JUNE 19, 2002

I am proposing that when a person buys a hunting license, there will be a punch-out spot on the license to validate that a mountain lion has been harvested. Currently when a person harvests a mountain lion, he must report it to NDOW within 72 hours. This would remain in effect and at that time, the person harvesting the mountain lion must pay the lion harvest fee.

I proposed this idea over six years ago when Mahlon Brown was chairman of the Wildlife Commission. His response was, "Ain't gonna happen, not gonna happen." The illustrious former chairman of the Wildlife Commission wasn't concerned about using sound scientific knowledge. Because of his and the other commissioners ignorance, our natural resource, the deer herds, have suffered. Let's use a little sound scientific knowledge regarding this proposal. For data, I am using the 2001-2002 Big Game Status by the Nevada Division of Wildlife. On page 109 it states that there were 194 cougars killed this year. In the past, NDOW has stated there are between 3200 and 5000 lions in our state. That means the harvest is between 3 and 6 per cent. So it all likelihood, lions are multiplying faster than their harvest. This proves the Mountain Lion Management Plan has not provided any significant results, exactly what HUNTER' ALERT had predicted on numerous occasions. The Mountain Lion Management Plan was nothing more than a feel-good proposal by NDOW and the Wildlife Commission. On page 110, it states that Northwestern Nevada mountain lion populations are at a healthy level. That should mean that we can increase harvest numbers. On page 117 it states, "Harvest objective increases since 1997 were in response to healthy

lion populations and public comment received during extensive public review of the Mountain Lion Species Management Plan . The vast majority of public response indicated that lion numbers were too high and should be managed at lower levels." This was proven by the Mule Deer Survey in which 67 percent of the hunters believed that we ought to do some predator control. Thousands of sportsmen's dollars were spent to do the survey but as usual, NDOW and the Wildlife commissioners do not listen to sportsmen's concerns. On page 112 it states, based on population estimates, sex and age ratios in the harvest, long term harvest analysis, and recorded mortality, the overall Eastern region mountain lion population trend is considered to be stable. Also on page 112 is the most important piece of sound scientific knowledge in this Big Game Status report. It states that only two of the fourteen management unit groups reached sport harvest objectives. This alone should tell you that we can harvest more lions without hurting the population. On page 114 it states, "Based on long term harvest data analysis, the mountain lion population appears to be stable within the Southern region. I have just read you data from the three regions listed in the Big Game Status report that lions are at healthy and stable levels in all regions. This proposal will work. However, I'm sure NDOW will give you a dozen reasons why it won't. As in the past, if it isn't their idea, it isn't a good idea. Putting the big game tag draw out to privatization was a classic example of NDOW fighting against something that was good for sportsmen. NDOW should like it but as stated, they won't. Currently people are shooting lions and leaving them lay. As we all know, NDOW desperately needs money because of years of their mismanagement. With this proposal, hunters can bring the cat in, pay the fee and keep it and NDOW will pick up a few dollars to offset their mismanagement.

This proposal is a way to increase lion harvest without any additional expense to sportsmen or NDOW. There will still be seasons, dates and quotas to appease the anti's. We used to have over 250,000 deer in the state. There could be fewer than 100,000 now. It is time to correct this long overdue injustice to our deer herds. It is quite apparent that for many years the people calling the shots in NDOW are not concerned about bringing back our deer herds. As usual, it will be up to the sportsmen to see this is accomplished and now is the time to start.