Wildlife Commission to meet on Feb. 10-11 in Reno

According to a press release by the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), landowner concerns about elk in White Pine County and possible changes to the 2006 big game hunting seasons will be discussed by the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners during a Feb. 10-11 meeting at the NDOW headquarters building at 1100 Valley Road in Reno.

The commission meeting will begin on Friday, Feb. 10, at 9 a.m. with an informational workshop on various commission regulations.

The day's agenda will also include a request by NDOW to expend $50,000 from state duck stamp funds to support water rights applications for Carson Lake and pasture.

A number of informational reports will be heard that day including one by Terry Crawforth, NDOW Director, on agency activities.

Other reports are on litigation, the Clark County Shooting Range, elk sub-plans for Lincoln and White Pine counties, mule deer species policy plan and the U.S. Forest Service's road rule process.

There will also be reports on the North American Strategy for Conservation Education, online purchase of mountain lion tags, overview of NDOW's boating enforcement program, overview of the Operation Game Thief program, the Nevada Wildlife Action Plan, Onion Valley and Crittendon reservoirs and NDOW's budget status.

On Saturday, Feb. 11, commissioners will meet at 8:30 a.m. and will discuss various changes to commission regulations.

One of the changes that will be discussed is a response to a petition that would permit the use of fully or partially rifled barrels on shotguns used in hunting deer and mountain lions.

Another agenda item includes possible changes to some of the 2006 antelope, deer, elk, mountain goat and bighorn sheep seasons.

In addition, Crawforth will review concerns from landowners in White Pine County regarding elk planning processes, damage compensation, incentive tags, impacts to grazing allotments, elk population numbers and NDOW performance in implementing programs.

Standard season openings for future big game, upland game, waterfowl and furbearer seasons will be discussed as well.

Commissioners also will be presented with petitions seeking to allow nonresidents to hunt sage grouse, change regulations at Adams-McGill Reservoir in Nye County for the use of artificial lures and single barbless hooks only and legalization of crossbows for hunting.

The meeting is open to the public and public comment periods will be held each day.

A meeting agenda is posted in all NDOW offices and is online at www.ndow.org.