Upland Game Bird, Rabbit, Dove, and Crow
Nevada
Hunting
In Nevada, upland game bird species include blue and ruffed grouse, sage grouse, chukar and Hungarian partridge, snowcock, ring-necked pheasant, California, Gambel’s and mountain quail, and North American wild turkey.
Small game species include cottontail, pygmy, and white-tailed jackrabbits. Falconry seasons are in effect for waterfowl (all migratory bird stamp requirements apply), dove, chukar, sage, blue and ruffed grouse, pheasant, Himalayan snowcock, Hungarian partridge, quail, and rabbit.
Youth seasons include chukar and Hungarian partridge, California and Gambel’s quail, and cottontail, pygmy, and white-tailed jackrabbits.
| Youth California and Gambel’s Quail | |||
| Open Counties | Season Dates (Inclusive) | Daily Limits/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| Statewide | Sept. 26 – Oct. 4, 2020 | 10/30 | Hunting Hours: Sunrise to sunset daily. Open to hunters 17 years of age or younger only. Youth must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 18 years old. |
Distribution Maps
| Youth Rabbit (cottontail, pygmy, and white-tailed jackrabbit) | |||
| Open Counties | Season Dates (Inclusive) | Daily Limits/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| Statewide | Sept. 26 – Oct. 4, 2020 | 10/30 | Limit: Limit singly or in the aggregate except for pygmy rabbit where limits may not include more than 2 daily and 6 in possession. Hunting Hours: Sunrise to sunset daily. Open to hunters 17 years of age or younger only. Youth must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 18 years old. |
| Youth Chukar and Hungarian Partridge | |||
| Open Counties | Season Dates (Inclusive) | Daily Limits/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| Statewide | Sept. 26 – Oct. 4, 2020 | 6/18 | Hunting Hours: Sunrise to sunset daily. Open to hunters 17 years of age or younger only. Youth must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 18 years old. |
Distribution Maps
| Sage-Grouse | |||
| Open Counties | Season Dates | Daily Limits/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| Unit 031 of Humboldt County Unit 141 of Eureka and Lander County Unit 144 of Eureka and White Pine County | Oct. 3-4, 2020 | 2/4 | Hunting Hours: Sunrise to sunset Closed to nonresidents |
| Hunt Units, or those portions of hunt units, 062, 064, 065, 067, 071-077, 101-103 and 109 in Elko County Hunt Units, or those portions of hunt units, 162 and 163 in Eureka County Hunt Units, or those portions of hunt units, 161, 162, 172 and 173 in Lander County Hunt Units, or those portions of hunt units, 161-163, 172, and 173 in Nye County | Sept. 26 – Oct. 11, 2020 | 2/4 | Hunting Hours: Sunrise to sunset Closed to nonresidents |
| Hunt Unit or portion of hunt unit 012 in Humboldt County. Hunt Units, or those portions of hunt units, 011-015 in Washoe County Hunt Units, or those portions of hunt units, 143, 145 and 155 in Eureka County Hunt Units, or those portions of hunt units, 154 and 155 of Lander County Hunt Units 104 and 121 in Elko County Hunt Units, or those portions of hunt units, 104, 108, 111-113, 121, and 131 in White Pine County | Sept. 26 – Oct. 4, 2020 | 2/4 | Hunting Hours: Sunrise to sunset Closed to nonresidents |
| Unit 033 of Washoe and Humboldt Counties (Sheldon NWR) excluding the Little Sheldon and other areas as posted | Sept. 19-20, 2020 Application available online at ndowlicensing.com | 2/4 | Hunting Hours: Sunrise to sunset Note: Up to 4 applicants may apply as a party. Parties may be comprised of a combination of residents and nonresidents. Limited to 45 reservations awarded through random draw. Sheldon Special Sage-grouse Hunt applications must be submitted online through www.ndowlicensing.com. Paper applications will not be accepted. Applications will be accepted until 11 p.m. PST. Aug. 7, 2020. Successful applicants will be notified via e-mail. Open to nonresidents |
| Unit 033 of Washoe and Humboldt Counties (Sheldon NWR) excluding the Little Sheldon and other areas as posted | Sept. 26-27, 2020 Application available online at ndowlicensing.com | 2/4 | |
Sage Grouse
The Nevada Department of Wildlife is conducting a long-term study of the state’s sage grouse populations and is collecting wing samples to help determine the status of the sage grouse population in Nevada. Sage grouse hunters are asked to remove one wing from each sage grouse taken. This diagram illustrates where the wing should be cut.
Please keep the wing dry and away from flies. A paper lunch bag works well. Deposit the wing at any of the Department’s wing barrels, at check stations, or with Department employees who contact you in the field.
Due to large fire occurrence in sage grouse habitat, hunt units may be subject to closure upon approval by the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners.
Distribution Map
| Himalayan Snowcock | |||
| Open Counties | Season Dates (Inclusive) | Daily Limits/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| Elko and White Pine Counties | Sept. 1 – Nov. 30, 2020 | 2/2 | Hunting Hours Sunrise to sunset Open to nonresidents. Prior to hunting Himalayan snowcock, persons must obtain a snowcock hunting free-use permit available online at ndowlicensing.com. |
| Mourning and White-Winged Dove | |||
| Open Counties | Season Dates (Inclusive) | Daily Limits/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| Statewide | Sept. 1 – Oct. 30, 2020 | 15/45 | Limits: Limits for mourning dove and white-winged dove are singly or in aggregate. Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset daily. Open to nonresidents. Shotguns must be plugged to limit overall shotshell capacity to 3 when hunting dove. Note: The Eurasian Collared Dove is an unprotected species, and does not count towards your bag limit. HIP Requirements: Any person 12 years or older who hunts dove is required to obtain a Harvest Information Program number ANNUALLY by visiting www.ndowlicensing or calling 1-855-542-6369. |
| American Crow | |||
| Open Counties | Season Dates (Inclusive) | Daily Limits/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| Statewide | Sept. 1 – Nov. 17, 2020 March 1 – April 15, 2021 | 10 | Hunting Hours: Sunrise to sunset daily. Archery, shotguns and falconry. Open to nonresidents. Note: All crows must be retrieved and removed from the field. Season closed on common ravens. See illustration. |
The crow (17.5 inches) is bigger than a blackbird (9 inches) and noticeably smaller than a raven (24 inches). Crows often flock, while ravens are more solitary birds. Note that the crow’s bill is much smaller than the raven, and that its tail is square. The raven’s heavy bill, shaggy throat feathers and wedge-shaped tail also set it apart from the common crow.
