1. If any person who possesses a tag to hunt a big game mammal kills an animal that is believed to be diseased and unfit for human consumption, the person shall place his or her tag on the carcass in the manner provided by law or regulation and provide the whole carcass for inspection by an authorized representative of the Department or, at the person’s own expense, by a veterinarian licensed to practice in Nevada. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the holder of the tag who provides the carcass for such an inspection is entitled, if the carcass is diseased and unfit for human consumption, to receive at no charge another tag as a replacement for the one the holder placed on the carcass pursuant to this subsection. The holder shall choose whether the replacement tag is to be issued for the current hunting season or for the next similar season in the following year. If the holder chooses to retain the head, antlers, carcass, horns or hide of the animal, and the authorized representative of the Department approves the retention, the holder shall be deemed to waive any claim the holder may have had for the issuance of a replacement tag.

2. A replacement tag issued pursuant to subsection 1 for the current hunting season is valid for:

(a) The entire remaining portion of the season for which the original tag was issued; or

(b) If the original tag was issued for a period of a split season, the entire remaining portion of the period for which the original tag was issued or the entire following period, if any.

3. A replacement tag issued pursuant to subsection 1 must be:

(a) Issued for the same unit for which the original tag was issued.

(b) Used in the same manner as or pursuant to the same conditions or restrictions applicable to the original tag.

4. The Commission shall adopt by regulation:

(a) A procedure for the inspection and verification of the condition of such a carcass;

(b) Requirements for the disposal of such a carcass if it is determined to be diseased and unfit for human consumption;

(c) Requirements for the disposition of the hide and the antlers or horns of the animal; and

(d) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, a procedure for the issuance of a replacement tag pursuant to this section.

5. For the purposes of this section, “split season” means a season which is divided into two or more periods.

(Added to NRS by 1993, 440; A 1995, 153, 649; 2003, 1538)