How the tag purchase process works, tips for getting a tag, how many tags were given out in previous years and everything you need to know
Species | Antelope - Horns Longer Than Ears |
|---|---|
Resident | 218 |
Nonresident | 25 |
TOTAL | 243 |
Species | Antelope - Horns Shorter Than Ears |
Resident | 26 |
Nonresident | 0 |
TOTAL | 26 |
Species | Mule Deer - Antlered |
Resident | 390 |
Nonresident | 75 |
TOTAL | 465 |
Species | Mule Deer - Junior |
Resident | 13 |
Nonresident | 0 |
TOTAL | 13 |
Species | Elk - Antlered |
Resident | 106 |
Nonresident | 10 |
TOTAL | 116 |
Species | Elk - Antlerless |
Resident | 128 |
Nonresident | 15 |
TOTAL | 143 |
Species | Elk - Spike |
Resident | 19 |
Nonresident | 0 |
TOTAL | 19 |
Species | Desert Bighorn - Ram |
Resident | 4 |
Nonresident | 0 |
TOTAL | 4 |
Species | Desert Bighorn - Ewe |
Resident | 4 |
Nonresident | 0 |
TOTAL | 4 |
Species | Mountain Goat |
Resident | 2 |
Nonresident | 0 |
TOTAL | 2 |
Species | Resident | Nonresident | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|
Antelope - Horns Longer Than Ears | 218 | 25 | 243 |
Antelope - Horns Shorter Than Ears | 26 | 0 | 26 |
Mule Deer - Antlered | 390 | 75 | 465 |
Mule Deer - Junior | 13 | 0 | 13 |
Elk - Antlered | 106 | 10 | 116 |
Elk - Antlerless | 128 | 15 | 143 |
Elk - Spike | 19 | 0 | 19 |
Desert Bighorn - Ram | 4 | 0 | 4 |
Desert Bighorn - Ewe | 4 | 0 | 4 |
Mountain Goat | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Species | Antelope - Horns Longer Than Ears |
|---|---|
TOTAL | 186 |
Species | Antelope - Horns Shorter Than Ears |
TOTAL | 35 |
Species | Mule Deer - Antlered |
TOTAL | 484 |
Species | Mule Deer - Antlerless |
TOTAL | 6 |
Species | Mule Deer - Junior |
TOTAL | 2 |
Species | Elk - Antlered |
TOTAL | 97 |
Species | Elk - Spike |
TOTAL | 20 |
Species | Elk - Antlerless |
TOTAL | 123 |
Species | Elk - Depredation Antlered |
TOTAL | 1 |
Species | Elk - Depredation Antlerless |
TOTAL | 4 |
Species | Desert Bighorn - Ram |
TOTAL | 10 |
Species | Desert Bighorn - Ewe |
TOTAL | 5 |
Species | California Bighorn - Ram |
TOTAL | 1 |
Species | Black Bear |
TOTAL | 3 |
Species | Mountain Goat |
TOTAL | 1 |
Species | TOTAL |
|---|---|
Antelope - Horns Longer Than Ears | 186 |
Antelope - Horns Shorter Than Ears | 35 |
Mule Deer - Antlered | 484 |
Mule Deer - Antlerless | 6 |
Mule Deer - Junior | 2 |
Elk - Antlered | 97 |
Elk - Spike | 20 |
Elk - Antlerless | 123 |
Elk - Depredation Antlered | 1 |
Elk - Depredation Antlerless | 4 |
Desert Bighorn - Ram | 10 |
Desert Bighorn - Ewe | 5 |
California Bighorn - Ram | 1 |
Black Bear | 3 |
Mountain Goat | 1 |
Species | Antelope - Horns Longer Than Ears |
|---|---|
TOTAL | 158 |
Species | Antelope - Horns Shorter Than Ears |
TOTAL | 15 |
Species | Mule Deer - Antlered |
TOTAL | 572 |
Species | Mule Deer - Antlerless |
TOTAL | 16 |
Species | Mule Deer - Junior |
TOTAL | 7 |
Species | Elk - Antlered |
TOTAL | 108 |
Species | Elk - Spike |
TOTAL | 10 |
Species | Elk - Antlerless |
TOTAL | 74 |
Species | Elk - Depredation Antlered |
TOTAL | 2 |
Species | Elk - Depredation Antlerless |
TOTAL | 2 |
Species | Desert Bighorn - Ram |
TOTAL | 13 |
Species | Desert Bighorn - Ewe |
TOTAL | 6 |
Species | TOTAL |
|---|---|
Antelope - Horns Longer Than Ears | 158 |
Antelope - Horns Shorter Than Ears | 15 |
Mule Deer - Antlered | 572 |
Mule Deer - Antlerless | 16 |
Mule Deer - Junior | 7 |
Elk - Antlered | 108 |
Elk - Spike | 10 |
Elk - Antlerless | 74 |
Elk - Depredation Antlered | 2 |
Elk - Depredation Antlerless | 2 |
Desert Bighorn - Ram | 13 |
Desert Bighorn - Ewe | 6 |
This example is from the 2023 Nevada First Come, First Served system.
