Unit 022, Nevada

The unit spans an elevation band from approximately 4,000 feet on lower basin floors to 8,724 feet at Tule Peak in the Virginia Mountains (highest point). The Pah Rah Range peaks include Virginia Peak (8,357 ft), Pah Rah Peak (8,249 ft), and Pond Peak (8,035 ft). Topography transitions from rolling sagebrush hills and salt-brush alkali flats at lower elevations to steep canyons, ridgelines, and plateaus in the upper ranges. The Fox Range lies in east-central Washoe County within the unit. Basin floors include Spanish Springs Valley (southwest) and Warm Springs Valley (western Pah Rah). The unit encompasses approximately 450 square miles (NDOW figure for the mule deer hunt footprint).

Unit 022 is located just north of Reno. The western portion is accessible by heading north on Pyramid Lake Highway (NV-445) then turning onto Winnemucca Ranch Road. The eastern side is accessible by heading north on Highway 447 (reached via I-80 east from Reno, then north on Hwy 447). Access through Big Canyon (east side), Black Canyon (west side), and Cottonwood Canyon (north) are all blocked by private land. Three private ranches — Winnemucca Ranch (west/Winnemucca Valley), Big Canyon Ranch (northeast), and Fish Springs Ranch (north side) — restrict access to the northern end of the unit. The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Reservation western boundary blocks the majority of the east side of the Virginia Mountains and is closed to non-tribal hunting. Access is extremely difficult in the northern area (very rough two-track roads); southern portions are slightly better with rough two-tracks providing access to Virginia Peak, Pond Peak, and Spanish Springs Peak. For bighorn sheep, the unit is also accessed via Highway 395 northwest to Doyle, California, then dirt roads north and east. Hunters must research private land gate permissions before the season. 4WD/high-clearance vehicles required. Hunters are advised to carry extra fuel, spare tires, and tire chains. No developed campgrounds within the unit; hunters typically base out of Reno (~1 hour from most hunt areas). Contact the local BLM/USFS office prior to the hunt regarding any campfire restrictions. BLM Sierra Front Field Office: 775-885-6000. Services in Reno/Sparks, Fernley, Sutcliff, Nixon, and Wadsworth.

Lower elevations are dominated by big sagebrush with intermittent stands of bitterbrush and ephedra; alkali flats support salt-brush communities. Mid-elevation slopes transition into pinyon-juniper woodland. Upper elevation deer habitat is characterized by mountain mahogany, big sagebrush, bitterbrush, and juniper brush species. Aspen groves exist primarily in the northern portion of the unit (Virginia Mountains) and provide excellent cover for deer. Riparian corridors follow seasonal drainages. Compared to eastern Nevada, vegetation is open and well-suited to glassing. Burn history (2016-2020 fires) has affected portions of adjacent Unit 021; the BLM Sierra Front Field Office approved a Virginia Mountains Vegetation Treatments Project (~22,388 acres) to restore plant community resilience within Unit 022.

Mule deer are the primary big game resident, distributed across all three ranges; upper elevation habitat supports higher concentrations. In the north (Virginia Mountains), hunters should concentrate on the Vinegar Peak and Tule Ridge areas. In the south (Pah Rah Range), areas near Virginia Peak, Pond Peak, and Spanish Springs Peak are recommended. Open vegetation lends itself to observation of deer and spot-and-stalk hunting. California bighorn sheep are concentrated in the Virginia Mountains, primarily on the northern end from Tule Peak south to Astor Pass, with concentrations in areas surrounding Tule Peak, Hornet Canyon, Big Canyon, Cottonwood Canyon, and Juniper Basin. Low densities occur on the very south end of the Virginia Mountains near Pyramid Lake Highway. Pronghorn antelope are present at low densities across the combined 021-022 unit grouping; water and forage are limiting factors in August. Upper elevation areas near Spanish Flat (very difficult access), Seven Lakes Mountain, Fort Sage Mountain, and the north end of the Sand Hills generally hold antelope during summer. Adobe Spring on the north Virginia Mountains and the powerline road east/southeast of Fort Sage Mountain may also hold antelope. The western side of the Fox Range near water sources may hold antelope as well. Chukar partridge and quail inhabit rocky slopes and canyon rims. Mountain lion are present as a follow-on predator to the deer population. Mule deer winter range concentrates at lower elevations; summer range moves to upper ridges and aspen-mountain mahogany zones.