Upland Game Bird, Rabbit, Dove & 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 jack rabbits. 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 jack rabbits.
Blue Grouse (Dusky and Sooty) and Ruffed Grouse
| Open Counties | Season Dates (Inclusive) | Limits Daily/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| Carson City, Douglas, Elko, Eureka, Esmeralda, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Washoe, White Pine. | Sept. 1 – Dec. 31, 2017 | 3/9 | Limit: Limit singly or in the aggregate. Hunting Hours: Sunrise to sunset. Open to nonresidents. |
As part of a long-term study of the state’s blue and ruffed 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 check stations 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 815 E. Fourth St., Winnemucca, NV 89445. Phone (775) 623-6565.
Sage-Grouse
| Open Counties | Season Dates | Limits Daily/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| That portion of Unit 184 in Churchill and Lander Counties Unit 031 of Humboldt County | Oct. 7 – 8, 2017 | 2/4 | Hunting Hours: Sunrise to sunset Closed to nonresidents |
| Hunt Units, or those portions of hunt units, 061, 062, 064-068, 071-077, 081, 101-104, 109, and 121 in Elko County Hunt Units, or those portions of hunt units, 141-145, 155, 162 and 163 in Eureka County Hunt Units, or those portions of hunt units, 154, 155, 161, 162, 172 and 173 in Lander County Hunt Units, or those portions of hunt units 172, 173, and 161-164 in Nye County Hunt Units, or those portions of hunt units, 104, 108, 111-113, 121, 131, 144, 221 and 222 in White Pine County | Sept. 23 – Oct. 8, 2017 | 2/4 | Hunting Hours: Sunrise to sunset Closed to nonresidents |
| Hunt Units, or those portions of hunt units, 012, 034 and 051 in Humboldt County Hunt Units, or those portions of hunt units, 011-015 in Washoe County* | Sept. 23 – Oct. 1, 2017 | 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. 16 – 17, 2017 Application available online at www.ndow.org | 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. Applications for reservations for the Sheldon Special Sage-Grouse Hunt must be received by the Nevada Department of Wildlife, Game Division, 6980 Sierra Center Pkwy, Suite 120, Reno, NV 89511 by 5 p.m. August 4, 2017. Open to nonresidents |
| Unit 033 of Washoe and Humboldt Counties (Sheldon NWR) excluding the Little Sheldon and other areas as posted. | Sept. 23 – 24, 2017 Application available online at www.ndow.org | 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.
Himalayan Snowcock
| Open Counties | Season Dates (Inclusive) | Limits Daily/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| Elko and White Pine Counties | Sept. 1, 2017-Nov. 30, 2017 | 2/2 |
Mourning and White-Winged Dove
| Open Counties | Season Dates (Inclusive) | Limits Daily/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| Statewide | Sept. 1, 2017 – Oct. 30, 2017 | 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 calling 1-866-703-4605 or on the internet at www.ndowlicensing.com |
American Crow
| Open Counties | Season Dates (Inclusive) | Limits Daily/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| Statewide | Sept. 1 – Nov. 17, 2017 and March 1 – April 15, 2018 | 10 | Hunting Hours: Sunrise to sunset daily. Shotguns only. Open to nonresidents. Note: All crows must be retrieved and removed from the field. Season closed on common ravens. See illustration. |
Chukar and Hungarian Partridge
| Open Counties | Season Dates (Inclusive) | Limits Daily/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| Statewide | Oct. 14, 2017 – Feb. 4, 2018 | 6/18 | Limit: Limit singly or in aggregate. Hunting Hours: Sunrise to sunset. Open to nonresidents. |
California and Gambel’s Quail
| Open Counties | Season Dates (Inclusive) | Limits Daily/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| Statewide | Oct. 14, 2017 – Feb. 4, 2018 | 10/30 | Limit: Limit singly or in the aggregate, *except for mountain quail where limits may not include more than two daily and six in possession. Hunting Hours: Sunrise to sunset. Open to nonresidents. |
Youth Chukar and Hungarian Partridge
| Open Counties | Season Dates (Inclusive) | Limits Daily/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| Statewide | Sept. 23 – Oct. 1, 2017 | 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. License and stamp requirements apply pursuant to NRS 502.010 and NRS 502.292. |
Youth California and Gambel’s Quail
| Open Counties | Season Dates (Inclusive) | Limits Daily/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| Statewide | Sept. 23 – Oct. 1, 2017 | 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. License and stamp requirements apply pursuant to NRS 502.010 and NRS 502.292. |
Youth Rabbit (cottontail, pygmy and white tailed jackrabbit)
| Open Counties | Season Dates (Inclusive) | Limits Daily/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| Statewide | Sept. 23 – Oct. 1, 2017 | 10/30 | Limit: Limit singly or in the aggregate except for pygmy rabbit where limits may not include more than 2 daily and 4 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. License and stamp requirements apply pursuant to NRS 502.010 and NRS 502.292. |
Mountain Quail
| Open Counties | Season Dates (Inclusive) | Limits Daily/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| Statewide | Oct. 14, 2017 – Feb. 4, 2018 | 2/6 | Limits: Limit singly or in aggregate. Hunting Hours: Sunrise to sunset. Open to nonresidents |
Distribution Map
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) | Limits Daily/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| Statewide | Oct. 14, 2017 – Feb. 28, 2018 | 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) | Limits Daily/Possession | Special Regulations and Information |
| Statewide | Nov. 1 – 30, 2017 | 2/6 Cocks only | Shooting Hours: Sunrise to sunset. Open to nonresidents. |
BLM Information
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Nevada encourages hunters to call in advance of hunting season to find out if land management practices will be conducted during the hunting season. While BLM field offices are aware of hunting seasons, some management activities, such as prescribed burns, wild horse gathers, road closures or fire restrictions may temporarily disrupt hunting activities.
Call Before You Hunt
If possible, call the appropriate BLM office before you send in your hunt area requests. That way you may avoid an area that may have some access restrictions or other changes because of management activities. It’s a good idea to call BLM just before the hunt to find out if any unplanned restrictions from fire or emergency wild horse gathers are in effect.
- Battle Mountain District Office (775) 635-4000
- Carson City District Office (775) 885-6000
- Elko District Office (775) 753-0200
- Ely District Office (775) 289-1800
- Southern Nevada District Office (702) 515-5000
- Winnemucca District Office (775) 623-1500
Responsible Hunting in Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs)
Some units contain BLM lands designated as wilderness or wilderness study areas. Motor vehicle use—trucks, ATVs and motorcycles—is not allowed unless signs are placed to indicate a designated route. The motorized vehicle rule extends to mechanized vehicles such as game carriers, which are also not allowed in these areas. Hand-held GPS units are allowed.
Responsible Off-Highway Vehicle Use
There has been a big increase in the use of OHVs by hunters. While most areas of the public lands are designated as open to OHV use, cross-country travel on OHVs is causing unnecessary damage to habitat that wildlife depend on. OHV riders are asked to stay on existing roads and trails. If it is necessary to drive off roads to retrieve and pack out harvested game, hunters are asked to use care and avoid creating new routes.