High Desert Gold Corporation TSX: HDG TSX: HDG.WT

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Jan. 8, 2009) - High Desert Gold Corporation ("HDG" or the "Company") (TSX:HDG)(TSX:HDG.WT) announced today the results of its substantial issuer bid (the "Offer") to purchase for cancellation a maximum of 36,000,000 common shares of the Company ("HDG Shares") at a price of Cdn.$0.27 per HDG Share. The Offer expired at 9:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on January 7, 2009. There were 33,862,870 HDG Shares validly deposited under the Offer prior to the expiry time. The Company has taken up all of these validly deposited HDG Shares and payment, therefore, will be made as soon as practicable in accordance with the Offer.

The HDG Shares to be purchased for cancellation comprise approximately 82.5% of the outstanding HDG Shares before giving effect to the purchase. After giving effect to the purchase, there will remain outstanding 7,192,464 HDG Shares.

Full details of the Offer are contained in the issuer bid circular, letter of transmittal and notice of guaranteed delivery which were mailed to HDG shareholders and are also available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under the Company's profile. Additional information concerning HDG may be obtained on HDG's website, www.highdesertgoldcorp.com, and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, under HDG's profile.

Certain statements contained herein constitute "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and various estimates, factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. The material factors and assumptions that were applied in making the forward-looking statements in this release, and the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this release, include but are not limited to the ability of the Company's depositary to fulfill its obligations under the depositary agreement entered into in connection with the Offer in a timely manner. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements as the actual results may differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements if known or unknown risks, uncertainties or other factors arise. The Company cannot provide any assurance that forward-looking statements will materialize. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or any other reason.