Nevada Mule Deer Elk

Unit 131 - 134

Nevada Hunting Guide — Mule Deer, Elk

Nevada's 131 - 134 mule deer hunt group covers the Carson Range subregion. NDOW aggregates draw data and quotas at the group level.

View Draw Odds Nevada Hunting Guide

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Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 131 - 134

Nevada's 131 - 134 mule deer hunt group covers the Carson Range subregion. NDOW aggregates draw data and quotas at the group level.

Where to Find Mule Deer in 131 - 134

Target upper-elevation timber and bench country early; canyon drainages and transition zones later in the season. Consult the NDOW hunt info sheet for current distribution patterns.

How to Hunt 131 - 134 Mule Deer

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Mule Deer Success Rates

Rifle30%

Archery18%

Muzzleloader22%

Group-level success data is published by NDOW annually.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts (n/p)
Rifle — Mid Season bull/buck only (resident)	55	590	9.3%	—
Rifle — Mid Season bull/buck only (nonresident)	4	677	0.6%	—
Rifle — Limited Entry either sex (resident)	8	58	13.8%	—
Rifle — Limited Entry antlerless (resident)	20	126	15.9%	—
Rifle — Mid Season either sex (resident)	20	61	32.8%	—
Archery — Early Season bull/buck only (resident)	20	70	28.6%	—
Archery — Early Season bull/buck only (nonresident)	2	105	1.9%	—
Muzzleloader — Early Season bull/buck only (resident)	15	57	26.3%	—
Muzzleloader — Early Season bull/buck only (nonresident)	1	28	3.6%	—
Muzzleloader — Limited Entry either sex (resident)	15	9	100.0%	—
Muzzleloader — Early Season either sex (resident)	9	12	75.0%	—

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 Engine

NDOW publishes draw odds at the 131 - 134 group level.

Elk Hunting in Unit 131 - 134

Nevada Unit 131 covers elk habitat in southern Elko County, including portions of the Independence Range and adjacent Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest terrain. The unit draws elk tags as part of NDOW's 108/131/132 group — a less-publicized but productive elk unit complex south of the famous Ruby Mountains units. The Independence Range's aspen-conifer forests, mountain meadows, and canyon drainages provide quality elk habitat with access that is more manageable than the wilderness-core northern units.

Where to Find Elk in Unit 131

Unit 131 elk habitat centers on the Independence Range and adjacent Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest high country in southern Elko County — a broad mountain range with extensive aspen forest, subalpine meadows, and canyon terrain.

Independence Range Aspen-Conifer Forests (7,500–10,000 ft)

The upper aspen-conifer zone of the Independence Range is the core elk habitat in Unit 131. Aspen groves on north-facing slopes and the conifer forests along the range crest hold elk through the fall season. Glass the forest edges and subalpine meadow parks from elevated ridge positions at dawn and dusk.

Canyon Bottom Meadows

The broad canyon systems draining the Independence Range contain open meadow complexes where elk feed in low-light periods. The canyon bottoms at 6,500–8,000 ft are particularly productive in the rut — bulls move between ridges through canyon systems and are vulnerable to interception at predictable crossings.

Water Sources and Wallows

Elk concentrate near wallows, springs, and creek systems during the early season and rut. Locating active wallows before season — identifiable by the distinctive musky elk smell, churned mud, and rub trees — is the highest-value pre-season scouting investment in Unit 131.

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 131

Unit 131's Independence Range terrain offers a more accessible elk hunting experience than the designated wilderness units to the north, with Humboldt-Toiyabe NF roads providing vehicle access to within hiking distance of prime habitat.

Rut Hunting the Independence Range

Nevada's early elk seasons intersect with the September rut in Unit 131. Independence Range elk are relatively undisturbed and responsive to calling. Set up near freshly worked wallows and rubs on north-facing aspen slopes, and use a combination of cow calls and aggressive bugles. Morning and evening calling from crosswind positions on canyon rims produces consistent results during peak rut activity.

Forest Road Glassing

The Humboldt-Toiyabe NF road system through Unit 131 allows hunters to cover large amounts of terrain before committing to foot pursuits. Drive slowly at first and last light along roads that skirt forest edges and meadow openings — elk are regularly visible from roads. Once located, plan your ground approach with wind discipline.

High-Country Spike Camp

The most productive elk in Unit 131 are in the drainages that require 3–5 miles of foot travel from the nearest forest road. A spike camp at 8,500–9,000 ft on a confirmed active drainage puts you on undisturbed bulls that are hunted minimally throughout the season.

