Nevada’s 2025 big game seasons and application regulations are available, which is the application booklet you use to apply for Nevada’s 2025 big game tags. You can download a copy from their website at www.regulations.com/nevada/big-game/. The 2025 Nevada application period is March 24–May 7. Applications must be submitted by 11 p.m. (PST) on the deadline day. Results will be released by May 23rd.

Nevada has an application website that requires users to create an account before applying. Applicants will need to be logged in to their account in order to apply. When you apply, you have to choose whether or not to accept an alternate tag for your first-choice hunt should someone turn their tag back. Alternates can be selected up to 14 business days prior to the season opener.

Party applications may only be made for deer, antlerless elk, and antelope (horns shorter than ears). Residents and non-residents may apply together as a party for deer. Bonus points for party hunt applicants will be averaged and rounded to the nearest whole number. Party hunt members are able to return their tag to the Department but will not receive a refund of bonus points unless all members of that party also return their tags to the Department.

There is no waiting period following a successful draw or harvest for deer or antlerless elk. Hunters who draw bighorn sheep ram or mountain goat tags must wait 10 years. The waiting period for a ewe bighorn sheep tag is two years regardless of hunt success. If you draw a buck antelope tag, you must wait three years to apply regardless of hunt success. If you draw an antlered elk tag, you must wait seven years to apply regardless of hunt success.

There is a $10 non-refundable application fee for all regular big game applications, except elk, which is $15 plus a non-refundable $3 fee on each tag application that the applicant can choose to put towards predator management or wildlife habitat and research of non-predatory wildlife. Add another $1 processing fee per application and another $1 processing fee per license item. The non-resident hunting license fee of $156 is non-refundable if you want bonus points. If you do not want bonus points, you can get a refund for your license. If you apply for points only, you pay for the hunting license plus $11 per species. Nevada accepts Visa, MasterCard, or Discover for online applications.

Nevada has a bonus point system where you receive one point per species for each year you are unsuccessful in the drawing and have purchased a hunting license. Unsuccessful applicants who choose not to purchase the license do not gain bonus points. Bonus points are then squared. Example: if you have 5 bonus points for mule deer, 5x5 plus 1 (this year’s application) equals 26 chances in this year’s drawing. The most bonus points anyone can have for 2025 is 33 per species. That number increases by one each year. If an applicant fails to apply for a particular species for two consecutive years, they will lose all of their bonus points for that species.

Nevada gives non-residents approximately 10% of the big game tag quota. We take into account all applicants’ choices and the choice order in which they applied in our draw odds calculations. We listed the prior year’s first-choice draw odds based on if that applicant had 0, 5, 10, or 25 points going into the draw. This will give applicants a better idea of their draw odds for that specific hunt. It also gives applicants a timeframe of when they can anticipate increased draw odds.

Nevada has a lower price non-resident youth hunt/fish combo license that is only $16. They have always set aside deer tags for resident youth applicants only. New for 2025, they have also set aside antelope permits for resident youth applicants only. An 11-year-old who will turn 12 before the beginning of the season is eligible to apply for a bonus point. Youth must be at least 12 years old prior to the opening of their hunt to be eligible, or they need to be 12 in the same calendar year in order to be eligible.

Rifle hunters must hunt big game with a centerfire cartridge of .22 caliber or larger but not larger than .50 caliber and use a case longer than 2 inches. Muzzleloader hunters must use a single barrel of .45 caliber or larger. Propellants such as black powder or black powder substitutes are legal, and black powder pellets are illegal. Sabots are legal. Archery hunters must have a minimum draw weight of 40 lbs. and a maximum of 80% let-off. You must use broadheads with steel cutting edges and a minimum width of 7/8 inch. You must use arrows that are at least 24" long nock to broadhead with an overall minimum weight of 300 grains. Fixed broadheads must be at least 7/8" as the widest part, and if you are using expandable broadheads, they too much be at least 7/8" wide when opened. Crossbows may be used if you possess an archery disabililty permit. 

Nevada’s first-come, first-served list will be on the NDOW Licensing System. Customers have the ability to purchase any tags remaining after the second draw or any returned tags without an eligible alternate or big game tag that is turned in less than seven days before the hunt opens. Any tag purchased will use the bonus points you have for that species. Residency eligibility will be restricted, so a non-resident can only purchase a non-resident tag and a resident can only purchase a resident tag.

Within seven days of public release of the draw results, the successful tag recipient can choose to electronically return their tag at www.ndowlicensing.com.

Hunters who draw deer, elk, or antelope tags may turn them back in up to one day prior to the start of the season and retain their bonus points plus gain one point. Sheep and mountain goat hunters must turn their tags back prior to July 15th to retain their points, gain one point, and get a refund.

Party hunt members are able to return their party tag to the Department but will not receive a refund of bonus points unless all members of that party also return their tags to the Department.

A tag holder can transfer their tag to another eligible person if the tag holder is diagnosed as terminally ill after drawing the tag.

Nevada does not have any access programs that allow hunters to hunt private land.