Nevada Bucks

buckhorn · Mar 12, 2024

Here’s a buck I saw after the 2023 hunts were over. He looks like he may be a good one to look for in 2024. Anyone else see anything worth getting excited about?

buckhorn · Mar 12, 2024

This One

Soj51hopeful · Mar 12, 2024

Nice! Hopefully you can draw the tag.

oilcan · Mar 12, 2024

Very nice looking Buck, one more year could really make a difference. I’d be very curious to see what he looks like this fall.

yotebuster17 · Mar 12, 2024

Dang. Great young buck with a chance to pop for sure.

Calbuck · Mar 12, 2024

Nice buck! Would love a chance at him next season

Firedad · Mar 12, 2024

Lots of sheep I won’t ever have a tag for

Sparks Shooter · Mar 12, 2024

He’s a good one! I saw some solid bucks this year in NV, a few up and comers and a few has-beens. One thing is for sure…. My brain has been all mule deer for the past week. Another season is just around the corner and I hope I can pull off another NV tag this year. ——-SS

buckhorn · Mar 13, 2024

Sparks Shooter said:
He’s a good one! I saw some solid bucks this year in NV, a few up and comers and a few has-beens. One thing is for sure…. My brain has been all mule deer for the past week. Another season is just around the corner and I hope I can pull off another NV tag this year. ——-SS

If you get a tag this year, I know you will find something good. You always do!

buckhorn · Mar 13, 2024

Calbuck said:
Nice buck! Would love a chance at him next season

Yes, I am kind of excited to see what he looks like if I can find him!

buckhorn · Mar 13, 2024

yotebuster17 said:
Dang. Great young buck with a chance to pop for sure.

I think he looks young too. Nice and healthy looking.

buckhorn · Mar 13, 2024

oilcan said:
Very nice looking Buck, one more year could really make a difference. I’d be very curious to see what he looks like this fall.

I’m hoping this year will make a difference with the mild wet winter we’re having.

buckhorn · Mar 13, 2024

Soj51hopeful said:
Nice! Hopefully you can draw the tag.

Thanks! As you know, it’s tough to draw a tag in Nevada. Even for a resident.

Wiszard · Mar 13, 2024

What unit? I'm thinking of putting in.....

He's already a shooter in my book.

Sparks Shooter · Mar 13, 2024

Wiszard said:
What unit? I'm thinking of putting in.....

He's already a shooter in my book.

If you’re happy with a chance at a buck like him, any unit will work. Throw a dart at the map and apply!——-SS

Wiszard · Mar 13, 2024

Of course...I was joking.

Sparks Shooter · Mar 14, 2024

This NV youngster has some potential.----SS

ridgetops · Mar 15, 2024

Sparks Shooter said:
If you’re happy with a chance at a buck like him, any unit will work. Throw a dart at the map and apply!——-SS

I saw a picture of a buck killed from the state wide tag holder from 2023. It was a standard 24" wide 150" class buck. Apparently after 60+ days in the field and over 8k miles driven around the state. He finally gave up and killed that buck on the second to last day. He never saw a buck over 170" the whole time.

Sparks Shooter · Mar 15, 2024

ridgetops said:
I saw a picture of a buck killed from the state wide tag holder from 2023. It was a standard 24" wide 150" class buck. Apparently after 60+ days in the field and over 8k miles driven around the state. He finally gave up and killed that buck on the second to last day. He never saw a buck over 170" the whole time.

I've heard of similar scenarios a few times from Silver State tag holders. Nevada is a state that has several large units with less than 50 total tags for a reason......deer densities are very low in some areas and even finding a deer can be challenging if you're not in the right spot or aren't familiar with hunting desert country mule deer. There was a guy on this forum last year that had a muzzy tag in a unit close to me and I don't think he ever saw a deer during his entire hunt. In my opinion, any 4 point that gets close to 170" is top end for the units I am familiar with. Even the late hunts that people wait decades for are difficult to find a true monster in. I had a great late season tag a few years ago, hunted dawn to dusk for 9 days, and never saw a buck over 180". I saw 2 bucks that would legitimately break 170".

All that being said, Nevada is my favorite place to hunt mule deer for reasons other than inches of antler. I've never killed a monster buck here but I've never filled a tag with a buck that was not fully mature and either at or past their prime. -----SS

buckhorn · Mar 15, 2024

Sparks Shooter said:
This NV youngster has some potential.----SS

View attachment 139924
View attachment 139925

That’s a good looking buck! And that brush is healthy too. He should be eating well.

buckhorn · Mar 15, 2024

ridgetops said:
I saw a picture of a buck killed from the state wide tag holder from 2023. It was a standard 24" wide 150" class buck. Apparently after 60+ days in the field and over 8k miles driven around the state. He finally gave up and killed that buck on the second to last day. He never saw a buck over 170" the whole time.

Yep true story!
He didn’t last long enough to get over and hunt the late seasons in western Nevada.
Probably would’ve been too rough on him!
Especially after all he had already been through.

yotebuster17 · Mar 15, 2024

ridgetops said:
I saw a picture of a buck killed from the state wide tag holder from 2023. It was a standard 24" wide 150" class buck. Apparently after 60+ days in the field and over 8k miles driven around the state. He finally gave up and killed that buck on the second to last day. He never saw a buck over 170" the whole time.

I spent 20+ days in 221-223 this year and never saw a buck over 150. I know that unit cluster has been hurting but it looked like it was REALLY hurting from what I saw.

wweaver79 · Mar 15, 2024

I have only been lucky enough to draw Pronghorn in northern NV. Loved that hunt, so quiet and almost no vehicles once away from the main roads to mines. The wide open spaces and ability get away from people out there is what makes NV special. Going to expand my choices this year a little for deer going in with 15pts.

buckhorn · Mar 15, 2024

We’ve had good moisture the last couple of years, so the drought seems to have been broken for now.
Combine that with reduced tag numbers and the quality of Bucks should be improving over the next few years.

Sparks Shooter · Mar 15, 2024

I spent quite a bit of time in 2 units last year and the feed was way ahead of the deer in both. I couldn't believe how many basins full of awesome feed that didn't have a deer or any sign in sight. Hopefully Buckhorn's prediction is correct and the deer do some breeding, surviving, and growing to take advantage of the awesome habitat right now.

Also hope BLM keepd rounding up the horses and burros. Get 'em out of here and no big deal if there's a bit of collateral damage along the way. -------SS

Killcarp2 · Mar 15, 2024

ridgetops said:
I saw a picture of a buck killed from the state wide tag holder from 2023. It was a standard 24" wide 150" class buck. Apparently after 60+ days in the field and over 8k miles driven around the state. He finally gave up and killed that buck on the second to last day. He never saw a buck over 170" the whole time.

Sounds like he drove too much and didn’t walk enough