2015-01-27

****Nevada State Wildlife Meeting Agenda******

Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners’ Meeting

Lake Mead Water Safety Center

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

(LMNRA)

LMNRA normally is a fee area, but the entrance fee to LMNRA has been waived for the public to attend the meeting.

On pages 7 and 8 of this agenda is the NPS fee waiver letter and a National Park Service (NPS) map with directions to the Lake Mead Visitor Center and the Water Safety Center building via Highway 93. The turnoff to the Water Safety Center building is marked on Lakeshore Drive.

The meeting address at the Lake Mead Water Safety Center located within LMNRA is as follows:

115 Boulder Beach Road

Boulder City, NV 89005

Google and Yahoo maps do not provide correct directions to the Lake Mead Water Safety Center.

Feb. 6 and 7, 2015

Meeting Agenda

Public comment will be taken on every action item after discussion but before action on each item, and is limited to three minutes per person. The chairman, in his discretion, may allow persons representing groups to speak for six minutes. Persons may not allocate unused time to other speakers. Persons are invited to submit written comments on items or attend and make comment during the meeting and are asked to complete a speaker card and present it to the Recording Secretary. To ensure the public has notice of all matters the Commission will consider, Commissioners may choose not to respond to public comments in order to avoid the appearance of deliberation on topics not listed for action on the agenda.

Forum restrictions and orderly business: The viewpoint of a speaker will not be restricted, but reasonable restrictions may be imposed upon the time, place and manner of speech.

Irrelevant and unduly repetitious statements and personal attacks that antagonize or incite others are examples of public comment that may be reasonably limited.

Please provide the Board of Wildlife Commissioners (“Commission”) with the complete electronic or written copies of testimony and visual presentations to include as exhibits with the minutes. Minutes of the meeting will be produced in summary format.

NOTE: County Advisory Boards to Manage Wildlife (CABMW) members and public comment allowed on each action item and regulation workshop items and at the end of the meeting.

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Friday, Feb. 6, 2015 – 8:30 a.m.

1 Call to Order, Introduction and Roll Call of CABMW – Chairman Drew

2 Approval of Agenda – Chairman Drew – For Possible Action

The Commission will review the agenda and may take action to approve the agenda. The Commission may remove items from the agenda, continue items for consideration or take items out of order.

3* Approval of Minutes – Chairman Drew – For Possible Action

The Commission may take action to approve the draft Nov. 14 and 15, 2015, meeting minutes.

4 Member Items-Announcements and Correspondence – Chairman Drew –Informational

Commissioners may present emergent items. No action may be taken by the Commission. Any item requiring Commission action may be scheduled on a future Commission agenda. The Commission will review and may discuss correspondence sent or received by the Commission since the last regular meeting and may provide copies for the exhibit file (Commissioners may provide hard copies of their correspondence for the written record). Correspondence sent or received by Secretary Wasley will also be discussed.

5 CABMW Member Items – Informational

CABMW members may present emergent items. No action may be taken by the Commission. Any item requiring Commission action will be scheduled on a future Commission agenda.

6 Nomination of New Members to Serve on Central Nevada Elk Plan (CNEP) Coordination and Oversight Team (COT) – Game Division Administrator Brian F. Wakeling – For Possible Action

The Commission will consider and may vote to approve nominees to serve on the CNEP COT, which include: Lorinda Wichman (Nominee for County Commissioner Representative), Paul Young (Nominee for Statewide Agriculture Group Representative), and Joe Clifford (Nominee for Local Ranching Representative).

7* Review and Consideration of the Black Bear Subcommittee Report Entitled "A Three-Year Comprehensive Review of Black Bear Harvest through Regulated Hunting in Nevada" – Commissioner David McNinch – For Possible Action

The Commission will consider, amend as appropriate, and may vote to approve a report submitted by the Black Bear Subcommittee entitled "A Three-Year Comprehensive Review of Black Bear Harvest through Regulated Hunting in Nevada." On approval, the Commission may forward this report on to the Nevada Legislature to fulfill the request included within 2013 Senate Bill 82.

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8 Commission General Regulation - Workshop - Public Comment Allowed

A* Commission General Regulation 455 T-14 – Trapping Questionnaire Deadline and Trapping License Valid Dates – Management Analyst 3 Maureen Hullinger – Informational Workshop/Public Comment Allowed

The Commission will hear a temporary regulation relating to trapping questionnaires and trapping license valid periods. The regulation will add language to specify the valid period of a trapping license as July 1 – June 30. The regulation amendment will also update the trapping questionnaire deadline language, changing the deadline from April 30 to May 31, making it consistent with other Department questionnaire language. The amendment includes having the Department be responsible for prohibiting the purchase of a subsequent trapping license, instead of the Commission, when a trapper fails to return a questionnaire. This amendment will allow the Department to administer the trapping questionnaire processes effectively in regard to the trapping seasons as established by the Commission.

