RE: "RE: Sandoval rehires fired Nevada wildlife director"
>Just returned from my Washoe County
>antelope hunt along with a
>thorough review of the new
>NV Records book. I
>also talked to a few
>good hunters. Northern Washoe
>ain't the place anymore.
>
>I've never seen such few and
>dink bucks anywhere. I
>can't believe it. Same
>from the Sheldon hunters.
>This area was one of
>the best in the west
>for 85" goats 25 years
>ago.
Wow, I guess we were hunting a different part of Washoe County than you were. Here are two Sheldon bucks taken in the last four hunting seasons. These were higher end bucks, but not the biggest we saw, seeing some bigger, but never able to relocate.
If you draw a Sheldon pronghorn tag and do not find a buck exceeding 80", you are either extremely unlucky, quick on the trigger, or didn't hunt very hard.
The biggest thing that has changed on the Sheldon from when I lived in NV (1985-1990) is the number of horses has went through the roof. Not sure how NDOW can control those, when they are governed by the Federal Wild Horse and Burro Act, and have prevented the state from taking control over those range maggots.
And yes, the deer quality looked down significantly, but so did the habitat quality, something I attribute to Federal Agency management priorities, not NDOW.
I have hunted Nevada six times in the last ten years, for deer, elk, and antelope, and I cannot believe how the cheat grass has completely taken over many of the old winter ranges where I would call predators. Very sad to watch. Again, this is all BLM ground, so I am not sure how NDOW is the party to blame for such range conditions being how they are.
Just my perspective, but NDOW seems to be doing one hell of a good job trying to manage wildlife that was already living in marginal habitat due to drought. When you consider how adversely fires and cheat grass cycles have destroyed winter ranges, it amazes me that there are any quality animals in Nevada.
"Hunt when you can - You're gonna' run out of health before you run out of money!"