Deer Season In Nevada: Everything You Need To Know To Be Prepared

Nevada is a state with one of the dryest seasons. Therefore, they have to take extra care of their wildlife. When droughts occur, wildlife populations can be affected, changing hunting regulations.

Sadly, the state has been in a “mega-drought” for several years. Therefore, many of their populations are suffering. Usually, less water means less food for prey animals. Therefore, fewer prey animals can survive in the area.

However, hunting is still allowed in Nevada. Mule deer hunts occur yearly. Currently, the number of hunters allowed in most areas is restricted.

License Requirements in Nevada

To hunt in Nevada, you must purchase a license. Anyone over 12 who wishes to hunt in Nevada must purchase one of these licenses yearly. Those over 14 years can possess a license and hunt alone. However, they must have parental permission to do so. Parents must sign a waiver for anyone under the age of 18 applying for a license.

To hunt deer and other big game, you must also purchase a tag. However, tags are awarded via a randomized drawing. Therefore, you must sign up for this drawing and cross your fingers. This drawing is held in late May of each year.

To get a license, the hunter must take a hunter education course. Education courses from other states sometimes count, though verification will need to be provided. You may also use your previous year’s license as proof of completion.

When is Deer Season in Nevada?

Seasons can vary from area to area. Furthermore, the state has a specific quota for each unit. Therefore, you must apply to hunt in a specific area. You may not simply take to the field because it is “in season.”

Nevada breaks their seasons into several different categories. These different types of seasons have different regulations and legal weapons.

Archery season typically begins in August and goes through September. Some areas also have another archery season in December and January. Specific dates vary, though most units have at least one archery season.

“Any legal weapon” season usually takes place in October and November. Some areas push this season later into December and January.

Some units also have muzzleloader season. Usually, this is a shorter season in September and October. However, like with all seasons, the exact dates vary slightly.

No matter the season, you may only take one deer per tag annually. Because tags are awarded per hunt, you may only harvest a deer for the particular season and area your tag covers.

Junior hunts work a little differently. During this time, only those between the age of 12 and 18 may hunt. Applicants may only sign up for a junior hunt for five years. After that, they graduate to adult hunts.

The Different Types of Seasons in Nevada

As we’ve previously stated, Nevada has several different types of deer seasons. These seasons have different regulations and legal weapons. therefore, it is important to understand precisely what season you’re hunting in to ensure you follow regulations.

Here are some of the major differences surrounding each season.

All Legal Weapons

During the “All Legal Weapons” season, you may hunt with any weapon that is legal. This includes archery, crossbows, and muzzleloading rifles, which we will discuss below.

If you wish to use firearms, this is the season you need to hunt in. There is no firearm-only season in Nevada.

You may use a rifle of between .22 to .55 caliber. The centerfire cartridge case must be no longer than three inches. You may also use a handgun with centerfire cartridges of .22 or larger. The barrel must be at least four inches. You may not use any automatic weapon or full metal jacket ammunition.

Shotguns may also be used. However, you may only use rifled slugs or shotgun rounds with a single expanding projectile. 10, 12, 16, and 20 gauge may be used.

Muzzleloading Season

Some areas have seasons solely for muzzleloaders. During these seasons, you may use a firearm that may only be loaded through the muzzle. It must be single-barrel and .45 caliber or larger. Scopes are prohibited. However, you may use open sights and peep sights. You may also not use any sight that requires a battery, electronics, or radioactive isotopes to function.

The projectile must be lead, semi-jacketed, or metal. Only black powder and similar substitutes can be utilized.

You may carry a handgun for self-defense during these hunts. However, the handgun must have a barrel of fewer than eight inches and not have a telescopic sight.

Bow and Arrow

These weapons can be used during archery and “all legal weapon” seasons. You may use a longbow, compound bow, or recurved bow. You may not use a crossbow, as these may only be used during “all legal weapon” seasons.

The bow must have a draw weight of at least 40 pounds. Compound bows must not have a let-off of more than 80%.

All arrows must be 24 inches long and have a 300-grain minimum weight. The broadhead must be 7/8 inches wide at the widest point. Mechanical broadheads must be 7/8 inches wide when fully open.

You can not carry a rifle or a musket while hunting during this period.

