure.

Shoshone Peak Approaches (7,000–9,225 ft)

The upper Shoshone Mountains around Shoshone Peak hold the unit's best deer habitat. PJ woodland transitioning to mountain mahogany and grass above 7,000 ft provides year-round deer habitat. Glass north-facing slopes with timber and benches.

Crescent Peak Area

The Crescent Peak volcanic terrain south of the main Shoshone mass has rougher, more broken terrain popular with mule deer for bedding. Access is via BLM 2-track from the surrounding valleys.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 77

Unit 77 rewards hunters who do their pre-season scouting — the Shoshone Mountains are relatively small, and understanding deer movement patterns before the season opens is key.

Spot-and-Stalk BLM Country

Drive BLM access roads at dawn, glass the PJ hillsides and mountain mahogany slopes, and stalk spotted deer on terrain that is less rugged than the northern high units. Shots are typically 200–350 yards on open hillsides.

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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 77 is part of NDOW's 071-079, 091 mule deer unit group. See the live Draw Odds chart for current statistics.

Moose Hunting in Unit 77

Nevada Unit 77 covers the northern Elko County highlands between the Jarbidge Mountains and the Idaho border — remote, roadless country with riparian drainages and aspen-willow terrain that supports Nevada's expanding moose population. As part of the large northeastern Nevada moose draw group, Unit 77 tags are extremely rare, making a drawn tag here a once-in-a-lifetime backcountry adventure in one of Nevada's most wild corners.

Where to Find Moose in Unit 77

Unit 77 moose concentrate in the riparian willow and aspen corridors of the Jarbidge area and the creek drainages draining northward toward the Idaho border.

Jarbidge River Upper Drainages

The headwaters of the Jarbidge River system within Unit 77 provide dense willow riparian habitat — prime moose range. Access is remote and requires multi-day pack-in travel from the Jarbidge townsite on the south or Idaho border roads on the north.

Idaho Border Creek Systems

Creeks draining north out of Unit 77 toward the Bruneau River watershed in Idaho provide additional moose movement corridors. Nevada moose have expanded from Idaho populations and still use these border drainages seasonally.

Aspen-Willow Benches at Mid-Elevation

Benches between 6,500 and 8,500 feet with dense willow and aspen provide summer and early fall moose range. Glass these from adjacent ridgelines in early morning before moose move into dense cover.

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How to Hunt Moose in Unit 77

Unit 77 moose hunting demands a true backcountry commitment — remote access, multi-day camps, and pack-out capability for a bull that can weigh 700–900 pounds in this northern Nevada terrain.

Wilderness Pack-In Camp

Most productive access is via a pack-in camp staged from the Jarbidge Canyon approach. Pack in 5–8 miles to position near known moose habitat in the upper drainages. Horse or mule support is strongly recommended for both hunting access and meat retrieval.

Riparian Still-Hunting

Move slowly through willow-lined creek corridors at first and last light, stopping to listen for moose feeding sounds. The dense, creek-bottom cover in Unit 77 rewards slow, deliberate movement over long ground-covering approaches.

September Rut Calling

Cow calls and antler raking are highly effective in September. In the remote Unit 77 drainages, bulls have encountered very little calling pressure — set up in cover near willow concentrations and let the terrain amplify your calls.

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Moose Success Rates

Drawn Nevada moose hunters in remote units like Unit 77 face virtually no competition — the combination of an extremely rare draw tag and roadless terrain means most hunters encounter only the moose they are hunting. Overall Nevada moose success rates for drawn hunters are high.

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 77 moose tags draw through NDOW's northeastern Nevada moose group: 061, 062, 064, 066-068, 071-077, 081, 101-103. Nevada issues only a handful of moose permits statewide annually. Apply every year and build bonus points — this is likely a multi-decade commitment for most applicants. Check the ProHunt Draw Odds chart for current statistics.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

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Camp Sites

Dispersed BLM camping.

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Road Conditions

US-95 paved access. BLM side roads are 2-track — high clearance and sometimes 4WD required.

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Terrain Difficulty

Moderate. Shoshone Mountains are lower and less demanding than high Toiyabe wilderness terrain.

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Hunting Pressure

Very light. Shoshone Mountains are among Nevada's least-visited hunting areas.

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Weather

Fall temperatures 35–70°F. More arid lower-elevation desert range — warmer and drier than northern units.

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Cell Service

No service. Available in Tonopah.

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Nearest Town

Tonopah (~35 mi east on US-95) — full services for this part of Nevada. Hawthorne (~50 mi northwest) — fuel, grocery.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How big are the deer in the Shoshone Mountains?

The Shoshone Mountains hold typical Nevada mule deer — mature bucks in the 150–180 inch class are realistic in lower-pressure units like this. Deer body size and antler quality in central Nevada's isolated ranges can be surprisingly good due to minimal hunting pressure and good forage.

How remote is Unit 77 for moose hunting?

Unit 77 is among the most remote hunting units in Nevada. The primary approach via Jarbidge Canyon requires a steep, narrow dirt road that is impassable for trailers. Once past the Jarbidge townsite, the hunting terrain is effectively roadless. Plan on a multi-day pack-in with horses or mules and carry full wilderness camp gear and emergency supplies.

Are there moose in Unit 77 every year?

Yes — Nevada's moose population in the northern Elko County units has grown steadily since animals dispersed south from Idaho beginning in the 1990s. Unit 77 and the adjacent Jarbidge drainages hold a resident moose population year-round, though individual animal densities remain much lower than moose strongholds in Wyoming or Idaho.

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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 77 (Shoshone Mountains / Crescent Peak)

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 77

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 77

Shoshone Peak Approaches (7,000–9,225 ft)

Crescent Peak Area

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 77

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Moose Hunting in Unit 77

Where to Find Moose in Unit 77

How to Hunt Moose in Unit 77

Moose Success Rates

Moose Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

Unit 76 — Gabbs Valley Range

Unit 78 — White River Valley

Unit 75 — Jarbidge Wilderness Moose

Unit 74 — Eastern Ruby Mountains Moose

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources & Verification