Big Game Application, Draw Eligibility and Waiting Period
Below are the rules of whether or not applicants are allowed to apply for certain combinations of tags in a single or successive draw process and the different tags an applicant is allowed to draw in a given hunt year.
Silver State Tag
A person may apply for a big game species Silver State tag and if eligible, may also submit an application for the same species or subspecies in the main draw. Silver State tags are awarded before tags in the main draw, if successful in drawing a Silver State tag, all other applications for the same species or animal class are marked as ineligible.
Heritage Tag
A person may purchase a Heritage tag regardless of eligibility in the main draw. A person may purchase a Heritage tag and obtain a tag from the main draw for the same species in the same hunt year.
Partnership in Wildlife Tag
A person may apply for a big game species PIW tag and if eligible, may also submit an application for the same species or subspecies in the main draw. PIW tags are awarded after the Silver State tags but before tags in the main draw. If successful in drawing a PIW tag, all other applications for the same species are marked as ineligible.
Dream Tag
The Dream tag drawing is conducted in July by a third party entity chosen by the Dream Tag Advisory Board. A person may purchase tickets and successfully draw a Dream Tag regardless of their awarded status or eligibility for a species in the main draw.
Big Game Application Eligibility
Eligibility Waiting Periods
| If you drew a big game tag for: |
and Harvest... |
or Did not Harvest... |
| Bear |
He/She may not apply the next 5 open seasons |
He/She may apply the next open season |
| Bighorn Ram |
He/She may not apply the next 10 open seasons. |
He/She may not apply the next 10 open seasons. |
| Bighorn Ewe |
He/She may not apply the next 2 open seasons. |
He/She may not apply the next 2 open seasons. |
| Bull Elk |
He/She may not apply the next 7 open seasons. |
He/She may not apply the next 7 open seasons. |
| Elk Depredation |
He/She may apply the next open season |
He/She may apply the next open season |
| Antlerless Elk |
He/She may apply the next open season |
He/She may apply the next open season |
| Antelope - Horns longer than ears |
He/She may not apply the next 3 open seasons |
He/She may not apply the next 3 open seasons |
| Antelope - Horns shorter than ears |
He/She may apply the next open season |
He/She may apply the next open season |
| Mountain Goat |
He/She may not apply the next 10 open seasons |
He/She may not apply the next 10 open seasons |
| Silver State Tags |
He/She may apply the next open season |
He/She may apply the next open season |
| Dream Tags |
He/She may apply the next open season |
He/She may apply the next open season |
Definitions
(as used in eligibility rules above)
Species: A basic unit of biological classification (e.g. mule deer, antelope, bighorn sheep, elk, mtn. goat, black bear, or mountain lion).
Subspecies: Generally, a group that is subordinate to "Species" in biological classification (e.g. California bighorn sheep, Nelson "Desert" bighorn sheep, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep).
Animal class: Refers to a specific age or sex class of a game species or subspecies (e.g. Mule deer buck, Cow elk, Desert bighorn ewe).
Antler: "Antler" means any bony growth originating from the pedicle portion of the skull of a big game mammal that is annually cast and regenerated as part of the annual life cycle of the big game mammal.
Antelope with horns shorter than its ears: "Antelope with horns shorter than its ears" means any pronghorn antelope without horns or with both horns that are shorter than its ears.
Antelope with horns longer than its ears: "Antelope with horns longer than its ears" means any pronghorn antelope having at least one horn that is longer than either ear of the antelope.
Antlerless deer (Doe): "Antlerless deer" means any deer without antlers.
Antlered deer (Buck): "Antlered deer" means any deer having at least one antler that is visible above the hairline of the deer.
Antlerless elk (Cow): "Antlerless elk" means any elk without antlers.
Antlered elk (Bull): "Antlered elk" means any elk having at least one antler that is visible above the hairline of the elk.
Spike elk (Spike): "Spike elk" means any elk without branching on either antler.
Bighorn ewe: "Ewe" means any female bighorn sheep having a horn or horns of at least 5 inches in length each as measured on the outside curve of the horn from the skull to the tip.
