Breaking down Nevada's PIW, Silver State and Dream Tags
Besides for the normal state draw that could potentially leave you waiting a decade or more to pull a great tag, Nevada offers several additional opportunities to draw premium hunting tags. They are Partnership in Wildlife tags (PIW), Silver State Tags and Dream Tags. Money raised from these tag raffles goes to help preserve, protect and restore wildlife and their habitat in the state of Nevada.
Even if you've already completed your regular 2016 Nevada hunting applications, you can still apply for the PIW and Silver State Tag raffles by logging back into HuntNevada.com.
Note: The deadline to apply for PIW and Silver State Tags is April 18, 2016 at 11:00 p.m and applications can be made here. The deadline to buy raffle tickes for the Dream Tags is June 30 and raffle tickets can be purchased here.
Read more information on these tags and how to apply below.
Jump to: PIW Tags Silver State Tags Dream Tags
Partnership In Wildlife Tags
Partnership in Wildlife tags (PIW) offer the ability to hunt in any open unit in the state, although the season dates and weapon class for each hunt unit applies. Basically this is a statewide hunting tag for that species, but you must follow the season dates and legal weapon for that season. Application deadline: Apply during the regular big game tag application period by April 18, 2016 at 11:00 p.m. PST. Apply online here.
Breakdown of available tags:
- 22 resident mule deer tags
- Three nonresident mule deer tags
- Five resident antelope tags
- Three resident elk tags
- One California sheep tag*
- One Nelson (Desert) bighorn sheep tag*
How to apply:
- Open to both resident and nonresident hunters
- Apply during the Nevada big game application period here
- Deadline: April 18, 2016 at 11:00 p.m. PST
- Only $10 to apply per species
- Each applicant may only apply once per species
PIW application fees will be deposited into the Wildlife Heritage Trust Account. Funds from this account must be used for the protection, propagation, restoration, transplantation, introduction and management of Nevada’s Wildlife. Funds are allocated and administered by the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) and the Board of Wildlife Commissioners.
Silver State Tags
Nevada’s Silver State Tag’s are the same as the state’s Heritage Tags or governor’s tags. The Silver State Tag enables you to hunt statewide with any weapon from August 1 to December 31. Application deadline: Apply during the regular big game tag application period by April 18, 2016 at 11:00 p.m. PST. Apply online here.
Breakdown of tags:
- One antelope tag
- One mule deer tag
- One elk tag
- One desert bighorn sheep*

Jason Schillinger was the lucky winner of the 2014 Nevada Silver State mule deer tag. He was guided by Greg Krogh with the help of Mossback Outfitters.
How to apply:
- Open to both resident and nonresident hunters
- Apply during the Nevada big game application period here
- Deadline: April 18, 2016 at 11:00 p.m. PST
- Cost: $30 for elk. $25 for antelope, mule deer or desert bighorn sheep
- Each applicant may only apply once per species
- Sportsmen may apply even if they are in a waiting period for sheep, elk or antelope
Along with the tag itself, you can also win thousands of dollars in goods and services. See full list of prizes and donors here.
Silver State Tag application fees will be deposited into the Wildlife Heritage Trust Account. Funds from this account must be used for the protection, propagation, restoration, transplantation, introduction and management of Nevada’s Wildlife. Funds are allocated and administered by NDOW and the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners.
Apply for Silver State Tags here
Dream Tags
The Nevada Dream Tags program is a raffle that allows resident and nonresident sportsmen a chance at the hunt of a lifetime while also contributing to Nevada’s wildlife and habitat. The tags offer the ability to hunt in any open unit in the state, although the season dates and weapon class for each hunt unit applies. Basically this is a statewide hunting tag for that species, but you must follow the season dates and legal weapon for that season. The tags are similar to other western states’ raffle tags and “hunt of a lifetime” tags. Application deadline: June 30, 2016. Apply online here.
Breakdown of tags:
- One elk tag
- One California bighorn sheep tag*
- One desert bighorn sheep tag*
- One antelope tag
- One mule deer tag
How to apply:
- Open to both resident and nonresident hunters
- Deadline: June 30, 2016
- You must first purchase a $10 Nevada Resource Enhancement Stamp
- Buy a stamp through the NDOW big game draw, after the NDOW draw on the Dream Tag website, or at NDOW’s consumer website
- Raffle tickets are $5 each
- An unlimited amount of tickets can be purchased
- Sportsmen may apply even if they are in a waiting period for sheep, elk or antelope
Additional notes:
- You can buy tickets as long as you will be twelve years old or older before the first hunting season date
- Ability to purchase tickets for your family and friends
- Nevada Dream Tag money has already funded more than $568,000 in wildlife habitat restoration
- Winners are drawn at the beginning of July
- Raffle winners must be eligible for hunting license to be issued a Dream Tag
- Winners who have not purchased a hunting license already will receive a complimentary hunting license — the non-profit organization buys that and the tag for them
For more information on the Nevada Dream Tags program, please visit their website at NVDreamTag.org.
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