Migratory Game Bird Regulations

Zone Designations

Elko, Eureka, Lander, & White Pine Counties.

Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Humboldt, Lyon, Mineral, Pershing, Storey, & Washoe Counties.

Esmeralda, Lincoln, Nye, & Clark Counties.

In Nevada, migratory game bird seasons are established for ducks and mergansers, coots and gallinules, snipe, Canada and white fronted geese, snow geese and Ross’ geese. Migratory waterfowl are a subgroup of migratory game birds, and include ducks, mergansers, geese, and swans.

Stamp Requirements

A Federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Stamp ($28 at ndowlicensing.com) is required for any person age 16 or older who hunts any migratory waterfowl (ducks, mergansers, geese, and swans).

Note: Shotguns must be plugged to limit overall shotshell capacity to 3 when hunting all migratory birds. (Note: See Snow and Ross’ geese season for exception.)

Species ID

Head or fully feathered wing must remain attached to bird while in transit from the field to the hunter’s residence for ducks, mergansers, coots and gallinules, snipe, geese, and swan.

HIP Number

Any person, except a Nevada resident under 12, who plans to hunt any kind of migratory game bird, including ducks, geese, swans, coots, dove, snipe, or gallinules in Nevada this year, is required to ANNUALLY obtain a Harvest Information Program (HIP) validation number and write it on their hunting license before entering the field. The validation number is free and is available by going online to ndowlicensing.com or calling 1-855-542-6369. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is conducting the nationwide harvest survey.

Additionally, NDOW would like migratory bird hunters to complete an online questionnaire at the conclusion of the season.