Big Game Application Eligibility

2024 Big Game Tag Application Eligibility and Tag Limits (CR 24-02)

Big Game Tag Application Eligibility

Except as otherwise provided by regulation, a person may only apply for one (1) big game tag per species or subspecies per draw application period, with the following exceptions:

• An eligible person may submit one (1) application for antlered mule deer and one (1) application for antlerless mule deer, or an eligible person may submit one (1) application for the junior antlered or antlerless mule deer hunt, per draw application period;
• An eligible person may submit one (1) application for pronghorn antelope horns longer than ears and one (1) application for pronghorn antelope horns shorter than ears per draw application period;
• An eligible person may submit one (1) application for antlered elk, one (1) application for antlered depredation elk, one (1) application for spike elk, and one (1) application for each type of antlerless elk, including antlerless elk, and antlerless depredation elk, per draw application period;
• An eligible person may submit one (1) application for ram bighorn sheep per subspecies and one (1) application for ewe bighorn sheep per subspecies per draw application period;

Big Game Tag Limits

Except as otherwise provided by regulation, a person may only obtain one (1) big game tag per species or subspecies per year, with the following exception:

• An eligible person may obtain Heritage tags, Mule Deer or Pronghorn Antelope Landowner Damage Compensation tags, Elk Incentive tags, and Antlerless Elk Landowner tags in addition to any tags obtained through a draw process.

Big Game Second Draw Eligibility

A second drawing will be held for all mule deer, pronghorn antelope, black bear, elk, mountain goat and bighorn sheep tags that remain after the completion of the big game main draw process. Eligible residents and nonresidents may apply for any remaining tags during the big game second draw application period, with the exception of the junior mule deer and antlerless mule deer hunt tags, which will only be available to eligible resident applicants.

ALTERNATES

Selecting to be an alternate adds the applicant to a list of hunters willing to accept a tag exactly matching their first-choice application if one should be returned to the Department. Alternates are awarded by lowest assigned draw number provided in the Big Game Main Draw. An alternate can receive a tag anytime from when the results are released from the main draw up until 14 calendar days prior to the opening of the tag’s hunt season. (NAC 502.4175 and 502.421 - CGR 490)

Alternates receiving their tag will not be notified by the Department. A customer’s default credit card will be charged, and an email confirmation will be sent to the email address stored in your customer account. Tags are mailed from the time of purchase and alternates will receive their alternate tag in the mail within 7–10 business days.

First Come, First Served

Following the big game second draw, any remaining tag quotas with no eligible alternate will be available for purchase to eligible customers through a first come, first served basis. Remaining junior Mule Deer quotas will only be available to eligible junior residents. All big game application eligibility rules will apply to the purchase of a tag through the FCFS program and will only be available for purchase online at www.ndowlicensing.com. Customers must be at least 12 years old at the time of a FCFS purchase on a hunt season that is already in progress. A suspicious activity suspension from the FCFS program will be applied to any account found trying to attempt to create an unfair advantage or actively abuse the program. (NAC 502.4215)