Nevada mule deer hunting in unit 081
Unit 081 is a single unit in Elko County: 424,411 acres, 76.1% public land, mostly BLM (323,175 acres), measured from BLM's surface management map. In 2025, NDOW issued 47 antlered mule deer tags here across 8 hunts; 45 hunters went afield and 27 were successful (60% of those who hunted, worked out from NDOW's two figures). NDOW's draw rate for the resident any-legal-weapon hunt was 6%: 30 tags for a demand of 522.
Data updated October 2026. Tags and harvest: NDOW hunt statistics, 2022 to 2025. Seasons: NDOW's 2026-2027 regulation with its January 2026 amendment. Land: BLM.
BLMNational forestState landUnit 081Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Units | 081 |
|---|---|
| County | Elko |
| NDOW region | Eastern Region |
| Size | 424,411 acres (663 square miles) |
| Public land | 76.1% (323,181 acres) |
| Antlered mule deer tags, 2025 | 47 issued, quota 47 |
| Successful hunters, 2025 | 27 of 45 afield |
| Resident any-legal-weapon draw rate, 2025 (NDOW) | 6% (30 tags, demand 522) |
| Nonresident any-legal-weapon draw rate, 2025 (NDOW) | 0.3% (2 tags, demand 746) |
| Resident antlered mule deer season, any legal weapon, 2026 | December 11 to January 1 |
| Towns in and near it | None within 25 miles |
How many mule deer tags does NDOW issue in unit 081?
NDOW issued 47 antlered mule deer tags for unit 081 in 2025, against a quota of 47. Every 2025 hunt in the group, as NDOW reports it:
| Hunt | Residency | Weapon | Season | Quota | Tags issued | Demand | NDOW draw rate | Hunters afield | Successful | Hunter success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer Antlered | Resident | Any legal weapon | Dec 11 - Jan 1 | 30 | 30 | 522 | 6% | 29 | 20 | 69% |
| Mule Deer Antlered | Resident | Archery | Aug 10 - Sep 9 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 31% | 4 | 2 | 50% |
| Mule Deer Antlered | Resident | Archery | Nov 10 - Nov 20 | 4 | 4 | 31 | 13% | 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Mule Deer Antlered | Resident | Muzzleloader | Nov 21 - Dec 10 | 4 | 4 | 135 | 3% | 4 | 2 | 50% |
| Mule Deer Antlered | Nonresident | Any legal weapon | Dec 11 - Jan 1 | 2 | 2 | 746 | 0.3% | 2 | 1 | 50% |
| Mule Deer Antlered | Nonresident | Archery | Aug 10 - Sep 9 | 1 | 1 | 33 | 3% | 0 | ||
| Mule Deer Antlered | Nonresident | Archery | Nov 10 - Nov 20 | 1 | 1 | 77 | 1% | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| Mule Deer Antlered | Nonresident | Muzzleloader | Nov 21 - Dec 10 | 1 | 1 | 226 | 0.4% | 1 | 1 | 100% |
Source: NDOW Big Game Hunt Statistics (2022 to 2025; 2025 from NDOW's 2025 hunt data workbook). Demand is NDOW's count of tags awarded plus unsuccessful first-choice applicants. NDOW's draw rate is its quota divided by that demand; NDOW says it does not account for bonus points. Hunter success is successful hunters out of hunters afield.
What is hunter success for mule deer in unit 081?
27 of 45 hunters afield were successful in 2025, 60% across the group's hunts. For the resident any legal weapon hunt (Dec 11 - Jan 1), NDOW reports 50% of the harvest were bucks with 4 or more points. The group year by year:
| Year | Hunts | Quota | Tags issued | Hunters afield | Successful hunters | Success, all hunts | Labels NDOW used for the group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | 47 | 47 | 45 | 27 | 60% | 081 |
| 2024 | 8 | 47 | 46 | 41 | 30 | 73% | 081 |
| 2023 | 8 | 47 | 49 | 45 | 24 | 53% | 081 |
| 2022 | 6 | 66 | 66 | 55 | 30 | 55% | 081 |
Source: NDOW Big Game Hunt Statistics (2022 to 2025; 2025 from NDOW's 2025 hunt data workbook). Totals are NDOW's hunt rows added together; the success share is worked out from NDOW's own two figures. A year is shown only where NDOW published the group's hunts; NDOW sometimes splits a unit with a letter (108B, 144A) or a portion, and those labels are listed.
What other mule deer hunts cover these units?
NDOW's other 2025 mule deer hunts with exactly this unit group:
| Hunt | Residency | Weapon | Season | Quota | Tags issued | Demand | NDOW draw rate | Hunters afield | Successful | Hunter success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer Guided Antlered | Nonresident | Any legal weapon | Dec 11 - Jan 1 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 4% | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Mule Deer Junior | Resident | Any legal weapon | Dec 11 - Jan 1 | 7 | 7 | 40 | 18% | 7 | 6 | 86% |
| Mule Deer Junior | Resident | Primitive weapons | Nov 10 - Dec 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 33% | 2 | 1 | 50% |
Source: NDOW Big Game Hunt Statistics (2022 to 2025; 2025 from NDOW's 2025 hunt data workbook).
