Nevada

Over 80% public land, elite trophy mule deer mountain ranges, and premier desert bighorn sheep draws.

Nevada - The Silver State & Endless Basin and Range Wilderness

Nevada offers outstanding sportspeople opportunities, rich wildlife habitats, and extensive public land access. From trophy big game hunting to abundant upland bird coverts and waterfowl flyways, Nevada provides a premier destination for hunters of all experience levels.

Nevada Desert Bighorn Ram in Red Rock Canyonlands

Managed under strict wildlife conservation guidelines by the state department of natural resources, hunting in Nevada contributes directly to habitat preservation and healthy game populations across the state.

Nevada Giant Mule Deer Buck in Ruby Mountains Basin

Top Hunting Attractions in Nevada

Discover the premier wildlife management areas, big game habitats, and renowned wingshooting regions across Nevada.

Ruby Mountains & Jarbidge Wilderness Mule Deer

Rugged alpine glaciated peaks producing giant high-country mule deer bucks feeding in timberline avalanche chutes and chokecherry basins.

Statewide Desert & California Bighorn Sheep Lotteries

America's premier bighorn sheep destination, offering tags across dramatic desert mountain ranges with world-record potential.

Great Basin & Schell Creek Range Trophy Bull Elk

Units 111, 112, 115, and 221 producing massive 370-to-400+ class Rocky Mountain bull elk across high-desert pinyon-juniper benches.

High Desert Pronghorn & Rimrock Chukar Partridge

Vast BLM sagebrush valleys teeming with record-book pronghorn and rocky volcanic hillsides holding explosive coveys of chukar.

Hunting Benefits

Trophy Mule Deer & Elk: High-quality limited-draw units producing giant mature bucks and bulls.

48 Million Public Acres: Over 85% of the state is public land (BLM and USFS).

Desert Bighorn Sheep: Premier destination for coveted desert bighorn sheep draw tags.

Chukar Partridge Hunting: Steep, rocky canyon terrain providing world-famous chukar hunting.

Bonus Point Draw System: Squared bonus point system rewarding long-term applicants.

Hunter's Bottom Line

Summary

Nevada is the most public-land-rich state in the lower 48, with over 85% of its territory owned and managed by the federal government (primarily BLM and US Forest Service). It is a pure lottery draw state where conservative tag quotas ensure extraordinary trophy quality.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) conducts its primary big game draw in May, with applications closing in early May. Nevada utilizes a squared bonus point system, giving long-term applicants increasing mathematical odds while maintaining a chance for first-year applicants.

Hunters in Nevada can apply for up to five hunt choices per species category. Seasons include early archery (August), October muzzleloader, and multiple rifle seasons extending into late November.

Water is life in the Great Basin. Locating active natural seeps, isolated guzzlers, and isolated mountain springs during August and September is the key to patterning trophy mule deer, elk, and pronghorn across vast desert mountain ranges.