Lincoln & White Pine Counties · Management Area 23
Nevada Unit 231
The unit right outside Pioche. Unit 231 runs east from U.S. 93 to the Utah line, and we guide elk, mule deer, and antelope in it.
The Unit
High Ranges, Long Valleys, Two States
Unit 231 is all of Nevada’s Management Area 23: the corner of Lincoln and White Pine counties east of U.S. 93, between Lake Valley Summit on the north and State Route 319 on the south, out to the Utah state line.
NDOW puts the elevation range at 4,743 feet at Panaca up to 9,301 feet on Mount Wilson. The higher country is summer range, where deer fawn and elk calve, and the lower country is winter range.
It’s also a unit where animals don’t stay put. NDOW’s collar data from the White Rock Mountains on the Nevada–Utah border shows many elk spending time in both states through the year, and some elk come over from Area 22 in summer to the farm ground in Lake Valley.
Source: Nevada Administrative Code 504.210, hunt unit boundaries; NDOW 2025 Big Game Status Book, draft of April 30, 2025 (PDF)What We Hunt Here
Species & Seasons
Elk, mule deer, and antelope are all on our list for Unit 231. Pick a species for the full hunt rundown.
| Species | Units | Our season windows |
|---|---|---|
| Elk | 231 |
|
| Mule Deer | 231 |
|
| Antelope | 231 |
|
Season windows as listed by the outfitter. *Some mule deer units have late hunts extending to Nov 5. NDOW sets the official dates, hunt numbers, and quotas each year, so confirm them in the current regulations. See all season dates and how the Nevada draw works.
The Country
Where the Animals Are
From NDOW’s published hunt information and status reports for Unit 231. It’s a starting point, not a substitute for time in the field.
Elk
NDOW says elk can be found across most of the unit. In archery season, the higher country near water is the place to look: the White Rock Peak area from Reed Canyon north to Coyote Summit, the high ground of the Wilson Creek Range, and the Fortification Range in the north end. The benches around Spring Valley and Camp Valley also hold elk that drop to private farm ground at night.
Bulls start rutting in mid-September, and openings in the pinyon and juniper from burns and habitat treatments are good places to find them. Near the end of October, elk start moving down to winter. With enough snow they can bunch up in Spring Valley, on the west side of the White Rock Peak area, and on the west side of Hamlin Valley.
Source: NDOW hunt information: Elk, Unit 231 (PDF); NDOW 2025 Big Game Status Book, draft of April 30, 2025 (PDF)Mule deer
Early in the year, NDOW says most deer are up high around Mount Wilson, Table Mountain, White Rock Peak, and Government Peak, tight to water and thick cover when it’s hot. Mature bucks may move mostly at night and stay bedded through September and early October, so first light at the glassing spot matters.
Cold and snow push deer off the summer range. By the late rifle hunt, many are on the benches around Eagle, Rose, Dry, and Meadow valleys. The Panaca Hills, the country north of Condor Canyon, the hills north of Table Mountain, and the Limestone Hills can also hold wintering deer, often in thick pinyon and juniper.
Source: NDOW hunt information: Mule Deer, Unit 231 (PDF)Antelope
NDOW surveys and reports pronghorn in Unit 231 together with Units 115 and 242 as one unit group. Antelope country here is the open valley ground between the ranges. Our antelope hunts are built on glassing big country and closing the distance.
Source: NDOW 2025 Big Game Status Book, draft of April 30, 2025 (PDF)Weather and water
Much of the year’s moisture comes in late fall and winter as rain and snow. June is usually dry. From late July, monsoon storms can bring heavy rain into mid-August, greening things up and shifting where animals feed. In a hot, dry summer, animals lean harder on permanent water: springs and wildlife guzzlers.
Source: NDOW hunt information: Elk, Unit 231 (PDF); NDOW hunt information: Mule Deer, Unit 231 (PDF)Getting Around
Access, Camp & Rules
Roads in
NDOW lists the main access points off U.S. 93 at the Atlanta Mine Road, the Atlanta Farm Road, and State Route 322, plus the Delmue Ranch Road off State Route 319. Each of those lets a passenger vehicle towing a trailer reach primitive camping. Two-track roads also come in from the highways and across the Utah line. Many dirt roads aren’t maintained and can be rough or impassable.
Source: NDOW hunt information: Elk, Unit 231 (PDF)Camp
Developed campsites are at Echo Canyon State Park and Spring Valley State Park. Primitive camping is reachable from the main access roads. With us, trailers and wall tents are available at extra cost; ask Justin when you book.
Source: NDOW hunt information: Elk, Unit 231 (PDF)Wilderness
Parts of the unit are designated wilderness: Parsnip Peak, White Rock Range, and Fortification Range. Motorized equipment and mechanized transport are prohibited there, including wheeled game carts and chainsaws. NDOW notes that wilderness-only cow elk hunters should plan to hike several miles in, carrying the gear, food, and water to stay safe.
Source: NDOW hunt information: Elk, Unit 231 (PDF)Packing out
NDOW’s advice for cow elk hunters applies to most of this unit: expect a lot of glassing, long hikes away from roads, and a long pack out once an animal is down.
Source: NDOW hunt information: Elk, Unit 231 (PDF)Boundaries
Where Unit 231 Starts and Stops
Nevada defines every hunt unit in regulation. Here’s Area 23 (Unit 231) in plain terms.
- West
- U.S. 93, from State Route 319 north to the Atlanta Mine Road at Lake Valley Summit
- North
- The Atlanta Mine Road from Lake Valley Summit to the Lincoln–White Pine county line, then along the county line and the Trough Springs/Big Springs Road to the Utah line
- East
- The Utah state line
- South
- State Route 319, back to U.S. 93
NDOW’s notes are the public baseline. Summer scouting and trail camera work is how we keep up with what’s actually in a unit from one year to the next. Drew a tag here, or deciding whether to apply? Call or text Justin at 702-301-1693.
- Elk
- Mule Deer
- Antelope
- Mule Deer
- Antelope
- Elk
- Mule Deer
- Antelope
- Elk
- Mule Deer
- Antelope
Moore Hounds & Outfitters
Hunting Unit 231?
Whether you’re putting in for 231 or already drew, call or text Justin to talk seasons, country, and what you want out of the hunt.