Be aware of some significant limits on some land parcels in the area. Mineral rights, for one, are going to be difficult to acquire for many parcels.
Also be aware of the land use rules in place. You might own the land, technically, but there are often a number of restrictions. From water use rights, to grazing rights, to BLM interference, to conservation initiatives already in place on the property than can not only not be removed, but modified, and must be maintained, often at the land owners expense.
Double check the water catchment rules. There have been several types over the years. Some for natural habitat only, some for wild game only, some for non-game animals only, some for drinking water, some specifically not for human consumption.
Check for open range restrictions and easements that might be in place from years ago that are still active, though not used.
Be aware of the coyote population everywhere, but especially around areas where they have easy food sources. Be aware that even if cattle are fenced, they have been known to get out, and wreck havoc until rounded up. Which means buckaroos may have to have access to the property at times to do so.
Be vary aware of access locked land parcels. I believe there are still some pieces of property that are totally surrounded by other properties, whose owners will not grant access, much less an easement. For a variety of reasons. If it is land locked, they can pretty much use it at will, since no one else can get there to protest, except by air, sometimes.
Get topo maps and land-use maps and study them. And try to get someone that knows each area you are considering to go with you to look at the various properties. There are dozens, if not more, of micro-climates here. One side of a ridge might have one type of weather effects under certain conditions, and the other side something quite different. From precipitation to wind, to wild fire, to ground moisture, to lots of other things.
This also plays into access. You might be in a nice, clear, beautiful valley, with temps in the 60s, no wind, and no precip for several days. But when you decide to head into town, you can run into six foot snow drifts on the only road in the area, with any trails that might be there washed out to the point of needing a mule to traverse.
I do not want to discourage you, at all. I think north of Elko is one of the great places to have an off-grid prepper homestead, farm, ranch, and business. But you do need to look into things. That includes a title search. There are several companies in the business in Nevada, for very good reasons. Much of the land does not have clear title, and the majority of the state is owned by federal government entities, with little or no control over it by Nevada state or county governments.
If you do find cheap land, that is usable for what you need, get as much of it as you can. You will need more than you plan for initially, because it takes more under normal circumstances anyway, and given a drought now and then, and a wet year now and then, and a very snowy year now and then, you will need all the land you can get to make it.
One last thing. I mentioned the coyotes. Also be aware of some of the other game in the area. Find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time, and just about all of them can be dangerous, Especially elk.
Good luck with your search.
Just my opinion.
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