Hunt Nevada
Hunt Season & Regulations - Migratory Game Birds & Waterfowl
Migratory Bird Regulations
 Please review the 2011 Nevada Hunting Guide for current Hunting Regulations.
| On This Page |
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| Additional Information |
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2011-2012 Migratory Bird Regulations
What You Need to Hunt Migratory Birds
- All waterfowl hunters are required to have federal and state waterfowl hunting stamps.
A Nevada State Duck Stamp ($10.00) is required for any person 12-64 years old who hunts migratory birds, except mourning or white-winged dove, snipe, coot, or moorhen. A federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Stamp ($16.00 at NDOW) is required for any person 16 or older who hunts any migratory waterfowl.
- Nontoxic shot is required in Nevada (NAC 503.183)
1. A hunter of ducks, mergansers, geese, swans, coots, gallinules or snipe shall use nontoxic shot in muzzle loaders or in shells for a shotgun when hunting in this state.
2. The possession of shells for a shotgun which contain other than nontoxic shot is prohibited while hunting any bird designated in subsection 1.
3. The possession of shot for a muzzle-loading shotgun other than nontoxic shot is prohibited while hunting any birds designated in subsection 1.
4. As used in this section, "nontoxic shot" means any shot which has been approved by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service pursuant to 50 C.F.R. Part 20.134.
- Shotguns must be plugged to limit overall shell capacity to three.
Harvest Information Program (HIP)
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The Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP) is a method by Nevada Department of Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are developing more reliable estimates of the number of all migratory birds harvested throughout the country. These estimates give biologists the information they need to make sound decisions concerning hunting seasons, bag limits, and population management.
Any person 12 years or older who plans to hunt any kind of migratory game bird, including ducks, geese, swans, rails, coot, doves, snipe, or gallinules in Nevada this year, is required to ANNUALLY obtain a Harvest Information Program (HIP) validation number and write it on their hunting license before entering the field.
How to Get Your HIP Number
The validation number is free, and is available by one of two ways:
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is conducting the nationwide harvest survey to better understand the impact of hunting on these wildlife resources. Some migratory bird hunters may be surveyed to collect harvest information.
Additional Regulations
- For laws and regulations concerning waterfowl, boating,
and other use regulations on state and federal lands, see
the 2010 Nevada Hunt Book, which will be
available on this site, and at license agents and NDOW offices.
- Waterfowl hunting is open to non-residents.
- Waterfowl hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Waterfowl season and limit brochures will be available in on September 30 at NDOW offices and license agents.
- Migratory game birds are ducks, mergansers, geese, swans, coots, moorhens, snipe and dove.
- Head or fully feathered wing must remain attached while in transit from the field for ducks, mergansers, coots and moorhens, snipe, geese and swans.
- Please report bird bands. Call 1-800-327-BAND. By reporting band numbers, you will be helping to manage our continental waterfowl resource. When you call the Bird Banding Lab, they will ask when and where you encountered the bird. You can then find out when and where the bird was banded.
Protected Non-Game Birds
- Non-game birds, such as shore birds, song birds, hawks, ravens, owls, etc., are protected by state and federal law, and as such must not be hunted, killed or possessed.
American Crow
2011 - 2012
American Crow |
Season Dates
(Inclusive) |
Open Counties |
Limits
Daily/Possession |
Fall Season
September 1, 2011 -
November 17, 2011
Spring Season
March 1, 2012 -
April 15, 2012 |
Statewide |
Daily bag limit 10 |
| SPECIAL REGULATIONS/INFORMATION
Shooting hours: Sunrise to sunset daily.
Shotguns only.
All crows must be retrieved and removed from the field.
Season closed on ravens.
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Mourning & White-Winged Dove
2011 - 2012
Mourning & White-Wing Dove |
Season Dates
(Inclusive) |
Open Counties |
Limits
Daily/Possession |
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September 1 - 30, 2011
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Statewide |
10/20 |
| SPECIAL REGULATIONS/INFORMATION
LIMIT: Limit singly or in aggregate.
Shooting hours: One half hour before sunrise to sunset daily.
Limits for mourning dove and white-wing
dove are singly or in aggregate.
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Ducks & Mergansers
2011 - 2012
Ducks & Mergansers |
Season Dates
(Inclusive) |
Open Counties |
Limits
Daily/Possession |
General Duck:
Sept. 24, 2011 - Jan. 6, 2012
Scaup:
Sept. 24, 2011 -
Dec. 16, 2012
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Northeast Zone:
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General Duck Limits: 7/14
Pintail: 2/4
Mallard: Included within the general duck limit, but not to include more than 2 hen mallards and 4 in possession.
Redhead: 2/4
Canvasback: 1/2
Scaup (Lesser or Greater): 3 / 6, included within the general duck limit
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General Duck:
Oct. 15, 2011 -
Jan. 27, 2012
Scaup:
Nov. 5, 2011 -
Jan.
