Nevada Hunting License: Cost, Online Purchase, Draw Rules & Bonus Points (2026)

Nevada's hunting license is valid for 365 days from the date of purchase rather than a fixed calendar year — a rolling validity period that benefits hunters who purchase mid-year. The Resident Hunting license costs $38 (plus $1 processing fee); the Resident Combo (hunt + fish) is $75. Non-residents pay $155 for the Combo (hunt + fish), which is the standard NR license option. Youth ages 12–17 pay $15 for a Combo regardless of residency. All license fees are subject to the $1 processing fee per transaction at ndow.org.

Every major big game species in Nevada — deer, elk, antelope, and bighorn sheep — requires a separate permit obtained through a competitive draw. Unlike OTC states, purchasing a Nevada hunting license does not automatically entitle the holder to hunt big game. The draw application window typically opens in March and closes in April, with results posted in late May. Each species application costs a $10 non-refundable application fee (plus a $5 Elk Management Fee for elk applications). Unsuccessful applicants are not refunded but earn bonus points that increase future draw odds.

Nevada's bonus point system works differently from most western states' preference point systems. Bonus points function as additional 'virtual tickets' in a random draw — each point adds one more entry. This is a modified lottery rather than a true preference system, so accumulating more points improves odds without guaranteeing a tag within a set timeframe. Hunters can accumulate bonus points for multiple species simultaneously. A hunter may apply for deer, elk, antelope, and bighorn sheep in the same year, paying the $10 application fee per species.

Nevada's deer tags cost $30 resident / $240 NR for a mule deer permit. Most units are mule deer; Nevada has no whitetail population. Antlered elk tags cost $120 resident / $1,200 NR; antlerless elk tags cost $60 resident / $500 NR. Antelope tags are $30 resident / $240 NR. Bighorn sheep tags are $120 resident / $1,200 NR and are effectively once-in-a-lifetime — the draw is so competitive that most successful applicants have accumulated substantial bonus points over many years. Desert bighorn sheep in Nevada's Basin and Range country and California bighorn sheep in the Ruby Mountains are the two primary sheep populations.

Non-residents face both high tag prices and 10% NR allocation caps on most species. Nevada limits non-resident tags to 10% of total permits for most big game species. The combination of competitive odds and 10% allocation means NR hunters should expect multi-year accumulation of bonus points before drawing a quality unit. For mule deer, some general season units have higher odds than premium trophy units. The best trophy mule deer units (Ruby Mountains, Monitor Range, Antelope Valley) can take 5–10+ years to draw for NR applicants.

For hunters visiting Nevada for the first time, mountain lion ($30 res / $95 NR, OTC no draw) and chukar partridge (no separate tag, hunting license only) are non-draw options, but they still depend on open seasons, legal areas, and quota status. Mountain lion seasons are year-round in designated zones with statewide quotas. These options allow Nevada hunters to experience the state's terrain while accumulating bonus points for a future big game draw. NDOW manages a detailed harvest management system that closes units when quotas are reached, so mountain lion hunters should verify current unit status at ndow.org before hunting.

Nevada chukar hunting is built around steep rimrock canyon terrain and arid Great Basin hillsides. No separate chukar tag is required beyond the base hunting license. The season runs October 11 through February 1 with a 6-bird daily limit and no season limit. Hunting pressure is often higher in early season in northern Nevada's Humboldt and Lander counties, and in the Snake River drainages near the Idaho border.

Chukar hunting is physically demanding — birds hold on steep, rocky slopes and require hunters to climb into the terrain to flush them. Dogs, particularly pointing breeds and English setters trained on upland birds, improve success rates significantly. Early morning and late afternoon are most productive as birds move between rocky roost sites and water sources. In dry years, hunting near reliable water (springs, stock tanks) in October produces the best action. Nevada also has mountain quail and Gambel's quail in select southern and western counties, providing additional upland bird variety for hunters based in Las Vegas or Reno.

Mountain quail (Oreortyx pictus) season runs October 11–February 1 with the same regulations as chukar. Gambel's quail are found in Clark County (Las Vegas area) and southern Nye County with a 10-bird daily limit. Valley quail (California quail) are present in northwestern Nevada. The Upland Game Bird license and habitat stamp are included with the standard hunting license in Nevada — no additional endorsements are needed for upland birds beyond the base license.