What hunting season is it in USA?

21 July 6:53

James Brown

Plan your 2025–26 Nevada hunt with our state‑by‑state guide—season dates, bag limits, licenses, bow & rifle rules, and key game species from mule deer and antelope to elk, turkey, waterfowl, and predators. Whether you’re glassing a desert buck at dawn, slipping through aspen groves for bull elk, or running decoys for ducks over flooded playa, Nevada’s sagebrush flats, pinyon‑juniper ridges, and wetland refuges deliver premier big game and small game hunts under clear regulations. What Is There to Hunt in Nevada? The Silver State supports a broad array of species: Big Game: Mule deer, pronghorn antelope, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, moose (limited draw), black bear, mountain lion Upland & Small Game: Cottontail rabbit, jackrabbit, gray squirrel, Gambel’s quail, chukar, wild turkey Waterfowl & Migratory Birds: Ducks (mallard, teal, wigeon), geese, coots, rails, mourning dove Predators & Furbearers: Coyote, bobcat, fox, raccoon, beaver From high Alpine zones to desert playas, Nevada’s state lands support healthy wildlife populations and diverse seasons. What Animals Can You Hunt Year‑Round in Nevada? On private lands with permission, unprotected or nuisance species like coyote, feral hogs, and jackrabbit carry no closed season and no bag limits, offering off‑season predator control opportunities. Public‑land Wildlife Management Areas enforce posted season dates and method restrictions. Nevada Big Game Hunting Seasons 2025–26 Mule Deer Archery (OTC): Sept 12 – Oct 11, 2025 General Rifle: Oct 3 – Oct 25, 2025 Muzzleloader: Nov 1 – Nov 15, 2025 Limited‑Entry (draw): Varies by unit Nevada divides deer ranges into units; tags allocate by draw or over‑the‑counter. Bag limit: one buck per season. Pronghorn Antelope General Rifle & Bow: Sept 19 – Sept 27, 2025 Limited‑Entry: Oct 1 – Oct 10, 2025 (draw) Antelope herds roam open sage flats; pronghorn tags follow quota draws to balance populations. Elk & Moose Elk Archery: Sept 5 – Oct 4, 2025 Elk Rifle: Oct 10 – Nov 2, 2025 Moose (draw only): Sept 1 – Sept 30, 2025 Elk tags—both OTC and draw—offer high‑country hunts; moose remain a rare, lifetime‑limited draw species. Bighorn Sheep & Mountain Goat Draw Only: Aug 15 – Nov 30, 2025 These trophy hunts require point accumulation and a successful draw; one animal per season. Black Bear & Mountain Lion Bear Archery: Apr 1 – May 31, 2025; Aug 1 – Sept 30, 2025 Bear Rifle: Oct 1 – Oct 31, 2025 Cougar: Feb 1 – Mar 31 & Aug 1 – Oct 31, 2025 Bear and lion hunts follow strict quota systems; harvests aid population management. Nevada Small Game & Waterfowl Seasons 2025–26 Upland Game & Small Mammals Rabbit & Squirrel: Oct 1 – Mar 31, 2026 Quail & Chukar: Sept 1 – Jan 31, 2026 Wild Turkey (Fall): Oct 15 – Jan 31, 2026 (bow only) Shotguns and bows serve upland hunters in sagebrush and riparian corridors. Waterfowl & Migratory Birds Duck Season (South/Central Zones): Oct 18 – Dec 1; Dec 15 – Jan 31, 2026 North Zone Duck: Sept 27 – Nov 10; Dec 1 – Jan 31, 2026 Geese: Oct 11 – Jan 31, 2026 Rails & Coots: Sept 1 – Nov 9, 2025 Mourning Dove: Sept 1 – Nov 9, 2025 Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset; Federal Duck Stamp, HIP, and state waterfowl stamp required Nevada’s marshes and reservoirs draw migrating waterfowl; non‑toxic shot enforced. Bag Limits by Species Mule Deer & Elk: 1 buck/bull per tag Pronghorn: 1 per permit Moose, Sheep, Goat: 1 per permit Black Bear: 1 per permit Ducks: 6/day; species sub‑limits Geese: 5/day Quail/Chukar: 8/day each Rabbit/Squirrel: 10/day each Coyote & Feral Hogs: No limits on private lands Bag limits ensure sustainable big game and small game harvests. License & Tags Information for Nevada Hunters (2025–26) All hunters must carry a valid NDOW hunting license and appropriate tags: Resident Annual License: $48.50; Nonresident: $443 Big Game Tags: $23–$443; OTC or draw applications Waterfowl Stamp & HIP: $17; Federal Duck Stamp required Furbearer License: $52; includes coyotes, bobcats Hunter Education: Mandatory for those born after Jan 1 1960 Licenses fund habitat restoration, predator research, and wildlife management. Hunting Methods: Bow, Rifle, Muzzleloader Nevada authorizes: Archery: Compound, recurve, crossbows (archery seasons) Firearms: Center‑fire rifles, shotguns (slugs & buckshot) Muzzleloaders: Single‑shot black‑powder firearms Dogs & Bait: Allowed for predator control on private lands; field trials regulated Comply with weapon restrictions and caliber requirements for each season. Regulations & Resources Nevada Department of Wildlife regulations cover: Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset (some spring hunts extend to legal sunset) Hunt Unit Maps: Online GIS maps for deer, elk, sheep, goat units Harvest Reporting: Mandatory for big game within 48 hrs Special Areas: Wildlife management areas, refuge zones, and predator control permits Before you head out, always verify season dates, bag limits, and license requirements on the official Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) website to stay compliant and ensure a legal, ethical hunt. This guide was created based on information from Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW): https://www.ndow.org/get-outside/hunting/rules-regulations/ With structured seasons, clear bag limits, and accessible license systems, Nevada delivers unparalleled hunting for mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep, ducks, and predators. Prepare your bow or rifle, secure proper tags, and immerse yourself in the Silver State’s wild beauty on your 2025–26 hunt.