Despite wildland fires, most of Nevada’s big-game herds in good shape

Martin Griffith

Sunday, April 23, 2000 | 3:12 a.m.

RENO, Nev. - Despite wildland fires that blackened 1.7 million acres of wildlife habitat last year, most of Nevada's big-game herds are in good shape, state wildlife officials said.

Mule deer, pronghorn antelope, Rocky Mountain elk and bighorn sheep numbers are all up over a year ago, according to the Nevada Division of Wildlife's annual wildlife census.

"The arrow is pointing up for most of our big-game animals," said Gregg Tanner, the division's chief of game. "Favorable climatic conditions have spawned beneficial habitat conditions which have allowed the herds to grow."

But Tanner acknowledged last year's devastating wildfires have made deer especially vulnerable to severe winters and prolonged droughts over the next decade.

A substantial number of deer could die if plagued by adverse weather conditions, and it was fortunate the recent winter was mild, he said.

"The bad news coming out of our surveys is the damage to deer wintering grounds in Humboldt and Elko counties," Tanner said. "The herds in those areas will be vulnerable to harsh winter conditions for many years to come."

Last year's wildfires charred 340,000 acres of deer winter range and 305,000 acres of deer summer range.

The population estimates, which are based on aerial surveys by biologists and post-hunt questionaires, will be used to decide how many tags will be available to hunters this year.

The Wildlife Commission will set tag levels at a May 6 meeting in Las Vegas after hearing recommendations from county advisory boards.

Nevada's current mule deer population was set at about 145,000 adults, up from an adjusted estimate of 134,000 in 1999.

Wildlife officials acknowledged they likely overestimated the size of the deer herd over the last six years.

That's because the deer mortality rate during the severe winter of 1992-93 was underestimated not only by Nevada but by all Western states, they said.

Habitat losses likely will keep deer numbers below the peak of more than 240,000 set in the late 1980s, they added.

The census also shows the state has about 16,000 antelope, up 10 percent from last year, and about 5,700 elk, up 5 percent.

Wildlife officials said antelope numbers continue to be depressed in northwest Nevada where low fawn survival is a concern.

But they said most bighorn sheep herds across the state are doing well, and Elko County's mountain goat herd is in healthy shape after a decline due to a disease outbreak.

Nevada has about 1,400 California bighorn sheep, up 8 percent over last year. More than 1,800 desert bighorn sheep turned up during 1999 aerial surveys.

A record count of 218 mountain goats was observed in 1998, but no updated numbers were available.