Nevada
(Note: This overview was extracted from the December 2007 issue of The Huntin' Fool) 
Nevada has a very simple online application process in which the tag fees are not required up front only $15-$20 application fee per species. Paper applications are also accepted, but the tag fees are required up front when applying on paper. In order to gain points, hunters must purchase a non-refundable hunting license. Hunters may apply and not pay for the hunting license and will be in the drawing, but will not gain a bonus point for any species they apply for.
Nevada has one of the best bonus point systems in the West! Every year that you are unsuccessful in the drawing, you are awarded a bonus point for that species applied for. At the time you apply, Nevada squares the points you have previously earned and gives you that many additional chances to draw a low random number. For example, if you have 3 bonus points for deer, when you apply, your 3 points are squared equaling 9 plus this year’s application of 1 equals 10 chances in the draw. A person’s odds of drawing are exponentially better as time goes on, but the first year applicant still has a chance at drawing a tag!
Nevada has Desert sheep, Rocky Mountain Bighorns, and California Bighorns! Apply and gain points for them all! There is not a limit to how many species you can draw or apply for. Some hunters have been known to draw a couple of sheep tags in 1 year. The Desert sheep are awesome with a few 170 plus rams harvested in the last couple of years and a lot of 160 class rams. The Rockys have great quality, but there is only one unit non-residents can apply for with one tag available. The rams harvested generally average in the mid 170’s! The California Bighorns are average in quality with high success and Nevada is one of the few states that offer them.
Nevada has some great elk, but due to increasing herd sizes and populations exceeding management objectives, more tags have been issued across the board and the results are less top end bulls. Regardless, great bulls are harvested every year and it remains one of the top four elk states to apply for. The rifle and muzzleloader hunts are in October and November for the most part, making the archery hunt in the first part of the rut, the best opportunity at harvesting a monster bull!
There are some great Mule deer in Nevada. The drawing odds for some of the early muzzleloader and archery hunts are really good in most units with hunters expecting a tag every 3-4 years. The units near the Utah border are the best trophy producing areas, although 200" plus bucks can come from any unit. Nevada doesn’t usually allow true rifle rut hunts, although some late seasons in excellent units are extended to November 5th!
There are plenty of antelope in Nevada with some “book” bucks in a few units. If you want a big buck, you should be applying for Nevada as some 90 class bucks have been harvested over the years. If you are applying for any other species, you can also apply for antelope for an additional $15 - what do you have to lose?
Nevada has done a superb job of managing what limited resources they have! We apply for all species and in our opinion, it is a “must apply for” state for serious hunters!