Nevada Hunting Laws

Big-game rifles must use a centerfire cartridge between .22 and .50 caliber, inclusive — both a floor and a ceiling, which is unusual.

"a person may hunt big game mammals with a rifle if the rifle uses a centerfire cartridge ... It is unlawful to hunt a big game mammal with ... a rifle, if the rifle uses a centerfire cartridge that is smaller than cal..."

NAC 503.142(4), (5)(b) · verified Aug 2026

Big-game rifle cartridges may not have a case length longer than 3 inches; there's no stated minimum case length.

"or a centerfire cartridge with a case length of more than 3 inches"

NAC 503.142(5)(b) · verified Aug 2026

Wild turkey may only be taken with a 10-to-20-gauge shotgun (shot no larger than No. 2) or a bow and arrow — rifles and handguns aren't legal turkey weapons in Nevada.

"No weapon other than a: (a) Shotgun which is no larger than 10 gauge nor smaller than 20 gauge and uses a shot size no larger than a number 2 pellet; or (b) Bow and arrow, may be used to hunt wild turkey."

NAC 503.187(1) · verified Aug 2026

Deer/mountain-lion shotguns must be between 10 and 20 gauge. For deer specifically, only rifled slugs or sabot rounds with a single expanding projectile are legal — no buckshot.

"A person may hunt deer and mountain lion with a shotgun no larger than 10 gauge and no smaller than 20 gauge. Only rifled slugs or shotgun rounds with sabots that contain a single expanding projectile may be used when..."

NAC 503.142(6) · verified Aug 2026

Turkey shotgun loads must use shot no larger than No. 2 (No. 2 or smaller pellets); no stated minimum size.

"uses a shot size no larger than a number 2 pellet"

NAC 503.187(1)(a) · verified Aug 2026

Turkey hunting on a wildlife management area requires nontoxic shot, even though lead is otherwise allowed for turkey elsewhere in the state.

"Shot used to hunt wild turkey on a wildlife management area must be nontoxic."

NAC 503.187(2) · verified Aug 2026

Nontoxic shot is required statewide (not just on WMAs) for ducks, mergansers, geese, swans, coots, gallinules, and snipe.

"A hunter of ducks, mergansers, geese, swans, coots, gallinules or snipe shall use nontoxic shot in muzzleloaders or in shells for a shotgun when hunting in this State."

NAC 503.183 · verified Aug 2026

Big-game handguns need a centerfire cartridge of at least .22 caliber.

"or with a handgun if the handgun uses a centerfire cartridge of caliber .22 or larger and has a barrel length of 4 inches or more"

NAC 503.142(4) · verified Aug 2026

Big-game handguns must have a barrel of at least 4 inches.

"and has a barrel length of 4 inches or more"

NAC 503.142(4) · verified Aug 2026

Muzzleloaders for big game must be single-barreled and at least .45 caliber.

"A single barrel of caliber .45 or larger"

NAC 503.142(1)(b), (3)(a)(1) · verified Aug 2026

During muzzleloader-restricted hunts, the muzzleloader must use wheel lock, matchlock, flintlock, or percussion (primer/cap) ignition — no in-line electronic ignition.

"A wheel lock, matchlock or flintlock ignition system, or a percussion ignition system that uses a primer or percussion cap"

NAC 503.142(1)(a) · verified Aug 2026

Muzzleloaders used during a muzzleloader-restricted hunt are limited to open/peep sights (no scopes, no electronic/tritium sights, aside from a disability scope permit under NAC 503.146). Muzzleloaders used during a general 'any legal weapon' hunt may also carry a rifle scope.

"Except as otherwise provided in NAC 503.146, open sights or peep sights. The use of a sight that is operated or powered by a battery, electronics or a radioactive isotope such as tritium is prohibited. ... [during any..."

NAC 503.142(1)(c), (3)(a)(2) · verified Aug 2026

Muzzleloader projectiles must be lead or an expanding metal-alloy bullet, propelled only by black powder or a substitute; sabot rounds are allowed.

"a person may hunt a big game mammal only with a muzzle-loading rifle or muzzle-loading musket, and may use only a lead ball, a lead bullet, a semi-jacketed bullet or a metal alloy bullet that expands. Only black powde..."

NAC 503.142(1) · verified Aug 2026

Nevada explicitly bans 'smart scope' style sights that electronically or computer-control the firing mechanism — a fairly rare, specific prohibition.

"It is unlawful to hunt a big game mammal with: (a) Any firearm that is equipped with any sighting system using an electronically controlled or computer-controlled firing mechanism"

NAC 503.142(5)(a) · verified Aug 2026

Night vision/thermal/IR devices are banned for hunting or locating game, but ordinary illuminated scopes (battery, fiber-optic, or tritium powered) are explicitly still legal, as long as they don't project a visible beam toward the animal.

"A person shall not possess or use any of the following equipment or devices while hunting or taking any game mammal or game bird ... (a) Electronic night-vision equipment; (b) Electronically enhanced light-gathering d..."

NAC 503.1455 · verified Aug 2026

Nevada's hunting law is silent on suppressors — the manner-of-hunting statute regulates the gun's action, the bullet, the gauge and the energy, and neither it nor the wildlife regulations mention a muzzle device anywhere — so the hunting rules do not restrict them for any species. Possession is a separate question: Nevada's weapons statute makes it a crime to possess or use a silencer unless authorized by federal law, so the suppressor must be lawful under federal law before you hunt with it.

Suppressor law in 2026: what changed · suppressor prices

"Unless otherwise specified by Commission regulation, it is unlawful to hunt: (a) Any game bird or game mammal with any gun capable of firing more than one round with one continuous pull of the trigger, or with any ful..."

NRS 503.150(1) — no mention of suppressors, silencers or mufflers in NRS 503.150 or anywhere in NRS ch. 503 or NAC ch. 503 (read 2026-10-16) · verified Oct 2026