You may have a sight on your bow. However, it must not cast a visible beam of light.

General Nevada Hunting Laws

While each season allows for specific weapons, there are also some overall regulations that you’ll need to consider. These apply to all seasons, so be sure to learn them.

You may not use an aircraft, vehicle, or boat to hunt wildlife. This regulation includes shooting directly from the vehicle and using it to spot wildlife. If you spot wildlife from a helicopter or aircraft, it is illegal to hunt in that area again within 24 hours. You may also not use a helicopter to transport yourself, animals, or equipment for hunting purposes.

While you can legally shoot deer with tracking devices, you may not use the radio signal to find them. You must also notify and return the device to the Department of Wildlife, as they can reuse it.

Baiting any big game animals is not allowed. You may not bait them or hunt any deer being baited by someone else. This regulation includes both salt and food material.

You must not disguise the sex of an animal until it is processed. The cape and horns of the animal must also remain with the carcass until processing. The cape and horns must remain with the rest of the meat during processing.

You may not take wildlife within 1/2 mile of a “wildlife highway crossing.” This crossing consists of any construction designed to help wildlife cross a highway. You may also not discharge a firearm near or across a road.

Hunters must make an effort to find wounded wildlife. Pursuing and tracking wildlife is required if you injure it. You must also not waste any edible portion of the deer. You may not only take the antlers or other parts of the animal.

Chronic Wasting Disease

Chronic wasting disease is always fatal and affects deer, moose, elk, and related animals. This disease is caused by prions, which are mutated proteins. Thes proteins infect a deer’s brain and cause tiny holes. Eventually, this affects the deer’s ability to survive.

For instance, infected deer often become very skinny as they lose the ability to find food. They will also appear unaware of their surroundings and may lose coordination. Infected deer may not show symptoms for as many as two years after infection.

Once this disease is in the soil, it stays. Nevada has not detected this disease in the soil just yet. However, the state has some regulations to keep chronic wasting disease out of the area.

You cannot transport any big game carcass from another state until it has been processed. It must be completely free of the spinal column and brain tissue, as these are high-risk parts for spreading the disease. You may transport meat, skull-caped antlers, hides, mounts, and teeth.

Intact skulls are only allowed if they have been completely cleaned of brain tissue.

What To Do After a Deer is Harvested

You must have a tag on any deer carcass that you have. Therefore, you should tag the deer shortly after you harvest it – absolutely before transporting or field dressing the deer. Without the tag, authorities may assume you are a poacher.

Only the person who was issued the tag may carry the tag. You may not allow anyone else to carry it. Once the deer is harvested, clearly notch the spaces asked on the tag, including the date and physical characteristics of the animal. The tag must remain firmly on the carcass until the animal is processed.

However, exactly how you attach the tag is up to you.

You may use the transportation stub if you’re allowing someone else to transport the animal or a portion of the animal. If you get the animal taxidermied, you’ll need to provide the taxidermist with the taxidermy stub.

Fines for Not Following Regulations

You may have to pay fines or hand over your hunting license if you don’t follow regulations. Nevada uses a point system to determine when a license may be revoked. When you violate the regulations, a certain number of points are added to your license. Your license may be revoked if you hit 12 points within 60 months.

Furthermore, you may have to pay serious fines of up to $5,000 and civil penalties of up to $30,000. You may also lose the equipment you used to hunt, including your vehicle.

One of the most common mistakes is hunting outside of your unit area. You may only hunt in the area the tag is for. Know where you are and do not venture outside of your area. Killing an animal outside of your unit may be a felony.

You may also not have a loaded rifle or shotgun inside your vehicle. Unload the gun before placing it in the vehicle every time.

Only use the tag that has your name on it. Check before you use it. When you’re hunting with others, it can be easy to mix up tags. Be sure to notch the tag correctly, too, as this is a surprisingly common offense.

License fraud is also illegal. You may not use a false birthdate, name, or address. This is a misdemeanor. However, if you kill a game animal with a false tag, you commit a felony.

Be sure that you’re not hunting before sunrise or after sunset. A common misconception is that sunset means dark. However, it takes a bit for the sky to go dark after sunset. Therefore, it can be easy to think it is not yet sunset mistakenly. Note the sunset time before you go hunting and stop shooting.

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