NORTH AMERICAN MODEL OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

Wildlife populations in North America are not only thriving, but are also typically expanding dramatically. This is due to the adoption of the North American Model of Wildlife Management in which:

  • Wildlife is Held in the Public Trust. This means that wildlife belongs to the public and is managed by state wildlife agencies utilizing the best available science.

  • Funding for the management, protection, and enhancement of wildlife is predominately through sportsmen licenses, tags, and taxes on hunting and fishing equipment.

  • Wildlife populations are managed for public enjoyment, whether it be wildlife viewing, hunting, fishing, trapping, photography, or general appreciation.

Nowhere in North America has the adherence to this model shown such dramatic results as in the state of Nevada. Our wildlife resources were decimated during settlement of the west. Every big game animal that we hunt today would have been on the endangered species list one hundred years ago. The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), in partnership with private sportsmen’s organizations and in cooperation with federal agencies, have:

  • Reintroduced bighorn sheep back into over eighty (80) mountain ranges, bringing our state animal back from the brink of extirpation (California and Rocky Mountain bighorns were completely extirpated) to a point where Nevada now has more bighorn sheep than any other state other than Alaska.

  • Reintroduced pronghorn antelope (from the brink of extirpation) across the state so that we now have the highest population in recorded history.

  • Reintroduced and managed the expansion of elk populations (from total extirpation) so that we now also have the highest population in recorded history.

  • Managed the return of black bears, once extirpated from the state, back into sustainable and expanding levels.

  • We now have more mountain lions than any time in recorded history.

  • Introduced game birds such as Chukar and Himalayan Partridge from Asia.

  • Managed sustainable fisheries throughout the state.

These are but a few of the accomplishments of which the partnership of sportsmen and NDOW take great pride.