Make wildlife concerns heard

Has our entire state been turned into one big hunting preserve? It seems so, if one participates in public meetings conducted by the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners or any of the local advisory boards to manage wildlife.

Ethical hunters uphold certain standards, but there are those who do no such thing and have given a black eye to the hunting culture. Enthusiastic participants of wildlife-killing contests use weapons and highspeed off-road vehicles to go after their prey — hardly what one would consider fair chase.

There are prizes and cash rewards for those who decimate as many targeted animals as they can. And the Nevada Wildlife Commission and the advisory boards don’t seem to have an issue with this. Apparently, neither does the Nevada Department of Wildlife, which is tasked with the management and preservation of wildlife. What happened here?

Since the vast majority of Nevadans’ wishes are largely ignored in favor of a few hunters, it’s time to consider a new model for managing wildlife that does not include relying upon wildlife commissioners or advisory boards that only serve hunter interests.

If Nevadans are concerned about the rampant destruction of important species that are integral to our ecosystem, it’s time they bypass the aforementioned officials and take those concerns to the candidates seeking election in 2022. What will those candidates do for our wildlife in exchange for our votes and contributions? This is an important issue that will affect generations to come.