Resident Big Game Draw Odds

[Razorback]

Hello,
My wife and I have decided to move to the Reno area in the Summer of 2016. I currently live in Arkansas. I have lived in, and hunted in Alaska, Idaho and California. We decided on Reno because my wife misses California to the point that she is depressed. I refuse to live in California. Reno lets me keep my guns and liberty but gives her close access to home. I love bow hunting. I can't wait to get back out west. It is where I belong.

I have been doing some research on big game hunting in Nevada. I noticed that everything is a draw. I looked at some of the odds on previous years. I am willing to travel across state if it means good odds of drawing a tag. My question is this:
Should I expect it to be reasonable that between all the big game species I draw 1 big game tag a year? I prefer to bow hunt but have no problems hunting with a gun as well. Do you guys typically draw something every year? I am just trying to get a feel for what I should expect. Good luck to all of you this season and I look forward to moving to your beautiful state.

 

[MikeBeaudette]

No matter what put in for bear every year haha. But, every one I know in nv draws at least one tag for biggame per year. Especially archery

 

[hoshour]

This page will give you an idea of draw odds for Nevada hunts http://www.ndow.org/Hunt/Resources/Statistics_and_Draw_Odds/

You'll get a much better idea by subscribing to Eastmans' Hunting Journal and Eastmans' Bowhunting Journal and looking in the Members Research Section. You can call Eastmans' and ask to buy the issue from last year that covered Nevada. I think it was the March/April issue of Eastmans' Bowhunting Journal.

 

[velvetfvr]

You can always have a tag, but you will have to be open to the 2nd draw and willing to hunt a doe or cow elk.

 

[Razorback]

You can always have a tag, but you will have to be open to the 2nd draw and willing to hunt a doe or cow elk.

That is music to my ears. I have no problem with chasing horns but have always been more into the meat side of things. Last week here in Arkansas a small whitetail doe had me shaking so much I almost could not draw my bow back to arrow her. A nice big cow elk will put a lot more meat in the freezer than a 90 pound Arkansas white tail. Thanks for the encouragement and information guys. Yall put to rest my only worry about moving out there. Again, good luck hunting this year.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

Yep. What was said above. If your willing to be flexible chances are you can hunt every year.

 

[Tim McCoy]

You are also well within range of several states where you can hunt general seasons, and/or have very easy draws, some more affordable than others. Then there are Chukars close by, devil birds as far as I am concerned, which can make a sheep hunt look easy.

 

[Musket Man]

It really depends on what units you want to hunt. The draw odds stats in Nv can be very misleading because they only show first choice apps and do not reflect how many hunters applied 2-5th choice. I think the stats that show how many points everyone that drew had is the most useful but that is not always accurate either. If you draw in the 2nd draw you will loose any points you have too. Also keep in mind there is a 5 year waiting period for bull elk even if you do not fill your tag, 10 years if you do punch your tag, and 5 years for buck antelope if you punch your tag so you might not want to go after those tags just because they are easy to draw. There is no waiting period on buck deer and there are units you could hunt deer in every year.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

To add to MM there is no waiting period on elk, deer, antelope doe tags either. There is also bull elk depredation tags available you can draw while in the waiting period. These tags are in designated areas but you still have the chance to hunt for meat every year.

 

[tdub24]

That is music to my ears. I have no problem with chasing horns but have always been more into the meat side of things. Last week here in Arkansas a small whitetail doe had me shaking so much I almost could not draw my bow back to arrow her. A nice big cow elk will put a lot more meat in the freezer than a 90 pound Arkansas white tail. Thanks for the encouragement and information guys. Yall put to rest my only worry about moving out there. Again, good luck hunting this year.

If a 90 pound whitetail had you shaking......wait till she is a 400 pound cow!!! Like everybody has said, shouldn't be a problem hunting big game of some sort every year. Plus, once you chase upland birds, in particular chuckar, you will be addicted based purely on revenge!! Nothing like chasing them birds up the mountain only to have them fly from the top to the bottom. Then start laughing at you while running up the other side!

 

[Razorback]

If a 90 pound whitetail had you shaking......wait till she is a 400 pound cow!!! Like everybody has said, shouldn't be a problem hunting big game of some sort every year. Plus, once you chase upland birds, in particular chuckar, you will be addicted based purely on revenge!! Nothing like chasing them birds up the mountain only to have them fly from the top to the bottom. Then start laughing at you while running up the other side!

I can't wait. I chased California Valley Quail above Napa when I lived in California. I also got to do a lot of grouse and ptarmigan hunting when I lived in Alaska. Upland bird hunting is probably my favorite kind of hunting to do. I have not gotten to chase chuckar yet. I hear they are a ball. I also enjoy trapping, hunting with hounds, flyfishing, predator hunting, even chasing jack rabbits. It looks like I am moving to the right place.

 

[velvetfvr]

I try to put in for archery deer tags with 2-1 or 1-1 odds as first choice. Usually you can draw every year but you'll have to work to get a nice or big buck.

 

[Razorback]

I try to put in for archery deer tags with 2-1 or 1-1 odds as first choice. Usually you can draw every year but you'll have to work to get a nice or big buck.

Thanks for the advice. I don't mind the hard work at all. The work a buddy and I put in to some DIY Alaska north slope caribou hunts was insane. Awesome hunting though, and completely worth it.

 

[Musket Man]

I would get a muzzle loader! Nevada has some good smokepole deer tags that are fairly easy to draw. Thats my plan once I use my points!