Get ready, hunters: Nevada is planning its first-ever moose hunting season this fall. With moose populations at an all-time high, the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) plans to one to three tags to residents only, but anticipates thousands will apply for the chance, according to the Associated Press. 

“For hunters, it would be like hitting the lottery,” said Bill Nolan of Sparks, Nevada. He plans to apply though he calls the chance of drawing a moose tag somewhere between “slim and none.”

Moose are not native to the Silver State; however, in recent years, they’ve been expanding their range, moving from their northern homes of Alaska and Canada into Nevada. NDOW currently estimates that there are over 100 moose in the state. 

“Their post-glacial range expansion isn’t really complete,” said Cody McKee, a NDOW wildlife biologist.

“And that’s what we’re currently seeing in Nevada right now, is those moose are moving into the state and finding suitable habitat.”

Why moose are traveling so far south seems to be an unanswerable question at the moment, considering the conditions are “warmer and drier than they traditionally prefer.”

“It seems to be opposite of where we would expect to see moose expansion given their ecology,” said Marcus Blum, a Texas A&M University researcher hired to help assess future movement.

Regardless, with the influx of moose, wildlife managers believe that holding a hunt – even if it means harvesting a single bull – is beneficial to the overall health of the species. Using GPS collars, biologists have tracked the herd movement and patters of four bull moose and nine cows since 2020. In some areas, it appears that males “significantly outnumber females” and “removing a bull or two might improve herd dynamics,” said McKee.

The inaugural hunt will happen this fall with the number of tags still to be determined as well as whether it will become an annual hunt going forward. Current research “suggests [the moose] population could sustain more harvests than planned,” according to McKee; however, “conservation is the name of the game here.”

Good luck to those who choose to apply for this amazing opportunity! If you do draw a tag and are successful in the hunt, you will be required to present the skull and antlers to NDOW for inspection within five days so that wildlife biologists can gather more information into herd health, body conditions, disease and parasites.