twoblink
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Is there anything to hunt in Reno, NV.. or am I gonna have to drive up to Oregon?
Anything to hunt in Reno?
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Bwana John
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Geese, ducks, chukar, quail, dove, deer, coyote.
Check out the Ruby Marshes, or Jarbidge its some of the best hunting in the state. The mountains northeast of Ely are also good deer country.
The southern region around Caliente, still harvests some awesome catus bucks.
Bad news is the deer herds ( and sheep ) in Nevada were hurt bad several years ago and haven't ever recovered fully.
Chuckar hunting is pretty good throughout the state. And sage hen is good.
Close to Reno there are a couple of migratory flyways and goose, duck, and swan is good.
The southern region around Caliente, still harvests some awesome catus bucks.
Bad news is the deer herds ( and sheep ) in Nevada were hurt bad several years ago and haven't ever recovered fully.
Chuckar hunting is pretty good throughout the state. And sage hen is good.
Close to Reno there are a couple of migratory flyways and goose, duck, and swan is good.
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twoblink
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Anything my 308 won't take care of??
GooseGestapo
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Ditto what shromf said.
My brother lives in LasVegas, NV.
He has killed two NV elk in the Rubies. He's also has gotten a several mulies near Ely.
Biggest hurdle to clear in NV is getting drawn for a tag. It takes my brother 2-3 years to get drawn for a tag.
This past year, (Nov. '03) we both went to Colorado to elk hunt as he got drawn (and made a kill) in '02 in Nevada. He also didn't get drawn for elk this year, so next year is a cinch. He didn't get drawn for a deer either. So, he'll come to Georgia to "KILL" deer. I got two on Saturday, opening day, -a doe and a spike I shot thinking it was a doe. Missed a doe on Monday, killed it and the 10pt buck chasing it on Tuesday! After I get my 12 in Ga, (5 already), I'll knock back a few in Alabama when their season comes in later.
Also, my brother uses a pre-'64 Winchester Featherweight m70 in .308wcf for everything. He uses the Nosler 150gr Partition over 46.5gr of H4895 (yes, it's over book max, but his gun likes it!) for 2,920fps.
Everything he's shot with it has died, except a cow elk he spanked with it in Colorado last year. He and I both shot high due to elevation differential from where we were sighted in. (He in Nevada at 3,200' elev.; me with a .338/06 w/200gr Hornady S.Pt Interlok @ 2,850fps @ 600' elev). He's never recovered a bullet, even on a 450lb cow he shot behind the ribs on a foward raking shot. Nosler exited the far shoulder with ~1" exit wound. Both our bullets completely penetrated the elk we hit in Co. Both were standing broadside on opposite side of ravine (not wide enough to be a canyon- about like a hillside to hillside shot in GA or AL in a "cutover" for me, at about 7,600'elev. according to my GPS)
He uses a 300yd sight-in which is ~4.5" high at 100yds. Our 250yd elk (measured with his laser range finder) were just a tad close!
Even a .338 will lose an elk if not hit just right!!! Both of ours were high lung shots, a bit back due to about a 10kt cross wind component from the left to the right. (elk were left to right and looking at us)
The .308 and .30/06 are just fine. Just use a decent bullet, and shoot accurately.
My brother lives in LasVegas, NV.
He has killed two NV elk in the Rubies. He's also has gotten a several mulies near Ely.
Biggest hurdle to clear in NV is getting drawn for a tag. It takes my brother 2-3 years to get drawn for a tag.
This past year, (Nov. '03) we both went to Colorado to elk hunt as he got drawn (and made a kill) in '02 in Nevada. He also didn't get drawn for elk this year, so next year is a cinch. He didn't get drawn for a deer either. So, he'll come to Georgia to "KILL" deer. I got two on Saturday, opening day, -a doe and a spike I shot thinking it was a doe. Missed a doe on Monday, killed it and the 10pt buck chasing it on Tuesday! After I get my 12 in Ga, (5 already), I'll knock back a few in Alabama when their season comes in later.
Also, my brother uses a pre-'64 Winchester Featherweight m70 in .308wcf for everything. He uses the Nosler 150gr Partition over 46.5gr of H4895 (yes, it's over book max, but his gun likes it!) for 2,920fps.
