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.

2017 and 2018 Bighorn Sheep Seasons • Nonresident desert bighorn ewe hunts 3281 oversight 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 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 objectives.

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)