Unit 163, Nevada

Unit 163 covers the Hot Creek Range, Antelope Range, and Park Range. Elevations range from approximately 5,200 feet in Hot Creek Valley to 10,246 feet at Morey Peak in the Hot Creek Range. The terrain is varied: steep, rugged slopes dominate the mountain ranges while the intervening valleys feature rolling hills, benches, and small salt flats. The northern portion of the Hot Creek Range contains the Fandango Wilderness Study Area (40,940 acres total; approximately 40,410 acres under US Forest Service jurisdiction via the Austin-Tonopah Ranger District, with about 530 acres under BLM), with elevations ranging from 5,760 feet in Little Fish Lake Valley to 9,825 feet at Mahogany Peak.

Unit 163 is approximately 99% public land managed primarily by the BLM Tonopah Field Office, a sub-office of the Battle Mountain District. US Highway 6 provides the main southern access corridor through the Warm Springs area; US Highway 50 borders the unit group to the north. North-south roads paralleling the mountain ranges provide the primary internal access: Hot Creek Road and Nine Mile Road on the east, and Little Fish Lake Valley and Antelope Valley roads on the west. Hunters can camp anywhere on public land. The Fandango Wilderness Study Area in the northern Hot Creek Range is designated non-motorized. Limited cell service throughout; nearest full services in Tonopah, Eureka, Austin, and Round Mountain/Carvers.

Sagebrush is the dominant cover type across basin floors and lower slopes. Dense pinyon-juniper and mountain mahogany stands characterize the mid-elevation mountain slopes. Above approximately 7,500 feet, cliff rose and bitterbrush patches increase in density and constitute prime deer summer range. Small pockets of aspen and pine occur at higher elevations. Lower valley margins host desert scrub and saltbrush communities. Lush riparian vegetation and perennial creeks are found in the Fandango WSA canyon systems, which also support brook trout. Water sources are limited and scattered unit-wide; surface water availability increases following monsoonal precipitation.

Mule deer are the primary big game species, occurring from foothills to high peaks. NDOW biologists note that measurable snowfall in the broader unit group 161-164 drives a notable migration into unit 163, making it a productive late-season destination. Highest deer densities occur above the dense pinyon-juniper belt, between 8,000 and 10,000 feet, in open country with mountain brush, meadows, aspen pockets, and mountain mahogany. Pronghorn antelope use the valley floors and lower terraces (managed with units 131, 145, and 164). Rocky Mountain elk are present but at low densities; the bulk of the unit group 161-164 elk herd concentrates elsewhere in the group. Mountain lion are present tracking deer populations. Black bear range through the mountain ranges. Chukar partridge occupy rocky talus and canyon terrain. Sage grouse use sagebrush basin habitats. Aerial helicopter surveys for deer are conducted in late November or early December to assess herd status via fawn and buck-to-doe ratios.

1. All mule deer quotas are for unit GROUP 161-164, not unit 163 alone. 2024 harvest data (9 harvested, 39% success, 25 tags) is specific to unit 163 archery per NDOW 2024 harvest statistics. 2. Elk quota (12 archery bull) is for combined unit groups 161-164 and 171-173; unit 163 elk densities are described as low. 3. Pronghorn quota (15 ALW) is for unit group 131, 145, 163, 164 combined. 4. Fandango WSA (40,940 acres) is primarily USFS Austin-Tonopah Ranger District (40,410 acres) with only ~530 acres BLM. 5. Draft claim of 120 mule deer archery tag quota corrected: eRegulations shows 85 resident + 15 nonresident = 100 total for the unit group; Classic Hunt 1107 shows 95 resident recommended for 2025.