The regulation is intended to give trappers ample time to return their questionnaires but also provide an efficient license denial procedure if they fail to return their questionnaire.

9 Commission Regulation Adoption – For Possible Action – Public Comment Allowed

A* Commission Regulation 15 – 04, 2015 Big Game Application Deadline Information – Management Analyst 3 Maureen Hullinger – For Possible Action

The Commission will consider adopting language regarding the 2015 big game application deadline information.

B* Commission Regulation 15 – 05, 2015 Big Game Tag Application Eligibility – Management Analyst 3 Maureen Hullinger – For Possible Action

The Commission will consider adopting language regarding the 2015 big game tag application eligibility.

C* Commission Regulation, 15 – 06, Silver State Tag and Partnership in Wildlife 2015 Season and Quotas – Management Analyst 3 Maureen Hullinger – For Possible Action

The Commission will consider the adoption of the 2015 Silver State Tag and Partnership in Wildlife hunt species, seasons and quotas. Note: Support material sent separately from Game Division.

D* Commission Regulation, 15 – 07, Dream Tag 2015 Seasons – Management Analyst 3 Maureen Hullinger – For Possible Action

The Commission will consider the adoption of the 2015 Dream Tag seasons. Note: Support material sent separately from Game Division.

E* Commission Regulation, 15 – 08, 2016 Heritage Tag Seasons and Quotas – Management Analyst 3 Maureen Hullinger and Wildlife Staff Specialist Mike Cox

– For Possible Action

The Commission will consider the adoption of the 2016 Heritage Tag hunt species, seasons and quotas. Note: Support material sent separately from Game Division.

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10 Reports – Informational

A Mid-Winter Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Conference Report – Secretary Tony Wasley, Chairman Jeremy Drew and Commissioner David McNinch

Reports will be provided on the recent mid-winter conference held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

B* Draft Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Predation Management Plan – Wildlife Staff Specialist Pat Jackson

The draft FY 2016 Predation Management Plan will be presented to the Commission for initial review and input.

C* Heritage Report – Deputy Director Cates

A report will be provided on the available funds (interest and principal) for expenditure from the Heritage trust account in the upcoming year.

D* Litigation Report – Senior Deputy Attorney General David Newton

E Sage-grouse Update – Secretary Wasley

Secretary Wasley will provide an update on the status of sage-grouse.

F* Nevada Sagebrush Landscape Conservation and Economic Development Act of 2014 – Chairman Drew

Chairman Drew will report on the status of Nevada Sagebrush Landscape Conservation and Economic Development Act of 2014. The most recent “discussion draft” has been provided as support material.”

*Additional information is available at www.reid.senate.gov/sage-grouse

G Department Activity Report – Secretary Wasley

Secretary Wasley will provide a report on recent Department activities.

11 Public Comment Period

Persons wishing to speak are requested to complete a speaker’s card and present it to the recording secretary. No action can be taken by the Commission at this time; any item requiring Commission action may be scheduled on a future Commission agenda.

Saturday, February 7, 2015 - 8 a.m.

12 Call to Order, Roll Call of Commission and County Advisory Board Members to Manage Wildlife (CABMW) – Chairman Drew

13 Approval of Agenda – Chairman Drew – For Possible Action

The Commission will review the agenda and may take action to approve the agenda. The Commission may remove items from the agenda, continue items for consideration or take items out of order.

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14 Member Items – Announcements and Correspondence – Chairman Drew – Informational

Commissioners may present emergent items. No action may be taken by the Commission. Any item requiring Commission action may be scheduled on a future Commission agenda. The Commission will review and may discuss correspondence sent or received by the Commission since the last regular meeting and may provide copies for the exhibit file (Commissioners may provide hard copies of their correspondence for the written record). Correspondence sent or received by Secretary Wasley will also be discussed.

15 CABMW Member Items – Informational

CABMW members may present emergent items. No action may be taken by the Commission. Any item requiring Commission action will be scheduled on a future Commission agenda.

16 Commission Regulations – Adoption – For Possible Action – Public Comment Allowed

A* Commission Regulation 15 – 09, Big Game Seasons – Wildlife Staff Specialists Mike Cox and Cody Schroeder – For Possible Action

The Commission will consider adoption of 2015 – 2016 and 2016 – 2017 hunting seasons and dates for mule deer, pronghorn antelope, elk, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat, including limits, hunting hours, special hunt eligibility, animal sex, physical characteristics and legal weapon requirements, hunt boundary restrictions, and legal weapon requirements, and emergency depredation hunt structure and statewide quotas. Note: Support material sent separately from Game Division.

