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Elko CAB urges later start for trail-camera prohibition, raises enforcement concerns for thermal imaging rule
Summary
Elko County advisory board recommended a change to proposed state regulations that would prohibit trail cameras and thermal imaging in a seasonal window, asking to move the start date from July 1 to Aug. 1 and flagging enforcement and penalty questions including a proposed jump in demerits from 3 to 12.
The Elko County Advisory Board to Manage Wildlife on Wednesday asked state regulators to shift the proposed prohibited possession window for trail cameras from July 1–Dec. 31 to Aug. 1–Dec. 31 and urged additional discussion of penalties and enforcement for thermal-imaging devices.
Board members told Department of Wildlife staff the currently proposed July 1 start leaves sportsmen a very short period to use trail cameras after draw results. "If we changed it from Aug. 1 to July 1 for the regular trail cameras, it gives sportsmen about 4 or 5 weeks max to utilize trail cameras," said Justin French, a CAB member. "It almost makes it to the point where it's not useful at all, in my opinion."
The change requested matters because the draft regulation would prohibit possession during the stated dates — not only use — and also proposes raising penalty points (demerits) substantially. "My interpretation, Justin, would be a full unlawful possession during those days," said Jason Jackson, game warden, Nevada Department of Wildlife. Jackson said the emerging-technology committee draft treats possession as unlawful regardless of whether an individual is hunting big game.
Board members also debated the proposed increase in demerits from 3 to 12 for possession of thermal devices and trail cameras. Jackson said higher demerits could serve as a stronger deterrent but acknowledged enforcement challenges: "This is something that's in law enforcement; it's difficult to detect ... unless we're there in the middle of the night." He added that for some nonresident guides the threat of license revocation would have little practical impact.
After discussion the CAB moved, seconded and voted to "ask that they consider an Aug. 1 through Dec. 31 ban on trail cameras" in the state draft. The motion passed with the recorded yeas and no recorded nays.
The board emphasized the draft comes from an Emerging Technology Committee and is still under discussion at the commission level. Department staff repeatedly described the CAB action as a recommendation to the commission; no local ordinance or statewide regulation was enacted by the CAB.
The CAB asked staff to continue providing information before the Wildlife Commission takes final action at its scheduled public hearings.