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Elk Success Rates

See the Draw Odds chart above for current NDOW harvest data for the 108/131/132 elk draw group. Unit 131's Independence Range is part of a less-famous but productive southern Elko County elk complex — hunters who draw these tags often find better bull-to-hunter ratios than the higher-profile northern Nevada elk units.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts (n/p)
Rifle — Late Season bull/buck only (resident)	60	355	16.9%	—
Rifle — Late Season bull/buck only (nonresident)	6	48	12.5%	—
Rifle — Early Season antlerless (resident)	20	380	5.3%	—
Rifle — Early Season antlerless (nonresident)	2	26	7.7%	—
Archery — Early Season bull/buck only (resident)	8	66	12.1%	—
Archery — Early Season bull/buck only (nonresident)	1	136	0.7%	—
Archery — Early Season antlerless (resident)	3	43	7.0%	—
Archery — Early Season antlerless (nonresident)	1	10	10.0%	—
Muzzleloader — Mid Season bull/buck only (resident)	10	27	37.0%	—
Muzzleloader — Early Season antlerless (resident)	5	36	13.9%	—
Muzzleloader — Early Season antlerless (nonresident)	1	5	20.0%	—

Data from 2020 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 Engine

Unit 131 elk tags draw through NDOW's Unit Group 108/131/132. This group covers southern Elko County's Independence Range elk habitat. Draw odds may be more favorable than the marquee Ruby Mountains and East Humboldt elk groups — the 108/131/132 group receives less applicant attention despite producing quality elk hunting. See the live Draw Odds chart for current bonus-point requirements and success rates.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hunt any unit in the group?

Yes — a 131 - 134 tag is valid across all included units.

Where are the current quotas?

NDOW publishes quotas annually in the Big Game Quotas commission regulation.

What elk draw group covers Unit 131?

Unit 131 elk tags draw from NDOW's 108/131/132 unit group, covering southern Elko County's Independence Range elk habitat. A drawn tag is valid across all three units in the group.

How does Unit 131 compare to the Ruby Mountains elk units for draw difficulty?

Unit 131's 108/131/132 group likely requires fewer bonus points than the 062/064/066-068 Ruby Mountains elk group due to lower applicant demand. Hunters seeking a more achievable Nevada elk draw — without sacrificing quality — should look closely at the 108/131/132 statistics.

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🎰 Nevada Draw Odds Unit-level tag success rates 📅 Application Timeline Deadlines for all 9 states 🦌 Rut Forecast Peak rut timing by species 💰 Hunt Cost Calculator Budget your entire hunt

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-18.

NDOW Big Game Hunting — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Mule deer is legally huntable in 131, 132, 133, 134 · accessed 2026-04-17
NDOW Hunt Information Sheets — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Carson Range mule deer distribution · accessed 2026-04-17
NDOW Hunt Draw — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Group-level draw statistics · accessed 2026-04-17
Nevada 2025-26 Big Game Regulations — Nevada Department of Wildlife · supports: Unit 131 elk in draw group 108/131/132, Season dates and tag allocation · accessed 2026-04-18

Unit 131 - 134

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 131 - 134

Where to Find Mule Deer in 131 - 134

How to Hunt 131 - 134 Mule Deer

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Elk Hunting in Unit 131 - 134

Where to Find Elk in Unit 131

Independence Range Aspen-Conifer Forests (7,500–10,000 ft)

Canyon Bottom Meadows

Water Sources and Wallows

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 131

Rut Hunting the Independence Range

Forest Road Glassing

High-Country Spike Camp

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Planning Notes

Road Conditions

Cell Service

Frequently Asked Questions

Free Hunt Planning Tools

Plan Your Hunt with ProHunt Pro

Sources & Verification

Unit 131 - 134

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 131 - 134

Where to Find Mule Deer in 131 - 134

How to Hunt 131 - 134 Mule Deer

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Elk Hunting in Unit 131 - 134

Where to Find Elk in Unit 131

Independence Range Aspen-Conifer Forests (7,500–10,000 ft)

Canyon Bottom Meadows

Water Sources and Wallows

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 131

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

Explore Related Units

Unit 131 — Independence Range Mule Deer

Unit 72 — Humboldt Range Elk

Unit 103 — Lander County Mule Deer

Frequently Asked Questions

Free Hunt Planning Tools

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Sources & Verification