Nevada Mule Deer & The Trade-Offs in Wildlife Management

Cody Schroeder with a Nevada Mule Deer Buck Nevada might be one of the most interesting mule deer states in the West, and in this episode, Nevada's Cody Schroeder joins the Rokcast to explain what’s happening on the ground with Silver State mule deer. From drought cycles and winterkill to buck ratios, tag allocations, and feral horses, this conversation digs deep into the trade-offs shaping modern mule deer management. We break down why Nevada manages for some of the highest buck-to-doe ratios in the West, why hunters continue pushing for even older age class deer, and what that means for opportunity moving forward. Cody also explains Nevada’s unique season structures, bonus point system, mandatory harvest reporting, and why some of the hardest tags in the state can still be brutally difficult hunts despite producing old bucks. The conversation also dives into the realities of managing mule deer in an arid state. We cover spring and fall fawn surveys, migration corridor work, wildlife crossings, drought concerns heading into 2026, and the massive challenge Nevada faces with feral horse populations on the landscape. If you’ve ever wondered how weather, predators, habitat, and hunting pressure all collide to shape deer hunting in Nevada, this episode gives you a candid look behind the curtain. Along the way, Cody shares stories from his own Nevada sheep hunt, thoughts on why hunters should still swing for the fences in the draw, and a reminder that hunting memories with family matter a whole lot more than waiting for “perfect” conditions. Rokcast is powered by onX Hunt. For 20% off, use Promo Code “Rokcast” at onX Hunt here https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt/app If you want to get your animals aged, consider using new Rokcast sponsor, Matson's Lab. Matson's is the go-to for lab-aging your wild game and used by everyone on this episode. See all they do at https://matsonslab.com/ You can find Robby’s books, Hunting Big Mule Deer and The Stories on Amazon here or signed copies from the Rokslide store here