2026 Nevada Proposed Tag Quotas

[David Gough]

Here's the link: https://www.ndow.org/wp-content/upl...Notice-of-Hearing-for-Adoption-May-2026-1.pdf

There are some big year over year changes, better and worse. Commission will approve actual numbers tomorrow. I foresee deer tags being less than proposed.

 

[David Gough]

Approved quotas: https://www.ndow.org/wp-content/upl...027-Big-Game-Quota-NBWC-Approved-May-2026.pdf

 

[Gr8bawana]

After looking at the quotas for this year I'm glad there will be more opportunities to draw a tag, but.
I'm a little dubious of some of the quota increases though.
Just as an example in the resident Ruby's 101-104 buck rifle hunt mid Oct. 17-30th. In 2024 there were 293 tags. In 2025 there were 600 tags. Now for this year there are 755 tags.
Seems odd there would be so much of an increase since we've had so little rain and snowfall to help with deer survival.

Another example is resident rifle antelope. In a southern unit 132-134,245 which I know is very dry, I was there last week and the tags have gone from 5 in 2024 to 20 in 2025 and now to 40 this year.
These are just a couple of examples.
I question how there could be such an increase in animals over these last three years.

 

[David Gough]

After looking at the quotas for this year I'm glad there will be more opportunities to draw a tag, but.
I'm a little dubious of some of the quota increases though.
Just as an example in the resident Ruby's 101-104 buck rifle hunt mid Oct. 17-30th. In 2024 there were 293 tags. In 2025 there were 600 tags. Now for this year there are 755 tags.
Seems odd there would be so much of an increase since we've had so little rain and snowfall to help with deer survival.

Another example is resident rifle antelope. In a southern unit 132-134,245 which I know is very dry, I was there last week and the tags have gone from 5 in 2024 to 20 in 2025 and now to 40 this year.
These are just a couple of examples.
I question how there could be such an increase in animals over these last three years.

The Ruby's are a deer factory and a hard hunt. 35 spring buck:doe ratio observed. With the lack of moisture NDOW must be wanting to get more deer off the landscape if the drought cycle continues.

132-134, 245 had an observed 49 buck: 100 doe ratio. 2024 was very productive according to modeling.

Everyone can read the recommendations here: https://www.ndow.org/events/commission-meeting-may-8-and-9-2026/

None of it's a perfect science. I was surprised the area 10 deer tags didn't change, but noticed area 6 did and some units in Washoe county. Pronghorn are doing very well. Another intrastate translocation will occur in 2026.