Spring is beautiful in Nevada. Everything is green, the rivers are rushing, and the lakes are full. It’s a great time to scout your hunting units to prepare for fall, go fishing, or shed hunting. While the warmer weather is enjoyable in the spring and summer, the true big game hunter really waits all year for fall to come around again so they can chase their favorite type of deer. And what’s one of our favorites at Prime Revolution, besides maybe elk? Mule deer!
Nevada Mule Deer Hunting
The West, particularly Nevada, is known for its trophy mule deer. Each spring, usually in May, the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) sets tag quotas for the coming season depending on herd status. Biologists survey population numbers and take a variety of data points into consideration to come up with quota numbers including weather patterns, female to male ratio, fawn numbers, and food and water sources.
Hunters can apply for tags starting in March for residents and then hope their application is drawn come May. All applicants must have a hunting license which requires proof of hunter education completion.
The application drawing is determined by a randomized computer process through a third party, Kalkomey Enterprises LLC. Applicants can improve their odds of drawing a tag by applying each year which will give them bonus points and an additional draw number. There are three deer draw times for applications: the main draw, second drawing for remaining tags, and a first-come-first-served period.
2020 Application Schedule
| Main Draw | Second Draw | First-Come, First-Served | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application Period Opens | March 16 | June 8 | July 24 |
| Application Deadline | May 4 | June 15 | N/A |
| Bonus Point Application and Application Withdrawal Closes | May 11 | June 22 | N/A |
| Draw Results Release Date | May 22 | July 8 | N/A |
You can find out more about the application process at NDOW.org.
The nice thing about hunting Nevada is the amount of public BLM land that is available to hunt which means you can get a nice muley without the help of an outfitter. Although, if you are a non-resident, going with a guide service can increase your chances of getting a tag since they are allowed to participate in the Outfitter’s Draw and can do some essential scouting for you if you aren’t familiar with the area.You can find out more about the application process at NDOW.org.
If you are new to hunting Nevada, make sure you are ready to trek large swaths of high desert. A good pair of boots will help when scrambling over loose shale rock while gaining elevation or tromping through knee-high sagebrush. You’ll also need a good pair of binoculars and rifle scope to pick out those white faces, black noses, and gleaming racks (if you’re hunting a buck) between the pines or desert sand.
Hunters who scout the most before the season are the most successful, and be prepared to field dress and pack out your kill! Muleys are a challenging quarry for a reason. If you get one, consider yourself lucky!
Mule Deer Hunts | Prime Revo
Ready to chase some muleys? We know we are. Like every year, we are hoping we draw a tag! We’ve gotten lucky in the past, though. Watch our host Clint Capurro take his daughter Kylee and his son Connor into the Nevada hills to get Kylee’s first mule deer. Kylee uses her great grandfather’s Remington rifle that generations of the Capurro family have used to hunt their first mule deer in Episode 5 of Season 1.
Is fall here yet? See you out there!
