Nevada Division of Wildlife (NDOW) proposed a total of 29,248 tags allocated in varying amounts among 30 hunts; however, after taking testimony from County Wildlife Advisory Board members and the public, the Commission had reduced the total tag quota 2,626 tags to the 2001 total of 26,622.

In its publication, 2001-2002 Big Game Quota Recommendations, NDOW reported in April that although winter deer fawn loss was average throughout most of the state, only mediocre fawn recruitment was documented.

According to Game Bureau Chief, Gregg Tanner, "The same dry summer conditions that resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of acres of deer habitat the past two years are believed to have played a major role in reduced fawn reproduction last year."

NDOW's recommeded quotas for all of the various deer hunts were cut by the Wildlife Commission, and all were below last year's tag quota levels. In all, hunters vied for 13,794 any legal weapon (rifle), 1,971 archery, 976 muzzleloader, 2,531 antlerless, and 2,435 junior deer tags. Nonresident tag quotas were also reduced.

The Division recommended an overall reduction in the number of antelope tags for this year, and the total number of rifle tags was set by the Commission at 1,085, four less than recommended. The archery quota was 184, with 157 doe tags available — both the same number as recommended.

The state's elk populations continue to do very well, according to Tanner. "A record sample of over 4,800 elk were observed during recent aerial surveys. Biologists found that calf recruitment is between 45 and 50 per 100 cows.

A total of 1,305 elk tags were recommended by NDOW, distributed in varying amounts between seven different resident hunts. The Commission adopted a 351 bull rifle quota, 511 antlerless rifle, 62 bull muzzleloader, 106 antlerless muzzleloader, 39 bull archery, and 236 antlerless archery tags.

A total of 125 desert bighorn sheep tags were available this year, up 11 from last year, but down 10 from NDOW's recommended quota of 135. In addition, there were 32 California bighorn sheep tags and three Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep tags allotted this year.

Tanner reported that the state's mountain goat population continues to do well, and with the persistent growth and expansion of the herds, the Division recommended a quota of 22, a five tag increase over last year's quota, which was approved by the Commission.

A maximum allowable harvest of 322 mountain lions was approved for the 2001-2002 season which, for the first time, will run year-round, August 1, 2001 through July 31, 2002.

Nonresident quotas established by the Commission were: antelope rifle 56, archery 8; elk rifle 18, archery 3; desert bighorn rifle 13; California bighorn rifle 3; mule deer rifle 1,178, archery 229, muzzleloader 120.

Since the number of applicants each year far exceeds the number of tags for all hunts except mountain lion, computerized drawings were conducted to award the tags to those who applied by the April 16 deadline.

Under contract with NDOW, tag drawings for all hunts were to be conducted by the end of May by Systems Consultants of Fallon. Results of the drawings were made available by June 8.

Hunting season opening and closing dates were set by the Commission during its February 10 meeting in Reno.

A complete listing of all big game hunting season dates and tag quotas are available in the Division's publication, Nevada Hunt Book, available at all NDOW offices and license agents throughout the state.