Mule Deer Fanatic

Applicants are only able to accumulate one bonus point per species category each year. So, if you applied for any legal weapon tag and were unsuccessful, and then applied for an archery tag, and were unsuccessful, you still only accrue one point because these are both in the antlered deer category.

However, if you apply for any legal weapon tag, and are unsuccessful, and then apply for a doe tag, and are unsuccessful, you would receive a bonus point for each because they are in two different categories- antlered deer and antlerless deer.

Those applying as a “party hunt” will have their points averaged (total points of all hunters in the party, divided by the number of hunters) and rounded to the closest whole number. Bonus points are squared by species category, resulting in the number of draw numbers that an individual hunter or hunt party will receive in that drawing.

A hunter’s bonus points revert to zero in a particular species category when he is successful at obtaining a tag or fails to apply for two consecutive years.

Bonus points are not earned if an applicant requests and receives a hunting license refund.

CLICK: 2006 NEVADA BONUS POINT TABLE

Draw process
First, all applications submitted receive a random draw number assigned by the computer. Each draw number consists of the same number of digits. Each person receives a different draw number for each hunt applied for on the application (for example one number for deer, one number for elk). In the case of deer, party applications will only receive one number.

After all draw numbers are assigned, the computer puts them into numerical order, the lowest number being the first application to be reviewed, and the highest number the last to be reviewed.

The computer then begins processing the application by reviewing each hunter choice number that has been included on the application.

For example, if a hunter applies for an elk tag, the computer evaluates each hunter choice number, one at a time and in the order listed, and either awards a tag in the first choice where at least one tag remains, or designates the application as unsuccessful if all tags have been issued for those hunter choices listed. The computer then moves on to the next application (the next highest application number). This procedure is repeated for each application (deer rifle, deer archery, cow elk, antelope, etc.) until all applications have been reviewed.

The bonus point system gives tag applicants a better chance at drawing a tag by simply awarding them an additional draw number each time they apply for a type of hunt, are unsuccessful, and have purchased a hunting license.

Hunters now have the opportunity to purchase a bonus point without applying for a tag, allowing hunters to accrue bonus points without necessarily drawing a tag, or hunting. Learn more about the bonus point system.

Application Fees:

• There is a $10.00 non-refundable application fee for all big game hunts, except Rocky Mountain elk, which is $15.00.
• A non-refundable $3 predator management fee is assessed on each tag application.
• There is a $2.00 non-refundable application fee for resident applications submitted online, and a $3.50 non-refundable application fee for non-resident applications submitted online.
• Hunters who do not draw tags will receive full refunds, excluding the non-refundable application fees.
• Additional License and Tag fees are listed in the License fee section.
• Please reference the Nevada Hunt Book for more detailed information. The 2006 Hunt Book will be available in June 2006.

The tag hunt process is administered by Wildlife Administrative Services. If you have questions about a tag or your online application, please contact them at Wildlife Administrative Services Office, 1-800-576-1020, or (775) 423-7577, or by email.

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Application Deadline

The 2007 Main Draw application deadline is set for April 16, 2007.

The deadline for the Second Draw for all remaining quotas for deer, antelope, elk, mountain goat and subspecies of bighorn sheep is set for July 2, 2007.

Online Applications

Online Regulations

Please review the Big Game Application Regulations posted to the right before you apply.

Printable Applications
Applications must be received through the mail or online by 5:00 PM (PST) on April 16, 2007.

2007 Resident Application – Nevada Big Game Hunts
2007 Nonresident Application – Nevada Big Game Hunts
2007 Resident Application – Nevada Mule Deer Hunts
2007 Nonresident Application – Nevada Mule Deer Hunts

Click here for map

Big changes coming for big game hunting seasons

AARON MEIER

Hunters who have been around a while will notice several important changes from years past. Perhaps the biggest changes affect the scheduled season dates for the upcoming fall hunting seasons. Rather than opening on a designated day of the week, as has been done in the past, the 2007 hunting seasons will begin and end on specific dates. Those dates have been set for the next two years. This, according to NDOW, will allow seasons to remain constant from year to year and should make it easier for hunters who need to plan their hunts and put in for vacation time early in the year.

This is a significant change for a hunting culture that is rich in tradition, but NDOW is hoping that the changes will ultimately make it easier for hunters and their families when it comes to applying for tags and planning their hunts.

“The long-term goal is to pursue standard seasons and eliminate unnecessary changes and confusion to tag applicants and hunters every two years,” said Mike Cox, NDOW’s big game staff biologist. “The diverse and changing work force of Nevadans, commitment of hunters to hunt regardless of what day of the week it is, the spread of hunting pressure across the opening day and first weekend of a season and trends of other western states were all taken into account.”

Another significant change is the creation of split hunting seasons for mule deer and elk hunts in several areas. These changes will provide hunters with a choice of early and late rifle hunts. The benefit of the split seasons, Cox said, is the ability it gives NDOW to recognize and manage two groups of hunters, “opportunity hunters” and “trophy hunters.” Each group has different expectations and demands. Split seasons also provide a level of protection to the mature buck segment by controlling the harvest of these bucks later in the fall.

Mule Deer — An antlerless deer hunt has been added in Area 6 and many hunt areas will now offer an early and late split rifle season. However, the resident junior deer rifle season was not split (single 22-day season). Some interstate deer herds have all three weapon class hunts in December.

Unit Boundary Changes

Pilot Peak in eastern Elko County is now designated as Unit 091. In prior years Pilot Peak was included in Unit 079, but that unit is now limited to the Toana Range and surrounding area. Other units with revised boundaries include: 072 – 075, 102, 104, 111, 114, 131, and 221.

Hunters should be aware and research that wilderness areas are greatly expanded across White Pine, Lincoln and portions of Clark County. These areas restrict motorized access. The Hunt Unit Map at ndow.org displays the wilderness boundaries. An updated Nevada hunt unit map can be found on the NDOW website at http://www.ndow.org/hunt/maps/unitmap.shtm . The Big Game online tag application program began last month and ends on April 16.

BIG GAME APPLICATION FAST APPROACHING

The deadline for the upcoming Big Game Tag Draw is fast approaching. Hunters hoping to draw a 2007 Nevada big game tag need to submit their application no later than 5 p.m. April 16, 2007. Applications must be mailed through a postal service or submitted online at www.huntnevada.com. Applicants using a postal service should allow three or four days to ensure they meet the deadline.

If they haven’t done so already, hunters born after January 1, 1960 must complete a Hunter Education class before they can purchase a Nevada hunting license. Several classes are still open for enrollment and will finish up in time for graduates to meet the application deadline. A list of classes can be found on the Nevada Department of Wildlife website –www.ndow.org.

Well folks,

I got busy and missed the deadline for applying for a mule deer hunt in Colorado. That hasn’t happend to me much, and I regret to say that I missed the opportunity. Nevertheless, I will run a series of posts to inform and entertain you would-be Colorado Mule Deer Fanatics.

Once upon a time, Colorado had a real good thing going with unlimited over-the-counter mule deer tags. The deer hunt was practically a holiday, and the deer herd was large. So was the harvest.

Today, other than certain private land situations, all Colorado mule deer hunting is by draw only, and the number of hunters has been severely limited. Getting enough brownie points to draw a tag in one of the better areas is a time consuming activity.

Happy hunting and may the Force be with you