Distribution Maps
| Dusky, Sooty, And Ruffed Grouse | |||
| Open Counties | Season Dates (Inclusive) | Daily Limits/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| Carson City, Douglas, Elko, Eureka, Esmeralda, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Washoe, White Pine. | Sept. 1 – Dec. 31, 2020 | 3/9 | Limit: Limit singly or in the aggregate. Hunting Hours: Sunrise to sunset. Open to nonresidents. |
As part of long-term monitoring of the state’s dusky and sooty grouse populations hunters are asked to remove one wing from each grouse taken. Please keep the wing dry and away from flies, deposit in a paper lunch sack and drop it off in any of the Department’s wing barrels, at NDOW offices or with NDOW employees.
Persons harvesting ruffed grouse in Humboldt County are requested to report harvest in person to the Department of Wildlife office, in person or by mail at 705 E. 4th St., Winnemucca, NV 89445. Phone (775) 623-6565.
Transportation Identification
When hunting blue grouse or ruffed grouse please recognize NAC 503.185 which states: A person shall not transport a blue or ruffed grouse within this State unless the head or one fully feathered wing remains attached to the grouse from the time it is removed from the place where it was taken until it arrives at the person’s residence or a commercial facility for its preservation.
NRS 502.010 as it pertains to Upland Game Youth Hunts
- A license to hunt or fish is not required of a resident of this State who is under 12 years of age;
- It is unlawful for any child who is under 18 years of age to hunt any wildlife with any firearm unless the child is accompanied at all times by the child’s parent or guardian or is accompanied at all times by an adult person authorized by the child’s parent or guardian to have control or custody of the child to hunt if the authorized person is also licensed to hunt.
Small game hunt questionnaire
The small game hunt questionnaire (upland game birds, rabbits, and waterfowl) can be found online in February of each year at www.ndowlicensing.com. Even though this is a voluntary questionnaire, we encourage those sportsmen that pursue these species to do their best to track their hunting excursions in terms of number of days hunted, what county they hunted in and how many animals were taken. These surveys typically close around the end of April. This information is instrumental in helping the Nevada Department of Wildlife determine harvest estimates each year and make recommendations for upcoming seasons and bag limits.
Distribution Maps
| Chukar and Hungarian Partridge | |||
| Open Counties | Season Dates (Inclusive) | Daily Limits/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| Statewide | Oct. 10, 2020 – Feb. 7, 2021 | 6/18 | Limit: Limit singly or in aggregate. Hunting Hours: Sunrise to sunset. Open to nonresidents. |
Distribution Maps
| California and Gambel’s Quail | |||
| Open Counties | Season Dates (Inclusive) | Daily Limits/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| Statewide | Oct. 10, 2020 – Feb. 7, 2021 | 10/30 | Limit: Limit singly or in the aggregate, except for mountain quail where limits may not include more than 2 daily and 6 in possession. Hunting Hours: Sunrise to sunset. Open to nonresidents. |
Distribution Map
| Mountain Quail | |||
| Open Counties | Season Dates (Inclusive) | Daily Limits/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| Statewide | Oct. 10, 2020 – Feb. 7, 2021 | 2/6 | Limits: Limit singly or in aggregate. Hunting Hours: Sunrise to sunset. Open to nonresidents. |
The Department of Wildlife is interested in collecting harvest information on mountain quail throughout Nevada. The Department requests that hunters contact the Reno Headquarters at (775) 688-1523 or an NDOW representative to report your mountain quail harvest.
| Rabbit (cottontail, pygmy, and white-tailed jackrabbit) | |||
| Open Counties | Season Dates (Inclusive) | Daily Limits/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| Statewide | Oct. 10, 2020 – Feb. 28, 2021 | 10/30 | Limits: Limit singly or in aggregate. Hunting Hours: Sunrise to sunset. Open to nonresidents. Limit singly or in the aggregate except for pygmy rabbit where limits may not include more than 2 daily and 6 in possession. |
The Department of Wildlife is interested in collecting harvest information on pygmy rabbits throughout Nevada. The Department requests that hunters contact the Reno Headquarters at (775) 688-1523 or an NDOW representative to report your pygmy rabbit harvest.
| Pheasant | |||
| Open Counties | Season Dates (Inclusive) | Daily Limits/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| Statewide | Nov. 1 – 30, 2020 | 2/6 Roosters only | Shooting Hours: Sunrise to sunset. Open to nonresidents. |
Minimum legal requirements for taking edible meat from the field
Hunters are encouraged to use as much of their harvest as possible. Although most meat from small game is edible, below are the minimum lawful requirements.
Upland Game Bird
- Breast meat must be retrieved.
Migratory Bird
- Breast meat must be retrieved.
Small Game
The meat of the front quarters as far as the distal joint of the tibia-fibula (hock), and the meat along the backbone between the front and hind quarters.
- Shoulder
- Hind Quarter (Thigh)
- Backbone (Backstrap)