Senate committee hears bill to require removal of edible portions from bears, mountain lions

Senators heard testimony in Carson City on SB101, a bill that would require hunters who legally harvest black bears or mountain lions with a tag to remove edible portions from the field, aligning treatment of those carnivores with other game species.

The measure, presented by Senator Skip Daly, would move language now in Nevada Administrative Code (NAC 503.0047) into statute and delete an exception that has allowed some hunters to take only trophies (for example, a hide and head) and leave meat in the field. Daly told the committee the aim is to “eliminate the unnecessary waste of animals.”

Supporters said the change reflects long-standing hunting ethics and would reduce waste. Larry Johnson, president of the Coalition for Nevada’s Wildlife, said he supports the bill as a stewardship measure and, speaking from personal experience, added that people in Nevada have consumed bear and mountain lion meat: “I’ve been eating mountain lions in Nevada now for almost 60 years, and it is delicious,” he said.

The bill text would delete the phrase “except a carnivore” and add a statutory definition of “game” that mirrors current regulatory language; one proposed amendment — supported by the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) and the wildlife coalition — would instead leave the detailed description of “edible portion” to regulation so it can be revised more quickly without another legislative session. Erin Sturtevant of the Legislative Counsel Bureau told the committee the agency cannot excise only parts of an existing regulation; if a statute conflicts with regulation, the agency must adopt new regulation consistent with legislative direction.

NDOW staff provided context about the agency’s work and scope. Deputy Director Jordan Goshert said NDOW’s requested biennial budget is “close to $80,000,000” per year and that general fund support is about 2 percent of the department’s budget. Deputy Director for Resources Mike Scott estimated current population figures for big game: “It’s about 68,000 deer and, roughly, 3,000 lions,” he said, and cautioned that lion counts include juveniles.

Committee members asked practical questions the bill does not explicitly resolve in its current draft, including whether state animal damage control actions (for animals killed in depredation response) would be treated the same as sport harvests and how donors or processors would handle meat that a hunter chooses not to consume. Senator Schiavo asked what lawful options a harvester would have if they did not want to consume harvested meat; witnesses and the sponsor said disposal or donation would remain lawful and that NDOW has established check-in requirements for skulls, pelts and other parts used for record-keeping.

Multiple hunting and conservation organizations testified in support, including the Northern Nevada Safari Club, Great Basin Wildlife Conservancy, Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners’ Legislative Committee, and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. Testimony emphasized consistency with the North American model of wildlife conservation and customary practice that harvested meat be used. No witnesses testified in opposition during the hearing; no committee action or vote was taken at the session.

Senator Daly closed by reiterating that the bill would apply only to harvests taken with a tag and not to depredation takings, and he said he would work with NDOW and Legislative Counsel on the amendment language that would leave the precise “edible portion” description to regulation. The committee did not take a final vote on SB101 during the hearing.

Details from witnesses and agency staff recorded at the hearing: NDOW logged about 5,000 urban-wildlife calls in 2024 (13 percent related to coyotes); the department reported contacting more than 1,800 vessels and assisting 81 in 2024; and NDOW estimates it has restored roughly 701,000 acres of habitat since 2017, adding about 84,000 acres in the past year. These figures were provided in NDOW’s overview and used by several senators during questioning.