Hunter questionnaires vital to big game management

According to a recent press release by the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), Mike Cox, an NDOW biologist said, "Nevada big game hunters should be proud that the information they provide on the results of their big game hunt is key to the successful management of all big game herds."

In many states, the number, size, gender, and location of the harvested animal, and the hunter's effort to take the animal is only collected from a small percentage of hunters.

"But here in Nevada," reports Cox, "95% of big game hunters provide accurate and timely information on the results of their hunts so that biologists and interested groups are able to make informed harvest management recommendations."

Cox stresses that even if you are not successful in your hunt, filling out the number of days hunted is an important figure in showing the economic impact that hunters have throughout the state, but especially in our rural communities.

When NDOW can show, through total hunter days, that hunting is a significant recreational pursuit on public lands, land managers are more willing to support needed habitat improvement projects.

Improved habitat means more wildlife, and more wildlife means more sportsmen afield, and that means more dollars for Nevada's rural communities.

"Filling out their questionnaire is a big responsibility for hunters, and should not be taken lightly," said Cox. Hunters should know that they are playing a vital role in the future management of game herds. "Hunters have an incentive to provide the results of their hunts: Doing so provides the information that biologists and decision makers need to manage big game herds in the best way possible," he continued.

Those who do not report are ineligible to apply for any type of big game tag the following year.

Hunters have 15 weekdays after the close of the season to which the tag applies to submit their questionnaire.

Submitting the questionnaire is easy Ð it can be completed online at www.ndow.org, by mail or, via phone by calling 1-800-576-1020 during weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.