Drawing a mule deer tag in the west can be tough, especially when you're trying to draw a tag in a quality unit. Luckily there is a way to boost your odds of pulling a tag through the Nevada restricted mule deer guided draw that is set up for nonresidents only.

So with that said, if you're a nonresident and are looking for a way to improve your odds of drawing a coveted Nevada mule deer tag in 2020, then the Nevada restricted mule deer guided draw is for you! The deadline to apply for the Guided Draw in 2020 will be Monday, March 9. Draw results will be available on March 26.

All of the guides that are involved in the restricted mule deer guided draw were informed via email of the application opening and close dates. The application open date will be Monday, February 10 at 8 a.m. PST. Note: Unlike New Mexico, the Nevada guided draw requires that the outfitter actually completes and submits the application for the hunter by using a guide permit number and password. So be sure to contact an outfitter early to get applied.

What Exactly Is the Nevada Guided Draw?

Every year Nevada has a separate drawing where they set aside a certain number of rifle mule deer tags (rifle, early rifle, mid rifle, and late rifle) that are available exclusively for nonresident applicants that apply through a licensed Nevada outfitter. The restricted guided draw is completed prior to the general draw.

The tags are broken down by the season and unit number. There's not a lot of tags set aside for the guided draw… but the odds of drawing are better than the main draw. Bonus points for mule deer in the main draw are also applicable in the guided draw. The same method of squaring points is used.

For example, five bonus points will be squared to 25 points plus one additional chance for the current application — giving you 26 total chances to draw if you have five bonus points.

Note: A hunter that submits an application through the guided draw cannot apply for mule deer in the Nevada main draw that takes later in the spring. It's also important to know that although you cannot apply for both the guided draw and main draw for mule deer in the same year, accrued bonus points are shared between each draw.

Benefits of the Guided Draw

If you are nonresident and apply for mule deer with the mindset that when you draw, you will use an outfitter, then the guided draw is for you. Additionally, an outfitter will be able to help you in selecting a unit that may fit your goals and objectives. The Nevada guided draw option for mule deer will help to improve your odds of drawing that coveted tag. Having a guide in your corner will also greatly improve your chances of harvesting the buck that meets your expectations.

So What Are Your Draw Odds?

You can see the draw odds for the Guided Draw on GOHUNT's Insider set of hunting research tools. You can view your Draw Odds in two different ways; on the standalone Draw Odds page or on Filtering 2.0.

Draw Odds Can Be Drastically Better in the Guided Draw

For example: In Unit 035 the draw odds for a rifle tag in the main draw is 0.53% at zero points for a nonresident, but in the guided draw they are 82%! Yes... it can be that big of a difference and a HUGE advantage if you want a better chance to beat the system and hunt mule deer in Nevada.

Also, in some cases, a nonresident can have better draw odds by applying through the guided draw than even a resident! A resident that applied for Unit 035 in the main draw with zero points only has a 4.5% chance to draw the tag. So in this example, you can quickly see that a nonresident can have a huge advantage in the guided draw.

See Your Guided Draw Odds Here

Required Steps to Take

Nevada Business Members in the 2020 guided Draw

The outfitters listed below are goHUNT Business Members that we work with closely. You can contact them directly to get started on the process of applying for the mule deer guided draw. Note: Outfitters below are listed in alphabetical order.

7L Outfitters

A sample of the mule deer taken with 7L Outfitters — A GOHUNT Business Member. For more photos of bucks they have taken, check out the links below.

Deep Creek Outfitters

A huge velvet mule deer taken with Deep Creek Outfitters — A GOHUNT Business Member. For more photos of bucks they have taken, check out the links below.

G&J Outdoors

An awesome mule deer taken with G&J Outdoors — A GOHUNT Business Member. For more photos of bucks they have taken, check out the links below.

Mount Tobin Outfitters

A sample of the quality mule deer taken with Mount Tobin Outfitters — A GOHUNT Business Member. For more photos of bucks they have taken, check out the links below.

Nevada Guide Service & World Safaris

A sample of the quality mule deer taken with Nevada Guide Service — A GOHUNT Business Member. For more photos of bucks they have taken, check out the links below.

Pine Peak Outfitters

A unique nontypical mule deer taken with Pine Peak Outfitters — A GOHUNT Business Member. For more photos of bucks they have taken, check out the links below.

Secret Pass Outfitters

A mature muley taken down with Secret Pass Outfitters — A GOHUNT Business Member. For more photos of bucks they have taken, check out the links below.

Classic Diamond Guide Service LLC.

An awesome framed buck taken with Classic Diamond Guide Service LLC. A GOHUNT Business Member. For more photos of bucks they have taken, check out the links below.

Special Notes

The only seasons eligible for this special drawing are the any legal weapon rifle seasons (rifle, early rifle, mid rifle, and late rifle). You can find these seasons easily on Filtering 2.0 and our standalone draw odds if you're looking to start some research on units to apply for. Or check out the links below to take you right to the Nevada Guided mule deer draw odds.

Again, unlike New Mexico, the Nevada guided draw requires that the outfitter actually completes and submits the application for the hunter by using a guide permit number and password.

Also, the client must be accompanied in the field by a designated guide associated with the outfitter that submitted the application in the guided draw. Even if the tag you draw has season dates that run longer than the duration of the guide contract (time in the field with guide), then it is illegal for the hunter to hunt with a tag obtained in the guided draw without being accompanied by a designated guide.

The deadline to apply is March 9, 2020. It is important that you contact a licensed Nevada outfitter right away if you want to take part in this drawing. It will improve not only your odds of drawing a tag, but also your chance at harvesting a dream buck! Best of luck in the 2020 draws!