Nevada Unit 113 Elk Hunting Guide

Nevada Unit 113 sits in the eastern portion of the state and represents one of the more data-rich elk hunting opportunities for hunters researching Nevada's limited-entry system. With 431,085 total acres and an outstanding 99% public land base, Unit 113 offers nearly unrestricted access for hunters who draw a tag — a rare combination in a Western state where private land often locks up prime elk habitat. Elevation in the unit ranges from 5,345 feet up to 9,694 feet, giving elk plenty of vertical relief to move between summer range and lower-elevation wintering areas as conditions change.

This unit draws serious interest from both resident and nonresident hunters largely because of Nevada's unique draw structure — a system where bonus points matter, but a hunter with a single point can still occasionally out-draw someone sitting on double digits. That reality, repeated often in hunter forums, makes Unit 113 worth a genuine look regardless of where a hunter sits in the points game. Below, we break down what the harvest data, tag trends, and application numbers actually tell us about hunting elk in Unit 113.

HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 113 Worth Applying For?

Based on data compiled by HuntPilot, Unit 113 presents a compelling case for elk hunters willing to navigate Nevada's draw system. The unit's near-total public land access (99%) removes one of the biggest headaches hunters face elsewhere — negotiating private land access or dealing with landowner tags. With zero percent of the unit classified as wilderness, hunters also won't run into the stock-and-pack-in logistics or guide mandates that complicate hunts in more remote wilderness units in other states.

The harvest numbers tell an interesting story of year-to-year variability. In 2024, only 112 hunters pursued elk in Unit 113 and posted a strong 79% success rate with 88 animals harvested. In 2025, hunter numbers nearly doubled to 219, and while total harvest rose to 128 animals, the success rate dropped to 58%. This kind of swing is common in limited-entry units where tag quotas shift and hunter distribution across different hunt types (antlered, antlerless, spike) changes the blended success rate. It doesn't necessarily signal declining herd health — it more likely reflects a larger, more diverse pool of tag holders in 2025 relative to 2024.

Tag quotas across nearly every hunt type in Unit 113 increased from 2024 to 2025, which is a meaningful signal. The Antlered Early tag quota grew from 55 to 60 tags (a 9% increase), Antlerless Late tags jumped from 12 to 16 (33% increase), and Spike Late tags nearly tripled from 2 to 5 (150% increase, though off a small base). The lone exception was Antlered Late, which saw a modest cut from 62 to 60 tags (down 3%). Combined with a general trend of rising quotas across Archery (AR-Elk Antlered grew from 25 to 30 tags, up 20%) and Muzzleloader-designated (M-Elk Antlered grew from 16 to 17) hunt types, this points toward wildlife managers having confidence in the herd's ability to support increased harvest pressure.

For hunters asking whether Unit 113 is worth applying for: the combination of nearly unrestricted public access, a track record of solid harvest success (particularly in lower-hunter-density years like 2024), and generally expanding tag quotas makes this a unit that deserves a spot on a Nevada elk application list. Hunters should check current draw odds directly on HuntPilot's Nevada unit pages, since odds shift annually with applicant pool size.

Herd Health & Tag Trends

While full population survey data (bull:cow ratios, herd counts) isn't available in the structured data for Unit 113, the tag quota trends offer a useful proxy for how Nevada Department of Wildlife views herd health here. Every hunt type except Antlered Late saw quota increases from 2024 to 2025, and none saw quota decreases severe enough to suggest a herd in decline. The Antlerless Late quota increase of 33% (12 to 16 tags) and the Antlerless Muzzleloader-designated quota doubling (2 to 4 tags) both suggest managers have room to use antlerless harvest as a tool, which is typically only expanded when a herd is stable-to-growing and managers want to manage density or age structure rather than protect a struggling population.

The spike tag increases (Early rising from 4 to 5, Late nearly tripling from 2 to 5) are smaller numerically but directionally consistent with the rest of the quota picture — more opportunity being made available across nearly every classification of hunt.

Trophy Quality

Trophy data for the broader region overlapping Unit 113 points to a strong history of record-book production. Counties overlapping this unit have consistently produced trophy-class bulls over the years, and that regional pedigree is worth factoring into a decision to apply here. It's important to understand that record-book entries are logged at the county level, not the specific hunt unit, so the trophy history associated with Unit 113 is shared with neighboring units that fall within the same counties. That said, a strong regional trophy record is a meaningful positive signal — it means the habitat, genetics, and management in this part of Nevada have consistently supported mature bulls, even if any single animal's exact unit of harvest isn't tracked.

