Wildlife commissioners to meet Feb. 5-6

The Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners will meet in Reno Feb. 5-6 to address a number of items including the adoption of Heritage tag species, quotas, and seasons for the 2011 season, and consideration of revisions to the 2010 bighorn seasons and Partnership in Wildlife hunts.

The commission may also take action on a proposed regulation requiring hunters to make a reasonable effort to take wounded wildlife, and a regulation change to accommodate muzzleloader hunters with visual disabilities. They will hear informational reports on bighorn sheep disease, and a preliminary report on antlerless mule deer harvest data, among others.

A legislative sub-committee of the commission reviewed conceptual bill draft requests from the Nevada Department of Wildlife and others. At this meeting the full commission will hear a report on information the committee gathered. Among the department's submissions is language to address a substantial deficiency in existing law for the criminal and civil punishment of the introduction of damaging aquatic wildlife, which can potentially destroy game sport fisheries and threaten sensitive and endangered aquatic wildlife. Department officials also suggested that the legislature address the need for funding response to urban-wildlife conflicts, such as bears and coyotes, and consider expanding the special fishing permit to school and scouting groups.

Non-department requests for legislation include changing the amount of allowable expenditures from the Heritage Account from 75 percent of current revenue generated to 90 percent, and altering restrictions on using the fund's principle.

Wildlife commissioners will meet at department headquarters, 1100 Valley Road, beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday and 8:30 a.m. on Saturday. The public is welcome, and anyone may comment during the public comment period at the beginning of each day's meeting.

The Wildlife Commission agenda and all support materials are available online at www.ndow.org