Application Strategy 2024: Nevada bighorn sheep, mountain goat and moose

NEVADA'S 2024 BIGHORN SHEEP, MOUNTAIN GOAT AND MOOSE APPLICATION OVERVIEW

Note: The application deadline for all Nevada species is May 8, 2024 by 11:00 p.m. PT. You can apply online here.

New Or Noteworthy For This Year

State Information

To view important information and an overview of Nevada’s rules/regulations, the draw system and bonus points, tag and license fees and an interactive boundary line map, check out our State Profile. You can also view the Species Profiles to access historical and statistical data to help you find trophy units.

Nevada is a fairly easy state to apply in. You will have to create an online account if you have not previously done so. That can be done by going here.

IMPORTANT DATES AND INFORMATION

*Applicants who want to build bonus points if they are unsuccessful in the draw will need to purchase a hunting license or hunt/fish combo license. If they do not purchase the hunting license, they will not be given a bonus point. Tag fees will only be charged if you are successful in the draw. You do not have to front tag fees when you apply.

The draw system

UNDERSTANDING THE DRAW

Nevada has a random weighted bonus point draw system. Every applicant who applies has a chance to draw the tags they applied for; however, bonus points increase the chances of success in drawing a tag. The Nevada tag quota split for residents and nonresidents is approximately a 90/10 split. 

Bonus points

Resident applicants can apply for desert (Nelson) bighorn ram, desert (Nelson) ewe, California bighorn ram, Rocky Mountain big horn ram, Rocky Mountain goat and desert (Nelson) management ram. Every hunt is a separate application. The desert (Nelson) management ram tags are not allocated on a point system. The draw for management ram tags is completely random. The others are all allocated under a random squared bonus point system. 

Nonresident applicants can apply for desert (Nelson) bighorn ram, desert (Nelson) ewe, California bighorn ram and Rocky Mountain goat. These hunts are all separate applications with their own bonus points. 

Nevada has a bonus point system where applicants will receive one bonus point for each year they apply and are unsuccessful in the draw. You must buy a hunting license when you apply if you wish to receive a bonus point after the draw. Applicants who do buy the hunting license will not receive a bonus point. Bonus points are species specific. For example, you cannot apply bonus points you have accrued for elk towards a bighorn sheep application. Applicants can apply for bonus points only if they do not want to select hunts. We recommend that applicants apply for hunts and not points only. Remember that the draw is random and odds are low and you will receive a point if you are unsuccessful in the draw. 

The only reason not to apply for hunts is if you cannot afford the cost of the tag should you draw it or the time off of work. 

Bonus points are squared in the draw. For example, if you have five bonus points, you will have 26 chances in the draw (5x5+1 (this year’s application) = 26). If an applicant draws a tag or fails to apply for two consecutive years, the bonus points will be purged.

The draw is conducted by a third party company. A random number generator assigns each “chance” a new random number. The lowest random number generated then becomes the application draw number. They will begin with the lowest random number applicant and begin awarding tags move up in ascending order.

Hunt choices

Applicants can apply for up to five choices when they apply. When an application is considered in the draw, the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) will attempt to allocate the first choice. If all permits are gone for that hunt, they will attempt to allocate the second choice. If all tags are gone for your second choice, they will attempt to award you a tag for your third choice. They continue through all five hunt choices before moving to the next applicant. Thus, applicants could draw any of their five hunt choices. Due to this process, applicants should include hunts for all five choices to increase their chances of drawing a tag. Also, applicants should stagger their hunt choices from best hunt (worst odds) to better odds (decent hunt). If you were to apply inversely (best odds to worst odds), you are essentially wasting your latter hunt choices. 

Group applications

Nevada does not allow group applications for bighorn sheep or mountain goats or moose. 

Draw order

The draw will be conducted in the following order:

The draw order allows applicants to apply for all species and sex that they wish to hunt without the issue of drawing a lower-tiered tag. Applicants are only allowed to draw a single tag for each species. 

Surrendering tags

Within seven days of the results of the draw, applicants who successfully drew a tag can choose to electronically return their tag. Hunters with tags can also turn them back in up to one day prior to the start of the season. In this case, they will retain their bonus points and gain one for this year’s application.

Secondary draw

Any remaining tags after the main draw will become available in a second drawing to both residents and nonresidents. If you apply and draw a tag in the second drawing, your bonus points will be purged. Online applications for the second draw are due by 11 p.m. PT on June 10, 2024. 

Leftover and returned tag process

All mule deer, antelope, black bear, elk, mountain goat and bighorn sheep tags that remain after the secondary draw and any returned tags that have not been claimed by an eligible alternate will be listed and sold on a first come, first served basis on the NDOW licensing system. The first come, first served program generally opens in early July. Bonus points will be purged if you purchase a leftover or returned tag. 

As previously stated, applicants who drew a tag can return their deer, elk or antelope tags up until one day prior to their hunt starting. If the tag is not accepted by an alternate, it will be listed randomly on the first come, first served list and potentially purchased. In 2024, in order to purchase a resident returned tag, you must be a resident of Nevada. A nonresident of Nevada can only purchase a tag that was originally drawn and returned by a nonresident. 

Note: we will have an updated Nevada first come, first served article later this summer when that tag system opens.

