Elko CAB trims NDOW quota proposals by 10% for Areas 6, 7 and 10 after contentious public testimony

NDOW biologists presented multiple surveys showing recent strong recruitment in antelope, deer and elk in parts of eastern Nevada; the data and quota proposals prompted vigorous public comment focused on perceived local declines and quality-of-hunt concerns.

Travis Allen (Area 6 game biologist) summarized local survey results and explained that tag recommendations were designed to move postseason buck ratios toward department objectives. "This tag recommendation doesn't necessarily leverage our future... we're just chipping away at it now," Allen said, describing Area 6 allocation logic and the link to a target buck ratio.

Public commenters from Elko County—including long-time guides and residents—expressed distrust of modelled population estimates and warned that aggressive tag increases would damage local hunting opportunity. Tom Donham said he sees far fewer deer in the Ruby Mountains than historic levels and urged caution. "I've hunted the Ruby Mountains for 52 years... there's just no deer there anymore," he said.

After extended debate, the CAB proposed a compromise: a 10% reduction from NDOW's recommended any-legal-weapon early/mid/late quotas for Areas 6 and 7, and the same proportional cut applied to NDOW's proposed early/mid quotas for Area 10 (with late-season numbers adjusted similarly). The motion passed by voice vote; the CAB will forward the recommendation to the commission, which has the authority to accept, modify or reject proposed quotas.

The department cautioned that model adjustments and survey conditions (including the 2022–23 winter effects) complicate year-to-year comparisons and that tag choices represent a stair-step approach toward long-term objectives rather than a single definitive solution.