Silver State Tag offers the hunt of a lifetime

Usually if you were offered the chance at hunting a premier big game species anywhere in Nevada, you would think that’s a pretty good deal. With the Silver State Tag, however, that’s just the beginning.

The Silver State Tag already allows hunters the opportunity to hunt one of four big game species (mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk, Nelson (desert) bighorn sheep and pronghorn antelope) anywhere in the state, but this year the winner could also walk away with thousands of dollars’ worth of hunting gear and services.

“Even without all of the additional prizes, the Silver State Tag is a great opportunity for anyone looking to hunt in Nevada,” said Chad Bliss, Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioner. “When you add all of the amazing prizes donated by Nevada’s sportsmen’s groups, it becomes something you simply cannot pass up. Plus the money raised goes right back into helping Nevada’s wildlife.”

The prizes include the following:
Desert Bighorn Sheep: Browning .300 Winchester Magnum and Zeiss scope donated by Nevada Bighorn's Unlimited (NBU) - Reno Chapter; Sitka gear and Kenetrek boots donated by the Wild Sheep Foundation; Minox spotting scope and binocular package donated by the Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn; guided sheep hunt from Hide N Seek Outfitters and White River Outfitters; full body mount donated by Artistic Wildlife Taxidermy; Yeti cooler donated by Elko Bighorns Unlimited; canvas bed roll and cot donated by NBU-Fallon Chapter; back pack donated by NBU-Midas Chapter; Havalon knife donated by the Wild Sheep Foundation - Student Chapter.

Elk: $500 gift card to Sports World in Ely donated by Sports World; model 700 7mm Remington Magnum with a 26" barrel and a Picatinny rail donated by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation - Ely Chapter; KUIU Guide DCS jacket, Attack pant, ICON cap and Guide gloves donated by KUIU; Cabela's Alaskan I pack and frame donated by Cabela's; Razor spotting scope, Vortex tripod, 12x50 Viper binoculars and a Vortex 1000 rangefinder donated by Vortex Optics.

Mule Deer: KUIU Guide DCS jacket, Attack pant, ICON cap and Guide gloves donated by KUIU; Razor spotting scope, Vortex tripod, 12x50 Viper binoculars and a Vortex 1000 rangefinder donated by Vortex Optics; bedroll tarp and a Yeti Cooler filled with "good stuff" donated by Nevada Muleys; Cabela's Instinct Fast Tracker hunting pack donated by Cabela's.

Antelope: KUIU Guide DCS jacket, Attack pant, ICON cap and Guide gloves donated by KUIU; Razor spotting scope, Vortex tripod, 12x50 Viper binoculars and a Vortex 1000 rangefinder donated by Vortex Optics; Cabela’s Elite Scout hunting pack donated by Cabela's; $250 gift card to Scheels donated by Scheels.

The Silver State Tag is similar to the state’s Heritage Tags, sometimes called governors tags or bid tags, and gives lucky recipients the chance to hunt a specific big game animal statewide in those hunt units where there is an established season from July 1 - February 28. But unlike the Heritage Tags which generally sell at auction for thousands of dollars, Silver State Tags are available through Nevada’s normal tag application process at a far lesser price.

Tag applicants pay a nonrefundable application fee of $20 plus the $3 predator and $2 online fee, which bring the total to $25 each for mule deer, desert bighorn and pronghorn antelope. An additional $5 is required for the elk application. Tag recipients will be charged the current fees established for the tag received. Applications for the Silver State Tags may only be submitted electronically at www.huntnevada.com during the regular big game tag application period.

In addition to expanded choice of hunt location, tag holders will also have an extended season in which to harvest their game animal. For desert sheep, mule deer, elk and pronghorn antelope, Silver State Tag bearers can begin hunting July 1 and hunt through February 28. Tag holders also can use their legal weapon of choice throughout the season’s duration – bow, muzzleloader or rifle.

The Silver State Tag draw is open to both resident and nonresident hunters who are eligible to hunt big game, even those who are fulfilling waiting period requirements for the species available. However, if an applicant is in a waiting period, he is only eligible to apply for the Silver State Tag for that species. If he is not in a waiting period, an applicant could apply for a Silver State Tag, a regular big game tag and a Partnership in Wildlife tag all in the same year. But once an applicant is awarded a tag his application will not be considered in subsequent drawings for the same species in that year. With the exception of tags for certain depredation hunts, a hunter may obtain only one tag per species per year.

Like the money generated through the sale of Heritage Tags, Nevada law requires that Silver State Tag application fees be deposited in the Wildlife Heritage Trust Account. Funds from this account must be used for the protection, propagation, restoration, transplantation, introduction and management of Nevada’s game species and fur-bearing mammals as well as management of predatory wildlife.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing or combination license.