19-14 2019 2020 Quotas and Harvest Limits for Antelope, Bighorn - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

COMMISSION REGULATION 19-14

2019–2020 Quotas and Harvest Limits for Antelope, Bighorn Sheep, Elk, Mountain Goat, Mule Deer, and Black Bear

ANTELOPE STATUS IN NEVADA: 2019 QUOTA RECOMMENDATIONS

Presented by: Cody A. Schroeder Wildlife Staff Specialist

Antelope Status: Population Trend

5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000

1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 Population Estimate

Statewide Antelope Population

Antelope Status: Harvest Trend

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 2016 2017 2018

Hunt Success Rate (%)

Resident Antelope Hunt Success - Horns Longer Than Ears

Archery Muzzleloader Rifle

Antelope Status: Harvest Trend

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

% 15+ inch bucks

Year

Statewide Pronghorn Horn Length Trend

Antelope Status: Quota Recs

2019 Antelope Quota Recommendations Horns Longer Thans Ears Weapon Class Nonresident Tags Resident Tags Total Any Legal Weapon Tags 259 2,353 2,612 Muzzleloader Tags NA 74 74 Archery Tags 48 481 529 Horns Shorter Thans Ears Weapon Class Nonresident Tags Resident Tags Total Any Legal Weapon Tags NA 1,285 1,285 Total NR Tags Total Resident Tags Total Tags 307 2,908 3,215 Nonresident % Resident %

% of Tags by Residency

9.5% 90.5%

* Percentage based on Horns Longer Than Ears Tags for ALW and Archery Only

Bighorn & Goat Status in Nevada: 2019 Quota Recommendations

PRESENTED BY: CODY MCKEE, STAFF BIOLOGIST

Quota Guidance

• Restore and maintain bighorn sheep herds at optimal population levels, provide diverse

recreational opportunities, recognize hunting is a legitimate and desirable use of the bighorn sheep resource, advocate habitats be maintained in good ecological condition, and reduce and manage risk of disease transmission.

• A minimum of 8% of the total rams, not to exceed 50% of rams > 6 years old.
• Expected to maintain a mean age of > 6 years old of harvested rams.
• Tag numbers for ewe hunts are based on evaluation of seasonal or yearlong habitat limitations,

declines related to population size (i.e., density dependence), disease risk, and opportunities for translocations.

Tag History: Bighorn

50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400

Number of Tags or Rams Harvested Bighorn Tags in Nevada: 2000 - 2018 Desert California Rocky

Bighorn harvest often exceeds 90% and harvest trends reflect tags issued

0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Average Age (Years)

Average Age of Harvested Rams by Subspecies

Desert California Rocky

Ram Harvest: Desert Bighorn

5 10 15 20 # of 170+ B&C Rams Harvested YEAR Desert Bighorn Ram Harvest > 170

Population Status: Bighorn

2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 14,000 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Population Estimate

Statewide Bighorn Sheep Subspecies Population Estimates

Desert California Rocky

Lamb Ratio: Desert Bighorn

10 20 30 40 50 60

Rams and Lambs/100 Ewes

Quota Recommendations: Bighorn

▪Desert Bighorn

▪ Ram: 305 tags (-2%) ▪ Ewe: 122 tags (-9%)

▪California Bighorn

▪ Ram: 56 tags (-5%) ▪ Ewe: 5 tags (150%)

▪Rocky Bighorn

▪ Ram: 7 tags (40%)

Population Status: Mountain Goat

50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012 2017

Population Estimate: 1992-2019

2019 2018 KIDS/ KIDS/ UNIT GROUP ADULTS KIDS TOTAL 100 ADULTS 100 ADULTS 101 44 6 50 14 35 102 70 17 87 24

• 103

20 2 22 10

• 2019 TOTALS

134 25 159 19 2018 TOTALS 40 14 54 35

Quota Recommendation: 8 tag (no change)

Questions?

ELK STATUS IN NEVADA: 2019 QUOTA RECOMMENDATIONS

Presented by: Cody McKee Elk Staff Biologist

• 95% of Unit Groups are within or

below population objective.

• Quota recommendations for

antlerless elk in most Unit Groups are intended to maintain the herd below the established population

• bjective.

Population Status

Population Estimate and Calf Ratio: 2003-2019

10 20 30 40 50 4000 8000 12000 16000 20000 Ratio (r) Population Estimate (n)

Pop Est Calf Ratio 10-Yr Avg Calf Ratio

6 pt. and Beam Composition: 2009-2018

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Composition in Harvest (%) 6pt of Greater 50in or Greater Avg 50in Avg 6pt

Using Telemetry Data to Inform Recommendations

• Nevada shares several elk herds with Idaho and Utah.
• We use radio-collar data to determine availability of elk during hunting

seasons in Nevada.

• Elk in Unit Group 061, 071 and Unit Group 072, 073, 074 exhibit the most

complex interstate movements of these shared elk herds.

Elk Status: Quota Recs

• Antlered Elk – 2,133 tags (-12%)
• Resident Antlered Tags: 243 tag reduction
• Nonresident Antlered Tags: 27 tag reduction
• Spike elk – 280 tags (-27%)
• Antlerless Elk – 4,181 tags (-34%)
• Reg/Dep Antlerless Elk – 1,180 tag reduction (-27%)
• Mgmt. Combo Antlerless Elk – 997 tag reduction (-50%)

Questions?

