New need advice

I've never hunted big game in Nevada and plan to take my son for his first big game hunt. I live in Reno and am interested in where I should apply, how does the system work? Will I even draw a tag? I'm sure I'll come up with more.

I'm not familiar at all with the units in your area. How old is your son? NV has a really good youth hunting program and the tags aren't too hard to draw depending on where you apply.

He?s 15 but won't turn 16 till after the hunting season starts

First off, they do special youth tags for deer. Everything else they go in the same pool as everyone else.

Are you willing to travel? I don't know the units around Reno very well, but there are a couple units around Elko that should be pretty easy for a youth to draw, and a good chance of getting a deer. Area 6 (061, 062, 064...) and area 10 (101, 102, 103...) both should be easy to get a tag for. 6 is a little easier access and shouldn't be too hard to find a buck in. There are still plenty of deer in 10, but it is steeper country and will require a little more work to get away from the crowds. The youth tags also allow you to hunt all the seasons that unit is open with that season's weapon, and take either sex.

Nevada is a bonus point system where you are never guaranteed a tag. Your points get squared, plus the application for that year, i.e. 3 points= 3 squared +1, so 10 chances in the draw. Also, once your number gets drawn, they look through all of your choices, 1-5, and give you the first available tag, so it doesn't hurt your odds of getting a tag to swing for the fences on your first few choices, then put backup tags for the last two.

There are a few other nuances to the draw. If you want to talk more, send me a PM with your number and I can give you a call.

Thanks for the info I'll PM you most likely tomorrow

I'm a little familiar with the areas around you as well as other areas more north and eastern part of the state. Feel free to pm me.

Hunts around Reno are great but getting a tag is very unlikely but you can put him in for the close areas and throw 061-068 as his last choice. If you want to hunt next year you most likely need to put in for units in the east and north. Pm I'll give you some units to put in for and if he draws I'll share some good info on the units.