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 Statewide Antelope Population 30,000 Population Estimate 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018

Antelope Status: Harvest Trend Resident Antelope Hunt Success - Horns Longer Than Ears Archery Muzzleloader Rifle 90 Hunt Success Rate (%) 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 2016 2017 2018

Antelope Status: Harvest Trend Statewide Pronghorn Horn Length Trend 40% 35% 30% % 15+ inch bucks 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Year

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 Bighorn Tags in Nevada: 2000 - 2018 400 Number of Tags or Rams Harvested 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Desert California Rocky Bighorn harvest often exceeds 90% and harvest trends reflect tags issued

Average Age of Harvested Rams by Subspecies 9.0 8.0 7.0 6.0 5.0 Average Age (Years) 4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Desert California Rocky

Ram Harvest: Desert Bighorn Desert Bighorn Ram Harvest > 170 20 # of 170+ B&C Rams Harvested 15 10 5 0 YEAR

Population Status: Bighorn Statewide Bighorn Sheep Subspecies Population Estimates 14,000 12,000 10,000 Population Estimate 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Desert California Rocky

Lamb Ratio: Desert Bighorn 60 50 Rams and Lambs/100 Ewes 40 30 20 10 0

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 Population Estimate: 1992-2019 2019 2018 500 KIDS/ KIDS/ 450 UNIT GROUP ADULTS KIDS TOTAL 100 ADULTS 100 ADULTS 101 44 6 50 14 35 400 102 70 17 87 24 -- 350 103 20 2 22 10 -- 2019 TOTALS 134 25 159 19 300 2018 TOTALS 40 14 54 35 250 200 150 100 Quota Recommendation: 8 tag (no change) 50 0 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012 2017

Questions?

ELK STATUS IN NEVADA: 2019 QUOTA RECOMMENDATIONS Presented by: Cody McKee Elk Staff Biologist

Population Status • 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 objective.

Population Estimate and Calf Ratio: 2003-2019 20000 50 16000 40 Population Estimate ( n ) 12000 30 Ratio ( r ) 8000 20 4000 10 0 0 Pop Est Calf Ratio 10-Yr Avg Calf Ratio

6 pt. and Beam Composition: 2009-2018 100 90 80 Composition in Harvest (%) 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 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 Statewide Deer Harvest 12,000 30,000 Tags Sold Deer Harvested 10,000 25,000 Total Deer Harvested Total Deer Tags Sold 8,000 20,000 6,000 15,000 4,000 10,000 2,000 0 5,000 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 Year

Deer Status: Hunt Success Resident Antlered Mule Deer Hunt Success Archery Muzzleloader ALW 60 Hunt Success Rate (%) 50 40 30 20 10 0 2016 2017 2018

Deer Status: Harvest Trend Statewide % 4-Point or greater 50% % 4 point or greater 45% 40% % 4 Point or greater 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 YEAR

Deer Status: Fall Survey Trend Fall Deer Survey 2009 - 2019 60,000 40 Total Count Fall Buck Ratio Total Mule Deer Counted 50,000 Buck to Doe Ratio 40,000 30 30,000 20 20,000 10 10,000 0 0 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019

Deer Status: Population Trend 2019 Population Estimate and Spring Fawn Ratio 200 50 180 45 Fawn:Doe Ratio --- 10 yr Avg Population Estimate Population Estimate (thousands) 160 40 140 35 Fawn:Doe Ratio 120 30 100 25 80 20 60 15 40 10 20 5 0 0 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 Year

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 2019 Mule Deer Quota Recommendations Approved Weapon Class Nonresident Resident Total NR Guided 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.

Deer Status: Jr Quota Recs 2008 - 2018 Junior Mule Deer Quota and Applicants 6,000 5,305 Jr Deer Quota Jr Applicants 5,500 5,000 # of Junior Hunters 4,500 4,000 3,500 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Year

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

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 > 6 years 5-6 years < 5 years harvested females Mean age of > 4 years 2-4 years < 2 years harvested males

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 > 6 years 5-6 years < 5 years harvested females Mean age of > 4 years 2-4 years < 2 years harvested males