(REPRINTED WITH ADOPTED AMENDMENTS)
"                    FIRST REPRINT      A.C.R. 46" 


Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 46--Committee on 
    Natural
         Resources, Agriculture and Mining

                   June 14, 1995
                 _____________

    Referred to Committee on Natural Resources,
              Agriculture and Mining


SUMMARY--Urges Division of Wildlife of State 
          Department of Conservation and Natural 
          Resources to prepare statewide elk 
          management plan. (BDR R-2135)




EXPLANATION--Matter in italics is new; matter in bra
ckets [ ] is material to be omitted.

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION--Urging the Division of Wildlife of the 
        State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to 
        prepare a statewide elk management plan.


  WHEREAS, One hundred years ago, elk were 
virtually nonexistent in the State of Nevada; and
  WHEREAS, Today, there are at least six elk 
herds in Nevada located in the areas of Charleston Peak, 
Jarbidge, Mount Wilson, Schell Creek, Table Mountain and 
Wells, and the number of elk in these herds is increasing; 
and
  WHEREAS, Elk have substantial esthetic, 
economic, educational, recreational and scientific value to 
the residents of Nevada; and
  WHEREAS, Elk are very adaptable animals who 
often migrate to new territory with the potential to cause 
conflicts with other wildlife, agriculture and private 
property; and
  WHEREAS, Elk habitat includes large areas of 
public and private land within this state and elk which are 
introduced onto public land may cause damage to adjacent 
private land or compete for forage with livestock grazing on 
private land; and
WHEREAS, Elk herds that exceed the carrying 
capacity of the habitat may degrade that habitat, especially 
in combination with other animals, including wild horses, 
using the same habitat; and
  WHEREAS, While the program to issue 
compensation tags for damage to property by deer and 
antelope has been determined to be successful, there is no 
analogous program for damage to property caused by elk; and
  WHEREAS, Although the Nevada Revised Statutes 
includes provisions to compensate property owners for damage 
caused by elk, there is no comprehensive statewide plan to 
manage elk for the maximum benefit of the residents of 
Nevada; now, therefore, be it
  RESOLVED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, THE 
SENATE CONCURRING, That the members of the Nevada 
Legislature urge the Division of Wildlife of the State 
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to prepare, 
by July 1, 1997, a statewide elk management plan for 
approval by the Board of Wildlife Commissioners; and be it 
further
  RESOLVED, That in preparing the plan, the 
Division of Wildlife of the State Department of Conservation 
and Natural Resources and the Board of Wildlife 
Commissioners should consult with state and federal land 
managers, private landowners, sportsmen, ranchers, 
conservation groups and all other interested and affected 
persons and give full consideration to balancing their needs 
and interests; and be it further
  RESOLVED, That the plan should include:
  1.  An assessment of current conditions including all 
available information on the quality and quantity of elk 
habitat and the carrying capacity, ownership and uses of the 
range which is populated by elk herds;
  2.  Based on the information gained in subsection 1, 
subplans for each herd or other appropriate subdivision, 
which should identify population goals and management 
techniques to achieve and maintain those goals;
  3.  A statement of goals, objectives and policies for the 
overall management of the elk herds in Nevada;
  4.  Specific guidelines which address methods to achieve 
those goals, objectives and policies; and
  5.  Procedures for evaluating and modifying the plan on an 
annual basis;
and be it further
  RESOLVED, That in the development of 
management techniques to balance the interests of all 
affected persons and achieve and maintain elk population 
goals, the Division of Wildlife of the State Department of 
Conservation and Natural Resources should give full 
consideration to the selective use of damage compensation 
tags; and be it further
  RESOLVED, That the Division of Wildlife of the 
State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and 
the Board of Wildlife Commissioners shall report their 
progress, problems and any recommended solutions in the 
preparation of the statewide plan for the management of elk 
in Nevada to the 69th session of the Nevada Legislature and 
shall report on the progress of the implementation of the 
plan to the 70th session of the Nevada Legislature; and be 
it further
  RESOLVED, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly 
prepare and transmit a copy of this resolution to the 
Chairman of the Board of Wildlife Commissioners, the 
Director of the State Department of Conservation and Natural 
Resources and the Administrator of the Division of Wildlife 
of the State Department of Conservation and Natural 
Resources.

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