2012 Nevada Hunting Guide 2012 Hunting and Trapping Laws and Regulations for Big Game, Furbearer, Upland Game and Waterfowl Table of Contents Table of Contents Welcome to Nevada .........................................................3 How to Use Your Nevada Hunt Book ............................4 Hunting License and Permit Fees ..................................6-7 Tag and Stamp Fees ........................................................7-8 License Requirements ....................................................8 Hunter Education Requirements ....................................9 General Hunting Laws and Regulations ........................10-13 Weapon Regulations .......................................................13-15 Hunting Opportunities in Nevada ..................................16 Areas Closed to Hunting and Trapping .........................17 Interesting Facts about Bighorn Sheep ........................18 Tag and Permit Regulations ...........................................19-21 Common Violations .........................................................23 Demerits and Penalties ...................................................24 Nevada Sportsman Enjoys Dream Season ...................25 Resident Big Game Season Dates/Quotas....................27-31 Interesting Facts about Elk.............................................32 Resident Junior Mule Deer Hunt ....................................33-34 Resident/Nonresident Combined Deer Hunts ...............35-36 A Look at NDOW’s Tracking Collar Program ................37 Nevada Dream Tags ........................................................38 Partnership in Wildlife Hunts .........................................39-40 Silver State Tag ................................................................41 Nonresident Big Game Season Dates/Quotas ..............42-43 Nonresident Guided Hunt Deer Tags .............................44 Sportsmen’s Group Honors “Wounded Warrior” .........46 Interesting Facts about Pronghorn Antelope ...............47 Mountain Lion Regulations ............................................48-49 Wildlife Heritage Tags .....................................................50 Emergency Depredation Hunts ......................................50 Migratory Bird Laws & Regulations ...............................52-53 Federal Migratory Bird Regulations ...............................54 Wild Turkey Tags .............................................................55 Small Game/Upland Game Laws & Regulations...........56-57 Hiring Unlicensed Guides a Crime in Nevada...............58 Furbearer Trapping Laws & Regulations ......................59-61 State Wildlife Management Areas ..................................62-67 National Wildlife Refuge Regulations ............................68-69 Transportation Permit Vendors ......................................70-71 Information Resources ...................................................71 Legal Hunting Hours by Species ...................................72 Sunrise/Sunset Tables ....................................................72-76 Nevada Department of Wildlife 1 ™ Tires• WHeels• BaTTeries •alignmenT •sHocks•Brakes At Les Schwab, we obsess over every detail of your vehicles tires, brakes and alignment. Our goal is always the same; to do the job right, no matter what. After all, we never forget that customers come first, and that your time is valuable. Which is why we run to greet you, talk to you about your specific needs and then get to work. When we hand back your keys, you can rest assured the jobs done, and done right. les sc HWaB, Doing TH e r igHT THing since 1952. WWW.LESSCHWAB.COM Welcome to Nevada Welcome to Nevada If you’re holding this Nevada Hunting Guide in your to benefit wildlife. In 1950, the Federal Aid in Sport Fish hands, it can only mean one thing…it’s time to go hunting! Restoration Act (now the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish The excitement of drawing a tag, scouting your hunt unit, the Restoration Act) passed. Together, the Wildlife and Sport preparation and finally hunting in the field with your friends and Fish Restoration program (WSFR) has contributed more than family; these are the experiences that will stay with you forever. $10 billion to fish and wildlife conservation in the U.S. – more One of our main goals at the Nevada Department of than any other single conservation effort. Wildlife (NDOW) is to offer the best hunting experience There’s nothing quite like the user-funded system of possible. Fortunately, Nevada is home to many quality wildlife management we’ve built in North America: a system opportunities. The State offers a wide variety of big game that keeps wildlife as a public and sustainable resource, hunting opportunities, such as producing trophy deer, elk, scientifically managed by professionals. bear, antelope and bighorn sheep. Nevada is one of the few Standing alongside our hunters and anglers is a strong, states that allows hunters the opportunity to hunt three sub- dedicated conservation community to which we owe thanks species of sheep (desert, rocky mountain and California). for both dollars and sweat equity in restoring and preserving Maybe upland game is what you had in mind. Nevada habitat. offers some of the best chukar hunting around and is coming As you read this year’s hunting guide, remember this off a very productive year. Did you know the Silver State magazine is meant to be your quick-reference to hunting is the only place in the western hemisphere where you can in Nevada. It includes season dates, quotas and crucial hunt Himalayan snowcock? The state also offers some regulations that every sportsman needs to know before great migratory bird hunting. The bottom line is, if you are heading out. However, this publication contains only brief a sportsman looking for a quality hunting experience, odds explanations of the hunting laws in this state. We recommend are Nevada has you covered. checking out our website (www.ndow.org) or calling your local Opportunities like these don’t come easily. Longterm NDOW office if you have any questions. conservation success requires the active involvement of a Once you have checked out what the Silver State has to diverse group of sportsmen, conservationists and individuals offer, I encourage you to get out there and see for yourself with varied backgrounds and beliefs. We are honored how many outstanding opportunities are available to by the trust and responsibilities placed on NDOW by our sportsmen in this state. We’re working hard to make sure constituents and partner groups who work so hard to support Nevada is a place where you can make some incredible these efforts. hunting memories. As always, I sincerely hope that your It all begins with you, the hunter and angler, who provide days afield this year are the best ever! the core of our funding. We take seriously our task to manage wildlife which accommodates your needs. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Pittman- Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, fostering partnerships between Federal and state fish and wildlife agencies, the Sincerely, sporting arms industry, conservation groups, and sportsmen Kenneth E. Mayer, Director Nevada Department of Wildlife 3 General Information How To Use Your Nevada Hunt Book 1. First, review the General Hunting and Weapons Laws (pages 10-15), which apply to most hunting in Nevada. 2. Then, read the hunting laws and regulations section for the species you will be hunting or trapping: big game, furbearer, migratory game bird, or small game/upland game bird. For instance, if you plan to hunt chukar, read the Upland Game Laws and Regulations section. 3. In addition, if you plan to hunt on a state Wildlife Management Area (WMA), read pages 62-67, as specific rules apply to these areas. Brian Sandoval 4. The Nevada Hunting Guide is designed to be used with the season Governor of Nevada and bag brochures that will be published later this year: Furbearer and Upland Game season regulations will be available in August, State Board of Wildlife and Migratory Game Bird season regulations in September. Be Commissioners sure of your legal hunting hours, check the sunrise/sunset tables on Michael McBeath, Chairman pages 72-76 or on our website at www.ndow.org before heading Jack Robb, Vice Chairman out to determine legal hunting times in your area. Jeremy Drew Charles Howell NOTE: Text in bolded italics indicates changes in regulations since last year. David McNinch The ellipsis symbols -...- used in the law in this regulation brochure designate Pete Mori where portions of the law have been omitted due to space limitations. Scott Raine Complete laws and regulations are available at NDOW regional offices, or Hal Shrum on the agency website at: www.ndow.org. Grant Wallace This is a publication of the Nevada Paid advertisements in this publication offset printing costs (NRS 501.346). To Department of Wildlife advertise please contact Aaron Meier at (775) 688-1998. Director This program or publication receives funding through the Federal Aid in Wildlife Kenneth Mayer Restoration program as educational material. Federal Laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability and sex. If you believe you Game Division Chief have been discriminated against in any NDOW program, activity or facility, please Larry Gilbertson write to the following: Conservation Education US Fish and Wildlife Service Division Chief Division of Federal Assistance Teresa Moiola 4401 North Fairfax Drive Editor and Design Mailstop: