Deer herd increase means more tags for hunters in fall

The first increase in the mule deer population in three years is prompting Nevada wildlife officials to recommend increasing the number of tags for hunters during the 2010 hunting season.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife estimate the deer population at about 107,000.

They plan to recommend that the number of tags for residents using legal weapons for antlered mule deer be increased from 8,526 to 9,541.

According to State Game Division Chief Larry Gilbertson, this is in response to increased number of fawns that survived the winter in many of Nevada's deer herds.

"All in all, this year should be a good year for hunters withincreased opportunity," says Gilbertson. "And with this year's moderate winter and good spring moisture, range conditions should be good and the animals should be in good body condition with decent antler growth."

An estimated 34 fawns per 100 does survived, up from the previous year's 27 fawns per 100 does, and just below the long-term statewide average of 35 fawns per 100 does.

"The deer went into the winter in good body condition due to above average precipitation and better range conditions," explained Gilbertson. "Combine that with relatively average winter conditions in many areas and the stage was set for increased recruitment due to fawn survival."

The single largest increase occurred in Area 6 of Elko County, where ideal summer range conditions and a mild winter allowed for the addition of 800 animals, a 12 percent growth. Twenty years of aggressive restoration efforts of crucial deer winter ranges in Area 6, combined with excellent spring precipitation, contributed to the best fawn recruitment in ten years.

Of the remaining units, the mule deer populations increased in more than 56 percent of its deer management units and were relatively stable in most of the rest of the state. The total result is a statewide net gain in Nevada's mule deer population for 2010. The population growth is noteworthy following the harsh environmental conditions and population declines the three previous years.

"When Gov. Gibbons hired me," said Ken Mayer, Director of NDOW, "he told me that my number one priority was bringing back Nevada's mule deer herd. NDOW has continued an aggressive habitat restoration and improvement program, which with the help of increased moisture on the range, is starting to pay off."

Mayer also points out that Nevada ranks second in the nation in expenditures in predation management and since 2000, has spent several million dollars on predation management for the benefit of wildlife.

"In 2010, we plan to spend approximately $403,164 for predator management," explains Mayer, "most of it targeted to benefit our mule deer herds."

The 2010 statewide mule deer population estimate is approximately 6 percent below the 10-year statewide average of published mule deer population estimates from 2001-2010 of approximately 112,700 and 28 percent below the 35-year average of published mule deer population estimates from 1976 - 2010 of approximately 137,000 mule deer.

Gilbertson does caution that while the trend is positive, it is dependent upon continued good range conditions and mild to moderate winters. However, he is optimistic that good body condition, low winter mortality, and mild winter conditions in most areas will help to contribute to increased fawn production later this spring.

"We realize that mule deer are our most numerous and most popular big game species," says Mayer. "NDOW tries to seize every opportunity to provide protection and enhancement of Nevada's mule deer herd."

Most of the rest of the species saw significant increases in tag quotas as well. The only species with declines are the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep , which saw a decrease due to the major disease event in the Ruby Mountains and East Humboldts, and the mountain goat due to a minor disease event in the same area.