Nevada’s varied landscape is home to a mix of big and small wildlife, creating ideal hunting conditions. The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) thoughtfully determines hunting seasons annually. The goal is to balance animal populations and preserve positive outdoor experiences.

This guide goes over in-state and out-of-state rules, license prerequisites, and the schedule for the types of game during the 2024 period. With this information readily accessible, you can organize your expedition with certainty, knowing you’re following all appropriate rules.

Important Dates and Limits for Nevada’s 2024-2025 Hunting Period

Big Games

Deer

Junior Mule Deer (Antlered Only):

Archery or Muzzleloader: Generally Aug 10 – Sept 9 (Archery), Sept 10 – Oct 4 (Muzzleloader)
Any Legal Weapon: Typically Oct 5 – Nov 5, with some variations
It’s worth noting that some groups provide all three options – bow, muzzleloader, any legal weapon. And they do this with one season following another, from August to January.

Regular Mule Deer (Antlered):

Any Legal Weapon:

Most common season: Oct 5 – Nov 5
Early seasons: Oct 5 – Oct 20
Late seasons: Oct 21 – Nov 5
Some units have seasons in November or December

Archery:

Primary season: Aug 10 – Sept 9
Late seasons in some units: Nov 10 – Nov 20 or Dec 1 – Jan 1

Muzzleloader:

Most common season: Sept 10 – Oct 4
Some units have seasons in November or December

Restricted Seasons:

Even though no seasons are formally termed “restricted,” certain unit groups have some special rules or shorter dates.

Unit 081: Various late-season hunts (Nov-Jan)
Units 201-208: Generally later seasons (Nov-Jan) compared to other units
Any Legal Weapon
- Unit 015: Dec 11 – Jan 1
- Unit 021: Dec 21 – Jan 1

Note: Depending on the unit group and weapon type, quotas can change a lot. There are also early and late seasons and they might have different quotas too. So, always look at the specific rules for every unit group and weapon type when you’re planning to hunt.

Antelope

Aug 1 2024 – Oct 30 2024

Breakup of the dates

Resident Hunters:

Horns Longer Than Ears:
- Any legal weapon allowed (Aug 22 – Sept 7).
- Early/late season variations exist in some units.
Horns Shorter Than Ears:
- Limited unit groups only.
- Season runs Sept 8 – Sept 24.

Nonresident Hunters:

Horns Longer Than Ears:
- Same season and weapon allowance as resident hunters with long horns (Aug 22 – Sept 7).
- Early/late season variations exist in some units.

Archery:

Season runs Aug 1 – Aug 21.
Open to all hunters (resident and nonresident) with some unit variations ending Aug 14.

Muzzleloader:

Season runs Sept 25 – Oct 4.
Open to all hunters (resident and nonresident) with some unit variations starting Aug 15.

Key Dates:

Dates	Event/Season
1-Aug	Start of Archery (Some units end Aug 14)
15-Aug	Possible start of Muzzleloader(depending on unit)
22-Aug	Start of Resident & Nonresident (Long Horn)
7-Sep	End of Resident & Nonresident (Long Horn) (Some units have later dates)
8-Sep	Start of Resident (Short Horn)
24-Sep	End of Resident (Short Horn)
25-Sep	Start of Muzzleloader (Some units start earlier)
4-Oct	End of Muzzleloader Top of Form Bottom of Form

Bighorn Sheep

Nelson (Desert):

Resident:
- Any Ram (General Season): Nov 20 – Jan 1 (Note: Some units Aug-Nov)
- Any Ram (Archery): Sept 15 – Oct 31
- Management Ram (Access Limited): Any Legal Weapon: Aug 15 – Jan 1 (Unit 173 North only)
- Management Ram (One Horn): Any Legal Weapon: Jan 5 – Feb 20
- Any Ewe: Oct 20 – Nov 15 (Unit 268 only)
Nonresident:
- Any Ram: Nov 20 – Jan 1 (Fewer units than resident)
- Any Ewe: Oct 20 – Nov 15 (Unit 268 only)

Rocky Mountain:

Resident:
- Any Ram: Sept 1 – Feb 20

California:

Resident & Nonresident:
- Any Ram: Sept 1 – Oct 31

Mountain Goat

Resident:

Dates: Sept 1 – Oct 31
Unit Groups: 101, 102 (Quota: 10), 103 (Quota: 1)

Nonresident:

Dates: Sept 1 – Oct 31
Unit Groups: 102 (Quota: 1)

Elk

Residents:

Antlered Elk:
- Any Legal Weapon: Sept 17 – Dec 4
- Archery: Aug 16 – Sept 30
- Muzzleloader: Sept 1 – Nov 5
- Depredation Permit: Any Legal Weapon: All year (Aug 1 – Jan 1)
Spike Elk: Any Legal Weapon: Sept 17 – Jan 1
Antlerless Elk:
- Any Legal Weapon: Sept 17 – Jan 31
- Archery: Aug 1 – Aug 24
- Muzzleloader: Aug 1 – Sept 30
- Depredation Permit: Any Legal Weapon: All year (Aug 1 – Jan 1)

