Welcome to 2024-25 Nevada Big Game Hunting Seasons & Applications

Know Before You Go

In recent years, Nevada has adopted several new hunting regulations. Here are a few that you may not be aware of. Be sure to know before you go!

Keep in mind that these are simply synopsis of the laws. Visit leg.state.nv.us to read the Nevada Revised Statutes in their entirety. It is your responsibility to know and follow the law. Please check https://nvboardofwildlife.org/#policies for updates.

Spike Elk

Spike elk means any antlered elk having not more than two antler points on either antler. (Refer to NAC 502.145/CGR 508/R090-22)

Trail Camera

With certain exemptions, it is illegal to place, maintain, or use a trail camera on public land from August 1 - December 31 of each year. It is illegal to use a trail camera July 1 - December 31 of each year if the camera is capable of transmitting images, video, or location of wildlife. (Refer to NAC 502/CGR 440/R012-16)

Shed Antlers

A person shall not take or gather shed antlers from or on any public land located in Elko, Eureka, Lander, Lincoln, Nye, or White Pine Counties at any time from January 1 - April 30. A shed antler collection certificate is required for collecting May 1 - June 30. NDOW offers a shed-hunting course, which can be accessed at ndow.org. It is unlawful to pick up antlers still attached to a skull (deadhead). (Refer to NAC 503/CGR 475/R082-19)

Thermal Imaging/Optics

A person shall not possess or use electronic night-vision equipment, electronically enhanced light-gathering devices, thermal imaging devices, infrared night-vision equipment, or any other comparable equipment or device used to enhance night-vision while hunting or taking any game mammal or game bird or while locating game mammals or game birds for the purpose of hunting. This does not limit the use of a sight attached to a firearm, bow or crossbow that is powered by a battery contained within the sight, is illuminated by light gathering fiber optics, or uses a radioactive isotope such as a tritium. (Refer to NAC 503/CGR 492/R035-20)

Drone/Unmanned Aircraft

A person shall not, for the purpose of hunting and trapping, locate or observe, or assist a person in locating or observing, any big game mammal, game bird or fur-bearing mammal in a management unit described in NAC 504.210 during the period beginning on July 1 and ending on the last day of February of each calendar year with the use of an aircraft. (Refer to NAC 503/CGR 459)

Electronic License

Hunters are required to possess a license in the field and have the ability to show it. This includes electronic versions. (Refer to NRS 502.120)

Important Information for 2024

$3 Fee

Customers can now select where they would like the Department to utilize their $3 application fee. Customers will be prompted on their application review page to select directing the Department to spend their $3 fee on lethal removal of predatory wildlife or wildlife habitat and research of non-predatory wildlife. (AB70, 2023)

Language Preference Choice

Customers can now share with the Department their preferred language of choice. A prompt will show to the customer and selection can be seen or edited in a customer’s storefront account under their general profile information.

Hunt News

The Nelson (desert) bighorn ram management “One-Horn” hunt will continue this year in select unit groups. The shortest horn must be less than half the length of the longest horn. See Bighorn Sheep.

Mule Deer

All junior mule deer hunts are now antlered only.

Changes for the 2024-2025 Season

• Elimination of 2 resident horns shorter than ears antelope hunts (078, 105-107, 121 and 131, 145) due to poor herd productivity and lack of available animals.
• The resident antlered and antlerless elk, any legal weapon depredation hunt will be reduced to two seasons.
• Resident Desert Bighorn Sheep Any Ram – Any Legal Weapon hunts:
  • The 173 North season will match with 173 North management hunt season.
  • Close Unit 212 due to recent disease event
  • Close Unit 252 due to lack of mature rams from prolonged disease event
  • Open Unit 282 hunting season – recent survey indicates re-patriation of animals and mature rams.
• Non-resident Desert Bighorn Sheep Any Ram – Any Legal Weapon hunts:
  • Close both Unit 161 hunts due to recent disease event
  • Close Unit 212 due to disease event
  • Close Unit 271, 242 to accommodate reduced resident tags relative to mature ram availability.
• Resident Desert Bighorn Sheep Any Ram Archery hunts:
  • Close Unit 161 due to recent disease event
  • Adjust Unit 182, 044 season dates to be consistent with Unit 202 archery hunt dates.
  • Adjust Unit 202 season dates to eliminate overlap with any legal weapon hunt in Unit 202
  • Close Unit 212 hunting season due to recent disease event
• Non-resident Desert Bighorn Sheep Any Ram Archery Hunt:
  • Close Unit 161 due to recent disease event
• Resident Desert Bighorn Sheep One-Horn Management Hunt:
  • Close Unit Groups 241, 243, 271 and 283, 284, 286 due to no one-horn rams observed in any of these units and no harvest in first year for a Once-in-a-Lifetime hunt.
• Resident and Non-resident Desert Bighorn Sheep Any Ewe Any Legal Weapon Hunt:
  • Close Unit 161 due to disease event
    
• Resident California Bighorn Sheep Any Ram Any Legal Weapon Hunt:
  • Open eastern portion of Unit 035 for the Bloody Run Mountains with adequate mature rams. Herd reintroduced in 2019
  • Close Hunt Unit 014 portion of the 012, 014 Unit group.
• Elimination of the Resident Junior Mule Deer Antlered or Antlerless Archery, Muzzleloader, or Any Legal Weapon Hunt for 061, 062, 064, 066-068, 071-079, and 091, and 101-109 for the 2024 season and incorporation of those unit groups into the Resident Junior Mule Deer – Standard and Non-Standard Antlered Only Archery, Muzzleloader or Any Legal Weapon Hunt for the 2024 season.
• New Resident Junior Mule Deer – Alternative Primitive Weapon Antlered Only hunt (Hunt#: 1105) and Resident Junior Mule Deer Alternative Antlered Only Any Legal Weapon hunt Weapon (Hunt#: 1106) to provide more opportunity for Juniors in Alternative Units.
• Resident and Nonresident Mule Deer Antlered Any Legal Weapon Hunt:
  • Eliminate the mid-season for Units 221-223
• Elimination of the Resident Mule Deer – Antlerless Any Legal Weapon Hunt for hunt unit groups 061, 062, 064, 066-068, 071-079, and 091, and 101, 102, and 109 for the 2024 season due to lower mule deer population size.
• Establish the first ever Resident Antlered Moose Any Legal Weapon Hunt in multiple units in Elko County with adequate mature bulls available.
• Unit 091 is no longer an interstate mountain lion hunt with Utah. Nevada hunters may no longer hunt mountain lions in Utah Unit 1C.

Important 2024 Application Calendar Dates
2024 Application Calendar	Big Game Main Draw	Big Game Second Draw
Application Period Opens	3/25/2024	6/3/2024
Application Period Deadline	5/8/2024	6/10/2024
Initial Draw Results Released	5/17/2024	6/21/2024