How to Get Your Nevada Hunting License

A Nevada hunting license starts with the Resident Hunting License ($38) or the more complete Resident Combination license ($75), which adds fishing privileges. Non-residents pay $155 for the equivalent combination license, and most big game species require a separate tag won through an annual draw.

Nevada requires a hunter education course for anyone born after January 1, 1960, before that person can purchase a license, unless they're hunting under the state's Apprentice Hunting License. Licenses are sold through NDOW's online licensing system at ndowlicensing.com, by phone, or at NDOW offices, and they run for 365 days from the date of purchase rather than a fixed calendar year.

This guide walks you through how to get your Nevada hunting license and hunter education certification, step by step.

What Is a Hunting License in Nevada?

A Nevada hunting license authorizes you to hunt small game and other non-drawn species, but deer, elk, antelope, and bighorn sheep each require a separate tag won through NDOW's computerized draw. Mountain lion is the one big game exception, available year-round over the counter with no draw required.

The license itself is separate from your hunter education certification. The certification proves you completed an NDOW-approved course and, once earned, it's good for life. The license, by contrast, expires 365 days after purchase and has to be bought again for the next cycle, though NDOW offers an auto-renewal option to help hunters keep accumulating bonus points.

Who Needs a Hunting License in Nevada?

Nevada requires a hunting license for anyone age 12 or older, but hunter education runs on a birth-year cutoff with a distinct apprentice pathway for first-time hunters. Age and birth date both play a role in what applies to you.

Anyone born after January 1, 1960 must complete an approved hunter education course before hunting unsupervised, unless one of the following applies:

1. Under 12, hunting waterfowl only: may hunt without a license, Federal Duck Stamp, or HIP number, though this exception is limited to waterfowl.
2. Age 12 or older, first-time hunter: the Apprentice Hunting License ($15) lets you hunt for one season while directly supervised by a mentor hunter at all times, available only once in a lifetime.
3. Youth ages 12 to 17: qualify for a discounted $15 combination license regardless of residency.
4. Qualifying landowners and immediate family: may be exempt from purchasing a license for certain species while hunting on their own property.

Whichever category applies to you, keep your license and hunter education card on hand while hunting.

How to Get Your Nevada Hunting License (Step-by-Step)

Getting licensed in Nevada means confirming your hunter education status first, since the requirement is tied to your birth date rather than your current age. Here's the full process from start to finish.

1. Complete an approved hunter education course if you were born after January 1, 1960.
2. Create an account at ndowlicensing.com or visit an NDOW office.
3. Purchase your license: Resident Hunting ($38), Resident Combination ($75), or Nonresident Combination ($155).
4. Apply for a big game tag through the annual draw if you're hunting deer, elk, antelope, or bighorn sheep, or buy a mountain lion tag over the counter.
5. Carry your license and hunter education card any time you hunt.

Once you've completed these steps, you're fully licensed and ready for the field. The sections below cover the hunter education course and license purchase in more detail.

Step 1: Complete an Approved Hunter Education Course

Nevada's certification path depends on your age at the time you register for the course.

1. All-online, age 18 and older: Pass the course and print your permanent certification immediately, with no in-person class required.
2. Online plus in-person class, under 18: Pass the online course, then attend a required Final Hunter Education Class covering firearm handling and Nevada-specific regulations.

However you get there, your certification never expires, so there's no annual renewal to track.

Step 2: Purchase Your License

Once you have your hunter education certification, if required, you can buy your license through NDOW's online system at ndowlicensing.com or at an NDOW office.

You'll need a government-issued photo ID, proof of hunter education if required, and payment, plus a $1 processing fee for online transactions.

Step 3: Apply for Tags and Go Hunting

A base hunting license doesn't cover big game. Deer, elk, antelope, and bighorn sheep are allocated through an annual computerized draw with an application window that typically opens in March, while mountain lion tags are sold year-round without a draw.

Once your license and any needed tags are in hand, you're ready to hunt. Before you head out, review general hunting safety practices to make sure you're field-ready.

Nevada Hunting License Requirements by Age

Let's look at the requirements for hunting licenses in Nevada by age.