27, 2012
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Northwest Zone
- Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Esmeralda,
Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing,
Storey and Washoe
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General Duck Limits: 7/14
Pintail: 2/4
Mallard: Included within the general duck limit, but not to include more than 2 hen mallards and 4 in possession.
Redhead: 2/4
Canvasback: 1/2
Wooduck: Included within the general duck limit, except in Churchill County where wood duck bag is not to exceed 1 daily and 2 in possession.
Scaup (Lesser or Greater): 3 / 6, included within the general duck limit
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General Duck:
Oct. 15, 2011 -
Jan. 27, 2012
Scaup:
Nov. 5, 2011 -
Jan.
27, 2012
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Southern Zone
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General Duck Limits: 7/14
Pintail: 2/4
Mallard: Included within the general duck limit, but not to include more than 2 hen mallards and 4 in possession.
Redhead: 2/4
Canvasback: 1/2
Scaup (Lesser or Greater): 3 / 6, included within the general duck limit
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General Duck:
Nov. 5, 2011 -
Jan.
27, 2012
Scaup:
Nov. 5, 2011 -
Jan.
27, 2012
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Moapa Valley portion of the Overton Wildlife Management Area
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General Duck Limits: 7/14
Pintail: 2/4
Mallard: Included within the general duck limit, but not to include more than 2 hen mallards and 4 in possession.
Redhead: 2/4
Canvasback: 1/2
Scaup (Lesser or Greater): 3 / 6, included within the general duck limit
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| SPECIAL
REGULATIONS/INFORMATION:
*Except the Moapa Valley portin of the Overton Wildlife
Management Area.
SHOOTING HOURS: ½ hour
before sunrise to sunset. Open to Nonresidents.
Maximum limits allowed for all
species under the Federal Framework.
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Youth Waterfowl Hunt
2011 - 2012
Youth Waterfowl Hunt |
Season
Dates
(Inclusive) Open Counties |
Limits
Daily/Possession |
| Sept. 17, 2011 and Jan. 14, 2012
Northeast Zone
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Daily bag limit is the same as that for the general season for ducks, mergansers, geese, coots and moorhens. Limits singly or in the aggregate for Canada and white-fronted geese. Limits singly or in the aggregate for Snow and Ross' geese. *Ruby Valley within Elko and White Pine counties is closed to hunting for Snow and Ross' geese |
Oct. 1, 2011 and Feb. 4, 2012 Northwest Zone
- Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Esmeralda,
Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing,
Storey and Washoe
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Daily bag limit is the same as that for the general season for ducks, mergansers, geese, coots and moorhens. Limits singly or in the aggregate for Canada and white-fronted geese. Limits singly or in the aggregate for Snow and Ross' geese. *Ruby Valley within Elko and White Pine counties is closed to hunting for Snow and Ross' geese. |
| Oct. 22, 2011 and Feb. 4, 2012 Southern Zone
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Daily bag limit is the same as that for the general season for ducks, mergansers, geese, coots and moorhens. Limits singly or in the aggregate for Canada and white-fronted geese. Limits singly or in the aggregate for Snow and Ross' geese. *Ruby Valley within Elko and White Pine counties is closed to hunting for Snow and Ross' geese. |
Special
Regulations / Information open to hunters 15
years old or younger.Youth hunters must be accompanied
by an adult who is at least 18 years old. Adults are
not allowed to hunt during this season. Open
to Nonresidents.
*Snow and Ross’ geese are closed in
Ruby Valley within Elko and White Pine Counties |
Coots & Common Moorhens
2011 - 2012
Coots & Common Moorhens (gallinules) |
Season Dates
(Inclusive) |
Open Counties |
Limits
Daily/Possession |
Sept. 24, 2011 -
Jan. 6, 2012
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Northeast Zone:
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25/25 |
Oct. 15, 2011 -
Jan. 27, 2012 |
Northwest Zone
- Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Esmeralda,
Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing,
Storey and Washoe
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25/25 |
Oct. 15, 2011 -
Jan. 27, 2012 |
Southern Zone
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25/25
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Nov. 5, 2011 -
Jan.
27, 2012 |
Moapa Valley portion of the Overton Wildlife Management Area
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25/25
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SPECIAL
REGULATIONS/INFORMATION:
*Except the Moapa Valley portin of the
Overton Wildlife Management Area.
LIMIT: Singly or in the aggregate.SHOOTING
HOURS: ½ hour before sunrise to sunset
OPEN
to nonresidents. |
Canada & White-Fronted Geese
| 2011 - 2012
Canada & White-Fronted Geese |
Season Dates
(Inclusive) |
Open Counties |
Limits
Daily/Possession |
Sept. 24, 2011 -
Jan. 6, 2012
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Northeast Zone:
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3/6 |
Oct. 15, 2011 -
Jan. 27, 2012 |
Northwest Zone
- Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Esmeralda,
Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing,
Storey and Washoe
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3/6 |
Oct. 15, 2011 -
Jan. 27, 2012 |
Southern Zone
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3/6
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Nov. 5, 2011 -
Jan.
