Tahoe Area CA/NV Volunteering Opportunities

[Actionsqueak]

Newer hunter here (started ~4 years ago) and I'm interested in getting involved/volunteering in the Carson City, Reno, South Lake Tahoe area. Does anyone live in the area or have any information on where to start?

I've hunted several states in the West and all of them seem to have way more animals on public land. When I look at what I see in California, I am confused by our poor populations given the amount of public land and solid habitat. I've hiked into many remote alpine basins with picture perfect deer habitat thinking "there has to be some deer in here," only to see nothing or maybe a few does over several days of glassing. Researching the decline of the CA deer and elk herds has motivated me to get involved with groups who advocate on behalf of wildlife and wild places as I have dreams of raising my children as hunters and would like for them, their kids, and so on to have the opportunity to experience bountiful and intact public lands and wildlife.

I looked into opportunities with the CDFW and signed up with NDOW to get emails for their events but am just getting started i my research and wonder whether this is the right angle or whether I should focus more on advocacy groups. I'm interested in the policy side of wildlife conservation and public lands, especially since our public lands are under imminent threat from the current administration. I understand this is a broad question so I'm just looking for some basic information on organizations to look into/volunteer with. I looked into events through the BHA and RMEF as well and didn't see any events in Nevada or California on the website. I'm hoping someone on here has some more local knowledge.

Thanks in advance!

 

[MarkOrtiz]

I’m down in Minden. There was just a guzzler build recently with more to come. Nevadabighornsunlimited.org/projects

 

[Actionsqueak]

I’m down in Minden. There was just a guzzler build recently with more to come. Nevadabighornsunlimited.org/projects

Right on, thank you! I just reached out to them to get signed up so I can attend one of the upcoming guzzler builds.

 

[RockAndSage]

When I look at what I see in California, I am confused by our poor populations given the amount of public land and solid habitat.

In CA, this is almost entirely due to mountain lion overpopulation - things typically causing population decline in other states, like habitat loss, are virtually a non-issue in NorCal, especially in mule deer country. CA held a referendum in the 1990s that banned hunting lions, and the mule deer population has plummeted since then - it's almost directly correlated. Cougars kill roughly 2 deer each week, per adult cat. Just in the last 3-5 years, wolves have moved in as well, in the northern and northeastern counties, including Lassen, Plumas, Tehama, and Sierra counties.

 

[CADnCoding]

Following. Also live in the area and get volunteer hours from work. Would love to use it

 

[Actionsqueak]

In CA, this is almost entirely due to mountain lion overpopulation - things typically causing population decline in other states, like habitat loss, are virtually a non-issue in NorCal, especially in mule deer country. CA held a referendum in the 1990s that banned hunting lions, and the mule deer population has plummeted since then - it's almost directly correlated. Cougars kill roughly 2 deer each week, per adult cat. Just in the last 3-5 years, wolves have moved in as well, in the northern and northeastern counties, including Lassen, Plumas, Tehama, and Sierra counties.

I don't doubt this is part of, if not most of the problem. I'm going to do some more research on that front to learn about the situation. I've heard the biologists talk about how cougars kill deer, bears (which are also overpopulated) fight them off the kill, cougars kill another deer, and so on and so forth. Wolves definitely seem like they are just another strain on our already fragile deer population.

Admittedly I have my doubts about the predator theory because our turkey and wild hog populations have steadily increased, both of which I would assume are also preyed on by lions and wolves. Do cougars prefer venison (not that I blame them, I prefer it myself!) over other prey animals? Maybe I'm overthinking it and they eat everything, deer are just more meat and preferred for that reason.

My question is; who is fighting against this or to overturn the mountain lion hunting ban? I'm hoping someone on here has a connection to those working on solving the root cause issues like predator management. Part of me wonders whether the general voting public in CA genuinely doesn't want ungulates on the landscape to reduce traffic collisions or if more people would be open to the idea of managing predators in a way that would allow for a healthy recovery for deer/elk.