Churchill County wildlife advisory board approves FY2027 funding, opposes two commission regulations

The Churchill County advisory board met June 17 and approved a slate of FY2027 funding proposals and regulatory changes, while formally opposing two proposed commission regulations and tabling a letter about recovery methods for wounded animals.

At the meeting, board members approved project extension requests and FY2027 proposals for Heritage and habitat research projects, as well as state-administered budget items for county advisory boards. The board approved duck-stamp and upland-game stamp funding packages for fiscal 2027 after brief discussion. A member noted the upland-game request includes $50,000 for raven monitoring and removal that supplements approximately $145,000 in predator-management funds already allocated; staff said an additional $51,000 had been obtained in FY26, bringing the combined predator-management spending toward $200,000. The board approved the upland-game request by voice vote.

The meeting featured two notable oppositions. The board voted to oppose Commission General Regulation 531, which would raise penalties related to shed antlers from a nine-demerit action to a 12-demerit citation in some cases. A board member said the change was “stupid” and called the proposed increase “borderline unconstitutional,” questioning how possession would be defined "—for example, if antlers are in the bed of a truck." The opposition motion passed and board members asked that the position be noted in the monthly report.

The board likewise voted to oppose Commission Regulation 526, which would restrict the use of thermal-imaging equipment in some contexts. Members cited concerns raised by trappers in affected areas and referenced NAC503.1455 during their discussion; the board’s motion to oppose passed by voice vote.

Other regulatory actions included approval of Commission Regulation 516 (boating equipment and operations terminology updates) and approval of Commission Regulation 2604 amendment one (heritage tag vendor). The board also approved Commission Regulation 26-13, which includes adjustments to small-game seasons (notably a roughly 30-day reduction in the bobcat season tied to the statewide bobcat management plan) and minor tagging/date changes.

On an ongoing item, board members reviewed a draft letter to the Department of Wildlife proposing options to allow blood-trailing dogs and/or the use of thermal-imaging drones to recover wounded or dead animals. The draft has been circulated to other county advisory boards but the board had received no responses; members agreed to table further action until responses are received and indicated the letter could be amended if opposition is returned.

Staff reported on board vacancy recruitment: the notice must be published three times, the application deadline is July 8 and the county manager’s office will coordinate interviews. The board asked staff to provide a budget-update at the next meeting and adjourned at 7:40 p.m.

Votes at a glance: the board approved multiple FY2027 funding requests (heritage project extensions and proposals; habitat research proposals; duck-stamp and upland-game stamp requests) and approved regulatory updates 516, 2604 (amendment one) and 26-13; it voted to oppose regulations 531 and 526 and to take no action on regulation 532 pending additional information. Where counts were recorded, actions were decided by voice votes.