Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Board to meet on big-game quotas
Wednesday, April 28, 1999 | 10:08 a.m.
The Clark County Advisory Board to Manage Wildlife will hold a public meeting tonight at 7 p.m. at the Clark County Government Center (500 S. Grand Central Parkway, Room #3) to take input and formulate recommendations on quotas for this year's big-game hunts. The board's recommendations will be forwarded to the Board of Wildlife Commissioners for their aid in finalizing quotas during their meeting May 8 in Reno.
According to the Nevada Division of Wildlife, following the collection and analysis of deer population information the estimated statewide deer population for 1999 shows only a slight increase over last year's published estimate. Biologists estimate that the total number of bucks in the population is similar to last year. But good fawn recruitment will allow the flexibility to increase buck tags.
It is estimated that antelope populations are at levels below the peak numbers found in the early 1990s. Herd growth continues in central and northeastern Nevada herds; however, populations in extreme western Nevada continue to be depressed.
Range conditions have benefited from favorable precipitation and winter conditions were not particularly stressful. Therefore, NDOW is recommending an eight percent increase in general season tag quotas.
With population estimates on California bighorn sheep at approximately 1,402 animals, NDOW is recommending a total of 47 tags for 1999. California bighorn are found in northern Nevada.
Desert bighorn populations have experienced improved herd recruitment over the past few years. In addition, mature rams are available in new herds. This year, NDOW's statewide quota recommendation is 27 percent above the 1998 quota level.
Quotas on Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, found in northeastern Nevada, will be the same as in 1998 -- five tags. Populations of Rocky Mountain bighorn appear to be stable, according to NDOW.
The popularity of hunting Rocky Mountain elk in Nevada continues to grow and with good reason. Though last year's record harvest of 389 elk is small compared to other western states, the hunt quality remains high. During last year's hunt, 63 percent of the bulls taken were six points or better.
Because populations continue to grow and NDOW must meet the objectives of the Nevada Elk Species Management Plan to control population numbers, the agency is recommending a 40 percent increase in bull tags and an 11 percent increase in cow tags this year.
Ten tags and one Partnership-in-Wildlife tag are recommended in two areas for Rocky Mountain goats. Last year, 12 hunters harvested 12 goats.
* LAKE MEAD IN GAME: Videogame fans will recognize Lake Mead and fishing professional Roland Martin when they pick up the new video games "BASSMASTERS 2000" for Nintendo 64 and "BASS Masters Classic: Championship Edition" for PlayStation. Under production by videogame publisher THQ Inc., its B.A.S.S. game design team used tournaments such as the KMart BASSMASTER Nevada Top 150 held at Lake Mead earlier this month to capture celebrity faces and voices.
* STAMPS OF APPROVAL: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced the winners of its 1999 Nevada Federal Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest.
The Federal Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest was open to all students in kindergarten through 12th grade, who were invited to submit original artwork depicting North American ducks, geese or swans in their natural habitat.
Participants from several Las Vegas Schools scored very well in the competition. The schools include: Las Vegas Day School, Cannon Middle School, Durango High School, Walter E. Long Elementary School, Mojave High School and Derfelt Elementary School.
The Nevada Best of Show artist was Jon-Paul Palmer of Douglas High School in Gardnerville, whose design of a pair of wood ducks will continue on to the national contest held in Washington, D.C., in June.
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