Unit 131, Nevada

The unit is dominated by the White Pine Range, running approximately 51 miles from Beck Pass in the north to Currant Pass in the south. The high point is Currant Mountain at 11,513 ft; other prominent peaks include Duckwater Peak (11,188 ft), Mt. Hamilton (10,745 ft), and White Pine Peak (10,182 ft). Steepest terrain clusters near Currant Mountain and Mt. Hamilton; the rest of the unit features gentle slopes, rolling hills, swales, and benches. Valley floors along US-6 and Highway 379 drop to approximately 5,000 ft. Adjacent geography includes Railroad Valley and Duckwater tribal lands to the west, Jakes Valley and White River Valley to the east, and the Horse and Grant Ranges to the south.

Access is good to all hunting areas with no areas blocked by private land. Many maintained roads and jeep trails require four-wheel drive vehicles. US-50 forms the northern boundary and provides primary access to the north end of the unit; Illipah Reservoir lies along US-50 and is a key staging area for the northern White Pine Range. US-6 runs along the south and east boundary. County Road 11 south from Illipah Reservoir leads to Cathedral Canyon and the north wilderness entry. The White River Campground road provides access to the wilderness boundary and southeastern portions of the range. State Route 379 covers the western and southern boundary. Five designated wilderness areas lie within Unit 131 — Bald Mountain (~22,366 ac), Currant Mountain (~47,357 ac), Red Mountain (~20,490 ac), Shellback (~36,143 ac), and White Pine Range (~40,013 ac) — where motorized equipment, mechanized transport, wheeled game carriers, and chainsaws are prohibited. Campgrounds with tables and toilets (no potable water) are at Illipah Reservoir and White River; primitive camping is permitted on all public land. The town of Ely has most supplies and a full range of services. Hiko and Lund have limited supplies and services. There are no services at Currant. Unit managed by the Ely Ranger District of Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (high range) and the BLM Ely District Office (surrounding valleys).

Sagebrush-steppe dominates the lower valleys and basin floors. Pinyon pine and juniper woodlands cover mid-elevation slopes. Above approximately 8,500 ft, quaking aspen, mountain mahogany, limber pine, white pine, and fir appear. Ancient Great Basin bristlecone pine stands occur above 10,000 ft. Bitterbrush, serviceberry, and cliffrose are present between roughly 7,000–9,000 ft. Some lower areas support invasive cheatgrass and post-fire brush and grass recovery zones. Riparian corridors follow White River and drainages off the main range.

Mule deer are the primary big game species; the highest densities occupy upper elevations of the White Pine Range through mid-October, then begin to migrate south into Unit 132 in October — a movement that is not weather-dependent. In late October, deer may concentrate along Highway 6 and the White River junction and can also be scattered along the Horse Range and Grant Range. Southern mountain ranges have small resident herds at high elevations, primarily inside the wilderness areas. Rocky Mountain elk are distributed throughout the unit from Little Antelope Summit in the north to Currant Summit in the south. Much of the core elk habitat is public lands administered by the Ely Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest; the BLM Ely District Office administers the surrounding valleys. Elk are generally at higher elevations in summer and fall and move to lower elevations above Jakes and Railroad Valleys during winter. Bulls will usually be with cows during the September breeding season; lone bulls or bull groups are often in thick tree cover at mid elevations after the rut, especially when snow can provide water in these dry areas. Pronghorn antelope use the open sagebrush valleys of the unit. Desert bighorn sheep are present in the steep rocky terrain of the upper White Pine Range; NDOW issues tags for the unit group 131/132/164. Mountain lion are present given prey density.