B* Commission Regulation 15 – 10, Big Game Mountain Lion Harvest Limits for 2015 – 2016 – Wildlife Staff Specialist Pat Jackson – For Possible Action

The Commission will consider the adoption of 2015 – 2016 mountain lion hunting season open units, harvest limits by unit group, hunting hours, and special regulations. Note: Support material sent separately from Game Division.

C* Commission Regulation 15 – 11, 2015 Black Bear Seasons – Wildlife Staff Specialist Pat Jackson – For Possible Action

The Commission will consider adoption of 2015 hunting season dates, open management units, hunting hours, special regulations, animal sex, legal weapon requirements, hunt boundary restrictions, and dates and times for indoctrination courses for black bear. Note: Support material sent separately from Game Division.

D* Commission General Regulation 455 Temporary LCB File T-14 – Trapping Questionnaire Deadline and Trapping License Valid Dates – Management Analyst 3 Maureen Hullinger – For Possible Action

The Commission will hear a temporary regulation relating to trapping questionnaires and trapping license valid periods. The regulation will add language to specify the valid period of a trapping license as July 1 - June 30. The regulation amendment will also update the trapping questionnaire deadline language, changing the deadline from April 30 to May 31, making it consistent with other Department questionnaire language. The amendment includes having the Department be responsible for prohibiting the purchase of a subsequent trapping license, instead of the Commission, when a trapper fails to return a questionnaire.

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This amendment will allow the Department to administer the trapping questionnaire processes effectively in regard to the trapping seasons as established by the Commission. Note: See support material under agenda item #8 A.

The regulation is intended to give trappers ample time to return their questionnaires but also provide an efficient license denial procedure if they fail to return their questionnaire.

E* Commission General Regulation 454 Temporary LCB File T-14 – Firearm Carry During Archery Hunt – Chief Game Warden Tyler Turnipseed – For Possible Action

The Commission will hear a temporary regulation relating to the carry of a firearm in the field while hunting under archery regulations. The regulation will change NAC 503.144 to allow the carry of personal protection handguns while archery hunting. This regulation will be temporary and will require Legislative Commission approval to become permanent after the 2015 Session of the Nevada Legislature.

The regulation was heard by the Commission during the workshop at the November 2014 Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners meeting. The Commission discussed different alternatives to handgun carry restrictions and the needs for archers to carry a handgun during archery only season. The language has been updated to reflect the changes requested by the Commission by allowing a person to carry any handgun that is not scoped and has a barrel length of 8” or less. The language change clarified the type of handgun to be carried in the field during archery only season.

17 Future Commission Meeting and Commission Committee Assignments – Secretary Tony Wasley and Chairman Drew – For Possible Action

The next Commission meeting is scheduled for March 20 and 21, 2015, in Reno, and the Commission will review and discuss potential agenda items for that meeting. The Commission may change the time and meeting location at this time. The chairman may designate and adjust committee assignments as necessary at this meeting.

18 Public Comment Period

Persons wishing to speak are requested to complete a speaker’s card and present it to the recording secretary. Public comment will be limited to three minutes. No action can be taken by the Commission at this time; any item requiring Commission action may be scheduled on a future Commission agenda.

*Support material provided and posted to the NDOW website, and updates to support material will be posted at ndow.org. Support material for this meeting may be requested from Recording Secretary Suzanne Scourby at (775) 688-1599 and is available for the public at the Nevada Department of Wildlife, 1100 Valley Road, Reno, NV, 89512. In accordance with NRS 241.020 this agenda closes three days prior to the meeting date and has been posted on the NDOW website at NDOW.org and at the following Department of Wildlife offices: 1100 Valley Road, Reno, NV, 89512; 380 W. “B” Street, Fallon, NV, 89406; 815 E. Fourth Street, Winnemucca, NV 89445; 60 Youth Center, Elko, NV, 89801; 1218 N. Alpha Street, Ely, NV 89301; 744 S. Racetrack Road, Henderson, NV 89015; and 4747 W. Vegas Dr., Las Vegas, NV, 89108. Notice to the Public: Nevada Department of Wildlife receives Federal Aid in Fish and/or Wildlife Restoration. The U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability. Individuals with hearing impairment may contact the Department at 775-688-1500 via a text telephone (TTY) telecommunications device by first calling the State of Nevada Relay Operator at 1-800-326-6868. Disabled individuals in need of special services should contact the Department prior to the meeting at (775) 688-1599.

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