The tag will be greyed out if you're on a waiting list. This example is from the 2023 Nevada First Come, First Served system.
This example is from the 2021 Nevada First Come, First Served system.
It's that time of year again; the Nevada's First Come, First Served (FCFS) returned hunting tag process is now open, as of this morning, July 9, 2025, when I noticed it was live while randomly scrolling through their website, and tags can be purchased as they become available! If you didn't draw a tag, this is a great way to pick up a coveted Nevada tag. This is probably one of the more exciting ways to reallocate turned-back tags.
Also, in a post made by the Nevada Department of Wildlife today (July 9, 2025) on their Instagram account, they mentioned junior mule deer tags are now available on the First Come, First Served page AND "Tags for all hunters, not just juniors, will be posted to the FCFS page as they become available."
To attempt to pick up a returned Nevada hunting tag, head over to NDOW Licensing, then, click on the "First Come, First Served Tags" section in the upper right portion of the screen if you are on a computer, and then log in. If you're on a mobile device, tap the three-line deal and it will drop down a toolbar.
When tags are turned back and processed, they will go up on the first come, first served hunting tag list, where they can be picked up by residents and nonresidents.
One area that is worth noting is that the time and day tags go online are completely random. You could have tags appear at 3 a.m. or 9 p.m., and at any other time of day.
BIG NOTE: Also, bonus points will be purged if you pick up a Nevada First Come, First Served tag, and if you're currently on a waiting period for that species, you'll be unable to pick up a tag.
In 2023, a new rule was implemented. You are now limited to either the resident or nonresident tag turned back in based on your residency.
The best advice I can offer is to put in the required effort into this program. If you are diligent and have the first-come, first-served licensing page open and don't allow the page to go to sleep, there's a great chance that eventually, you might find a really awesome tag show up. If you're bored in the evening, maybe check out the page at random hours of the night. But like everything in life, you won't see success "getting a tag" if you don't put in the effort to keep checking the NDOW website, as these tags show up at random.
Don't click refresh: The data on the FCFS page updates instantly and automatically. Do not click the refresh button, as re-establishing your connection after a refresh may take several seconds, which increases the chance you'll miss out on a tag.
Also, because you need to be quick at picking up a tag when they show up on the FCFS list, now is a great time to freshen up on Nevada units and species that you'd be interested in picking up tags for. To do that, jump on over to GOHUNT's Insider Filtering and manipulate the filters, and make a list of units that you'd be willing to burn your current bonus points on if that tag showed up. You never know; a tag might show up that you want, and at least this way; you will know instantly what is and what isn't a tag that is worth purchasing. The more prepared you are, the greater chance you have of not wasting precious seconds if a tag shows up on this FCFS list.
A person is limited to adding one tag to their shopping cart in a 7-day period. Make sure the tag you add to your cart is the one you intend to purchase. Check back later to continue participation in the FCFS program.
Back in September of 2022, NDOW passed a new rule for the suspension of people using unfair advantages (multiple logins, multiple browsers, electronic tech, etc.) during the FCFS tag process.
Nevada’s first-come, first-served list for surrendered tags has changed for 2023. Customers will be limited to either the resident or nonresident tag based on their Nevada residency. This means that nonresidents will only be able to purchase a nonresident tag that another nonresident has surrendered.
Other information:
It might come as a surprise, but some phenomenal hunting tags are turned back in each year in Nevada!
Below is a list of the number of tags issued during the 2024, 2023, and 2022 first-come, first-served processes.
