3-D satellite terrain of Unit 151, served by Wayward — the free iPhone GPS app from the people behind Sleeper Units. Drag to turn, scroll or pinch to zoom. Get Wayward and the whole unit rides on your phone, offline.
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Unit 151 covers the Toiyabe Range near Austin and the surrounding basins in central Nevada. The town of Austin sits at 6,600 feet on the west slope of the Toiyabe Range along the historic US 50, the "Loneliest Road in America." The Toiyabe Range here rises steeply from the Reese River Valley and Big Smoky Valley, with the crest exceeding 10,000 feet. Deep canyons—Kingston, Big Creek, and numerous smaller drainages—cut the flanks and create excellent mule deer habitat. Vegetation bands from sagebrush on the valley floor through pinon-juniper and mountain mahogany to aspen, limber pine, and alpine meadows at higher elevations. The steep canyon walls and rocky outcrops provide security cover.
Nearly all of the unit is Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and BLM with very little private land outside the Austin townsite and a few ranch properties. US 50 provides the main east-west access through Austin. Forest roads enter the major canyons from both sides of the range. Austin has gas, a motel, and a couple of small stores—do not expect much. Eureka (70 miles east) or Fallon (110 miles west) have more services. Cell service works in Austin and disappears in the canyons. The canyon-and-ridge terrain creates natural deer funnels, and the steep walls reward hunters who glass from vantage points rather than trying to walk up every drainage. The unit produces quality mule deer bucks, particularly in the mahogany-aspen transition zones. Water in the canyons is more reliable than in many Nevada ranges, but carry a filter. October weather is cool and dry with cold nights; snow at elevation is possible by late October.
Unit 151 near Austin along the Loneliest Road in America is a quality mule deer unit where rifle tags typically require 5-10 bonus points. The Toiyabe Range's steep canyons — Kingston, Big Creek, and dozens of smaller drainages — create natural deer funnels and security habitat. Land is almost entirely Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and BLM with negligible private land, meaning public access is essentially unrestricted. Water is more reliable here than in many central Nevada ranges, with perennial streams in several of the major canyons, though the lower slopes and south-facing aspects are dry. The unit is known for producing quality mule deer bucks in the 170-185 class in the canyon-and-ridge terrain, where the steep limestone walls and mahogany-aspen habitat provide both food and cover. The glassing game here is productive — hunters who set up on opposing ridges and glass across the canyons at dawn and dusk can locate bucks without burning calories walking up every drainage. Austin provides basic services, but you should arrive self-sufficient.
Unit Stats
Hunting Season Temps (3-yr avg)
Sep
71°
56°
Oct
55°
43°
Nov
40°
29°
Dec
32°
22°
Jan
29°
19°
Feb
31°
19°
Recent Trophy Scores · 2020–2025
Trophy score data is tracked by county, so the overlap with GMU boundaries is approximate. These numbers tell you whether the area is capable of growing big animals — they do not indicate public vs. private land. Big elk can come from anywhere; most elk in the lower 48 trace back to Yellowstone stock that was transplanted west after the species was nearly extirpated in the early 1900s.
County
Species
Method
Count
Avg Score
Top Score
Humboldt
Pronghorn
Rifle
4
82
84
Lander
Pronghorn
Archery
3
81
86
Lander
Pronghorn
Rifle
5
82
86
Pershing
Pronghorn
Archery
5
74
83
Pershing
Pronghorn
Rifle
2
85
86
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Nearest Towns
Austin
Tiny (pop ~200); one gas station, motel, café. Gateway to Toiyabe Range.
Tonopah
Larger hub; gas, motels, restaurants, Nye Regional Medical Center.
Eureka
Small town; gas, motel, basic supplies. Gateway to Monitor Range.
Ely
Full services: William Bee Riordan Hospital, gas, grocery, lodging. Eastern edge of central zone.
Hawthorne
Army depot town; gas, motel, basic supplies. Walker Lake access.
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Campgrounds
Kingston Campground
USFS (Humboldt-Toiyabe NF)
Toiyabe Range near Austin; 12 sites; 6,800 ft.
Columbine Campground
USFS (Humboldt-Toiyabe NF)
Toiyabe Range; streamside; 5 sites.
Hickison Petroglyph BLM
BLM
US-50 east of Austin; 16 sites; free; vault toilets.
Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park
Nevada State Parks
Near Gabbs; 14 sites; remote; historic mining ghost town.
Ward Charcoal Ovens State Park
Nevada State Parks
Near Ely; 14 sites; access to eastern central units.
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Statewide Outfitters & Directories
These outfitters operate statewide or in multiple regions. Check each one's website to confirm they cover Unit 151.
Ruby Mountains, Areas 10, 6. Henry Krenka, president of NV Outfitters & Guides Assn. 30+ years. 125-year family ranch base camp. Elk, deer, sheep, goat, lion.