In October, 2003 NDOW is doing another survey. (NDOW doesn’t know what to do) Three years ago, in October, 2000, a survey requested by the Wildlife Commission was completed. This was a mule deer survey. Sportsmen had to pay approximately $25,000 for this survey.

Surveys can be extremely helpful if you react to what the respondents want. NDOW could have cared less about hunters concerns and we will prove it. Below are excerpts from the October 2000 mule deer survey requested by the Wildlife Commission.

SS stated that just under half of the hunters are satisfied with deer management may be explained by the fact that just 40% of the hunters are pleased with the current mule deer population in Nevada.

HA: If less than half the hunters were satisfied in the year 2000, how low would that number be now?

SS stated It is also equally important to note that any changes that are made be clearly communicated to the hunters and their opinions should be actively sought out and taken into careful consideration.

HA: NDOW could care less about hunters’ opinions. They have been told for 14 years that we had a predator problem and they failed to act.

SS stated As shown on the preceding page, nearly two-thirds of the hunters agree that more needs to be done to control predators such as coyotes and mountain lions, giving ratings of 4 or 5 on a 5-point scale. In fact, half of the hunters strongly agree that more needs to be done to control predators.

HA: NDOW has done nothing on its own for any type of predator control. What more proof is needed to illustrate that NDOW doesn’t listen to sportsmen?

SS stated that Hunters were read various statements about deer hunting in Nevada and for each one asked to rate how srongly they either agree or disagree, using a 5-point scale where 5 is strongly agree and 1 is strongly disagree. Nearly two-thirds of the hunters (64%) agree that more needs to be done to control predators such as coyotes and mountain lions, giving ratings of 4 or 5 on a 5-point scale. In fact, half of the hunters strongly agree that more needs to be done to control predators.

HA: What part of "we want and need some predator control doesn’t NDOW understand? Once again, they failed to listen.

In this survey, hunters stated overwhelmingly to improve overall quality of deer hunting experience, that we need more/better predator control. (66)

The 2003 survey appearing in the NDOW Wildlife Almanac was recently included in the Las Vegas and Reno newspapers. This survey will be another waste of sportsmen’s money just like the last one. The real difference is that a legitimate company compiled the results of the last survey while this one apparently is going directly to NDOW. For those of you who may not remember, when NDOW was in charge of the big game tag draw, state audits revealed incidents of abuse and illegal acts. Now really, does anyone believe that if NDOW compiles the results, that it will be truthful and accurate?

This 2003 survey has a statement "We Care About What You Think". We have shown you that they damned sure didn’t care about the results of the last survey, what makes anyone think they will change at this point while under the same regime. This survey is about two things: first, this agency wants to go in the non-consumptive use direction, that means don’t kill anything, just feed the birds and watch wildlife. The second reason is that the only way NDOW can receive glowing reports about their agency is to do a survey with bogus results. This is what the latest survey is all about.