Everything he's shot with it has died, except a cow elk he spanked with it in Colorado last year. He and I both shot high due to elevation differential from where we were sighted in. (He in Nevada at 3,200' elev.; me with a .338/06 w/200gr Hornady S.Pt Interlok @ 2,850fps @ 600' elev). He's never recovered a bullet, even on a 450lb cow he shot behind the ribs on a foward raking shot. Nosler exited the far shoulder with ~1" exit wound. Both our bullets completely penetrated the elk we hit in Co. Both were standing broadside on opposite side of ravine (not wide enough to be a canyon- about like a hillside to hillside shot in GA or AL in a "cutover" for me, at about 7,600'elev. according to my GPS)
He uses a 300yd sight-in which is ~4.5" high at 100yds. Our 250yd elk (measured with his laser range finder) were just a tad close!
Even a .338 will lose an elk if not hit just right!!! Both of ours were high lung shots, a bit back due to about a 10kt cross wind component from the left to the right. (elk were left to right and looking at us)
The .308 and .30/06 are just fine. Just use a decent bullet, and shoot accurately.
twoblink
Member
I got the "use a decent bullet" part down, it's the shooting accurately that's eluded me..
Can someone explain, what drawing a tag in NV involves? Is it like lotto??
I am a little dated on nevada and haven't hunted there in several years, but here goes.
Nevada has game management areas, with a real mixed bag in how good the areas are. The state fish and game assigns quotas to each area. Problem is some of the areas are very remote with little or no access, others are just poor prospects. An example of each are in the southern part of the state. The area near the California border ( area 263 and 264 ) has just a few really fair areas to hunt, they are remote, and real knowledge of the area is neccesary for much chance at seeing a deer. The other is what is called the Arizona strip ( area 272 ), which is a very rugged, remote area toward the Utah border. Both of these areas aren't to hard to draw a tag, they only issue a few but your odds are pretty good cause most hunters won't apply for them. Yes it is a draw system. Below is the 2003 draw odds:
http://ndow.org/hunt/stats/pdf/deer2003.pdf
There is also a little science to knowing how to apply. If your 1st choice is an area that has 2:1 or better odds you will probably get a tag. A lot of hunters will use their 1st choice on the high odds areas, not a good way to guarantee a tag. Then there is a second draw, for tags that are left over, this is the science part if one of these areas was your first choice you are almost sure to get a tag. After that is done there are still left over tags, this years:
http://ndow.org/hunt/applications/pdf/Manual_Draw_Remaining_Tags04.pdf
If you a smart about this your almost certain you will get a deer tag. Now Elk, Sheep, Antelope, and Mt Goat are a whole different story. Mt goat had last year 148:1 odds of drawing a tag, elk is depending on area between 20;1 and 200:1, sheep is about the same as elk, and antelope is as low as 3:1 and as high as 135:1. Most of these you are ineligable for the draw for 5 years after drawing a tag, but goats for sure is a once in a lifetime hunt.
Honestly the above hockus pokus is why I moved to Idaho, I am just about guaranteed a Elk, deer, bear tag every year. Montana is even better.
Nevada has game management areas, with a real mixed bag in how good the areas are. The state fish and game assigns quotas to each area. Problem is some of the areas are very remote with little or no access, others are just poor prospects. An example of each are in the southern part of the state. The area near the California border ( area 263 and 264 ) has just a few really fair areas to hunt, they are remote, and real knowledge of the area is neccesary for much chance at seeing a deer. The other is what is called the Arizona strip ( area 272 ), which is a very rugged, remote area toward the Utah border. Both of these areas aren't to hard to draw a tag, they only issue a few but your odds are pretty good cause most hunters won't apply for them. Yes it is a draw system. Below is the 2003 draw odds:
http://ndow.org/hunt/stats/pdf/deer2003.pdf
There is also a little science to knowing how to apply. If your 1st choice is an area that has 2:1 or better odds you will probably get a tag. A lot of hunters will use their 1st choice on the high odds areas, not a good way to guarantee a tag. Then there is a second draw, for tags that are left over, this is the science part if one of these areas was your first choice you are almost sure to get a tag. After that is done there are still left over tags, this years:
http://ndow.org/hunt/applications/pdf/Manual_Draw_Remaining_Tags04.pdf
If you a smart about this your almost certain you will get a deer tag. Now Elk, Sheep, Antelope, and Mt Goat are a whole different story. Mt goat had last year 148:1 odds of drawing a tag, elk is depending on area between 20;1 and 200:1, sheep is about the same as elk, and antelope is as low as 3:1 and as high as 135:1. Most of these you are ineligable for the draw for 5 years after drawing a tag, but goats for sure is a once in a lifetime hunt.
Honestly the above hockus pokus is why I moved to Idaho, I am just about guaranteed a Elk, deer, bear tag every year. Montana is even better.
sumpnz
Member
schromf - For a similar reason I'm rather tempted to move to CO. Except that I've just accepted a job in Phoenix, so it'll be a few years before I can really consider another move. My wife was really hoping to get out of AZ (really the desert) when I started casting about for a new job. Who'd a thunk we'd end up moving to hotter part of the desert.
