Unit 223, Nevada

Basin-and-range topography characterized by north-south trending mountain ranges separated by broad desert valleys. The Schell Creek and Egan Ranges hold the primary deer and elk terrain with reliable springs and higher elevation terrain. The North Pahroc Range is rockier with scarce natural water. Intervening valleys (Dry Lake Valley, Mule Shoe Valley) sit at lower elevation. Overall unit elevation spans from lower valley floors to high mountain peaks in the Egan Range.

The unit is predominantly public land managed by the BLM. US Highway 93 provides primary access along the east and south (Ely south to Crystal Springs). US Highway 50/6 borders the north. State Route 318 (Cave Valley Road, county-maintained) runs along the west side of the unit group. Numerous maintained and unmaintained dirt and gravel roads and two-track trails branch from these highways throughout the unit; high-clearance vehicles and extra spare tires are recommended. Summer thunderstorms and fall snowstorms can rapidly close dirt roads. Three designated wilderness areas within or adjacent to the unit prohibit motorized or mechanized access, including wheeled game carriers and mountain bikes: South Egan Range Wilderness, Far South Egans Wilderness, and Mount Grafton Wilderness (all BLM). Private property generally does not limit access in this area; hunters should know where private land is located and obtain permission before hunting or crossing it. BLM Ely District (Bristlecone Field Office) is the primary land management contact.

Lower valley floors and foothill slopes dominated by Wyoming big sagebrush and rabbitbrush grassland, which supports antelope and wintering deer populations. Mid-elevation slopes carry pinyon-juniper woodland mixed with mountain mahogany. Higher elevations in the Egan Range transition to aspen and conifer stands. Riparian vegetation concentrates at springs such as Little Boulder Spring, Mustang Spring, Wheatgrass Spring, Rattlesnake Spring, and Black Rock Spring. Old fire burns in the Pahroc Range create browse-rich openings that attract elk and deer. The unit receives monsoonal precipitation mid-July through mid-August that drives late-summer vegetation green-up. If summer has been dry, mule deer may be more closely associated with permanent water sources on summer range.

Mule deer summer range concentrates in higher elevation areas of the northern Schell Creek and Egan Ranges and in basins with reliable water sources. As temperatures cool and snowfall arrives in October, deer migrate to lower elevations and to southern portions of the unit group. Benches on the southern end of the Schell Range, Mule Shoe Valley, and lower elevations of the Fairview Range hold the majority of wintering deer populations. Mule deer can also be found in the West Range, Ely Springs Range, and North Pahroc Range during late season. Rocky Mountain elk are present at lower densities than adjacent Unit 222; elk in Unit 223 are concentrated near water sources (Little Boulder Spring, Mustang Spring, Wheatgrass Spring, Rattlesnake Spring, and Black Rock Spring) and in old-burn habitat in the Pahroc Range. Later in the season, cow elk congregate on the Cave Valley side of Mount Grafton, with smaller groups in Steptoe Valley and Mule Shoe Valley. Pronghorn antelope inhabit lower valley floors with shrub-steppe forage, particularly in Dry Lake Valley (unit 223); they are active throughout the day and rarely use high-elevation or dense timber habitats. Desert (Nelson) bighorn sheep are present in limited numbers in units 223 and 221 combined, with one resident ram tag allocated annually (Nov 20-Jan 1). Mountain lion are present as a predator associated with deer and elk range. Sage grouse and chukar partridge use appropriate low-elevation shrub-steppe and rocky slope habitats.

1. Mule deer quota of 75 is for the resident early ALW hunt (Oct 5-20, hunt 1331); 44% success and 27 harvested are from the 2025 Mule Deer Harvest report. The late ALW hunt (Oct 21-Nov 5) carries 5 additional resident tags. 2. Elk quota of 60 is for the resident antlered early ALW hunt (Nov 6-20); late hunt (Nov 21-Dec 4) adds 75 more resident tags; archery adds 35 tags (Aug 25-Sep 16); muzzleloader adds 25 tags (Oct 22-Nov 5). Success/harvest figures are from 2023 Big Game Status Book for the early rifle hunt. Unit 223 has lower elk density than Unit 222. 3. Pronghorn quota of 30 resident tags applies to the combined 221-223/241 unit group ALW season (Aug 22-Sep 7); cannot be disaggregated to unit 223 alone from available sources. 4. Bighorn sheep: 1 resident tag (Nov 20-Jan 1) is for the combined unit group 223, 221 (Hunt 3151, Nelson/Desert bighorn). 5. Dry Lake Valley is confirmed as the primary antelope basin in unit 223; Cave Valley and Steptoe Valley are primarily in units 221-222. 6. Public land percentage (97%) is sourced from HuntScore and should be verified against official BLM/NDOW GIS data.