S.B. 235
- *SB235*
SENATE BILL NO. 235–SENATOR HANSEN
FEBRUARY 25, 2025
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Referred to Committee on Natural Resources
SUMMARY—Revises provisions relating to wildlife.
(BDR 45-113)
FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.
Effect on the State: Yes.
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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.
AN ACT relating to wildlife; revising provisions governing the
establishment of a program which authorizes a person to
transfer his or her tag to hunt a big game mammal to any
person who is under 18 years of age; revising provisions
relating to the exhibition or possession of certain licenses,
permits or related items while engaged in certain activities
concerning wildlife; authorizing a person to take or gather
a skull or head of a wildlife species without a tag for non-
commercial purposes; and providing other matters
properly relating thereto.
Legislative Counsel’s Digest:
Existing law authorizes the Board of Wildlife Commissioners to adopt 1
regulations establishing a program that allows a person to transfer his or her tag to 2
hunt a big game mammal to any person who is under 18 years of age. (NRS 3
502.102) Section 1 of this bill makes the adoption of the regulations mandatory. 4
Under existing law, a person is guilty of a misdemeanor if the person: (1) is 5
required to have a license or permit to engage in activities regulated by the 6
provisions relating to wildlife; and (2) while engaged in any such activity, refuses, 7
upon the demand of an officer authorized to enforce the fish and game laws of this 8
State, to exhibit the license or permit, any wildlife in the person’s possession or any 9
weapon, ammunition, device or apparatus in the person’s possession that may be 10
used for any such activity. (NRS 502.120) Under existing law, this crime is 11
punishable by: (1) a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $500; (2) imprisonment 12
in the county jail for not more than 6 months; or (3) both fine and imprisonment. 13
(NRS 501.385) Section 2 of this bill eliminates the criminal penalty for refusing to 14
exhibit any of the items other than the license or permit. 15
Subject to the same criminal penalty, a person is also guilty of a misdemeanor 16
under existing law if the person: (1) is required to have a license or permit to 17
engage in activities regulated by the provisions relating to wildlife; and (2) while 18
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engaged in any such activity, fails to have the license or permit in his or her 19
possession. (NRS 502.120) Section 2 clarifies that, for purposes of this crime, the 20
license or permit may be possessed in physical or electronic form. 21
In addition to regular licenses or permits to hunt, fish or trap, existing law 22
provides for additional licenses, known as tags, to hunt, trap or fish designated 23
species of wildlife. (NRS 502.130) Under existing law, whenever tags are required 24
for any species of wildlife, it is unlawful to possess any of that species without the 25
correct tag. (NRS 502.150) Section 3 of this bill authorizes a person, for non-26
commercial purposes and without the required tag, to take or gather a skull or head 27
of any wildlife species for which a tag is required, with or without antlers or horns 28
attached. 29
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. NRS 502.102 is hereby amended to read as follows: 1
502.102 The Commission [may] shall adopt regulations 2
establishing a program which authorizes a person to transfer his or 3
her tag to hunt a big game mammal to any person who is under 18 4
years of age. 5
Sec. 2. NRS 502.120 is hereby amended to read as follows: 6
502.120 1. Each person required to have a license or permit 7
as provided in this title who, while engaged in any activity regulated 8
by this title, refuses to exhibit the license or permit, [any wildlife 9
which the person may have in his or her possession, or any weapon, 10
ammunition, device or apparatus in his or her possession which may 11
be used for any activity regulated by this title,] upon the demand of 12
any officer authorized to enforce the fish and game laws of this 13
State, is guilty of a misdemeanor. 14
2. Each person required to have a license or permit as provided 15
in this chapter who, while engaged in any activity regulated by this 16
title, fails to have the license or permit in his or her possession in 17
physical or electronic form is guilty of a misdemeanor. A person 18
charged with violating this subsection may not be convicted if the 19
person produces in court in physical or electronic form a license or 20
permit previously issued to the person and valid at the time of his or 21
her arrest. 22
Sec. 3. NRS 502.150 is hereby amended to read as follows: 23
502.150 1. [Whenever] Except as otherwise provided in 24
subsection 4, whenever tags are required for any species of wildlife, 25
it is unlawful to have any of that species in possession without the 26
correct tag. Before transporting any species of wildlife, or parts 27
thereof, for which a tag is required, the holder of: 28
(a) A paper tag must attach the tag to the animal; or 29
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(b) An electronic tag must validate the tag in accordance with 1
the regulations adopted by the Commission pursuant to 2
NRS 502.160. 3
Possession of any species of wildlife, or parts thereof, for which a 4
tag is required without an attached or validated tag, as applicable, is 5
prima facie evidence that the game is illegally taken and possessed. 6
2. It is unlawful to remove any tag from any wildlife for reuse 7
or to be in possession of excess tags or used tags. 8
3. Whenever tags are required for any species of fur-bearing 9
mammal, possession of a pelt of that species without the tag 10
attached thereto or validated, as applicable, is prima facie evidence 11
that such pelt is illegally taken and possessed. 12
4. A person may, for non-commercial purposes and without 13
obtaining the required tag, take or gather a skull or head of any 14
species of wildlife for which a tag is required, with or without 15
antlers or horns attached. 16
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