Unit 013, Nevada

The unit covers approximately 612 square miles with elevations ranging from roughly 4,400 feet on the valley floors (alkali lake beds, playa basins including Boulder Lake and Alkali Lake) up to 7,916 feet at Hays Canyon Peak — the southern high point of the range. Fortynine Mountain (7,462 ft) and Divine Peak (7,462 ft) are other notable summits. Terrain transitions from rolling sage-covered foothills and expansive plateaus (the Vya Rim reaches north to the Oregon border) to steep, rocky canyon walls, especially in Wall Canyon and Hays Canyon, where volcanic geology makes vehicle travel slow and rough. High dry lakes above 5,500 feet occupy the northeastern plateau section; Crooks Lake sits in the northern lower-elevation portion.

Unit 013 is managed almost entirely by the BLM Applegate Field Office (Cedarville, CA; 530-279-6101). Less than 5% of the unit group (011-013) is private land; the main private inholding is Fortynine Mountain in the north end, which is off-limits to hunters. Primary highway access: Nevada SR 447 runs north–south through or adjacent to the unit, connecting Reno (south) through Gerlach to the California border near Cedarville. Nevada SR 34 runs north from Gerlach toward the Oregon/California border, providing eastern access to the range. US Hwy 299 from Alturas/Cedarville (CA) approaches from the west. Key interior roads: Wall Canyon Reservoir Road (off SR 447) reaches Boulder Mountain and the Wall Canyon area. Lost Creek Road accesses the Cherry Mountain/southeast boundary area. The road network within the unit is largely unmaintained dirt, ranging from passable high-clearance two-track to rough jeep trails. Four-wheel drive, tire chains, extra fuel, extra water, and spare tires are strongly recommended. Many recommended hunting areas require hiking from road-end staging. Wall Canyon WSA (~46,300 acres): motorized equipment and mechanized transport (including wheeled game carriers) are restricted within WSA boundaries per BLM WSA policy. Note: adjacent Unit 012 contains significant designated wilderness with the same motorized restrictions. The northeast end of the unit around Fortynine Mountain and the Coleman Canyon area has the most limited public access. Cell service is limited to nonexistent throughout the unit. No developed campgrounds exist; tent camping is the norm. Nearest fuel, food, lodging, and vehicle repair: Gerlach, NV (south via SR 447) and Cedarville, CA (west via Hwy 299/34).

Sagebrush dominates the valley floors and lower hillsides. Bitterbrush stands appear at mid-elevations and are important forage for mule deer and pronghorn. Scattered pinyon and juniper stands occupy mid-elevations, with dense juniper woodlands particularly in the Hays Range — subject to ongoing BLM removal treatments on the Hays Bench, Macy Flat, and Vya Rim. Mountain mahogany grows at upper elevations and provides critical deer forage. Aspen stringers occur at higher elevations. Saltbush and playa-adapted plants occur in the lower lake basin areas (Boulder Lake, Alkali Lake). Sage grouse lekking and brood-rearing habitat is present throughout the sagebrush-dominated plateaus; the Wall Canyon WSA and Hays Canyon area are noted as critical sage grouse habitat.

Mule deer are present throughout the unit at low to moderate density. The unit-group 011–013 herd is widely distributed; deer are most closely tied to water sources early in the season, shifting later to mountain mahogany and bitterbrush stands at higher elevations. Deer occur at lower densities than many other Nevada hunt units per NDOW biologist notes. California bighorn sheep occupy the Hays Range; in unit 013 rams concentrate from Hays Peak north to Slide Spring, using dense juniper woodlands. One combined tag (units 011 and 013) was issued in the 2026 draw, season Sep 1–Nov 10. Ram rut occurs late October through mid-November; early season activity centers on water sources and developments. Pronghorn antelope are present, with unit 013 part of the 012–014 unit grouping. Within unit 013, pronghorn concentrate around Table Lakes, Boulder Flat, the toe slopes of Boulder Mountain, Cherry Mountain east including Clover Creek, Cottonwood Creek, and Jim's Creek. Water and forage are the most limiting factors; upper-elevation plateaus with water hold highest densities. Sage grouse breed and rear broods in the sagebrush/bitterbrush habitat, particularly in the Wall Canyon WSA area. Chukar partridge use rocky canyon terrain; Hays Canyon and Wall Canyon are popular chukar hunting areas. Mountain lion are present (OTC tags available statewide). Feral horses and burros are present in multiple Herd Management Areas within the unit.