NAC503.142. Hunting big game mammal with firearm.

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. The use of smokeless powder is prohibited. Only black powder or a black powder substitute such as Pyrodex or Triple 7 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.

Ê 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 longbow 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. However, 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.

Ê 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. A person may hunt big game mammals with a rifle if the rifle uses a centerfire cartridge of caliber .22 or larger.

     5. A person may hunt big game mammals with a handgun if the handgun uses a centerfire cartridge, has a barrel length of 4 inches or more and:

     (a) Uses a cartridge of caliber .22 or larger with an overall loaded length of 2 inches or more; or

     (b) Uses a cartridge of caliber .24 or larger with a case of length no less than the length of the case of a cartridge for a Remington magnum of caliber .44.

     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)