Unit 078, Nevada

Unit 078 spans an elevation range of approximately 5,600 feet in Independence Valley (southwest) to over 9,000 feet at the highest peaks in the south Pequops. The landscape combines steep canyon terrain in the Pequop Mountains with rolling hills, benches, and extensive valley flats. Pequop Summit on I-80 sits at 6,967 feet and marks the northern boundary corridor. The range runs roughly north-south for the length of the unit.

Unit 078 is managed primarily by the BLM Elko District. Public land comprises a majority of the unit, with private holdings and the Long Canyon Mine exclusion in the east-central Pequop Mountains representing the largest public-access impediment in Unit 078. Interstate 80 (Pequop Summit area) provides the primary northern access corridor. Roads in Independence Valley serve the western approaches. An access agreement allows hunting access through checkerboarded private land to Pequop Spring. The South Pequop Wilderness Study Area (non-motorized) lies within the unit group; confirm current motorized-access maps with the BLM Elko Field Office before hunting. Dispersed camping is freely available on BLM lands. Nearest services are Wells (northwest, on I-80) and Wendover (east). The main access for the broader unit group is also off US 93 (Great Basin Hwy) and US 93 ALT.

Sagebrush steppe dominates the lower elevations and valley floors, transitioning upslope to dense pinyon-juniper woodland. Higher mountain elevations carry pockets of mountain mahogany and conifer cover. The unit group is quite arid with limited natural waters and numerous wildlife water developments. Wild horses are present and, per NDOW biologists, have overutilized vegetation in portions of the unit; hunters are advised to seek out areas with better vegetative conditions.

Mule deer occupy the unit at varying densities; Unit 078 functions primarily as winter range. Major migrations occur in late September and throughout October as deer leave Units 071, 072, and 073, move through Unit 075, and concentrate in Units 077, 078, and 079 for winter. Elk are present year-round with high densities during portions of the year; elk are consistently harvested in Nanny Creek, Sixmile Canyon, and the Spud Patch burn area; a sizable portion of the unit group's elk population uses the Big Springs Ranch seasonally — hunters are reminded to respect private property rights. Pronghorn occur in surrounding valley habitat; Steptoe Valley (in the adjacent unit group) is a regional stronghold for pronghorn. Greater sage grouse are documented in sagebrush steppe habitat. Mountain lion are present as resident predators. Feral horse overutilization of forage is an active management concern per NDOW biologist comments.

All quotas and harvest statistics are reported at unit-group level — unit 078-specific breakouts are not published separately by NDOW. Mule deer season dates could not be independently confirmed from available sources; verify with NDOW or eRegulations. Access routes attributed to railroad corridors in the original draft were removed as unconfirmed. The Windermere Hills conservation area (~23,000 acres, ~20 mi NE of Wells) protects critical migration corridor used by this unit's mule deer herd but is NOT within unit 078 itself.