Nonresidents:

Antlered Elk:
- Any Legal Weapon: Oct 5 – Dec 4
- Archery: Aug 16 – Sept 30
- Muzzleloader: Sept 1 – Nov 5
Antlerless Elk:
- Any Legal Weapon: Sept 17 – Jan 31
- Archery: Aug 1 – Aug 24
- Muzzleloader: Aug 16 – Sept 30pen_spark

Mountain Lion

No Closed Season

Dates: March 1 – Last day of February (or quota reached)
Unit Groups: Statewide except 033, 269, 280-284, 286, 247
Quota Limit: In effect (check hotline for details)
Sex: Either Sex
Hours: Anytime (day or night)
Important:
- Call hotline (1-800-800-1667) before hunting to check open/closed units.
- Possess tag while hunting.
- Unit 091 is no longer an interstate hunt with Utah.

Black Bear

Sept 15 – Dec 1 (or until quotas reached)
Unit Groups:
- 192*, 194*, 195, 196 (except specific areas in regulations)
- 201, 202, 204, 206
- 203 & 291
Species: Black Bear (Either Sex)

Small Games

Rabbit

Cottontail & White-tailed Jackrabbit:
- Nov 1 – Feb (last day) (Daily Limit: 5/15)

Upland Games

Turkey

Spring:

Resident Hunters:

Junior Hunt: March 30 – May 5 (various locations)
Limited Entry Hunt:
- March 30 – May 5 (various locations)
- Quota limits in effect (check details for specific areas)
Paradise Valley Hunt (Humboldt County): March 30 – May 5 (Open season, tags available until season closes)

Nonresident Hunters:

Limited Entry Hunt:
- March 30 – May 5 (various locations)
- Quota limits in effect (check details for specific areas)
- April 6 – April 12 (Clark County only)

Fall:

Oct 7 – Oct 29

Quail

California Quail & Gambel’s Quail:
- Oct 14- Feb 4
- (Daily Limit: CA Quail 10/30, Gambel’s Quail 5/15)
Mountain Quail:
- Oct 14 – Feb 4
- (Daily Limit: 2/6)

Grouse

Dusky, Sooty & Ruffed Grouse:
- Sept 1 – Dec 31 (Daily Limit: 3/9)
Sage Grouse (Closed to Nonresidents):
- Sept 23-24 (Daily Limit: 2/2)Hunt Units:
  - 172 & 173 (Eureka, Lander, Nye)012, 013, 015 (Washoe)012 (Humboldt)031 & 051 (Humboldt)
  Sept 23 – Oct 1 (Daily Limit: 2/2)
- Hunt Units:
  - 062, 064, 067, 071-075, 101-102 (Elko)

Pheasant

Roosters Only:
- Nov 1-30 (Daily Limit: 2/6)

Himalayan Snowcock

Nonresident:
- Sept 1 – Nov 30 (Daily Limit: 2/2)
- Free permit required (available online)

Youth Hunts

17 years old or younger with accompanying adult)

California & Gambel’s Quail, Rabbit, Chukar & Hungarian Partridge:
- Sept 30-Oct 8

Migratory Birds & Waterfowls

Doves

Mourning & White-winged Doves:
- Sept 1 – Oct 30 (Daily Limit: 15/45)
- Shotguns plugged to 3 shell capacity

Crow

American Crow:
- Sept 1 – Nov 17
- Mar 1 – April 15 (Daily Limit: 10)

Youth Waterfowl Hunt

Young hunters (17 or younger) get their chance!
- Zones:
  - Northeast: Sept 16-17
  - Northwest: Sept 30 & Feb 10
  - South (including Moapa Valley): Feb 10-11
  - Moapa Valley only: Oct 21

Ducks & Mergansers (except Scaup)

Zones:
- Northeast:
  - Sept 23 – Nov 28 & Dec 9 – Jan 15
- Northwest:
  - Oct 14 – Jan 7 & Jan 10-28
- South(except Moapa Valley):
  - Oct 14 – Oct 22 & Oct 25 – Jan 28
- South (Moapa Valley): Oct 28 – Jan 28

Scaup (Lesser & Greater)

All Zones: Daily Limit included in overall duck limit

Geese

Canada Geese & Brant: All Zones: Sept 23 – Nov 28 & Dec 9 – Jan 15 (Northwest Zone adds Jan 10-28)
White-Fronted Geese: All Zones: Same dates as Canada Geese & Brant
Snow & Ross’ Geese:
- All Zones (except Ruby Valley): Sept 23 – Nov 28 & Dec 9 – Jan 15 (Northwest Zone adds Jan 10-28 & Feb 19-Mar 10)
- South Zone (Moapa Valley): Same dates as all zones except Ruby Valley

Coots & Gallinules

All Zones: Same dates as Ducks & Mergansers

Snipe

All Zones: Same dates as Ducks & Mergansers

Swan

Churchill, Lyon & Pershing Counties Only:
- Oct 14 – Jan 7 & Jan 10-28

Nevada Hunting Regulations Summary

License and Tag Information:

Applicants must have licenses, valid for a year from buying date.
Not submitting return cards from the last hunting season makes one fail to apply.
Folks who are lucky to get drawn have a week to give back a tag, either for a refund or bonus points.
You can return tags up until the day leading up to the hunt for an ordinary refund. A significant health condition leads to postponing a tag to the next year.
A tag holder can pass their tag to capable groups or people.
For all species, bonus points accumulate and boost the chances of a draw.