Species tags: Mule Deer ($30 resident / $240 nonresident) and Desert Bighorn Sheep ($120 / $1,200) each require a separate draw tag, along with elk tags running well over $1,000 for non-residents. Mountain lion tags are the exception, sold year-round over the counter with no draw.

Season dates and application deadlines vary by species and draw group, so check the current application booklet before you plan a hunt.

Hunter Safety Course: Format and Cost

Nevada stands out for having no hunter orange requirement at all, though NDOW still recommends wearing it, while still requiring an in-person class for any hunter under 18. The chart below offers a quick overview of those formats.

However you complete it, the certification lasts a lifetime. Only the hunting license itself needs renewing, and in Nevada that happens every 365 days from the date you bought it.

What to Bring When Buying Your License

Make sure you have the right documentation handy to purchase your Nevada hunting license. You'll need:

• Government-issued photo ID
• Hunter education certification, if required for your birth year
• Payment (credit or debit card online, or check or card in person, plus a $1 processing fee for online purchases)
• Proof of Nevada residency, if applying for resident rates

Nevada Hunting Laws and Penalties

Hunting without a required license in Nevada is a misdemeanor under Nevada's hunting laws and regulations, carrying a fine of $50 to $500, up to six months in county jail, or both. A separate civil penalty also applies specifically for hunting without a valid license, tag, or permit, ranging from $50 up to the cost of the license or tag that should have been purchased.

What About Reciprocity?

Nevada accepts hunter education certificates from any other U.S. state or Canadian province that meets IHEA-USA standards, since the state's own program is built to the same guidelines. Other IHEA-USA-compliant states and provinces return the favor and accept a Nevada hunter education card.

The hunting license itself, however, is not transferable. Hunters visiting from out of state still need to purchase Nevada's nonresident license and apply for any species tags through the draw.

What Out-of-State Visitors Need to Know

Non-residents can hunt in Nevada with a Nonresident Combination license ($155), then apply for the same big game draws as residents, though tag costs run considerably higher, with elk tags exceeding $1,200. Non-resident youth ages 12 to 17 qualify for the same discounted $15 combination license as residents.

Start Your Nevada Hunter Safety Course Today

The Hunter-Ed Nevada course is approved by NDOW, self-paced, and available on any device. Complete the online portion, finish your Final Hunter Education Class if you're under 18, and get your lifetime Nevada hunter education certification.

Approved by Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) | Last verified August 11, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Do I need a hunting license in Nevada?

A: Yes, if you're 12 or older, you need a hunting license to hunt most species in Nevada. Hunters under 12 can hunt waterfowl only without a license, but every other species requires one regardless of age.

Q: How old do you have to be to get Nevada hunter education certification?

A: There's no minimum age to complete Nevada hunter education itself, but the fully online path without an in-person class only opens up at age 18. Hunters under 18 must complete the online course and then attend a required in-person Final Hunter Education Class.

Q: How much does a Nevada hunting license cost?

A: A Resident Hunting License in Nevada costs $38, and the Resident Combination license with fishing privileges costs $75. Non-residents pay $155 for the equivalent combination license, plus separate draw fees for any big game species.

Q: Does a Nevada hunting license expire?

A: Yes. Nevada licenses run for 365 days from the date of purchase rather than a fixed calendar year, so your renewal date shifts based on when you originally bought it.

Q: Can I complete Nevada hunter education entirely online?

A: Yes, if you're 18 or older, since the all-online path requires no in-person class. Hunters under 18 must complete the online course and then attend an in-person Final Hunter Education Class to finish certification.

Q: Do I need hunter education in Nevada?

A: Yes, if you were born after January 1, 1960 and aren't hunting under an Apprentice Hunting License. First-time hunters of any qualifying age can hunt one season under a mentor's direct supervision before completing certification.

Q: What's the penalty for hunting without a license in Nevada?

A: Hunting without a required license in Nevada is a misdemeanor carrying a fine of $50 to $500, up to six months in county jail, or both. A separate civil penalty also applies, ranging from $50 up to the cost of the license or tag the hunter should have purchased.