Unit 121, Nevada

The unit displays strong topographic contrast between steep mountain ranges and broad valley floors. The Cherry Creek Range and North Egan Range are the primary landforms. The South Egan Range forms the southern portion of the unit. Steptoe Valley on the east side is the principal low-elevation basin, with valley floors at approximately 6,000 feet. Higher ridgelines in the Cherry Creek and Egan ranges reach into the 9,000–10,000-foot range. Terrain includes rolling hills, swales, benches, and alluvial fans between the ranges.

The unit is approximately 91.9% public land, administered primarily by the BLM Ely District / Bristlecone Field Office (702 N Industrial Way, Ely, NV 89301; 775-289-1800). No USFS National Forest falls within the unit boundary. Primary highway access: US Highway 93 serves the east side (Steptoe Valley corridor); US Highway 50 accesses the southern portion near Ely and McGill; State Route 489 bisects the unit east-west. Secondary routes include Butte Valley Road and White Pine County Roads. A network of 2-track primitive roads branches throughout; high-clearance vehicles and extra spare tires are recommended. Access to McDermid Creek is blocked by private property — alternate routes exist around private tracts. The South Egan Range Wilderness (67,214 ac) prohibits all motorized and mechanized equipment including wheeled game carriers; foot-travel only via routes off SR-318 and Federal Highway 6. Winter snowstorms can drastically alter road conditions and hunter access. Limited or no cell phone service throughout the unit. Private property generally does not limit access but hunters must know property boundaries and obtain permission before hunting or crossing.

Valley bottoms and lower alluvial fans support big sagebrush, black sagebrush, winterfat, greasewood, and fourwing saltbrush. Mid-elevation mountain slopes carry pinyon-juniper woodland. Higher elevations transition into mountain mahogany, bitterbrush, serviceberry, and quaking aspen patches. Riparian corridors along Gleason Creek, Paris Creek, Snow Creek, Taylor Canyon, Cottonwood Canyon, and McDermid Creek support willow, cottonwood, and sedge communities. The South Egan Range Wilderness (67,214 acres, designated 2006, located in White Pine/Lincoln/Nye Counties) contains meadows and forested ridges with aspen. Sagebrush-obligate species use open basin and lower-slope habitats; deer and elk concentrate in mountain brush and aspen zones.

Mule deer are the primary big game species, residing year-round with highest densities in the mountain brush and aspen zones of both ranges. NDOW-identified concentration areas: Smith Valley, Gleason Creek, and Bothwick Creek (highest densities, also highest road and hunter pressure); Telegraph Peak, Paris Creek, Snow Creek, Taylor Canyon, Cottonwood Canyon, McDermid Creek, and Goshute Basin are also good deer areas. Deer density decreases toward the north end of the unit but mature bucks can be found there. Elk are present but unit 121-specific elk tags are issued exclusively as depredation permits (NDOW notes low elk numbers and poor hunter success expected); the unit is grouped with 104 and 108B for regular antlered elk seasons. Pronghorn occupy sagebrush flats and alluvial fans in lower valley portions; tagged in a multi-unit pool with units 078, 105-107. Sage-grouse are present in sagebrush-dominated basin habitats. Chukar partridge inhabit rocky canyon breaks of both mountain ranges. Mountain lion present statewide with over-the-counter tags.