When is mule deer season in unit 081 in 2026?
The 2026-2027 seasons NDOW's regulation sets for this unit group:
| Hunt number | Hunt | Weapon | Unit group as NDOW prints it | 2026-2027 season | 2025-2026 season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1106 | Resident Junior Mule Deer - Antlered ONLY | Any Legal Weapon | 081 | Dec 11 - Jan 1 | Dec 11 - Jan 1 |
| 1331 | Resident Mule Deer - Antlered | Any Legal Weapon | 081 | Dec 11 - Jan 1 | Dec 11 - Jan 1 |
| 1332 | Nonresident Mule Deer - Antlered | Any Legal Weapon | 081 | Dec 11 - Jan 1 | Dec 11 - Jan 1 |
| 1371 | Resident Mule Deer - Antlered | Muzzleloader | 081 | Nov 21 - Dec 10 | Nov 21 - Dec 10 |
| 1372 | Nonresident Mule Deer - Antlered | Muzzleloader | 081 | Nov 21 - Dec 10 | Nov 21 - Dec 10 |
| 1341 | Resident Mule Deer - Antlered | Archery | 081 Early | Aug 10 - Sep 9 | Aug 10 - Sep 9 |
| 1341 | Resident Mule Deer - Antlered | Archery | 081 Late | Nov 10 - Nov 20 | Nov 10 - Nov 20 |
| 1342 | Nonresident Mule Deer - Antlered | Archery | 081 Early | Aug 10 - Sep 9 | Aug 10 - Sep 9 |
| 1342 | Nonresident Mule Deer - Antlered | Archery | 081 Late | Nov 10 - Nov 20 | Nov 10 - Nov 20 |
Source: NDOW Commission Regulation 25-07, 2026-2027 big game seasons, with Amendment #2 (January 2026). * Changed or added by Amendment #2. NDOW can change a season during the year; check NDOW before you go.
How much public land is in unit 081?
76.1% of unit 081 is public land open to hunting under its manager's rules: 323,181 of 424,411 acres. The largest share is BLM, 323,175 acres or 76.1%.
| Manager | Acres | Share |
|---|---|---|
| BLM | 323,175 | 76.1% |
| National forest | 6 | under 0.1% |
Measured by FilledTag inside NDOW's unit boundaries from BLM Surface Management Agency map (national, limited scale), a generalized national map; the rest is private or not mapped. Military, Energy Department and tribal land are not counted as open to hunting (they are closed to the public or need the owner's permission).
Other species NDOW groups with unit 081: Pronghorn antelope (076, 077, 079, 081, 091), Elk (076, 077, 079, 081), Moose (061, 062, 064, 066 - 068, 071 - 077, 081, 101 - 103).
How do you get to unit 081?
No numbered highway crosses it. Along its boundary: NV 233.
Which units border unit 081?
3 hunt units touch unit 081. Their public land and their own mule deer group:
| Unit | Public land | Mule deer page | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 076 | 82.3% | 071 - 079, 091 | Elko |
| Unit 077 | 53.8% | 071 - 079, 091 | Elko |
| Unit 091 | 67.9% | 071 - 079, 091 | Elko |
Questions hunters ask
How many mule deer tags are there in unit 081?
NDOW set a quota of 47 antlered mule deer tags for unit 081 in 2025 and issued 47, across 8 hunts by residency, weapon and season. In 2024 it issued 46.
What is hunter success for mule deer in unit 081?
In 2025, 27 of the 45 hunters NDOW counted afield took an antlered mule deer here, 60% across every hunt in the group. For the resident any legal weapon hunt (Dec 11 - Jan 1), NDOW reports 50% of the harvest were bucks with 4 or more points.
How hard is it to draw a mule deer tag in unit 081?
NDOW's draw rate for the 2025 resident any-legal-weapon hunt here was 6%: a quota of 30 against a demand of 522. For nonresidents it was 0.3% (2 tags, demand 746). NDOW describes the draw rate as quota divided by demand; it does not account for bonus points.
When is mule deer season in unit 081 in 2026?
For antlered mule deer, NDOW's 2026-2027 regulation sets: resident archery, August 10 to September 9 (early); resident archery, November 10 to 20 (late); resident muzzleloader, November 21 to December 10; resident any legal weapon, December 11 to January 1; nonresident archery, August 10 to September 9 (early); nonresident archery, November 10 to 20 (late).
How much public land is in unit 081?
76.1% of the 424,411 acres, measured from BLM's surface management map; the largest share is BLM, 323,175 acres.
What is the closest town to unit 081?
No incorporated town or census place lies within 25 miles.
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Where these numbers come from
- Tags, quota, demand, draw rate, hunters and success: NDOW Big Game Hunt Statistics (2022 to 2025; 2025 from NDOW's 2025 hunt data workbook).
- Seasons: NDOW Commission Regulation 25-07, 2026-2027 big game seasons, with Amendment #2 (January 2026).
- Public land: BLM Surface Management Agency map (national, limited scale). Unit boundaries: NDOW hunt units.
- Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places.
FilledTag is not part of the Nevada Department of Wildlife. Numbers are copied from NDOW or measured from public maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.