As the Western hunter has evolved these last 20 years, many have decided a state line is no longer a boundary to success. This has worsened draw odds and Nevada is no exception. I sampled four mule deer hunts from around the state comparing simple draw odds from 1998 to 2011. The odds of drawing decreased by almost 50%! Does this mean a buck hunter shouldn’t look at the Silver State? As I wrote in an earlier blog, Application Strategy: Where Should I Apply?, that depends on your personal budget (time and money) and goals. Let’s examine if Nevada is right for you.
Only you can decide if the price of Nevada is worth the quality
Nevada is certainly a great state for mule deer hunters. The entire state is on a draw system and they manage conservatively in most units. With fewer hunters in the field, higher buck: doe ratios, and a pretty fair bonus point system, Nevada is certainly an attractive option. You do, however, need to consider the entire cost of drawing a tag and that big deer are hard to kill no matter the state or unit.
Nevada has been touted as having the fairest point system in the West. As long as you lay down the $140 for the license, you will receive a bonus point (an extra name-in-the-hat system.) For subsequent years, that bonus point will be squared. You also have five choices in Nevada but you lose all bonus points for drawing any choice, which helps draw odds. You can receive a tag refund if you can’t go and get your points back. Despite these upsides, Nevada is still subject to point creep and their system is expensive unless you draw in the first few years of applying.
My other company, WeScout4u Inc. (see http://wescout4u.com/public-land-scouting-packages/,) scouts NE Nevada. Each year, I talk to lots of hunters sitting on 10+ points who are very frustrated. When they got in the game, many good deer tags were drawn with that many points, but now 10 is just a start. These hunters have at least $1,600 invested with no end in sight. Even if they do draw, most will not see or kill the size of buck they think their money and time investment warrants. As Rokslider Richard Evans commented in an earlier blog,
“Most folks think that a certain amount of points guarantee a certain type of deer which is simply not true. Points don’t guarantee anything.”
He’s so right. No matter how well a state is managed, older bucks are hard to kill. Simply having a tag in pocket for a great unit does not mean you’ll get your money’s worth. You have to scout and hunt smart to kill a good buck. The phrase “I’d rather be lucky than good” sounds logical, but I’d rather be “good than lucky.” Luck is finicky, but skill is dependable. If you live close enough to Nevada to learn the unit well, you’re odds of getting your money’s worth go up substantially.
Nevada is a good state for me as I live close and operate our scouting service there. I currently have seven points, but I quit building them in 2009 (they allow you to keep points accumulated as long as you apply.) Studying the draw odds, most of the tags I’d be happy with can be drawn with that many. Those seven points cost me around $1200 to accumulate. My budget dictates that for now, that is enough spent. Considering I can hunt other states for less money and find my goal buck, I feel good stopping there.
Nevada is a good option if you’re willing to hunt the earlier rifle and primitive weapon seasons and you’re able to scout and hunt smart. Make sure you study the draw odds and pick your units carefully (see Rokslides’s Nevada DIY research page here: http://www.rokslide.com/nevada-diy-hunt-research-center/.) If you’re chasing the premium hunts and don’t have 11 or more points, statistically you’re in for a long wait and even more expense.
Is Nevada on your list to apply? Why or why not?
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Nevada is a tough system to digest. Most people say its the best, but I think most people do not actually understand their draw odds. I was told the other day, “it is a great system, you get 5 choices”. Guess what, everyone gets 5 choices. The true drawing odds are not ever known due to the 2nd through 5th choices not being calculated.
I consider Nevada a once in a lifetime draw for elk and sheep. It is not a state where you will get the option of hunting a elk unit several times in your life. The waiting periods and draw odds simply make it that way. Antelope is a good quality hunt, but you are better off investing in wyoming as waiting periods and draw odds are much more favorable there. This is coming from a guy who beat the odds and drew a 33 early antelope tag with 4 points.
That leaves the decision point for me at deer. If you’re waiting for a 22 late, 23 or 24 mule deer tag the odds are probably the worst in the west except for the Henries in Utah and the Strip in Arizona. The straight up drawing odds for 24 last year was .12 percent. That is if no one used that hunt code as a 2nd through 5th choice. Most applicants use 2 or 3 tough draws at the top followed by easier to draw units.
For me the value is in the early season and archery hunts for deer. There are hunts for archery that you could draw every year and have a great hunt. The early rifle deer seasons are long and are quality hunts due to hunter numbers and buck to doe ratios. You are much better in the long run by hunting the same unit every few years then waiting and hoping for that once in a lifetime tag.
Good luck with your choices, but try to have a plan that works for you
Rich
Great comment Rich!
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