UNLOCKING NEVADA’S SYSTEM

Nevada should be considered a long-term goal for drawing bighorn sheep and mountain goat tags. The key to drawing a tag is to continue to apply. Applying in Nevada is a cost/value analysis. It is expensive for a nonresident to buy the license, apply and build points year after year. The odds that you will ever draw a bighorn sheep or mountain goat license is extremely poor, but if you decide to apply for other species in Nevada, you should also consider applying for bighorn sheep and mountain goat. Personally, I look at Nevada as a state where I can likely hunt mule deer and/or antelope every five to 10 years and that keeps me applying in hopes that I will also get lucky and draw a bighorn sheep tag and a mountain goat tag along the way. 

A few application tips for Nevada: 1) Always apply for hunts and never points only. The draw is random; as long as you apply you have some chance. 2) Always include five choices for each hunt when you apply. NDOW considers all five of your choices and your odds of drawing any tag are slightly better if you include all five choices. 3) With five choices available, the first hunt selections on your application should be for great hunts or the hunt(s) you desire most. The last three selections can be a continuation of moving toward hunts that have progressively better odds. The reason for this method is that you never know when you will be one of the first applications considered and you want to draw the best possible hunt on your application.

Nevada's Desert Bighorn Sheep Breakdown

Nevada continues to offer a good number of desert bighorn sheep tags, although those numbers have declined in recent years due to disease issues and lack of mature rams in some areas. In 2023, Nevada issued 224 ram desert bighorn sheep tags, which was 58 tags less than the previous year. It’s anticipated that there will be additional tag cuts again going into 2024. Trophy potential is still quite good, although there are certainly areas that regularly produce bigger rams. Within the tables included below you will see the trophy potential, average score and the score of the largest ram taken. Refer to those and apply accordingly. In my opinion, given that the odds are extremely low, you should apply for areas that have better trophy potential to provide yourself a good hunt for a great animal should you draw a tag.

CURRENT DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP HERD CONDITION

Note: There are no archery ram desert bighorn sheep tags available for nonresidents.

Nevada's California Bighorn Sheep Breakdown

In 2023, Nevada issued 39 tags. That number was down 15 tags compared to the previous year. In 2023, there were four total tags offered to nonresidents. It’s likely that will be the same number for 2024. Trophy potential is average, but there were four rams taken in 2023 that scored 160”+. Every unit can produce a 160” class ram, but Unit 035 — and Unit 068 for nonresidents — are better for trophy potential generally. For residents, Units 051 and 022 are also worth considering in terms of trophy potential. Remember that nonresidents can apply for both desert bighorn and California bighorn ram and I would encourage every applicant that is already buying the hunting license to apply for other species like elk, deer and antelope to also apply for both desert and California bighorn rams. The odds are very poor, but with a random system, there is always some chance. 

CURRENT CALIFORNIA BIGHORN SHEEP HERD CONDITION

Nevada's Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep Breakdown

Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep ram tags are only available to residents. There are only two areas that they can apply for: Units 102 and 115. Unit 115 has historically produced bigger rams and, given that the odds are so low, I would suggest it as a first choice just in case you are the lucky first applicant selected. There is only likely to be one tag available for residents for each unit.

CURRENT ROCKY BIGHORN SHEEP HERD CONDITION

Note: There are no tags available for nonresidents for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.

Nevada's Rocky Mountain Goat Breakdown

Nevada has stable populations of Rocky Mountain goats in the Ruby and East Humboldt mountain ranges. As with most mountain goat hunts, the terrain they inhabit is rocky, remote and will require a strong backpacker or packstock. There are a decent number of mountain goats and low hunting pressure given the small number of tags that are issued. For nonresidents, there is likely to be one tag available in Unit 102. The odds are very poor, but for the $14 application fee, it may be worth applying if you have interest in hunting goats. Nevada does have good trophy potential and, if you are willing to be patient and hunt hard, you have a realistic chance at a mature billy and, potentially, a record worthy mountain goat. In 2023, there was a 50 ⅛” billy taken and two others that were 49 ⅜” and 49 ⅛”. 

CURRENT MOUNTAIN GOAT HERD CONDITION

*Unit 102 is offering nonresidents one tag in 2023 and will offer one tag once again in 2024. The nonresident odds with 0 points was <.01%, with 10 points it was .08%, .3% with 20 points and .72% with 30 points. 

Nevada's Moose Breakdown

New for 2024 is a resident-only Nevada moose hunt in units 061, 062, 064, 066-068, 071-077, 081, and 101-103. Applications will be high for this new hunt, and the hunt quota will not be set until later this spring. So apply if this is an opportunity you are craving in Nevada!

Additional application opportunities

NEVADA SILVER STATE TAG

For an additional $25, you can select to be included in the Silver State tag drawings, which would make you eligible for the one permit per species drawing each year that allows the recipient the opportunity to hunt any public land across the state from Aug. 1 to Dec. 31—just like the governor’s tag. Make sure you click the box while applying if you want a chance to draw this amazing opportunity.

NEVADA DREAM TAGS

Nevada Dream Tags are another shot at drawing the hunt of a lifetime for mule deer, antelope, desert bighorn sheep, California bighorn sheep, elk and black bear in Nevada. Dream Tags are similar to SuperTags and Super Raffles in other western states. This drawing is open to both residents and nonresidents, and you are allowed to buy an unlimited number of raffle tickets for $5.75 plus processing fees for each for as many species as you want. You can enter the Dream Tag raffle here.