For 2024, I have the tags broken down by residency. So yes, there is a chance, but you will have to put in the time to get a tag.
When trying to get a Nevada First Come, First Served tag, most of the time, the screen will look like the image above.
View if you see a tag on the first come, first served list
When a tag appears, it will resemble the screenshot above.
Another neat feature is at the right, it shows how many tags are available for that unit/unit group and also how many days remain in the hunting season. This is huge in case some tags get offered up late in the season when there aren't many days of hunting left before the season closes.
View if you're on a big game waiting list
Here's a screenshot of the tag process from previous years' FCFS (the items will be grayed out if you're unable to purchase a tag, in this example, a person was on the waiting period for antelope).
If a large number of tags appear at once, you can filter your results by species, weapon type, unit, and so on.
A way for Nevada to offer additional hunting opportunities to the public. The Department's goal is to not have any tag go unused and this program allows us to offer returned tags to all eligible hunters.
The tags available for purchase in the FCFS program are tags not issued in the draws, returned to NDOW with no eligible alternate, or was returned with less than 14 days prior to the start of the season.
Tags eligible for the FCFS program will appear for purchase at a randomized time after a tag has been processed by NDOW.
Customers with an active NV hunting license who meet the eligibility criteria for the tag being offered will be able to purchase a tag from the FCFS program.
Tags can be shipped standard, overnighted, or available for pick up at NDOW offices around the state during regular office hours. Shipping fees are nonrefundable. NDOW and Gordon-Darby are not responsible for the timing of the shipping carrier.
Yes. All standard draw rules apply to purchased FCFS tags, including the loss of bonus points and applied waiting periods.
Yes. All standard draw rules apply to purchased FCFS tags, including the loss of bonus points and applied waiting periods.
The tags available for purchase in the FCFS program were returned to NDOW with no eligible alternate or was returned less than 14 days prior to the start of the season.
No, tags will be available for purchase only to those matching the original residency assigned to the tag.
Yes, but only through separate transactions and for separate species. Only one tag can be placed in a shopping cart at a time and will be the only item, outside of a hunting license, that can be purchased at that time.
Yes. Returned FCFS tags will again appear for purchase through the FCFS program at a random time after the tag has been processed by NDOW. Bonus points will be reinstated if the tag is received 1-day prior to the start of the tag's season.
Yes. If you wish to purchase a FCFS tag and do not currently hold an active Nevada hunting license, you will be prompted to purchase a license along with your tag at the time of checkout.
Yes, to anyone born after January 1, 1960. If you do not currently have a hunter’s safety certification attached to your account, you will not be allowed to select a FCFS tag that is currently available for purchase.
Any tag not matching an alternate's first hunt choice selection or returned with fewer than 14 days before the season opens are offered in the FCFS program.
NDOW reserves the right to suspend any account for suspicious activity to ensure the process is fair to everyone. This includes any account that has excessive amounts of “Adds to Cart” without purchasing.
Customers who currently hold a tag will not be shown available FCFS tags of the same species. A customer can only be awarded one tag per species, per season.
Tags available in the FCFS program are randomized. If no tags are showing, it does not mean that there are not tags available. Keep checking back to see if a tag has completed its randomization time.
A person is limited to adding one tag to their shopping cart in a 7-day period. Make sure the tag you add to your cart is the one you intend to purchase. Check back later to continue participation in the FCFS program.
This article was initially published in July of 2023 and has been updated for 2025.
Therefore, a nonresident can only pick up a nonresident tag that was previously surrendered by another nonresident.
A resident can only pick up a tag that was returned by another resident.
You will have 5 minutes once a tag has been added to your cart to checkout. Once that timer runs out, your tag will be taken from your cart, and the tag will re-appear on the first come, first served list within the next 24 hours.
To ensure a quick checkout, make sure your payment and shipping information is up to date before adding a tag to your cart. You can make changes to this information in your profile.
You are allowed one tag in your cart at a time. If you want to purchase multiple tags, you will have to purchase them in separate transactions. This ensures that the first come first served checkout process is fair for all hunters.
Take shipping times into account when purchasing your tags. Some tags may have few days left in-season and standard mail would arrive after the season ends. Typical standard mail times are 5-7 business days. Overnight shipping is available for an increased fee and tags are free to be picked up at an NDOW office during business hours.
