Wildlife Management Priorities in Nevada

Is the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) on the right track in dealing with the most pressing issues of today?  Right now there are many vital issues that we have been facing that are vastly detrimental to our wildlife, and the people of this State.  An incomplete list of some of the most vital issues are:

•     Mule Deer Population - How to restore it.  Does NDOW have a viable plan?  Population goals.

•     Wildfires - suppression vs. prevention / mitigation methods of reducing danger and spread of fires while enhancing wildlife 

•     Predation - who or what should be harvesting our big game animals?  All big game will perish, we only get to choose how.  Human harvest, predation, old-age, disease, starvation.  How and in what balance of ways should they perish?  Is it more sensible management to allow predators to consume the vast majority of our wildlife, or should they be controlled, and to what degree.

•     Ranching - Effects of well managed grazing, water development, benefits and risks to wildlife, secondary effects of predation, land access.  Use of grazing as fire control.  Effects of introduced wild species on ranchers.  What would happen to wildlife if ranching declined further?  Is grazing good for wildlife?  How and why?

•     Bighorn Sheep, Pronghorn Antelope, Mountain Goat, Elk - Population goals, and NDOW plans to achieve them.

•     Fish - Priorities on species and densities, hatcheries, contract vs. in-house fish production.

•     Habitat - Human effects on habitat, cost effective restoration?  Water limitations due to being the driest State in the nation.  Planting of native vs. fire resistant non-native vegetation.

•     Hunting rules / regulations / policies - Fair?  Balanced?  Biased?  Hunter Friendly?  Have a better idea? 

 This site is always open to your views on wildlife management.  The wide variety of inputs into the Nevada Wildlife Commission -Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW)- have developed the current set of policies.  The current policies are far from perfect, and in need of revision.  Your input is requested, and appreciated.

    We are always open to a better idea.

 
Nevada Desert Bighorn Sheep
photos courtesy of Deon Reynolds

    Below are several articles and submissions to this site.