MULE DEER STATUS IN NEVADA: 2019 QUOTA RECOMMENDATIONS

Presented by: Cody A. Schroeder Mule Deer Staff Specialist

Deer Status: Harvest Trend

2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000

5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000

2010 2012 2014 2016 2018

Total Deer Harvested Total Deer Tags Sold

Year Statewide Deer Harvest

Tags Sold Deer Harvested

Deer Status: Hunt Success

10 20 30 40 50 60 2016 2017 2018

Hunt Success Rate (%) Resident Antlered Mule Deer Hunt Success

Archery Muzzleloader ALW

Deer Status: Harvest Trend

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 % 4 Point or greater YEAR

Statewide % 4-Point or greater

% 4 point or greater

Deer Status: Fall Survey Trend

10 20 30 40 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000

2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019

Buck to Doe Ratio Total Mule Deer Counted

Fall Deer Survey 2009 - 2019

Total Count Fall Buck Ratio

Deer Status: Population Trend

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019

Fawn:Doe Ratio Population Estimate (thousands)

Year

2019 Population Estimate and Spring Fawn Ratio

Population Estimate Fawn:Doe Ratio --- 10 yr Avg

Management Objectives: Mule Deer

• Standard Hunts: 25 - 35:100 buck to doe ratio
• Alternative Hunts: 30 - 40:100 buck to doe ratio
• Hunt Success 40-55%, % 4 point or greater 50-75%
• 8 Unit Groups throughout the state:
• Western Region: 014, 194-196
• Eastern Region: 065, 081, 114-115, 131-134
• Southern Region: 221-223, 241-245
• Non-Standard Hunts:
• Hunt Success Objective ≥ 45% for 8 hunt units
• Hunt Success Objective 35% to 45% for 6 hunt units

Deer Status: Quota Recs

Weapon Class Approved NR Guided Nonresident Resident Total Any Legal Weapon Tags 333 559 7,774 8,666 Muzzleloader Tags NA 109 784 893 Archery Tags NA 321 2,800 3,121 Junior Tags NA NA 3,133 Resident Antlerless Deer NA NA 1,035 Nonresident Tags Resident Tags Total 1,322 11,358 12,680 Nonresident % Resident % 10.4% 89.6%

* Percentage based on NR Guided and Nonresident tags for all weapon classes.

2019 Mule Deer Quota Recommendations

Deer Status: Jr Quota Recs

5,305 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000 4,500 5,000 5,500 6,000

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

# of Junior Hunters

Year

2008 - 2018 Junior Mule Deer Quota and Applicants

Jr Deer Quota Jr Applicants

Black Bear Harvest Limit and Quota Recommendations

CR – 19-14

Recommendations

• 45 resident tags
• 5 nonresident tags
• Unique total and female harvest limits for each hunt unit

2019 Black Bear Harvest Limits

Unit Group Harvest Limit Recommendation Female H.L. Recommendation Hunt units 192*, 194*, 195, 196 are open to bear hunting except those portions of 192 and 194 described below in Special Regulations. 6 3 Hunt units 201, 202, 204 and 206 are open to bear hunting 6 2 Hunt unit 291 and 203 are open to bear hunting 8 3

2018 Black Bear Harvest Limits Eighth year of hunt

• 11 males, 3 females harvested in 2018 season
• Mean male age, 6.5 years
• Mean female age, 6.3 years
• 21% female harvest

2019 Black Bear Harvest Limits

2018 Harvest Statistics

• 21% females in harvest

Parameter Light Harvest Stable Heavy Harvest % females in harvest <30% 30-40% >40% Mean age of harvested females > 6 years 5-6 years < 5 years Mean age of harvested males > 4 years 2-4 years < 2 years

2019 Black Bear Harvest Limits

2018 Harvest Statistics

• 21% females in harvest
• Mean female age, 6.3 years

Parameter Light Harvest Stable Heavy Harvest % females in harvest <30% 30-40% >40% Mean age of harvested females > 6 years 5-6 years < 5 years Mean age of harvested males > 4 years 2-4 years < 2 years

2019 Black Bear Harvest Limits

2018 Harvest Statistics

• 21% females in harvest
• Mean female age, 6.3 years
• Mean male age, 6.5 years

Parameter Light Harvest Stable Heavy Harvest % females in harvest <30% 30-40% >40% Mean age of harvested females > 6 years 5-6 years < 5 years Mean age of harvested males > 4 years 2-4 years < 2 years

2019 Black Bear Harvest Limits

3-year Average Harvest Statistics

• 34% females in harvest
• Mean female age, 6.3 years
• Mean male age, 6.1 years

Parameter Light Harvest Stable Heavy Harvest % females in harvest <30% 30-40% >40% Mean age of harvested females > 6 years 5-6 years < 5 years Mean age of harvested males > 4 years 2-4 years < 2 years

2019 Black Bear Harvest Limits

• New MARK population estimate for red outlined area – 431

(±39)

• 600–700 adults (≥18 months) in state population
• Does not include bears <18 months of age

Recommendation

• The Department recommends that the Commission VOTE TO

ADOPT THAT PORTION OF COMMISSION REGULATION 19 - 14, 2019–2020 BLACK BEAR HARVEST LIMITS AND QUOTAS