Welcome to 2023-24 Nevada Big Game Hunting Seasons & Applications
New Regulations for 2023
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.
Nonresident Mountain Goat
Mountain goat will once again be offered as a hunt to non-residents. Any nonresident with existing mountain goat points will need to once again apply or purchase a bonus point in this application season or the next application season to keep their previously earned points.
Spike Elk
Spike elk means any antlered elk having not more than two antler points on either antler. (Refer to NAC 502/CGR 508)
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)
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)
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)
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 2023
First Come, First Served
First Come, First Served tags will now remain available for purchase only to the originally awarded residency as determined by the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commission in 2022.
Alternates
Alternates will now be awarded tags up until 14 calendar days before the hunt season opens. (NAC 502.421/CGR 490)
Transfer of Tag
Tag holders may choose to transfer their tag to a qualified, non-profit organization who would facilitate the tag being awarded to another individual represented by the organization and who meets specific criteria for participation in the tag transfer program. (AB 89/CGR 501)
Spike Elk
Spike elk means any antlered elk having not more than two antler points on either antler. (NAC 502.1045)
Hunt News
- Mountain goat will once again be offered as a hunt to non-residents. Any nonresident with existing mountain goat points will need to once again apply or purchase a bonus point in this application season or the next application season to keep their previously earned points.
- 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.
- Mountain goat will now be offered as a Silver State tag. See Specialty Tags.
Antelope
Horns longer than ears muzzleloader seasons for Units 041, 042; 043-046; 141, 143, 151-156; and 202, 204 were moved earlier to August 15 to August 21 to improve hunt success. The archery seasons for these unit groups were shortened to August 1 to August 14 to accommodate the earlier muzzleloader season.
New horns shorter than ears hunt for Unit 115 restricted to within 1 mile of Great Basin Ranch properties.
Elk
A new depredation bull hunt with antler point restrictions in Unit 231. This new hunt includes a special hunt boundary focusing pressure on bulls frequenting agricultural areas in Lake Valley. Successful applicants will receive a letter with special instructions and hunt map before their season begins.
Archery bull hunts during the rut (Sept. 17 - Sept. 30) are now offered in Units 161-164, 171-173 and Units 241, 242. Wilderness only antlerless elk hunts are not offered for the 2023-2024 Big Game Hunting Season. Applicants can expect a commensurate increase in available tags during standard antlerless elk seasons which include wilderness areas.
Bighorn Sheep
California bighorn ram - 011, 013 Unit Group is closed; Units 012 and 014 combined into a unit group.
Unit 161 – New archery ram hunt for residents and nonresidents in August. Early any-legal-weapon ram season is Sept 10 - 30; Ewe season October 1 - 20; and late any legal weapon ram season is also earlier Oct 21 - Dec 1.
Unit 173 North (Toiyabe Range) has a management ram (once-in-a-lifetime) hunt that is a separate hunt category than the standard ram hunts. It is extremely challenging with limited hunter access (high elevation wilderness), heavy tree cover, and low density bighorn numbers.
Unit 181 is now split into an east hunt area (Sand Springs Range) and west hunt area (Fairview Range/Slate Mountain).
Unit 153 (Fish Creek Mountains) is now combined with Unit 183 (Augusta and Clan Alpine Mountains).
Units 212 and 213 now only have a single any legal weapon season, Nov 20 - Jan 1.
Archery season opened in Unit 267.
Units 280 and 281 on the Department of Defense’s Nevada Test and Training Range now have a hunting party limit of 5 including the tagholder. Unit 282 is closed due to lack of mature rams.
Rocky Mountain bighorn ram - Unit 102 open; Unit 114 is closed.
Mountain Goat
Nonresident hunt open for Mountain Goat in Unit 102.
Mule Deer
Junior mule deer hunts are now antlered only hunts except for the following unit groups 061, 062, 064, 066-068; 071-079, 091; and 101-109 that are either antlerless or antlered.
Important 2023 Application Calendar Dates |
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2023 Application Calendar |
Big Game Main Draw |
Big Game Second Draw |
Application Period Opens |
3/20/2023 |
6/5/2023 |
Application Period Deadline |
5/10/2023 |
6/12/2023 |
Initial Draw Results Released |
5/19/2023 |
6/23/2023 |