My current neighbor here in Tucson has relatives in CO that she said would probably welcome me to come and hunt their property. I just need to get my hunting partner to take Hunter Ed so we can head up there for elk next year. I figure at $255 for a cow tag it's pretty reasonable for non-residents.
My current neighbor here in Tucson has relatives in CO that she said would probably welcome me to come and hunt their property. I just need to get my hunting partner to take Hunter Ed so we can head up there for elk next year. I figure at $255 for a cow tag it's pretty reasonable for non-residents.
sumpnz
Member
Draw odds for most of Northern AZ for deer last year were under 25%, with several hunts under 5%. Southern AZ has much better draw odds, probably becuase fewer people from out of state want to hunt down there. Plenty of 70%+ draw success rates for both whitetail and mule deer hunts down here.
For elk, it depends on whether you want a bull or a cow. Some bull hunts are at less than 1% draw odds, some cow hunts are at 100% draw odds. Course, some of that's because nobody want to hunt some of those areas becuase they're either too remote for most folks, or there just aren't many elk in that unit at that time of the year.
Reasonably speaking, most cow hunts average about 30-50% draw success, and the bull hunts are usually around 10-15%. Lots of out of state folks want to come here to hunt because of the monster bulls you don't typically find elsewhere. But good luck scoring some of those tags. Unit 10's early bull hunt last year had 5600+ spplicants for the 20 tags that were authorized.
Can't really comment either way on Turkey hunting. I'm not that into hunting turkeys. I may get into it later, but for now, deer and elk are my main focus.
For elk, it depends on whether you want a bull or a cow. Some bull hunts are at less than 1% draw odds, some cow hunts are at 100% draw odds. Course, some of that's because nobody want to hunt some of those areas becuase they're either too remote for most folks, or there just aren't many elk in that unit at that time of the year.
Reasonably speaking, most cow hunts average about 30-50% draw success, and the bull hunts are usually around 10-15%. Lots of out of state folks want to come here to hunt because of the monster bulls you don't typically find elsewhere. But good luck scoring some of those tags. Unit 10's early bull hunt last year had 5600+ spplicants for the 20 tags that were authorized.
Can't really comment either way on Turkey hunting. I'm not that into hunting turkeys. I may get into it later, but for now, deer and elk are my main focus.
sumpnz
Member
Depends. For hunts during the rut, draw odds might be as low as 3% (unit 34A). I think the highest draw odd for rut hunts is 12%. Before the rut, you might see draw odds well into the 90% range (also 34A). Incidendally, untill I move to Phoenix at least, I live in 34A though I got drawn for mule deer in 30B.
twoblink
Member
So maybe I will be joining my friends in Oregon for hunting.. Seems like an overly complicated drawing system that didn't need to be.
sumpnz
Member
One issue in OR as I understand it is the relative lack of quality hunting ground that is on public land. The really good land in mostly in private hands, so unless your friends owns lots of acreage, or know people that do you might find yourself limited there too. Some parts of OR have also apparently gone to the draw system according to my FIL.
I could be wrong though.
I could be wrong though.
In Nevada, drawing a deer tag (buck) is about an every other year situtation. Drawing a bull elk tag takes about 12 or 13 years. Antelope is not real hard to draw. You might put in for a year or two before you are drawn depending on what area you apply for. Of course there is a certain amount of luck invovled: you may get drawn for a bull elk hunt the first year you apply.
As I understand the way this works, the idea is to provide quality over quantity. Nevada is in the desert (surprise). This country can't support huge deer herds like Kansas or Iowa or Ohio. We don't have the food or the water. The tags are given out with an eye toward maintaining a good deer herd and towards allowing the deer to mature.
"Problem is some of the areas are very remote with little or no access..."
Again, this isn't New York. Nevada IS the wild West. Most of the state is remote. A lot of towns in Nevada are remote. There are towns in Nevada that can only be accessed from a dirt road. However I don't know of many areas that have no access (I am not even sure what NO access means. You can't get there ?). You can hunt from a four wheeler here. You can hunt from a horse here. And heaven forbid you might actually walk into a hunting area. I don't know about you, but when I am hunting, I don't want to hunt behind the neighborhood 7-11. Remote is what I am looking for. I dont' want to see another person when I am hunting. Nevada provides that opportunity. Nevada is very sparsely populated. It is a BIG state in terms of land with few people, most of who live in Las Vegas and to a lessor extent, in the Reno area. In the area I hunt (area 10), I have hunted for 12 days and only saw one other party of hunters. To me, this is a very good thing. If you idea of hunting is walking out the back door and shooting a deer, Nevada isn't for you. If your idea of hunting is staying in a hotel, Nevada probably isn't for you. If your idea of hunting is accessing a fairly remote area, sleeping in a tent, cooking your own food etc. Then Nevada is a place to do this.
