At the May 4, 1996 Wildlife Commission meeting, two thousand sportsmen had written to Commissioner Cavin about their concerns regarding the mountain lion. Commissioner Cavin could not have represented the sportsmen any better. But as usual, the other Wildlife Commissioners did not listen to sportsmen's concerns. Here were Commissioner Gavin's comments. "But the 1945 post cards and 5 letters all say we've got to do something to reduce the mountain lions in the state of Nevada. And I think basically- -the big thing they're concerned with is the cost and it went everything in the reduction from bounties to trapping. The big thing is they want to drastically reduce the mountain lion population right now and they didn't much care how we did it. They also wanted to do it now. They want to see some action right now...they don't want to wait five years to get something done about it. It's kind of like the Desert Range now where the lion problem is a problem and we have known about it and we haven't done anything about it. That's then big concern...! might say that—I will say that the majority of them are unhappy as the devil about the Division and the Commission and the mountain lion situation the way it is today concerning the deer harvest. The number one problem is start doing something now. Don't wail till he five year plan to go into effect. We'd like to see some action right now." The post card sent jointly by HUNTER'S ALERT and Safari Club International Desert Chapter said: Dear Mr. Cavin: "Deer hunting is going downhill and I believe the mountain lions are the main reason. I want something done to reduce the number of mountain lions in our state. My Comments:

Below is just a sampling of some of the 1945 comments:

My name is Cecil Fredi. I am representing HUNTER'S ALERT. At the January Wildlife Commission meeting in Henderson, Chairman Brown stated that he wanted more input on the lion issue. He also made the same statement at the February meeting in Reno. HUNTER'S ALERT in conjunction with Safari Club International Desert Chapter decided to give the chairman the input that he was seeking^ I will address this input later on but I would like to make a few points first.

Action Item #3 would prohibit hunting for a 96 hour period after using aircraft to locate wildlife.

This request by NDOW has to be the most overkill idea they have come up with in a long time. The hierarchy of NDOW must have a lot of time on their hands. In Alaska you cannot hunt on the same day that you fly. It is probably safe to say that 95% of the hunters in Alaska must utilize aircraft. What percentage of Nevada hunters utilize aircraft'1 Probably a tenth of one percent. Alaska, which has a hell of a lot more game to protect says no same-day hunting. So Nevada wants no hunting for four days. This is a pure and simple law enforcement mentality. NDOW does not know how or refuses to bring back our big game numbers. All they know is more law enforcement. We already have 140 ways to cite sportsmen and apparently it is not enough law 1enforcement for NDOW. This is like gun Control. We have thousands of gun laws and they want more.

Not one sportsmen's organization in the state endorsed Terry Crawforth to replace Willie Molini as administrator of the Nevada Division of Wildlife (NDOW). Even the Wildlife commissioners rated him third in a three horse race. How did he get chosen? It was good old politics at its worst.

On April 6, Governor Miller sent a letter to the county advisory boards to manage wildlife. He asked the boards to submit nominations to either reappoint or replace three wildlife commissioners whose terms expired on June 30. They were all sportsman's representatives: Bill Bradley from Reno, Don Cavin from Hawthorne, and Jelindo Tiberti from Las Vegas

You would think that the Nevada Division of Wildlife would have learned through their past favoritism of NDOW employees or relatives. It was because of this kind of favoritism that our legislators saw fit to pass a demerit system during the last session. The demerit system insures that all fish and game violators are treated equally when they are cited. This latest piece of NDOW favoritism was a pure and simple backdoor attempt to give an NDOW employee an edge on his sheep hunt.

Many important things have happened since the last newsletter. HUNTER'S ALERT wants to give credit to those who deserve it and expose those who have hurt sportsmen in our state. So let's put them in their appropriate houses.

Call it youth, call it inexperience, or call it something less kind but Wildlife Commissioner Jelindo Tiberti showed why he should not have been re-appointed to the Wildlife Commission. At the January Wildlife Commission meeting Tiberti challenged HUNTER'S ALERT to prove that Nevada Division of Wildlife had purchased $25,000 worth of books from Defenders of Wildlife, a proven antihunting organization. The majority of sportsmen in attendance wanted something done about the mountain lion in our state. But Commissioner Tiberti chose not to represent them and instead to try to find fault with the HUNTER'S ALERT newsletter.

You would have thought Commissioner Tiberti would have learned his lesson since HUNTER'S ALERT subsequently J issued a challenge to him. If HUNTER'S ALERT could not prove the expenditure was made, then Mr. Tiberti could buy a table at our banquet. Mr. Tiberti failed to respond knowing fully well he shot himself in the boot and could not back it up.

HUNTER'S ALERT has been saying it for years and never has it been more evident. The people appointed as sportsmen to the Wildlife Commission are not representing them. The exception is Don Cavin who is outnumbered and its too early to evaluate Bill Bradley. However, the majority, Chairman Brown, Commissioners Tiberti and Matorian have been a disappointment to the sportsmen they are supposed to represent. They have shown their true colors (green) over the mountain lion issue.