27, 2012 |
Moapa Valley portion of the Overton Wildlife Management Area
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3/6
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| SPECIAL
REGULATIONS/INFORMATION:LIMIT: Singly
or in the aggregate.SHOOTING HOURS:
½ hour before sunrise to sunset
OPEN to
nonresidents. |
Snow & Ross' Geese
2011 - 2012
Snow & Ross' Geese
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Season Dates
(Inclusive) |
Open Counties |
Limits
Daily/Possession |
Sept. 24, 2011 -
Jan. 6, 2012
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Northeast Zone:
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10/20 |
Oct. 15, 2011 -
Jan. 27, 2012 |
Northwest Zone
- Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Esmeralda,
Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing,
Storey and Washoe
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10/20 |
Oct. 15, 2011 -
Jan. 27, 2012 |
Southern Zone
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10/20
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Nov. 5, 2011 -
Jan.
27, 2012 |
Moapa Valley portion of the Overton Wildlife Management Area
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10/20
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SPECIAL
REGULATIONS/INFORMATION:
Shooting
Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset
Open to Nonresidents.
CLOSED: Ruby Valley within Elko and White Pine Counties
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Common Snipe
2011 - 2012
Common Snipe |
Season Dates
(Inclusive) |
Open Counties |
Limits
Daily/Possession |
Sept. 24, 2011 -
Jan. 6, 2012
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Northeast Zone:
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8/16 |
Oct. 15, 2011 -
Jan. 27, 2012 |
Northwest Zone
- Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Esmeralda,
Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing,
Storey and Washoe
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8/16 |
Oct. 15, 2011 -
Jan. 27, 2012 |
Southern Zone
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8/16
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Nov. 5, 2011 -
Jan.
27, 2012 |
Moapa Valley portion of the Overton Wildlife Management Area
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8/16
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SPECIAL
REGULATIONS/INFORMATION:
SHOOTING
HOURS: ½
hour before sunrise to sunset.
OPEN to nonresidents.
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Swan
2011 - 2012
Swan |
Season Dates
(Inclusive) Open Counties |
Limits
Daily/Possession |
Oct. 15, 2011 - Jan. 8, 2012
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1 swan per hunt permit. Maximum of two swan permits per season. One swan per
day.
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| SPECIAL
REGULATIONS/INFORMATION:
Persons may apply for one of the 650 swan hunt permits. Applications must be mailed through a postal service to the address listed on the application or submitted online through the Internet at www.ndow.org. Permits are to be awarded through an initial drawing.
Deadline: Applications must be received by 5 p.m. by Friday Sept. 16, 2011. No hand delivered applications for the drawing. Results of the initial drawing will be provided by Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011.
Any remaining swan hunt permits will be available on a first come, first served basis through the mail or over the counter during normal business hours (M-F 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) at the Wildlife Administrative Services Office, 185 North Main Street, Fallon, Nevada Beginning on Monday, Oct. 3, 2011. Applications are available at all Department of Wildlife offices and select license agents. Persons may apply for a second swan permit beginning on Monday, Oct. 3, 2011. Applicants can submit one application per draw period. Applicants that did not apply for the initial drawing period may submit two applications during the first come, first served draw period.
Successful swan hunters are required to validate their permit pursuant to NAC 502.380, and then present at least the head and neck of their swan to an NDOW agent at selected sites for species verification within five (5) days of harvest. Mandatory inspection sites and requirements will be provided with the swan hunt permits.
If a total harvest of five (5) trumpeter swans is reached, the swan season is closed for the remainder of the season.
Persons must possess a valid annual Nevada hunting license and both a current Federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Stamp and a current Nevada Duck Stamp, when required, to hunt swan in Nevada.
Open to Nonresidents who have a valid annual Nevada hunting license or a Nonresident Short-Term Permit to hunt Upland game & Waterfowl and required waterfowl stamps. |
Falconry Seasons for Migratory Birds
2011 - 2012
Falconry Seasons for
Migratory Birds |
Season Dates
(Inclusive) |
Open Counties |
Limits
Daily/Possession |
Sept. 24, 2011 -
Jan. 6, 2012
|
Northeast Zone:
|
3/6 |
Oct. 15, 2011 -
Jan. 27, 2012 |
Northwest Zone
- Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Esmeralda,
Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing,
Storey and Washoe
|
3/6 |
Oct. 15, 2011 -
Jan. 27, 2012 |
Southern Zone
|
3/6
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Nov. 5, 2011 -
Jan.
27, 2012 |
Moapa Valley portion of the Overton Wildlife Management Area
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3/6
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SPECIAL REGULATIONS/INFORMATION: Migratory
game birds species allowed for legal take include: geese,
ducks, mergansers, coots, common moorhens and common
snipe. Limits: for all permitted migratory
game birds are singly or in the aggregate. Hawking
Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Open to Nonresidents.
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