How to increase your odds at drawing a nonresident mule deer tag in Nevada
The application period for Nevada's 2026 nonresident guided mule deer draw is open February 9 and will close on March 9, 2026, at 11:00 p.m. PT. If you're looking for a way to increase your odds of pulling a tag, this draw is for you! Note: the Nevada guide draw is for nonresidents only.
Again, the deadline to apply for the Nevada guided draw in 2026 is Monday, March 9, at 11:00 p.m. PT. Draw results should be available on or before March 20. For a nonresident, mule deer points could be purchased during the guide draw or purchased during the main draw, and finally, if you haven't purchased a point yet, you could buy them in the second draw.
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/group. It is worth noting that there are not a lot of tags set aside for the guided draw… but the odds of drawing are typically 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 place 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.
If you are a nonresident and apply for mule deer with the mindset that if you draw, you'll 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 nonresident 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.
You can see the draw odds for the Nevada Guided Draw very easily on GOHUNT. Plus, you have the ability to view your Draw Odds in two different ways: on the standalone Draw Odds page or on Filtering. Plus, don't forget that you can access all of our hunting research tools on the mobile app as well.
To access the Nevada Guided mule deer research, you'll need to swap your residency to "Guided."
For example, in Units 202, 205, 206, 207, 208, the draw odds for a rifle tag with season dates of Nov. 5 - Nov. 30 in the main draw is 0.22% at 2 points for a nonresident, but in the guided draw your odds are 37%!
Also, in some cases, a nonresident can have better draw odds than even a resident by applying through the guided draw! A resident that applied for Units 202, 205, 206, 207, 208, in the main draw with 2 points only has a 2.8% chance to draw the same tag. So, in this example, you can quickly see that a nonresident can have a huge advantage in the guided draw and ultimately get a tag in Nevada.
When looking at the rifle hunt in Unit 192, draw odds in the nonresident guided draw are 27% at 0 points. If you were to apply in the main draw for that same unit as a nonresident in the main draw, your draw odds at 0 points are 0.03%. And again, a resident's draw odds were 0.20% for the same hunt at 0 points. 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.
So again, if you're looking to gain an advantage in Nevada and are going to book with an outfitter anyway, you should look at applying for the guided draw and contacting an outfitter.
It's worth noting that, unlike New Mexico's guide draw, the Nevada guided draw requires that the outfitter provide a Master Guide License Number and pin. So be sure to contact an outfitter early to get applied, as they will help you through the application process.
The only seasons eligible for the nonresident guided mule deer draw are the any legal weapon rifle seasons (rifle, early rifle, mid rifle, and late rifle). You can find these seasons/units easily on Filtering and our standalone draw odds page if you're looking to start some research on what units to apply for. Or check out the links below to take you right to the Nevada guided mule deer draw research sections.
If successful, remember that you must be accompanied in the field by a designated guide associated with the outfitter who submitted the application in the guided draw. Even if the tag you drew 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, 2026, at 11:00 p.m. PT. 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 taking a dream buck!
Best of luck in the draw!
Hunters interested in applying for the guided draw must first contact an eligible outfitter
After the outfitter walks you through the process, you'll need to fill out a Power of Attorney Form (the 2026 form is linked) and get it notarized.
After finalizing the last step, the outfitter can then provide you with their required information to apply in the guided draw.
Proof of Hunter Education is required.