Hunters chasing a genuine trophy-caliber bull should treat Unit 113 as part of a broader eastern Nevada trophy corridor rather than an isolated hotspot, and should expect that the antlered hunt types (rather than the spike-restricted tags, which are management-oriented and not aimed at trophy production) are where that trophy potential is most relevant.

Access & Terrain

Unit 113's defining access feature is its 99% public land — this is about as close to unrestricted access as it gets in the West. Combined with zero wilderness acreage, hunters have full latitude to use motorized access on legal roads to reach hunting areas without needing an outfitter or dealing with wilderness permit restrictions. This is a significant logistical advantage over units where wilderness designation forces stock-based or foot access only.

The elevation range of 5,345 to 9,694 feet gives the unit real vertical diversity, which typically translates to a mix of sagebrush and low-elevation foothill terrain at the bottom end and higher timbered or alpine basins near the top. Hunters planning a trip should expect to cover this elevation gradient depending on when elk are pushed by weather or forage availability — lower country early, higher country as temperatures allow, and a shift back downhill as snow accumulates.

Given the near-total public land base, hunters serious about scouting Unit 113 should lean on mapping tools to identify water sources, access roads, and public/private boundaries before making the trip. HuntPilot's map tools — including public land overlays and the ability to save pins on productive glassing knobs or water sources — are well suited to this kind of pre-season planning, especially in a unit this large where 431,085 acres offer a lot of ground to cover without spending real time on a map first.

How to Apply

Nevada's draw system means that even hunters with modest point totals can find themselves competing directly against high-point applicants, so there's no guaranteed formula for drawing Unit 113 — hunters should check current draw odds and applicant trends on HuntPilot's Nevada state page (/states/nv) for the most current information before deciding how to allocate their application choices.

Application dates and fees change every draw cycle. For the current deadlines, fees, and draw odds, see HuntPilot's Nevada page at /states/nv.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is harvest success like in Nevada Unit 113? Harvest success has varied meaningfully in recent years. In 2024, 112 hunters combined for a 79% success rate with 88 elk harvested. In 2025, hunter numbers rose to 219 with 128 harvested, translating to a 58% success rate. Both years represent solid outcomes for a limited-entry elk unit, though the drop in success rate alongside the rise in hunter numbers suggests a larger, more varied group of tag holders across different hunt types in 2025.

What is the terrain like in Unit 113? Unit 113 spans a wide elevation band from 5,345 feet to 9,694 feet, giving hunters a mix of lower sagebrush/foothill country and higher-elevation terrain to work with depending on season and weather. With 99% public land and no wilderness acreage, most of the unit is accessible by legal road without needing pack stock or a guide, making it a practical option for DIY hunters covering a large unit footprint of over 431,000 acres.

How big are the elk in Unit 113? Trophy records tied to the counties overlapping Unit 113 point to a strong regional history of producing trophy-class bulls. Because record-book entries are attributed by county rather than specific unit, that trophy potential is shared with neighboring units in the same county, but it's still a meaningful positive indicator for hunters targeting a mature bull through the antlered hunt types in this part of eastern Nevada.

Is Unit 113 worth applying for? Based on the data, yes — particularly for hunters who value public land access. The unit's 99% public land, combined with rising tag quotas across nearly every hunt type from 2024 to 2025 and solid harvest success rates in recent years, makes it a strong candidate for a Nevada elk application. Hunters should still check current draw odds on HuntPilot before finalizing their application strategy, since Nevada's point system means outcomes can vary significantly year to year.

Do nonresidents need a guide to hunt elk in Unit 113? No. Unit 113 has zero percent wilderness acreage, so Wyoming-style guide mandates for wilderness hunting don't apply here — that requirement is specific to Wyoming wilderness units. Nevada does not require nonresidents to hire a guide to hunt Unit 113, though given the unit's size (431,085 acres) and the value of scouting ahead of the hunt, many nonresident hunters choose to use local guide services or outfitters for logistical support even though it isn't legally required.