OUTDOOR BRIEF

FULL AGENDA

Wildlife commission to meet Friday, Saturday

The Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners will meet in Reno on Friday and Saturday to address a number of items, including the adoption of heritage tag species, quotas and seasons for the 2011 season, and consideration of revisions to the 2010 bighorn seasons and Partnership in Wildlife hunts.

The commission also may take action on a proposed regulation requiring hunters to make a reasonable effort to take wounded wildlife, and a regulation change to accommodate muzzleloader hunters with visual disabilities. They will hear informational reports on bighorn sheep disease and a preliminary report on antlerless mule deer harvest data, among others.

A legislative sub-committee of the commission reviewed conceptual bill draft requests from the Nevada Department of Wildlife and others. At this meeting, the full commission will hear a report on information the committee gathered. Among NDOW's submissions is language to address a substantial deficiency in existing law for the criminal and civil punishment of the introduction of damaging aquatic wildlife, which can potentially destroy game sport fisheries and threaten sensitive and endangered aquatic wildlife. NDOW also suggested that the legislature address the need for funding response to urban-wildlife conflicts, such as bears and coyotes, and consider expanding the special fishing permit to school and scouting groups.

Nondepartment requests for legislation include changing the amount of allowable expenditures from the heritage account from 75 percent of current revenue generated to 90 percent, and altering restrictions on using the fund's principal.

The commission will meet at NDOW headquarters, 1100 Valley Road, beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday and 8:30 a.m. on Saturday. The public is welcome, and anyone may comment during the public comment period at the beginning of each day's meeting.

The agenda and all support materials are available online at www.ndow.org