Nevada’s mountain and desert landscapes offer incredible opportunities for hunting wildlife with guns, bows, and traps. However, violating the state’s strict hunting laws can lead to serious consequences, including fines, loss of hunting privileges, and even jail.
As a Las Vegas criminal defense lawyer, I have defended countless people charged with various poaching and hunting-related crimes. In my experience, here are five common ways you could find yourself facing arrest for unlawful hunting in our state.
1. Hunting Without a Valid License or Proper Tags
In Nevada, anyone 12 years old or older must have a valid hunting license to take any:
- game mammal,
- game bird, or
- fur-bearing animal.
For many species, you also need specific game tags or permits that correspond to the area and season you are hunting in. This goes for such fauna as:
- deer,
- elk,
- antelope, and
- bighorn sheep.
Think of your hunting license as your basic permission slip to hunt in Nevada. The game tags, on the other hand, are like specific tickets that allow you to harvest a particular animal in a designated time and place.
Example: Jim is out deer hunting with a valid Nevada hunting license, but he forgot to purchase a deer tag for the specific hunting unit he is in. Even if Jim does not harvest any deer, a game warden could still cite and potentially arrest him for hunting without the required tag.
The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) website outlines the licensing and tag requirements for all game species. It is your responsibility to understand these rules before you head out into the field.
Hunting without the proper license or tags is a misdemeanor in Nevada. A conviction carries:
- up to $1,000 in fines and/or
- up to 6 months in jail.
However, certain violations are felonies and/or carry hefty civil fines.1
2. Hunting During Closed Seasons or Outside Legal Hours
Each game species in Nevada has specific hunting seasons with start and end dates to ensure sustainable harvesting and allow animals time for breeding and raising their young. Hunting outside of these designated times is unlawful.
Similarly, there are often designated hunting hours within each day – usually tied to sunrise and sunset – to prevent unfair chase in low-light conditions and to provide periods of rest for wildlife. Hunting before or after these hours is also a violation.
Example: In Lee’s area the deer hunting season ends on November 30th. Lee decides to go out on December 5th, hoping to get one last buck. Even if Lee has a valid license and tag, hunting after the season closes is a violation of Nevada law and could lead to his arrest.
NDOW publishes detailed hunting regulations annually, specifying season dates, hunting hours, and open areas for each species. Violating these regulations is typically a misdemeanor, carrying:
- up to $1,000 in fines and/or
- up to 6 months in jail.
Note that certain violations can be felonies and/or carry monetary fines.2
Hunting on private land is unlawful without the landowner’s permission.
3. Trespassing While Hunting
In Nevada, you cannot hunt on private land without the permission of the landowner or their agent. Even if you genuinely thought the land was public, hunting on private land can lead to criminal trespassing charges in addition to any hunting violations.
Example: Dave is tracking a deer, which crosses a fence line. Dave follows it onto the property without knowing who owns it and without seeking permission. If caught, Dave could face charges for trespass.
Trespass is typically a misdemeanor, carrying:
- up to $1,000 in fines and/or
- up to 6 months in jail.3
Always verify property ownership and obtain permission before hunting on private land. Resources like county assessor maps can help you identify property boundaries.
4. Unlawful Hunting Methods
Nevada law outlines specific methods for hunting various game species. For example, some unlawful hunting methods include:
- using fully automatic firearms,
- using ammunition prohibited for a specific game,
- hunting big game with rimfire rifles,
- using artificial lights to hunt game animals (“spotlighting”), except for certain predatory animals under specific regulations,
- hunting from a vehicle, except under specific conditions for individuals with disabilities, and
- using bait or electronic calls for certain game species where prohibited.
Hunting by unlawful methods is typically a misdemeanor, carrying:
- up to $1,000 in fines and/or
- up to 6 months in jail.
However, there may be circumstances where violations are felonies and/or carry civil fines.4
5. Unlawful Possession, Transportation, or Sale of Wildlife
Once you lawfully harvest an animal in Nevada, there are still rules you must follow regarding its possession, transportation, sale, and trade. Examples of violations include:
- possessing more than the legal bag limit of a particular species,
- improperly tagging or marking harvested animals as required,
- transporting unlawfully taken wildlife, and
- selling – or offering to sell – protected game animals or their parts without proper authorization.
Each game species has specific regulations regarding possession limits and tagging requirements, which are outlined in the NDOW regulations. Violations are usually misdemeanors, carrying:
- up to $1,000 in fines and/or
- up to 6 months in jail.
Though in some situations, prosecutors can bring felony charges and/or impose civil penalties.5
Hunting violations in Nevada can carry heft penalties.
Additional Resources
For more in-depth information, see these Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) websites:
- Nevada Hunting Rules & Regulations – Information about what game you can hunt, how, and when.
- Hunting Licenses – Apply & Buy – Guide to rules re. hunting licenses, tags, demerits, and license suspensions.
- Plan Your Hunt – Overview of hunting possibilities in Nevada.
- Outdoor Education – Information about required hunting courses in Nevada.
- Top 10 Big Game Resources – Information for big game hunters.
Legal References
- NRS 502.010. See also Whiterock v. State (1996) .
- See, for example: NRS 501.385; NRS 501.3855; NRS 501.3765.
- NRS 207.200.
- NRS 503. NAC 503.
- See, for example: NRS 501.377; NRS 501.379. NRS 503.385.