Big Game Regulations:

Every species has only one big game tag up for grabs in the draw, except in unique situations.
Within a year, only one big game tag for each species can be collected, with certain tags as exceptions.
Both locals and visitors can join a re-draw for unused tags.
Stand-ins have the chance to get those unused tags.
Any remaining tags are up for grabs online, given on a who comes first gets it basis.
If successful in the hunt, you might be asked to fill out a big game survey.

General Hunting Regulations:

Explanation of major game hunting terms provided.
A Junior hunt eligibility needs a hunting permit and determined age.
Specific legal arms can be used in big game hunting, but with some rules.
If you’re born after January 1, 1960, hunter education certification is needed for a license purchase.
Groups have the option to register for party hunts, but there are set regulations.
License refunds can be given, subject to certain conditions, but it can mean lost bonus points.

Migratory Bird Hunting:

A Youth Waterfowl Hunt is distinct for each zone.
Each zone differs in rules for ducks, geese, swans, and other birds that migrate.
Unique rules and quotas determine hunting Scaup, Canada Geese, Brant, White-Fronted Geese, Snow and Ross’ Geese, Coots, Gallinules, Snipe, and Swans.
To hunt Swans, you need to apply for a permit before a particular date and follow check-in requirements. Certain birds call for nontoxic shot.

Licenses and Permits

License Type	Resident Fee	Non-Resident Fee	Age Range
Combination	$75	$155	18+
Youth Combination	$15	$15	12-17
Adult	$38	N/A	18+
Apprentice	$15	$15	12+
Senior/Military/Disabled Specialty	$15	N/A	Varies
Native American Specialty	$10	N/A	Varies
1-Day Combination (Upland Game/Waterfowl)	N/A	$23 (initial day), $8 (consecutive days)	18+

Additional Tags and Permits (not exhaustive):

Trapping License: Resident ($40/$15), Non-Resident ($188)
Annual Carson Lake Use Permit: $60
Daily Carson Lake Use Permit: $15
Federal Migratory Bird Stamp: $25 (16+)
Swan Permit: $10 (application fee additional)
Resident Turkey Tag: $20
Non-Resident Turkey Tag: $50
Turkey Tag Application: $10
Predator Fee (per turkey hunt application): $3

Top Nevada Hunting Locations by Species

Nevada is a hub for many big and small game creatures due to its varied terrain. The best hunting spot varies, depending on the particular animal you’re after. Let’s examine some top areas in Nevada for hunting common game:

Mule Deer:

East Humboldt Range: A popular spot for mule deer, East Humboldt Range gifts you plenty chances for fruitful hunting experiences.
Gass Peak Range (Elko County): This isolated range gives mule deer an ideal home, perfect for hunters who prefer solitude.
Desolation Wilderness Area: Found near Lake Tahoe, this area proudly hosts an abundant mule deer presence amidst a beautiful landscape.

Elk:

Ruby Mountains: A place of impressive, wide landscapes, they’re home to many elks.
East Walker River Basin: A large and accommodating sanctuary for elks, it offers chances for archery and rifle hunts.
Humboldt National Forest: Over 4 million acres in size, this national forest provides various elk hunting chances, like those in high-mountain regions.

Bighorn Sheep:

Grant Range in Nye County: It’s a secluded mountain area, perfect for bighorn sheep hunting, but it needs a special pass.
Jarbidge Wilderness Area: Placed at the state’s northeastern edge, it offers daring bighorn sheep hunts within awe-inspiring surroundings.
Clan Alpine Mountains (Pershing County): This range houses a small number of bighorn sheep, needing a specific tag.

Sage Grouse:

Central Nevada (Eureka, Lander, Nye Counties): Across Eureka, Lander, and Nye Counties in the heart of Nevada, your chance of a successful sage grouse hunt is excellent.
Humboldt County: It houses selected hunting sectors chock-full of opportunities for sage grouse hunts.
Washoe County: It has certain zones designed for controlled sage grouse hunting.

Upland Game:

Nevada Public Lands: Public lands across our state, such as WMAs and National Forests, are terrific homes for game birds like chukar, pheasant, and quail.
State Parks: Nevada’s very own Valley of Fire State Park and Spring Mountain Ranch State Park might be worth a shot! Just remember. Every park has its own rules. Make sure you check before you go!

Author
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Eric Hale

Author & Chief Editor at AskHunting.com

Eric Hale, a veteran hunter with more than a decade of experience, imparts his knowledge via AskHunting.com. He offers guidance for hunting, adding strategies, and delivers in-depth guides for the novice and the old hand. He loves family camping sessions, watching Marvel films with his spouse, and going on thrilling road journeys.

Nevada’s Hunting Guide 2024-2025: Dates, Regulations And Location