Commission cuts mule deer tags

It was a vote that surprised many at Saturday's meeting of the state Board of Wildlife commissioners in Reno. Big-game tag quotas for the upcoming fall hunting seasons were on the agenda, and biologists with the Nevada Department of Wildlife recommended an increase in antlered mule deer tags.

But rather than approve the biologists' recommendations, which were welcome news to deer hunters, the commission voted to reduce the tags.

When the tag draw takes place later this month, applicants will be vying for 22 percent fewer mule deer tags than there would have been under the biologists' recommendations. They sought approval for 14,910 buck tags statewide, but the commission approved only 11,536.

Along the way, commissioners voted for reductions of 25 percent in all but five hunt areas, and in the remaining five areas they opted for a 10 percent reduction.

What does this all mean for Nevada's hunters?

It means about 15 percent fewer mule deer tags will be available in 2011 than there were in 2010.

Ken Mayer, acting director for the NDOW, said in a news release that the biologists' 2011 tag recommendations were "based on increased population numbers, herd conditions and exceptional moisture levels in much of the state. ... However, the commission chose to ignore the scientific data presented by staff and reduced tag numbers, which creates a significant loss of opportunity for deer hunters."

The tag reductions come at a time when Nevada's buck-to-doe ratios average almost 35 percent statewide after the fall hunting seasons are complete.

In 2010, Silver State hunters enjoyed a success rate of 39 percent during the resident rifle deer hunt. Of the 3,525 deer harvested, 38 percent were four-point bucks or bigger. A look at the harvest data shows that more four-point bucks were harvested (1,172) than two-points (1,074).

Nonresident rifle hunters fared even better, with 56 percent of their harvest in the four-point or larger category.

The numbers weren't far behind during the resident muzzleloader and archery hunts, in which four-point or larger bucks accounted for 40 percent and 41 percent of the respective harvests. For nonresidents, those figures were 65 percent and 54 percent.

Hunters hoping to receive bull elk tags will benefit from an 11 percent increase in tag numbers for the rifle hunt. That's an increase of 101 tags over 2010 figures and brings to 1,027 the number of tags available this year. Cow elk hunters will see a 58 percent increase in rifle tags. The commission also approved tag increases for pronghorn antelope and desert bighorn sheep.

Each of the wildlife commission's meetings is videotaped and can be viewed online at www.ndow.org.

■ ONLINE FISHING INFO -- Anglers looking for up-to-date information on Lake Mead fishing conditions might want to add the following websites to their list of favorites: www.bigfishtackle.com and www.nevadastriperclub.org.

On the big fish tackle website, look for Nevada under the state forums. You will find an ongoing collection of postings by several regulars who share information about successes and failures, and advice on what's working and what isn't.

The Nevada Striper Club site has been revamped and includes fishing reports and forums.

Freelance writer Doug Nielsen is a conservation educator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. His "In the Outdoors" column, published Thursday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NDOW. Any opinions he states in his column are his own. He can be reached at intheoutdoorslv@gmail.com.