Season Recommendations for Big Game Presentation At Commission - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Nevada Department of Wildlife 2017 and 2018 Big Game Seasons CR 17-05

Season Recommendations for Big Game

Presentation

• At Commission discretion:

– Antelope (pages 1–5; Schroeder) – Bighorn sheep (pages 18–19; Wakeling) – Mountain goat (page 20; Wakeling) – Mule deer (pages 20–28; Schroeder) – Elk (pages 6–17, McKee) – Antlerless elk landowner hunts (page 29; McKee) – Emergency hunts (page 30; Schroeder)

Surveys

• Helicopter surveys will be discussed in

“What’s New” section

2017 and 2018 Antelope Seasons

• Antelope Season Changes:
• Changed all season dates to be consistent with Harvest

Management Guidelines

• New Hunts:

– Added new hunt Unit Group 202,204 with season dates Oct 15 – Oct 30 for Nonresident Horns longer than ears (2251). – Added 3 new Unit Groups (012-014; 076,077, 079, 081, 091; and 181-184) for Resident Antelope – Horns shorter than ears (2181).

2017 and 2018 Bighorn Sheep Seasons

• Seasons consistent with proposed guidelines
• Department amendments

– Resident desert ram 3151, no bold necessary on 283, 284 and 286 – no change from prior years – Nonresident desert ram 3251, season dates for 212 Early and 213 Early should be Nov 15 through Dec 5 for both years – Resident Rocky Mountain ram 9151, Unit 91 should be Unit 091.

• Nonresident desert bighorn ewe hunts 3281
• versight by Department

– 44 applicants last year, 26 with bonus point – Provisional inclusion within application guide noting that action will be taken by Commission at March meeting – Department will bring back this item at March meeting for Commission’s consideration – Application begins March 20, Commission meets March 25, any transactional activities may be handled administratively

2017 and 2018 Bighorn Sheep Seasons

2017 and 2018 Mountain Goat Seasons

• Added nonresident season 7251 for 2017

2017 and 2018 Mule Deer Seasons

• Mule Deer Season Changes:
• Changed season dates to be consistent with Harvest

Management Guidelines

• Resident Mule Deer Antlerless – Any Legal Weapon (1181)

– Added 9 new hunt Unit Groups to this Hunt category – Followed criteria in Harvest Management Guidelines

• Resident Mule Deer Depredation Hunt – Baker Ranch (1101)

– Moved this hunt to the regular antlerless deer hunt (1181)

• New Hunts:

– Added new late season hunt Unit 115 to Any Legal Weapon Resident and Nonresident (1331) with a late season date of Dec 1 – Dec 15 – Removed late season Archery hunts for Unit Groups 101-109 and 121

2017 and 2018 Elk Seasons

New Hunting Opportunities

• Antlered Elk – Any Legal Weapon Hunt

– Added 075 Late to Nonresident Hunt (4251)

• Resident Elk – Spike (4651)

– Added 072-074 with early-mid-late season structure

• Antlerless Elk – Any Legal Weapon (4181 & 4281)

– Added 241, 242 to Hunt 4181 and 108, 131, 132; 161-164 to Hunt 4281

• Nonresident Antlerless Elk Hunts

– Muzzleloader (4276) & Archery (4211) in 072; 076, 077, 079, 081; and 108, 131, 132

• Antlerless Elk Management Hunts

– Nonresident Elk Any Legal Weapon Hunt 4481 Option for Mule Deer Hunt 1331 – Resident Junior Elk – Antlerless Elk Management Hunt 4407 Option for Resident Junior Mule Deer Hunt 1107

Season Highlights

• Attempted to replicate season structure from previous years while maintaining

standardization as outlined in the Harvest Management Guidelines.

• Apply fixed season structure to Antlered Hunts in Unit Group 161-164, 171-173

– 4151 & 4251: Nov 6 – Nov 20, Nov 21 – Dec 4 – 4156 & 4256: Oct 22 – Nov 5

• 4151 seasons for 091 (interstate hunt with Utah):

– 2017-2018: Sept 9 – Sept 29 – 2018-2019: Sept 8 – Sept 28

• Extend closing date to January 31 for all late depredation, antlerless, and spike

hunts to increase harvest and maintain populations at or below management

• bjectives.

Department Amendments for Elk in CR 17-05

The Department requests the consideration of the following additional hunts:

– Resident Elk – Antlered – Any Legal Weapon Hunt 4151 for 051 Late (Nov 6 – Nov 28) – Resident Elk – Antlerless – Any Legal Weapon Hunt 4181 for 051 Late (Dec 5 – Jan 31)

And the removal of the following seasons from consideration:

– Resident Elk – Antlerless Elk Management Archery 4411 Option for Mule Deer Hunt 1341 for 101-103 Late (Nov 10 – Nov 20)