Decision to boost deer tags prompts disagreement

RENO - State wildlife commissioners' vote to nearly double the number of mule deer tags for hunters this fall is prompting disagreement over what the proper number should be.

Commissioners, at a May 12 meeting, authorized 25,025 deer tags overall, up from 13,553 last year. For the popular rifle hunt, 14,580 tags were approved overall, up from 8,451 last year.

The new quotas were slightly less than those recommended by Nevada Department of Wildlife biologists based on population counts by air and "wildlife science," agency spokesman Chris Healy said.

They come a year after the commission slashed the number of deer tags by 25 percent because of drought and other habitat conditions that have taken a toll on the state's deer herds.

Commission member Scott Raines said the big boost in deer tags doesn't make sense when the state's deer population has been so flat. He questions the science behind NDOW biologists' recommendations.

"I can't believe they went ahead and increased it that much. It's crazy and nuts," said Raines, who was on the losing end of a 6-3 vote in favor of the higher quotas. "It looks like it's going to likely be bad on deer."