Nevada Administrative Code
Chapter 503 - Hunting, Fishing and Trapping; Miscellaneous Protective Measures
HUNTING AND TRAPPING: GENERALLY
Section 503.142 - Hunting big game mammal with firearm

Universal Citation: NV Admin Code 503.142

Current through December 12, 2024

The Commission hereby establishes the following exceptions to paragraph (b) of subsection 1 of NRS 503.150:

1. During a type of hunt that is restricted to muzzle-loading firearms, 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 powder or a black powder substitute may be used as a propellant. A sabot round may be used. The muzzle-loading rifle or muzzle-loading musket must have the following characteristics:

(a) A wheel lock, matchlock or flintlock ignition system, or a percussion ignition system that uses a primer or percussion cap;

(b) A single barrel of caliber .45 or larger; and

(c) 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.

The muzzle-loading rifle or the muzzle-loading musket is deemed to be not loaded if the priming compound or element, such as the priming powder or the unfired primer or percussion cap, is removed.

2. During a type of hunt that is restricted to muzzle-loading firearms, it is unlawful for a person hunting under the authority of a tag for such a hunt to carry in the field a firearm or bow and arrow except for:

(a) A muzzle-loading rifle or a muzzle-loading musket with the characteristics set forth in subsection 1; or

(b) A flintlock or percussion handgun, except that it is unlawful to use such a handgun to hunt a big game mammal.

3. During a type of hunt in which the use of any legal weapon is authorized by a regulation of the Commission, a person may hunt a big game mammal with a muzzle-loading rifle or muzzle-loading musket only if

(a) The muzzle-loading rifle or muzzle-loading musket has:
(1) A single barrel of caliber .45 or larger; and

(2) Open sights, peep sights or a rifle scope.

(b) The person uses a lead ball, a lead bullet, a semi-jacketed bullet or a metal alloy bullet that expands. A sabot round may be used.

The muzzle-loading rifle or muzzle-loading musket is deemed to be not loaded if the priming compound or element, such as the priming powder or the unfired primer or percussion cap, is removed.

4. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 5, a person may hunt big game mammals with a rifle if the rifle uses a center fire cartridge or with a handgun if the handgun uses a center fire cartridge of caliber .22 or larger and has a barrel length of 4 inches or more.

5. 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; or

(b) A rifle, if the rifle uses a center fire cartridge that is smaller than caliber .22 or larger than caliber .50 or a center fire cartridge with a case length of more than 3 inches.

6. 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 hunting deer. A shotgun that is used to hunt deer or mountain lion pursuant to this subsection may be equipped with a smoothbore barrel or a barrel that is partially or fully rifled.

Bd. of Fish & Game Comm'rs, No. 25 § 6, eff. 12-4-79 + No. 26 § 6, eff. 12-4-79, A 5-12-80-NAC A by Bd. of Wildlife Comm'rs, 9-19-90; R155-97, 3-2-98; R176-03, 4-8-2004; R093-05, 10-31-2005; R185-05, 2-23-2006; R138-09, 4-20-2010; R045-14, eff. 6-23-2014; R107-14, eff. 12/22/2014; A by R007-15, eff. 10/27/2015; A by R144-15A, eff. 11/13/2017; A by R144-15AP, eff. 2/27/2018

NRS 501.105, 501.181 and 503.150

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