See more info and tips for this tag method
Screenshot of the tag process from last year's FCFS.
2021 screenshot, for example.
Everyone remembers the excitement of this new returned first come, first served (FCFS) tag process Nevada implemented last year.
I'll be 100% honest if there was a fun and exciting way to re-allocate turned back tags... Nevada Department of Wildlife's first come, first served process is it! The 2022 version of this tag process just went live today, so keep checking back as more licenses can show up anytime.
To see the license list, 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 now go up on the first come, first served list where they can be picked up by both residents and nonresidents. The part that makes this interesting is the time and day they go online is random. You could have tags show up at 3 a.m. or 11 p.m. and any other time of the day. This now gives NDOW a way to re-allocated tags that are turned in.
The best tip I can give you is to put in the effort into this program. If you are diligent and have the licensing page open and don't allow the page to be put to sleep, there's a great chance 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 in 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 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.
You'll see any available tags on this page. Plus, tags that you are ineligible to pick up due to wait periods will be greyed out.
If you are eligible to purchase the tag, it will show up like the image below.
Another neat feature is at the right it shows how many tags are available for that unit/unit group and also how many days are remaining in the season. This is huge in case some tags get offered up late in the season when there isn't many days of hunting left before the season closes.
Below is information I was given directly from NDOW earlier this morning.
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 new 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 business 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.
Clients with an active NV hunt license who aren't currently in a waiting period for the specific species, don't have a suspension on their account, & don't already hold a tag for the same species 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 Kalkomey 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 could have been from an identical hunt offered to a different residency, was returned to NDOW with no eligible alternate, or was returned with less than 14 business days prior to the start of the season.
Yes, with the exception of any JR mule deer, Rocky Mtn Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goat tags. Tags returned to the Dept become resident agnostic before becoming available for purchase in the program. Residency pricing will remain the same at checkout.
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 business 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.
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.
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.
