Plan to attend and voice your opposition
As previously reported by the NRA-ILA in December, there is an effort underway in Nevada to ban the use of hounds while hunting black bear. The Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners (NVBWC) will be once again hearing a petition to impose this ban at its meeting in Las Vegas this Friday, February 1, and it is likely that action will be taken on this issue. Their agenda and guidelines for public comment can be viewed here (petition details are under 5 and guidelines are under 14).
Hunting with dogs is a tradition that continues across the country. Many dog breeds with select characteristics for hunting can be traced back for thousands of years. Seventeen states allow bear hunting with dogs. The use of hounds for hunting has never been shown to have an adverse impact on wildlife numbers. Biologists and other wildlife experts determine regulations and bag limits, just as they do with other hunting seasons.
The list of advocates for this petition reads like a who's who of “animal rights”/anti-hunting extremists, including the Humane Society of the United States, No Bear Hunt NV, Nevada Political Action for Animals, The Bear League and the American Society to Prevent Cruelty to Animals based in northern California. Emboldened by the total ban on the use of hounds for hunting in California last year, it has been a long-held mission for these groups to ban bear hunting altogether and this is the first step toward that end. Additionally, as we previously reported, Governor Brian Sandoval recently appointed anti-hunting activist, Karen Layne, to the NVBWC.
The NVBWC is responsible for establishing broad policy, setting annual and permanent regulations, reviewing budgets and receiving input on wildlife and boating matters from entities such as the seventeen county advisory boards to manage wildlife.
Please attend this commission meeting this Friday and respectfully express your opposition to this petition. This meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m. at the Nevada State Museum located at 309 South Valley View Boulevard in Las Vegas. Public comment will be allowed on each action item and is limited to three minutes. Also, please contact commission members in opposition to this petition using the information is provided below.
Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners:
Jack Robb, Chairman
(775) 848-3637
Jeremy Drew, Vice Chairman
(775) 843-9109
Karen Layne
(702) 354-8911
David McNinch
(775) 747-7545
Peter Mori
(775) 340-5704
Michael McBeath
(702) 401-1848
Scott Raine
(775) 318-0506
Grant Wallace
(775) 572-3154
Bill Young
(702) 533-4820
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