Unit 155, Nevada

The unit encompasses the full length of the Simpson Park Range — a NNE-SSW trending range roughly 48 miles long and 6 miles wide — plus the flanking valley floors. Elevations run from approximately 5,600 ft on the valley floors (Grass Valley to the west, portions of Kobeh Valley and the Eureka County flats to the east) up to 9,147 ft at Fagin Mountain, the range high point. Other named peaks include Bates Mountain (~8,970 ft), Buck Mountain, and Shagnasty Mountain. The range core has steep, rugged terrain; the surrounding terrain transitions to gentle slopes, rolling hills, benches, and broad flats with limited and scattered natural and developed water sources. The Hickison Petroglyph Recreation Area (BLM) sits near the southern end of the range along US-50 at Hickison Summit.

Unit 155 is administered almost entirely by the BLM Battle Mountain District, Mount Lewis Field Office (50 Bastian Rd, Battle Mountain, NV 89820; 775-635-4000). The unit is approximately 97% public land. Primary highway access: US Highway 50 forms the southern boundary of the unit, crossing the range at Hickison Summit between the towns of Austin (approximately 25 miles to the southwest) and Eureka (approximately 35 miles to the east). Austin and Eureka are the primary service towns (fuel, food, lodging); Battle Mountain (north on US-305) also provides services including a small hospital. Access roads: Several well-maintained dirt roads off NV-305, NV-306, and US-50 provide access. Four-wheel drive may be necessary when dirt roads are wet; high-clearance/4WD is required on some side roads. Dispersed camping is permitted on BLM lands throughout the unit — check with the Mount Lewis Field Office for current fire restrictions. The BLM operates a developed campground at Mill Creek approximately 20 miles south of Battle Mountain. The USFS operates a fee campground at Bob Scott Summit on US-50 approximately 6 miles east of Austin.

Vegetation is dominated by pinyon-juniper woodland, sagebrush scrub, and sagebrush steppe. Mountain mahogany is found on upper slopes. Aspen stands occur in drainages and moist north-facing canyon bottoms. Valley floors and lower bajadas support big sagebrush and Wyoming sagebrush communities. Post-fire recovery areas range from restored native brush/grass/forb mixes to cheatgrass- and mustard-dominated annual grasslands. Feral horse populations in Lander and Eureka counties — some BLM Herd Management Areas significantly above Appropriate Management Level — have contributed to widespread rangeland degradation alongside drought and wildfire effects.

Mule deer are the primary big game species; NDOW biologists identify unit 155 as having among the highest mule deer densities in Area 15, concentrated on and around Bates, Buck, and Fagin Mountains in the Simpson Park Range core. Pronghorn antelope occupy valley bottoms, toe-slopes, and benches — Grass Valley (units 154/155) is specifically identified by NDOW biologists as a recommended pronghorn hunting area. Mountain lions are present throughout the range. Coyotes are common. Upland bird species include sage grouse (sagebrush flats) and chukar partridge (rocky canyon slopes). Feral horses are frequently observed across much of the unit.

1. Harvest and quota data are for unit GROUP 151-156, not unit 155 alone — NDOW does not publish unit-level breakdowns. 2. tag_quota of 460 = resident early ALW (420) + late ALW (40); total resident draw tags across all weapon types exceed 765. 3. Reported harvest of 138 and 42% success are from the early ALW window (Oct 5–20, 2025): 380 tags issued, 327 afield, 138 harvested. Late ALW: 38 issued, 33 afield, 23 harvested, 70% success. Archery: 185 issued, 158 afield, 39 harvested, 25% success. Muzzleloader: 65 issued, 56 afield, 23 harvested, 41% success. 4. Pronghorn harvest/success not broken out by unit within the combined group. 5. Draft source URL for pronghorn was incorrect; corrected to Pronghorn-Antelope-141143151-156.pdf as confirmed from NDOW hunt info sheet index. 6. No elk or bighorn sheep seasons identified for unit 155 in current NDOW regulations. 7. 2025 harvest statistics are preliminary and subject to revision per NDOW.