Unit 173

The San Antonio Mountains define the unit's western spine, rising prominently above the surrounding basins. Toiyabe Dome Southeast Summit, Mount Oddie, French Peak, and Reese River Butte serve as visible navigation landmarks. Stokes Castle on the ridgeline offers a unique glassing vantage point.

Cloverdale Summit and Kingston Summit mark gateway features between basins. Multiple named meadows—Barney Meadows, Mohawk Pasture, South Twin Pasture—indicate open country and water congregation zones. The Tonopah Air Force Station provides a modern reference point.

These features help hunters navigate the terrain and identify productive basins without relying on constant GPS checking.

Elevations span from just under 4,900 feet to above 11,700 feet, with the bulk of the unit sitting in the medium-elevation band where sagebrush basins transition into mixed timber. The median elevation around 6,600 feet places most hunting in country where big sagebrush flats meet scattered juniper and pinyon, with higher ridges and peaks carrying true forest—likely ponderosa, aspen, and mixed conifers at upper elevations. This elevation spread creates distinct habitat zones: lower valleys support pronghorn and deer; mid-elevation sagebrush offers transition range for both big game and sheep; high ridges provide alpine/subalpine terrain.

Vegetation transitions are gradual rather than dramatic.

The unit contains roughly 1,600 miles of roads spread across vast terrain, indicating fair access but not a well-connected highway network. This means some basins and ridges are accessible by vehicle while others require hiking to reach. The geometry of scattered access points likely concentrates initial hunter pressure near main entry routes, but the unit's size and complexity mean accessible backcountry exists for hunters willing to hike beyond early morning parking areas.

Highway 50 and 6/95 frame the unit's borders—logical staging zones for Tonopah and surrounding communities. The road density and size combination suggests this isn't an overcrowded unit, though moderate pressure in good water basins should be expected.

Unit 173 occupies a substantial block of central Nevada real estate bounded by U.S. Highway 50 to the north, State Route 376 to the east, U.S. Highway 6/95 to the south, and the Gabbs Valley Pole Line and Cloverdale Summit-Indian Valley-Reese River Valley Road to the west. This encompasses portions of Nye and Lander Counties, positioning the unit between the major transportation corridors that cross Nevada. The unit is vast in scale—big enough to spread hunting pressure thin if hunters are willing to move away from easy access points.

Geographic position puts it in Nevada's classic interior high-desert-meets-mountains transition zone.

Water is limited but exists—critical to understand given the desert setting. Multiple springs dot the unit: Bank Spring, Coyote Spring, Bob Scotts Spring, Mahogany Mountain Spring, Fourmile Spring, and Mississippi Springs provide potential water sources, though reliability varies seasonally. Named creeks and streams include South Fork South Twin River, Barney Meadows Creek, Bakeoven Creek, Shoshone Creek, and Tierney Creek, most flowing seasonally or in spring months.

Seyler Reservoir and Groves Lake offer standing water options. The high terrain complexity and limited water combination means smart water location is essential—knowing where springs and creeks flow during your hunting window is not optional.

Unit 173 holds elk, mule deer, pronghorn, moose, mountain goat, mountain sheep, desert sheep, mountain lion, and bear. Elk likely occupy the higher timbered ridges and aspen country, with seasonal movement between mid-elevation sagebrush and alpine terrain. Mule deer range throughout mid and lower elevations, concentrated where sagebrush meets timber.

Pronghorn utilize open flats and basins. Moose occupy riparian areas and willow thickets near reliable water. Sheep—both mountain and desert varieties—use high ridges and rocky terrain.

High terrain complexity rewards hunters who can navigate the rolling country and locate water sources. Early season hunting focuses on high elevations; later seasons push game downslope. The key advantage here is size and solitude—pressure is spread thin if you move away from obvious access points.