TAX & LICENSE / FISHING & HUNTING IN NEVADA

Fishing Licenses
Everyone 12 years of age or older must purchase a license or permit prior to fishing in the waters of the State of Nevada. A license is required to take or attempt to take any fish, which includes unprotected fish and bullfrogs, by any authorized method. To be eligible for a resident fishing license, a person must be domiciled in Nevada for six months and must not have applied for or purchased any resident license, tag or permit to hunt, fish or trap in another state or country. Those who are not domiciled in Nevada but attend an institution of higher learning in the state and maintain the status of full-time student may also be eligible for a resident license.

Servicemen who are Nevada residents and are serving active duty outside the state are eligible for special discounts on fishing, hunting, and combination licenses. The same is true for the severely disabled and disabled veterans. Native Americans who are Nevada state residents can hunt and fish free of charge. For information on eligibility for these special discounts, contact your regional office.

Hunting Licenses
Any person 12 years of age or older who hunts game birds or game mammals in Nevada must have in his/her possession a valid hunting license or a combination hunting and fishing license. A hunting license is not required to hunt unprotected wild birds (i.e., English sparrows and European starlings) or to hunt unprotected mammals (jackrabbits, coyote, skunk, weasel, and ground squirrel.)

Hunting licenses can be purchased from independent agents such as retail and sporting good stores or from any of the Nevada State Division of Wildlife offices. Seasons are classified as regular or “open,” which means that tags are sold without any limitation on the number of resident hunters that may participate. The special season refers to an open season where tags are sold on a restricted basis to residents and nonresidents of Nevada. These seasons are designed for wildlife management and control that is not possible during regular seasons.

The Wildlife Division establishes big game seasons for antelope, deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat/lion. With the exception of mountain lion, tags for all species are allocated through a random computerized draw system. Mountain lion tags are available over the counter at license agents and regional offices statewide. Children under the age of 12 cannot hunt big game in Nevada.

Anyone applying for a hunting license in Nevada (resident or nonresident) must possess a Hunter Safety card issued by a wildlife agency in the U.S. or Canadian provinces or a hunting license issued in the previous year by these agencies. NRA cards and bow hunter cards do not meet this requirement. Those born after January 1, 1960, must also successfully complete a hunter education course before they can obtain a license.

For further details on the hunter education program and a schedule of course dates and locations, contact your regional office. Children under 18 years of age are not allowed to handle or have in their possession or under their control any firearm of any kind for any reason unless accompanied by parents or authorized guardians. The state allows very specific and limited firearm-bearing privileges that are not dependent upon supervision by a parent or guardian to children who are at least 14 years of age and who have in their possession a valid license to hunt. For details on firearms, youthful hunters and the law, consult your regional office.

Watercraft Licensing
The Nevada State Division of Wildlife offices also register and title boats. Every motorboat on Nevada waters must be numbered and titled except for those purchased prior to January 1, 1972. The owner of each motorboat requiring numbering must file an application for a number and for a certificate of ownership with the Division of Wildlife. Owners must show proof of payment of Nevada sales or use tax and provide evidence of ownership as required by the Division of Wildlife. The application must be signed by the owner of the motorboat and must be accompanied by a fee of $15 for the certificate of ownership in addition to a sliding fee determined by the length of the watercraft. For details on registration and titling of watercraft or answer to specific questions, contact:

Nevada Department of Wildlife
775-688-1295
www.ndow.org