Introduced in August public meetings

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Thomasine Fleming
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2 Introduced in August public meetings November 2015 (95 public, 70 agency) August September 2016 (80 public) Public opinion survey of licensed hunters 2200 mailed, 786 returned, ±4% Substantial staff time in formal meetings 975 human resource hours 10,000 vehicle miles Does not include staff time on assignments

3 Caleb McAdoo Cody McKee Cody Schroeder Mike Cox Mike Scott Aaron Meier Randy Lusetti Pat Jackson Russ Woolstenhulme Shawn Espinosa Steve Kimble Tom Donham Mark Freese Mike McCusker

4 Streamline Simplify Standardize Reduce confusion Increase value for internal customers (biologists) and external customers (Commission, CABs, and public) Increase understanding of rationale for recommendations from Department

6 Smoke and Mirrors

7 Tea Leaves

8 Ouija Board

9 CR or CGR Binding Designed to limit or thwart CAB input Limit Commission authority or flexibility If Department provides recommendation that differs from guidelines, difference and rationale will be pointed out

10 Guidance to the Department to ensure that seasons and quotas are prepared consistent with the expectations of the Commission

11 57% classify themselves as primarily or mostly a big game hunter 32% classify themselves as both a big and upland game hunter 7% classify themselves as primarily or mostly an upland game hunter

12 61% had not heard of County Advisory Boards 93% had not attended a Commission meeting in the last 3 years 72% had hunted in Nevada within the last 3 years 53% had assisted someone else on a hunt in Nevada within the last 3 years

13 When asked specifically about hunter crowding on their last hunt, 69% of respondents reported crowding was not an issue When asked if season should be shortened and number of seasons increased to reduce crowding, 53% of respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed

When asked if seasons should be as long as possible so that hunters can select when to go afield, 51% agreed or strongly agreed NDOW should strive for consistency

14 When asked if seasons should be as long as possible so that hunters can select when to go afield, 51% agreed or strongly agreed NDOW should strive for consistency in opening and closing dates for seasons: Deer 66% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed Elk 50% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed (16% expressed no opinion)

15 Summary of intent, simplest terms

16 Identify suite of seasons in which a hunt may fall Biennially select the seasons that best fits the needs for a particular hunt E.g., single season for few tags E.g., multiple split seasons for multiple tags E.g., season structure preferred within a specific unit group Seasons remain standard for two years (as is now)

17 Option: Remove season structure from guidelines

18 Female harvest quota recommendations are based on the population trajectory, relative habitat conditions, recruitment, and relationship to estimated population size. General criteria were developed for each species Quotas may be recommended within the range identified depending on biological assessments of conditions For all species, habitat, disease, and recruitment may influence the recommendation for both female and male harvests

19 Pronghorn antelope: If the buck:doe ratio for 2 year old bucks increases above 30:100, this indicates that more are available for harvest, based on population model If the population of pronghorn is trending upwards, this also indicates that more bucks are available for harvest If the buck:doe ratio for 2 year old bucks decreases below 20:100 or if population trend is downward, then a tag quota reduction may be recommended Factors that can be indicative of population trend include hunt success, survey observations per unit effort, or recruitment

20 Bighorn sheep: The primary variable that influences ram quotas for bighorn sheep is the availability of rams 6 years of age, and indicators of their availability are surveyed observations

21 Black bear: Primary variables used to influence season, quota, and harvest limit recommendations include harvest demographics Should a combination of variables including females composing >40% of the harvest, mean age of harvested females dropping below 5 years of age, or mean age of males harvested dropping below 2 years of age, the Department would reduce quotas, harvest limits, or season length If a combination of females composing <30% of the harvest, mean age of harvested females exceeding 6 years of age, or mean age of males exceeding 4 years of age, the Department would recommendation increasing the quota or harvest limits

22 Elk: Primary variable used to influence bull quota recommendations is a harvest demographic The proportion of elk harvested with reported main beam lengths that exceed 50 inches currently ranges from 25 35% If harvest composition exceeds 35% bulls with main beam length in excess of 50 inches, tag quotas would be adjusted upward Conversely, if the proportion of bulls harvested with a main beam length of 50 inches is below 25%, tag quotas would be reduced Spike quotas would not exceed 15% of the bull quotas

23 Mountain goat: Harvest will be managed to allow for the take of 2 5% of the total population

24 Mountain lion: Females should not comprise >50% of the overall take and adult ( 3 year old) females should not comprise >35% of the total take, based on 3 year mean values. When these thresholds are exceeded within defined subpopulations, the Department will recommend a reduced harvest limit within that genetic subpopulation in future years until harvest demographics indicates harvest no longer high

25 Mule deer: If the buck:doe ratio increases above 35:100 or confidence intervals on surveys indicates the ratio exceeds 30:100, or if the population of mule deer is trending upwards, the Department would recommend a quota increase If the buck:doe ratio decreases below 25:100, confidence intervals on surveys indicates the ratio is below 30:100, or if population trend is downward, then a tag quota reduction would be recommended

Black Bear Quota Recommendations CR 17-13

Black Bear Quota Recommendations CR 17-13 Recommendations 41 resident tags 4 nonresident tags Harvest limit of 20 2017 Black Bear Seasons Changes Historically entire area was open 57 out of 82 bears historically