Unit 062, Nevada

The unit spans elevations from roughly 5,600 feet in the lowland basins west of the Bull Run Mountains to approximately 10,438 feet at McAfee Peak in the Independence Mountains. Lower-elevation terrain consists of rolling hills, wide benches, and basins in Bull Run Basin, Independence Valley, and the area south of Wild Horse Reservoir. Upper elevations feature steep canyon country, high ridgelines, and sub-alpine terrain. The Duck Valley Indian Reservation occupies a strip along the Idaho border on the northern edge of the unit.

The unit is approximately 57 percent public land, administered by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (USFS) and BLM (Battle Mountain and Elko field offices), with significant private land including the IL Ranch, Petan Ranch, and scattered parcels throughout Independence Valley. The primary access spine is State Route 225 (Mountain City Highway) running north from Elko; State Route 226 branches west from Lone Mountain Station providing access to the western unit boundary. Key secondary routes off SR 225 include Maggie Creek Summit Road (northern Unit 062, through Bull Run Basin) and Jacks Creek Summit Road (northern Unit 062). The Jerritt Canyon Mine in the central Independence Range is required to provide sportsman access to USFS lands — hunters must check in at the mine's main office off SR 225. Hunters wishing to cross the Petan Ranch to reach the YP Desert are asked to call the ranch (775-756-6512) in advance. Wild Horse Reservoir State Recreation Area offers developed camping. Primitive dispersed camping is available on all USFS and BLM lands. There are no gas stations north of I-80 until Owyhee, Idaho; hunters should carry extra fuel, water, and spare tires. No cell coverage in most backcountry areas. No designated wilderness areas exist in the unit.

Dominant cover at lower elevations (5,500–7,000 ft) is sagebrush-steppe mixed with perennial grasses, bitterbrush, and mountain brush; this is the primary pronghorn and wintering mule deer habitat. Between 7,000 and 9,000 feet the mountain brush zone includes serviceberry, chokecherry, tobacco brush, and bitterbrush, transitioning into aspen groves and subalpine fir. Limber pine appears at higher elevations. Riparian corridors along the North Fork Humboldt River and Jack Creek support willows and wet meadows. Old fire scars across the unit have reset shrub communities and create localized flush vegetation used heavily by all ungulates. Pinyon-juniper is present in scattered patches on south-facing slopes in the lower Independence Range.

Mule deer are the most abundant big game; summer range is concentrated in the high Independence Mountains and Bull Run Mountains (7,000–10,000 ft), with fall migration pushing deer downslope through mountain brush and aspen transition zones into lower sagebrush wintering areas. Historic winter ranges have been degraded by repeated wildfire and overgrazing, reducing shrub cover and carrying capacity. Rocky Mountain elk inhabit the unit year-round; highest densities occur in the southern and north-central Independence Range and Bull Run Mountains between 5,500 and 9,000 feet, in mixed sagebrush, mountain brush, aspen, and subalpine fir. Pronghorn antelope are present at lower elevations (5,500–7,500 ft) across bench country from Lone Mountain to Wild Horse Reservoir, the Adobe Range, Marsh Creek Bench, Double Mountain to Stag Mountain, and the J-P and Diamond A Desert along the Idaho border. Moose occur in small numbers in riparian drainages. Mountain lion are present as a predator on deer and elk. Upland birds observed while hunting include sage-grouse, chukar partridge, Hungarian partridge, ruffed grouse, blue grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, and quail. Bighorn sheep have been observed in adjacent terrain.

Tag quotas and harvest data for Mule Deer are reported at the unit group level (061,062,064,066-068 for antlered; 062,067-068 for antlerless late). The 800 mule deer quota is the 2025 resident Early ALW tag quota for the full unit group; harvest of 161 and 24% success are from the 2023 Early ALW resident season. Elk quota of 30 and 39% success (11 harvested of 28 afield) are for the 2024 resident antlered ALW hunt covering unit group 062,064,066-068. Pronghorn 83% success and 150 harvest are from the 2025 resident ALW season for unit group 061,062,064,071,073 (quota 190). The Jerritt Canyon Mine check-in requirement applies to hunters accessing central Independence Range USFS lands via the mine portal. Duck Valley Indian Reservation within the unit boundary is tribal land requiring separate tribal permits. No designated wilderness areas exist within unit 062.