Nevada hunting and fishing laws
The Nevada rules that catch people out, in plain English: hunter education, minimum age, blaze orange, Sunday hunting, shooting hours, baiting, night hunting, tagging and private land. Each one links to the state's own text.
Season dates for 2026-27. Page updated October 12, 2026.
These pages sum up the rules to help you find them. They are not legal advice. The state's own regulations govern, so check them before you go.
Hunter education in Nevada
NRS 502.330: no hunting license may be obtained by any person born after January 1, 1960, unless the person presents to the Department a hunter-education certificate, an equivalent IHEA-standard certificate from another state, province or country, or a prior hunting license bearing a hunter-education mark.
Minimum hunting age in Nevada
Any person 12 or older who hunts game birds or mammals in Nevada must have a hunting license; a Youth Combination license covers ages 12 through 17 and an Apprentice license is available at 12 and older. A child under 18 hunting with a firearm must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, but a child 14 or older may hunt alone with a valid license. Children under 12 may not hunt big game.
Blaze orange in Nevada
Not verified. No hunter orange requirement was found in the 2025 NDOW general hunting laws, weapons and tag regulation pages or in the 2026 big game and small game guide sections that could be read. Treat this as none found, not as confirmed none. Confirm with the official regulations before you hunt.
Sunday hunting in Nevada
Nevada has no Sunday hunting restriction. Seasons run every day of the week, and NDOW schedules some hunts on Sundays, such as youth waterfowl days.
Shooting hours in Nevada
Applies to: Big game
Legal shooting hours for hunting big game species in Nevada are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, except for mountain lion, which can be legally hunted at any time of day or night.
Baiting in Nevada
Applies to: Big game
NAC 503.149: a person may not bait big game mammals for the purpose of hunting, or knowingly hunt big game mammals that were baited by another person.
Night hunting in Nevada
A person shall not possess or use electronic night-vision equipment, electronically enhanced light-gathering devices, thermal imaging devices, infrared night-vision equipment or comparable devices while hunting or taking any game mammal or game bird. Mountain lion may lawfully be hunted at night but not with those devices. Whether predators and furbearers are exempt was not verified.
Tagging and reporting a harvest in Nevada
Applies to: Big game
The tag must be validated by punching notches identifying the animal's physical characteristics, including sex and antler points, and must be firmly attached to the carcass and remain with the main portion of the meat at or before the time the hunter reaches their transportation or camp and until it is processed. It is also unlawful to disguise the sex characteristics of a harvested animal.
Hunting on private land in Nevada
It is unlawful for any person to hunt, trap or fish on private property without permission obtained by the owner or occupant. Posting is not required.
Can you show your Nevada license on your phone?
Phone license not addressed. Paper tags notched.
No published NDOW statement on showing a license on a phone was found. Nevada law says a license must be “in their possession and available for inspection upon demand” (NRS 502.120). Big game tags are physical: “A game tag must be carried by the owner of the tag at all times,” notched to show harvest date and sex, and “firmly attached to the carcass.”
License plus your physical big game tag
Nevada hunting season dates, 2026-27
The main seasons, from the state's published dates. Zones and units can differ; each season links to the state's own page for it.
| Season | Dates | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mourning dove | Sep 1 – Oct 30, 2026 | Statewide | Includes white-winged dove |
| Chukar, Hungarian partridge, California quail | Oct 17, 2026 – Feb 7, 2027 | Statewide | |
| Pheasant | Nov 1 – Nov 30, 2026 | Open areas | Roosters only |
| Ducks — segment 1 | Oct 17, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 | Northwest Zone (Washoe, Churchill, Pershing, Humboldt and others) | Northeast Zone Sep 26-Dec 1 and Dec 12-Jan 18 |
| Ducks — segment 2 | Jan 6 – Jan 31, 2027 | Northwest Zone | Youth waterfowl days differ by zone |
What you can hunt in Nevada
Big game
- Mule deer Draw or limited entry
- Elk Draw or limited entry Waiting period after an antlered tag
- Pronghorn Draw or limited entry
- Desert bighorn sheep Draw or limited entry Ten-season wait after a ram tag
- California bighorn sheep Draw or limited entry
- Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep Draw or limited entry
- Mountain goat Draw or limited entry Ten-season wait
- Moose Draw or limited entry Once in a lifetime, residents only
- Black bear Draw or limited entry Quota by unit group
- Mountain lion General season Over-the-counter tag, up to two a year
- White-tailed deer No season Not present in Nevada
Upland and small game
- Wild turkey Draw or limited entry Tag required
- Chukar and partridge General season
- Quail General season California, Gambel's, mountain
- Sage grouse General season Sheldon unit is a draw
- Blue and ruffed grouse General season
- Himalayan snowcock General season Free-use permit, Ruby Mountains
- Pheasant General season
- Cottontail rabbit General season
Waterfowl and migratory
- Ducks and geese General season
- Dove General season
- Swan Draw or limited entry Permit required
- Greater sandhill crane No season State protected
Furbearer and predator
- Coyote and jackrabbit General season Unprotected, no license needed
- Bobcat and fox General season Season October to February
What you can fish for in Nevada
Fishing license; second rod stamp for a second rod
Fishing licenses sold: 1-day, Annual
Trout and char
- Rainbow trout General season
- Brown trout General season
- Brook trout General season
- Cutthroat trout General season Includes Lahontan
- Lake trout General season
- Tiger trout General season
- Bull trout No season Catch and release only in the Jarbidge; report captures
Warmwater
- Largemouth and smallmouth bass General season
- Striped bass General season
- White bass and wiper General season
- Walleye General season
- Channel and white catfish General season
- Crappie General season
- Bluegill and sunfish General season
- Yellow perch General season
- Northern pike No season Prohibited species — must be killed, never released
Other
- Mountain whitefish General season
Official Nevada links
Nevada Department of Wildlife
Carry your Nevada license on your phone
Sportsmen Ledger holds your hunting and fishing licenses and tags, these rules and your harvest log, and it works with no signal. Free to start.
Compare with other states
- Hunter education requirements by state
- Minimum hunting age by state
- Blaze orange requirements by state
- Sunday hunting laws by state
- Legal shooting hours by state
- Baiting laws by state
- Night hunting laws by state
- Tagging and harvest reporting by state
- Hunting on private land, state by state
- Can you show your hunting or fishing license on your phone? Every state