Unit 079

Collar and Elbow Basin dominates the central landscape and serves as an obvious reference point for navigation. The Toano Range sits to the north and provides visual bearings and modest elevation for glassing the basin below. Collar and Elbow Spring is the standout water feature here—knowing its location is essential for both finding animals and planning water strategy.

Stockland and Loray Reservoirs offer secondary water options but may be inconsistent or inaccessible depending on ownership. East Pequop Creek and Buckhorn Creek define drainage corridors that funnel wildlife movement through the basin.

The unit spans modest elevation change, from roughly 4,600 feet in the basin bottoms to just over 8,000 feet on the surrounding ridges and benches. Most of the hunting ground sits in the middle—sagebrush and grass-covered valley floor with scattered stands of pinyon and juniper appearing on higher terrain. This is open country punctuated by sparse timber; the Toano Range and its flanks provide the primary elevated terrain where density increases.

The habitat is primarily desert shrubland transitioning into dry woodland—typical of Nevada's interior basins where shade and water are premium.

The 127 miles of roads provide reasonable access across the unit, though most routes are ranch roads or BLM two-tracks rather than developed highways. The interstate corridor limits access from the south, while Pilot Valley Road and State Route 233 form the eastern and western boundaries. This moderate road network means the basin is accessible but not overly crowded—pressure concentrates near the reliable water sources and easier entry points.

The terrain's openness makes finding secluded country challenging; hunters willing to walk away from roads and into the sparse timber on higher ground encounter fewer people.

Unit 79 occupies a section of northern Elko County's high desert, bounded by Interstate 80 on the south (the major east-west corridor), State Route 233 on the west, and Pilot Valley Road on the east. The unit sits in classic Great Basin terrain—an open, valley-bottom country dotted with small towns like Oasis and Clifside. The landscape falls between the Toano Range to the north and the interstate corridor, creating a transitional zone between lower sagebrush flats and the occasional higher benches that break up the basin floor.

Water scarcity is the defining challenge in Unit 79. Collar and Elbow Spring is the primary reliable source in the central basin and will concentrate game during dry periods. The two reservoirs—Stockland and Loray—may hold water seasonally but their accessibility and condition vary year to year. East Pequop Creek and Buckhorn Creek drain the unit but flow intermittently depending on runoff.

Hunters here must verify water availability before committing to any area; dry camps are common, and the ability to move efficiently between known sources is critical for success and safety.

Unit 79 holds elk, mule deer, pronghorn, moose, and mountain lions, with bighorn and desert sheep on the higher benches. The sagebrush flats favor pronghorn; water availability drives their distribution through the open country. Mule deer use the pinyon-juniper transitions and drainage bottoms, particularly in fall and spring.

Elk are present but sparse in this lower-elevation basin country—they typically drift to higher elevations as conditions warm. Early season hunting focuses on the sparse timber and benches; late season means animals moving toward the limited reliable water. Glassing the open country is effective here, but water-source intelligence is paramount—find water, find animals.