One of the beautiful things about Nevada is that you can easily hunt Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, California, and Arizona within a days drive if you don't get drawn here or, even if you do. I have hunted deer in Nevada, then drove to Colorado and hunted blackpowder elk, then drove from Colorado to Arizona for a cow elk hunt. Spent three weeks in a tent.
Oregon wouldn't even be a consideration for me.
As I understand the way this works, the idea is to provide quality over quantity. Nevada is in the desert (surprise). This country can't support huge deer herds like Kansas or Iowa or Ohio. We don't have the food or the water. The tags are given out with an eye toward maintaining a good deer herd and towards allowing the deer to mature.
"Problem is some of the areas are very remote with little or no access..."
Again, this isn't New York. Nevada IS the wild West. Most of the state is remote. A lot of towns in Nevada are remote. There are towns in Nevada that can only be accessed from a dirt road. However I don't know of many areas that have no access (I am not even sure what NO access means. You can't get there ?). You can hunt from a four wheeler here. You can hunt from a horse here. And heaven forbid you might actually walk into a hunting area. I don't know about you, but when I am hunting, I don't want to hunt behind the neighborhood 7-11. Remote is what I am looking for. I dont' want to see another person when I am hunting. Nevada provides that opportunity. Nevada is very sparsely populated. It is a BIG state in terms of land with few people, most of who live in Las Vegas and to a lessor extent, in the Reno area. In the area I hunt (area 10), I have hunted for 12 days and only saw one other party of hunters. To me, this is a very good thing. If you idea of hunting is walking out the back door and shooting a deer, Nevada isn't for you. If your idea of hunting is staying in a hotel, Nevada probably isn't for you. If your idea of hunting is accessing a fairly remote area, sleeping in a tent, cooking your own food etc. Then Nevada is a place to do this.
One of the beautiful things about Nevada is that you can easily hunt Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, California, and Arizona within a days drive if you don't get drawn here or, even if you do. I have hunted deer in Nevada, then drove to Colorado and hunted blackpowder elk, then drove from Colorado to Arizona for a cow elk hunt. Spent three weeks in a tent.
Oregon wouldn't even be a consideration for me.
twoblink
Member
My buddy's got 300 acres in TX, and wild hogs galore.. No tags, and shoot as many as I can/like. And he said if I got bored and finished, he knows enough corn farmers to keep me hunting hogs for the rest of my life.
So if the tags are that difficult, then maybe on the off years, wild bacon the way to go?
So if the tags are that difficult, then maybe on the off years, wild bacon the way to go?
I grew up (and will return to after college) a tiny town a 1.5 hours south of Reno named Smith Valley. The odds of drawing a tag in Nevada ain't that great, but the quality of what you can get is usually pretty good. Here's what you can expect to hunt most of the time:
Deer (mule)
Elk (eastern side of state)
Antelope (Northern parts of the state as far as I know)
Desert Bighorn (S. NV, but Good luck getting a tag for that!)
Ducks
Geese
Pheasants
Quail
Chukar (sp?)
Sage Hen
Coyotes, Ground Squirrels, JACK RABBITS AT NIGHT WITH A SPOTLIGHT. Too much fun, some guys got over 300 jack rabbits in one night in Smith Valley this summer.
I'm in Montana right now going to school, and people really take being able to hunt for granted. Just about everyone can pay a few bucks and get a bull elk and buck tag. I'm paying $75 for the privlidege of shooting an "antlerless deer" because that's the cheapest out of state hunting I can do. I plan to come back though.
Deer (mule)
Elk (eastern side of state)
Antelope (Northern parts of the state as far as I know)
Desert Bighorn (S. NV, but Good luck getting a tag for that!)
Ducks
Geese
Pheasants
Quail
Chukar (sp?)
Sage Hen
Coyotes, Ground Squirrels, JACK RABBITS AT NIGHT WITH A SPOTLIGHT. Too much fun, some guys got over 300 jack rabbits in one night in Smith Valley this summer.
I'm in Montana right now going to school, and people really take being able to hunt for granted. Just about everyone can pay a few bucks and get a bull elk and buck tag. I'm paying $75 for the privlidege of shooting an "antlerless deer" because that's the cheapest out of state hunting I can do. I plan to come back though.
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