Unit 108, Nevada

Unit 108 is dominated by rolling hills, broad benches, shallow swales, and open flats typical of the northern Great Basin, with steeper mountain flanks on Big Bald, Small Bald, and Buck mountains. Elevations range from approximately 5,800 feet in the lower northwest valleys to about 9,300 feet at the summit of Big Bald Mountain. The terrain is generally more arid and open than the adjacent Ruby Mountains to the north, with limited perennial water and numerous wildlife water developments (guzzlers) distributed across the unit. A major powerline, the Falcon-to-Gonder line, bisects the unit and serves as the regulatory boundary dividing the northern elk subunit (108B) from the southern elk subunit (108C).

Unit 108 is administered almost entirely by the BLM — primarily the Elko District Office (north portion) and the Ely District Office / Bristlecone Field Office (south portion near US-50). NDOW biologists describe access as readily available on the numerous federal, state, county, and BLM roads throughout the unit, with very few access issues due to private property. The unit is bounded on the south by US Highway 50 linking Eureka and Ely, with numerous BLM, county, and unnamed dirt roads providing interior access. Four-wheel-drive is advisable on lesser roads, especially in late season when snow and mud occur. Note: Some BLM lands within Unit 108 are leased by the Bald Mountain Mine and are closed to public access — hunters should verify current mine access boundaries with BLM Elko or Ely District before hunting those areas. There is no designated wilderness inside Unit 108 itself. Dispersed camping is available throughout the federal lands with no permit required. Closest services: Eureka (US-50 west of unit), Ely (US-50 east of unit), Elko and Wells (north of unit) for fuel, lodging, groceries, and RV parks.

The dominant cover is basin big sagebrush and Wyoming sagebrush on valley floors and lower slopes, grading into mountain big sagebrush and bitterbrush on mid-elevation benches. Pinyon-juniper woodland encroaches on many hillsides and ridges throughout the unit, which NDOW identifies as a long-term habitat concern. Mountain brush communities (serviceberry, snowberry, curl-leaf mountain mahogany) occur on the upper slopes and canyon systems of Big Bald and Buck mountains. Riparian vegetation along intermittent drainages is sparse but important for wildlife. There is no significant aspen or alpine zone within the unit. Wild horse overgrazing above Appropriate Management Level (AML) has degraded sagebrush and riparian areas in several parts of the unit, particularly within the Triple B and Antelope Valley Herd Management Areas. The Bald Mountain Mine partially bisects the unit and is situated within a documented mule deer migration corridor connecting Ruby Mountain summer range to winter range in Unit 108.

Mule deer are the primary game species, representing a migratory component of NDOW Management Area 10 (unit group 101-109). Deer summer in the Ruby Mountains (units 101-103) and migrate south through Unit 108 to winter ranges within and south of the unit; Unit 108 functions primarily as transition and winter range rather than core summer habitat. The Bald Mountain Mine partially bisects the migration corridor, and NDOW maintains a radio-collar program on adult does to monitor movement through the mine site. Rocky Mountain elk are managed in two subunit groups: the northern portion (108B, grouped with units 104 and 121) covers the Cherry Creek, North Egan, Butte, Maverick Springs, and Medicine Ranges with moderate elk densities — key elk areas in 108B include the Overland Fire burn scar, Bourne Canyon, Buck Mountain, and Alligator Ridge. Early season hunters should key in on water sources and adjacent habitat given the arid character of the unit. The southern portion (108C, grouped with units 131-132) includes habitat administered by the Ely Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest; elk are generally at higher elevations in summer and fall and move toward Jakes Valley and Railroad Valley in winter. Wilderness areas referenced in the 108C management group (Bald Mountain, Currant Mountain, Red Mountain, Shellback, White Pine, Grant Range, Quinn Canyon) are located in units 131 and 132, not within Unit 108 itself. Pronghorn antelope occupy the open valleys (Huntington, Newark, Long, and Butte Valleys), associated with scattered water sources and guzzlers. Wild horse overuse above AML has degraded forage across multiple herd management areas; hunters should seek portions retaining suitable vegetative conditions. Mountain lion are present as a resident predator. Chukar partridge and sage grouse are present in sagebrush-steppe and rocky canyon habitats.