Nevada sets its mule deer seasons by unit group and weapon, but most groups follow the same basic calendar. Archery runs from mid-August into September, muzzleloader follows in September, and rifle (any legal weapon) seasons run from early October to early November. A handful of groups have late hunts in November, December, and even January.
2026 Nevada mule deer season dates
These are NDOW’s dates for 2026. The 2027 dates and quotas will be set next spring, but the pattern usually stays close to this.
| Season | Typical 2026 dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | August 10 – September 9 | Most unit groups |
| Late archery | November 10 – 20 | Groups 071–079, 091; 081; 101–109; 121 |
| Winter archery | December 1 – January 1 or December 16 – January 1 | Some southern groups (192, 194, 196, and 201–208) |
| Muzzleloader | September 10 – October 4 | Most groups. 101–109 runs September 10–30 |
| Late muzzleloader | November 10 – December 15, by group | Groups 081, 114–115, 181–184, 201–208 |
| Rifle, early | October 5 – 20 | Most northern and central groups with split seasons |
| Rifle, late | October 21 – November 5 | Same groups as the early hunt |
| Rifle, single season | October 5 – November 5 | Many smaller groups. Some end October 31 or November 2 |
| Rifle, southern groups | November 5 – 30 | Groups such as 192, 194, 196, 201–208, 211–213, 261–268, 271–272, 291 |
| Rifle, winter | December 11 – January 1 | Groups 015 and 081 (021 runs December 21 – January 1) |
Groups with three rifle hunts
Two of the biggest unit groups split rifle season three ways:
| Unit group | Early | Mid | Late |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101–109 | October 1 – 16 | October 17 – 30 | October 31 – November 8 |
| 171–173 | October 5 – 16 | October 17 – 30 | October 31 – November 8 |
Nonresident guided tags use the same rifle dates as the regular rifle hunt in each group. Silver State and Heritage tags were valid August 1 to December 31, 2026, in any unit with an open season. Junior hunts have their own dates, so check the regulations for your group.
What each season is like
Archery (August 10 – September 9)
Bucks are in summer patterns, often in velvet early on, and many are bedded high on cool north slopes. It is hot and dry in much of Nevada in August, so water, shade, and meat care all matter. Spot-and-stalk is the main method.
Muzzleloader (September 10 – October 4)
Bucks have shed velvet and are still in fairly predictable late-summer patterns. The weather starts to cool, and the extra range of a muzzleloader helps in open sagebrush country.
Rifle, early (October)
This is when most Nevada tags are hunted. Bucks are still mostly on summer and transition range. Hunter numbers are low by western standards because every tag is drawn, but the early hunt in a popular group will have the most company you’ll see.
Rifle, late (late October to November)
Late hunts are short and have fewer tags. Cold weather and the first snow can push deer toward winter range, and bucks start to move as the rut approaches in November. These tags are often harder to draw.
November and winter hunts
Several southern groups hunt rifle in November, when bucks are rutting. A few groups have December and January hunts, when the rut and winter range make big bucks more visible. Quotas are tiny.
How to pick your season
- Want the best draw odds? Look at groups with large quotas, like 101–109 or 061–068, especially the early rifle hunts.
- Want to hunt the rut? November rifle hunts in southern groups, or a late archery hunt.
- Bowhunter? August archery hunts usually have more tags than late archery.
- Going guided? Ask your outfitter which hunts they do best in. Guided tags are rifle only.
Key license dates for 2026
- Nonresident guided draw: February 9 – March 9
- Main draw: March 23 – May 13
- Main draw results: on or before May 29
- Second draw: June 8 – 15, results June 26
- First-come, first-served: after the second draw
Read our step-by-step guide to the Nevada mule deer draw
Book the right season
Find Nevada mule deer outfitters by season
Most outfitters list which unit groups and weapons they guide.
Related: How Nevada draw points work · Draw odds by unit · Nevada Mule Deer Hunting Guide · Tags, unit groups, and the guided draw · Cost of a Nevada mule deer hunt
Season dates are from the Nevada Department of Wildlife’s 2026 mule deer hunt tables and vary by unit group. Confirm the dates for your hunt in the current NDOW regulations.