Unit 031, Nevada

The unit spans elevations from approximately 4,100 feet in the valley floors to about 8,300 feet at upper ridgelines (the Bilk Creek Range high point is approximately 8,488 ft). The Montana and Double H mountains feature steep relief including cliffs and dramatic elevation changes; the Bilk Creek Range and Trout Creek Range have defined drainages, ridges, toe slopes, swales, and peaks. Lower terrain consists of rolling desert flats and playa/alkali lake beds in the Kings River and Quinn River valleys.

The unit is managed primarily by BLM Winnemucca District (Humboldt River Field Office). Primary highway access: US-95 and SR-140 form unit boundaries; SR-293/Kings River Road provides valley access from Orovada northwest into the unit interior. From Winnemucca, travel north on US-95 to Orovada, then west on SR-293, or continue north on US-95 to SR-140 west toward Denio. Four-wheel-drive, high-clearance vehicles are recommended for backcountry roads. No developed campgrounds exist in the unit; trailer hookups are available in Orovada and McDermitt; Denio offers limited services. The BLM Lone Willow Travel Management Area covers the Bilk Creek and Montana mountain ranges within the unit and has a travel management plan under development.

Upper elevations support aspen, mountain mahogany, and desert brush; mid-elevations feature desert brush and scrub with scattered serviceberry; lower slopes and valley floors are dominated by sagebrush-steppe, desert scrub, and playa/alkali flats. The Double H Mountains include sagebrush and bitterbrush in an arid high-desert setting. Several springs occur on the west escarpment of the Double H Mountains. The unit is within greater sage-grouse habitat. Portions of the unit experienced significant wildfire disturbance and vegetation recovery is ongoing.

Mule deer are the primary big game, concentrating at higher elevations in the Bilk Creek and Trout Creek ranges during hunting seasons, with some populations in the Montana and Double H mountains at lower densities. Elevation migration typically occurs after hunting seasons end. Pronghorn antelope occupy the open plateaus of the Montana and Double H mountains, foothill slopes above Kings River Valley, and the western Bilk Creek Range northward from Bilk Creek Reservoir. California bighorn sheep currently occupy only the Double H Mountains — the Montana Mountain population underwent an all-age die-off in 2014-2015 and NDOW is not aware of any bighorns currently occupying that range. The Double H herd is associated with springs on the west escarpment and the Treefrog water development. Mountain lion are present. Greater sage-grouse inhabit the sagebrush-steppe zones. Chukar partridge occur in rocky canyon drainages; upland seasons overlap with deer season. Creek fishing opportunities exist — check current regulations for open waters.