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
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018
Po
pu
lati
on
Es
tim
ate
Statewide Antelope Population
Antelope Status: Harvest Trend
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
2016 2017 2018
Hu
nt S
ucce
ss R
ate
(%
)
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
% 1
5+
in
ch
bu
cks
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 RecommendationsPRESENTED 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
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
Nu
mb
er
of
Tags
or
Ram
s H
arve
ste
d
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
Ave
rage
Age
(Ye
ars)
Average Age of Harvested Rams by Subspecies
Desert California Rocky
Ram Harvest: Desert Bighorn
0
5
10
15
20
# o
f 1
70
+ B
&C
Ram
s H
arve
sted
YEAR
Desert Bighorn Ram Harvest > 170
Population Status: Bighorn
0
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
Po
pu
lati
on
Est
imat
e
Statewide Bighorn Sheep Subspecies Population Estimates
Desert California Rocky
Lamb Ratio: Desert Bighorn
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Ram
s an
d L
amb
s/1
00
Ew
es
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
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
1992 1997 2002 2007 2012 2017
Population Estimate: 1992-20192019 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
objective.
Population Status
Population Estimate and Calf Ratio: 2003-2019
0
10
20
30
40
50
0
4000
8000
12000
16000
20000
Rati
o (
r)
Po
pu
lati
on
Esti
mate
(n
)
Pop Est Calf Ratio 10-Yr Avg Calf Ratio
6 pt. and Beam Composition: 2009-2018
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Co
mp
os
itio
n i
n H
arv
es
t (%
)
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
0
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
To
tal
Deer
Harv
este
d
To
tal
Deer
Tag
s S
old
Year
Statewide Deer Harvest
Tags Sold Deer Harvested
Deer Status: Hunt Success
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
2016 2017 2018
Hu
nt
Succ
ess
Rat
e (
%)
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
Po
int
or
gre
ate
r
YEAR
Statewide % 4-Point or greater
% 4 point or greater
Deer Status: Fall Survey Trend
0
10
20
30
40
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019
Bu
ck t
o D
oe R
ati
o
To
tal
Mu
le D
ee
r C
ou
nte
d
Fall Deer Survey 2009 - 2019
Total Count Fall Buck Ratio
Deer Status: Population Trend
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019
Faw
n:D
oe
Rat
io
Po
pu
lati
on
Est
imat
e (
tho
usa
nd
s)
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 ClassApproved
NR GuidedNonresident 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
0
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
# o
f Ju
nio
r H
un
ters
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.
RecommendationHunt 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
hunting8 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 Limits2018 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 Limits2018 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 Limits2018 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 Limits3-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