Unit 011 - 013 (Hays Canyon Range, the Vya Rim and the Massacre Range)
Nevada Hunting Guide — Mule Deer
Units 011 - 013 cover about 2,351 square miles of remote Washoe and Humboldt counties east of Cedarville. NDOW describes mule deer spread thinly through the upper elevations, from Hays Canyon Peak to the Vya Rim and Cherry Mountain, with rough four-wheel-drive roads, no developed campgrounds, and success that comes down to hours spent glassing.
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Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 011 - 013
Units 011 - 013 cover about 2,351 square miles of remote Washoe and Humboldt counties east of Cedarville. NDOW describes mule deer spread thinly through the upper elevations, from Hays Canyon Peak to the Vya Rim and Cherry Mountain, with rough four-wheel-drive roads, no developed campgrounds, and success that comes down to hours spent glassing.
Where to Find Mule Deer in Units 011 - 013: Hays Canyon Peak, the Vya Rim and Cherry Mountain
Hays Canyon Peak to Packsaddle Spring and Boulder Mountain
Most of the upper elevations here hold deer in varying densities. NDOW's first suggestion is the country from Hays Canyon Peak south to Packsaddle Spring and east to take in Boulder Mountain.
The Vya Rim and Cherry Mountain
Next, spend time along the Vya Rim north of Highway 8A to the Oregon border, including Crooks Lake, Holy Lake and the upper country north of Gravelly Spring. Cherry Mountain, east of Wall Canyon Reservoir, can be productive too, especially later in the regular deer season.
Mahogany, bitterbrush and water
Deer are widely distributed and at lower densities than in some other units, so success depends largely on how much time and effort you put into glassing the mahogany stands and the bitterbrush. Earlier in the season, deer are more closely tied to the limited water than they are later, and time spent near water sources may pay off. GNIS names Donnelly Peak and South Donnelly Peak among the other summits inside the group, and ranges such as the Massacre Range, the Hays Canyon Range and the Little High Rock Mountains.
The ground NDOW draws for this tag
A mule deer tag for this group is good in units 011, 012 and 013, about 2,351 square miles measured on NDOW's own boundary, in Washoe County and Humboldt County. The named ranges inside the line are Lost Creek Hills, Calico Hills, Division Range, Painted Point Range, Home Camp Range and Hays Canyon Range. The highest named points are Donnelly Peak (8,525 ft), Hays Canyon Peak (7,907 ft) and South Donnelly Peak (7,711 ft), and the lowest named ground sits near 3,990 feet. We don't print a land-status split for Nevada groups, because the figures we held didn't come from BLM's surface-management data; check BLM's current map for private parcels before you cross a fence or a cattle guard. GNIS names 175 springs inside it, Butte Spring, Lone Juniper Spring, Lone Spring and Tom Spring among them.
Unit 011 - 013 terrain and land status
Measured from the unit boundary, not from the agency write-up
Named features inside the unit
Glass from: Donnelly Peak (8,525 ft), South Donnelly Peak (7,711 ft), Sheep Buttes (7,313 ft), Division Peak (7,259 ft)
Holding ground: Black Canyon (6,152 ft), Upper High Rock Canyon (5,939 ft), Fivemile Flat (5,850 ft), Barrel Springs, Coleman Spring
Every one of these was tested against the unit polygon before it went on the map. They are starting points, not agency recommendations.
How to Hunt Mule Deer in Units 011 - 013: Highways 299 and 447, rough roads and remote camps
Mule Deer Success Rates
Antlered, any legal weapon: 19 of 39 hunters afield (49%); Antlered, archery: 4 of 25 hunters afield (16%); Junior, seasonal weapon restriction: 11 of 13 hunters afield (85%); Antlered, muzzleloader: 1 of 6 hunters afield (17%). Figures are NDOW's own, from its 2025 Big Game Hunt Data.
Mule Deer Draw Odds
| Season | Tags | Applicants | Draw % | Pts (n/p) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rifle — Mid Season bull/buck only (resident) | 40 | 607 | 6.6% | — |
| Rifle — Mid Season bull/buck only (nonresident) | 3 | 300 | 1.0% | — |
| Rifle — Limited Entry either sex (resident) | 15 | 41 | 36.6% | — |
| Rifle — Limited Entry antlerless (resident) | 30 | 51 | 58.8% | — |
| Rifle — Early Season either sex (resident) | 15 | 37 | 40.5% | — |
| Archery — Early Season bull/buck only (resident) | 25 | 37 | 67.6% | — |
| Archery — Early Season bull/buck only (nonresident) | 3 | 24 | 12.5% | — |
| Muzzleloader — Early Season bull/buck only (resident) | 5 | 29 | 17.2% | — |
| Muzzleloader — Early Season bull/buck only (nonresident) | 1 | 16 | 6.3% | — |
Data from 2025 draw results. Each row is one residency pool — read the label before the number. This agency publishes no point thresholds, so the Pts column stays blank and these are pool odds, not what a point total draws.
Open in Draw Odds EngineFrom NDOW's 2025 Big Game Hunt Data. Demand is NDOW's count of tags awarded plus first-choice applicants who did not draw; its draw rate is tags over demand.
- Antlered, any legal weapon — Residents: 607 demand for 40 tags, a 6.6% draw rate; Nonresidents: 300 demand for 3 tags, a 1.0% draw rate.
- Antlered, archery — Residents: 37 demand for 25 tags, a 67.6% draw rate; Nonresidents: 24 demand for 3 tags, a 12.5% draw rate.
- Junior, seasonal weapon restriction — Residents: 37 demand for 15 tags, a 40.5% draw rate.
- Antlered, muzzleloader — Residents: 29 demand for 5 tags, a 17.2% draw rate; Nonresidents: 16 demand for 1 tag, a 6.3% draw rate.
- Guided antlered, any legal weapon — Nonresidents: 14 demand for 2 tags, a 14.3% draw rate.
NDOW's hunt data publishes no points-required figure, so none is given here.
Unit Logistics & Expectations
Frequently Asked Questions
Which units does a Nevada mule deer tag for 011 - 013 cover?
What was hunter success for mule deer on units 011 - 013 in 2025?
How hard is the mule deer draw for units 011 - 013?
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Upgrade to Pro — $49/yrSources & Verification
Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-10-25.
- Hunt Information Sheet — Mule deer, 011, 012, 013 — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Access, Recommended hunting areas, Biologist comments · accessed 2026-10-25
- 2025 Nevada Big Game Hunt Data — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Seasons, quotas and tags issued, Demand and draw rate by residency, Hunters afield, successful hunters and hunter success, Days hunted · accessed 2026-10-25
- NDOW Hunt Unit Boundaries — unit groups (ArcGIS) — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Units 011 - 013, 2,351 square miles · accessed 2026-10-25
- Geographic Names Information System — named features inside the group — U.S. Geological Survey · supports: Lost Creek Hills, Calico Hills, Division Range, Donnelly Peak 8,525 ft, Hays Canyon Peak 7,907 ft · accessed 2026-10-25