Big Game Seasons
(CR 25-07)
Limits and Hours
The limit is one animal per tag and the hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset for all big game hunts, unless otherwise specified.
Important: The quotas listed are from the 2024 big game seasons. Big game quotas will not be set until the May 2025 Commission meeting in order to accommodate the most current data on big game herds. New hunts, dates or units added to a hunt are marked in bold blue italics.
Note: Standard dates for opening and closing of seasons are set by calendar date and not based on a Saturday opening and Sunday closing.
Before You Apply
The Department maintains several informational resources on our website to help with planning your hunt including: Hunter Information Sheets (facts on terrain, vegetation, land ownership, hunter access, map references, local services and recommended hunting areas), hunt application advisories, big game demand, hunter success rates, harvest point class and bighorn sheep age and scores.
Eligibility Information
Species Eligibility:
Applicants may only obtain one tag per species in a year. This means that eligible persons may apply for all categories of a species but only obtain one (1) tag of that species during the current year’s season. This includes Silver State and PIW specialty tag options.
Species Categories:
- Junior Antlered Mule Deer
- Junior Antelope – Horns Shorter Than Ears
- Antlered, Antlerless, Depredation, and Spike Elk
- Antelope Horns Longer and Horns Shorter Than Ears
- Ram and Ewe Bighorn Sheep, including all subspecies (California, Desert and Rocky Mountain)
- Mountain Goat
- Bear
- Mountain Lion
- Moose
FAQs:
Q: I am in a waiting period for Antlered Elk, can I apply for the Spike Elk hunt?
A: Yes. Antlered Elk and Spike Elk are considered two separate bonus point and hunt categories.
Q: If I apply for all available elk hunts, how many elk tags can I obtain during the year’s season?
A: Only one (1) Elk tag per season regardless of what draw or tag program you receive the tag through.
Q: I’m in my waiting period for desert bighorn ram hunt, can I apply for a one-horn ram management hunt?
A: Yes, they are separate hunt categories.
Q: Can I purchase an Antelope Horns Shorter Than Ears tag through the First Come, First Served program if I drew an Antelope Horns Longer Than Ears tag in the main draw?
A: No. A person is only allowed one (1) tag of the same species during a single year’s season.
Q: Will I use my Antlered Elk bonus points if I purchase an Antlerless Elk tag through the First Come, First Served program?
A: No. Your points for Antlerless Elk will be used but not your points for Antlered Elk. Bonus points are also not necessary in order to purchase a tag through the First Come, First Served program but will revert to zero (0) upon purchase.
Big Game Main Draw Electronic Tag Return
Within seven (7) days of public release of draw results, the successful tag recipient can choose to electronically return his or her tag at the Nevada Department of Wildlife licensing page.
