ELEVATION: Elevations vary from 4,500' in the valley floors to 8,000' at Stateline Peak in the northern end of the unit.

TERRAIN: This unit is comprised of five small single-ridge mountain ranges, which run in a north - south direction. Although small, these mountains are steep and rough rising, as much as 3,000 feet from the valley floor in little over a mile.

VEGETATION:Upper elevation deer habitat is characterized by mountain mahogany, bitterbrush, big sagebrush and other mountain brush species. Aspen is very limited in this unit. Much of this area has been burned by wildfires in 1983, 1984 and 1994. Crested wheatgrass, rabbitbrush, Mormon tea, big sagebrush, and many types of perennial and annual forbs and grasses characterize burn areas. Some of the lower elevation areas also contain a fair amount of juniper. Overall, the area is fairly open and lends itself well to the observation of deer.

LAND STATUS: This unit comprises approximately 175 square miles. Most of the deer habitat is under federal ownership. Road closures are in effect during the late season deer hunt in the Peterson Range and Sand Hills. Overall, access is considered to be good in this unit.

HUNTER ACCESS: Access from Reno on Highway 395. Late season hunters should be prepared for snow and muddy roads.

MAP REFERENCES: U.S. Geological Survey 1:100,000 scale metric topographic maps which give a broad overview of the area are as follows: Reno and Kumiva Peak. Several 7.5 and 15 minute maps that provide the best detail are as follows: Stateline Peak, Dogskin Mountain, Reno and Sutcliffe. Topo maps are sold in Reno at the Nevada Bureau of Mines & Geology at 784-6691 and Mark, Fore & Strike at 322-9559. The DeLorme Nevada Atlas and Gazetteer is available at most book or sporting goods stores, or by calling them direct at 1-800-452-5931. Link to Map Resources.

FACILITIES AND SERVICES: All facilities can be found in Reno, which is approximately one hour driving distance from most hunt areas in this unit. There are no developed campgrounds. Hunters typically stay in Reno and commute each morning to the hunt area.

RECOMMENDED HUNTING AREAS FOR MULE DEER: Late season rifle hunters should focus their efforts on traditional concentration areas like the west and east sides of Peterson Mountain, the north side of Seven Lakes Mountain, and the Sand Hills. Fort Sage and Dogskin Mountains should also be considered, however, deer densities in these ranges are very low.

On the Northwest side of Nevada, find a world of activities and adventures. Reno-Tahoe Territory offers plenty - natural areas for outdoor recreation, historic sites for trips into the past, and an abundance of special events.

Renos downtown, highlighted by the Truckee River Whitewater Park and Riverwalk District, continues to be revamped, and now includes a wine walk and beer crawl to help fill two Saturday afternoons a month. When the big events hit the city, such as Hot August Nights (classic cars), Street Vibrations (motorcycles) and the National Championship Air Races (planes), Reno-Tahoe rises to a whole new level of fun. With celebrity-chef restaurants try Charlie Palmers Steakhouse and Fin Fish at Grand Sierra Resort great shopping such as The Summit and Cabelas outdoor store, world-renowned events, and a blossoming downtown district, Reno is one of northern Nevadas most diverse destinations. Renos close neighbor, Sparks, claims the largest Scheels outdoor superstore in the world.

Then theres Lake Tahoe, more than 70 miles of majestic shoreline with recreation opportunities galore in and around the clear, blue body of water. South Lake Tahoe has all the casinos, world-class acts and nightlife Nevada is known for, while all around the lake outdoor activities abound: hiking, biking, golfing, and water sports in the warm months, and world-class skiing (downhill and cross country), snowboarding, and snowshoeing in the winter. Every summer, Incline Village on the north side of the lake hosts the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival on the beaches of Sand Harbor against the unparalleled Lake Tahoe sunset. Hey, the stats dont lie Lake Tahoe was the number-one destination booked by travelers in a recent six-month period, and TripAdvisor ranked it the number-one U.S. destination in 2008.

If history is what you're after, be sure to visit Virginia City, with a main street seemingly out of the 1800s. Carson Valleys quaint towns of Genoa, Minden and Gardnerville are ripe with Nevada nostalgia, like the Genoa Bar and Saloon, Nevadas oldest watering hole. In Carson City, the state capital, the Kit Carson Trail historical walking tour is available, and the city is home to the Nevada State Museum, along with landmarks such as the Carson Mint at the Nevada State Museum and the silver-domed State Capitol.

In addition to Lake Tahoe, Pyramid Lake, north of Reno, is one of Nevadas liquid gems. Completely within the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation, the lake is the largest remnant of the ancient glacial Lake Lahontan. Aside from the stunning pyramid-shaped rock formation jutting out of the lake, visitors will find some of the best fishing in Nevada with 20-pound native Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, and will be assuredly impressed with Anaho Island National Wildlife Refuge, home to one of the largest colonies of American White Pelicans in the nation.