At the May 4, 1996 Wildlife Commission meeting, two thousand sportsmen had written to Commissioner Cavin about their concerns regarding the mountain lion. Commissioner Cavin could not have represented the sportsmen any better. But as usual, the other Wildlife Commissioners did not listen to sportsmen's concerns. Here were Commissioner Gavin's comments. "But the 1945 post cards and 5 letters all say we've got to do something to reduce the mountain lions in the state of Nevada. And I think basically- -the big thing they're concerned with is the cost and it went everything in the reduction from bounties to trapping. The big thing is they want to drastically reduce the mountain lion population right now and they didn't much care how we did it. They also wanted to do it now. They want to see some action right now...they don't want to wait five years to get something done about it. It's kind of like the Desert Range now where the lion problem is a problem and we have known about it and we haven't done anything about it. That's then big concern...! might say that—I will say that the majority of them are unhappy as the devil about the Division and the Commission and the mountain lion situation the way it is today concerning the deer harvest. The number one problem is start doing something now. Don't wail till he five year plan to go into effect. We'd like to see some action right now." The post card sent jointly by HUNTER'S ALERT and Safari Club International Desert Chapter said: Dear Mr. Cavin: "Deer hunting is going downhill and I believe the mountain lions are the main reason. I want something done to reduce the number of mountain lions in our state. My Comments:

Below is just a sampling of some of the 1945 comments:

There are three groups who could bring back our deer, the Wildlife Commissioners, the majority of our legislators, or Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW). None of them choose to do this. Let’s examine these groups and prove why they don’t care about Nevada’s once famous mule deer.

 

First, the Wildlife Commission. None of them have ever proposed any idea to even think about bringing back our deer. Quite the contrary. Wildlife Commissioner Clint Bentley, on two different occasions, has prevented more lions from being killed. This alone proves he doesn’t care about our deer. This guy has the title of “sportsmen’s representative”. However, he should be representing anti-hunters. He still has one year left on his appointment to continue selling out Nevada hunters.

 

My name is Cecil Fredi and I have lived in Las Vegas for 64 years. For many of those years, I deer hunted and everyone in the hunting group took home a nice big buck. Those days have been gone for years. Nineteen years ago, I helped form a group called HUNTER’S ALERT. Our primary purpose was to inform sportsmen that we have a predator problem and that something needed to be done about it. We have mailed 31 newsletters resulting in over a quarter of a million copies distributed throughout the state as well as other states. Every issue stated we had a predator problem and what other states were doing about their problem. It wasn’t like NDOW and the Wildlife Commission were not made aware of the fact that we had a serious predator problem for many years. 

NDOW produces a newsletter called "The Wildlife Almanac". It is basically produced to pat itself on the back because very few others will. In the Fall/Winter 2003 edition, there was a very lengthy questionnaire. It was a full page requiring answering or rating over 100 questions. The questionnaire was sent out to 300,000 people as an insert in the Las Vegas Review Journal, Reno Gazette Journal, Ely Times and the Elko Daily Free Press.

Nevada Department of Wildlife Director Willie Molini announced this week he was ending his long reign of mismanagement next September. That's the good news.

The bad news is things won't get any better as long as the corrupt power brokers currently in office are allowed to pick his successor. That sad fact was made clear this week when Nevada Wildlife Commissioner Merv Matorian quickly dismissed requests from sportsmen's groups to be included in the search for a new director.

Gerry Lent of the Nevada Hunter's Association pleaded, "All sportsmen should have a say in who directs their funds."

But Matorian shot back, "It's not going to happen. Lent wants to stick his nose into everything, but this is a government function."

Matorian's arrogant reply typifies the current administration that has allowed Nevada's hunting opportunities to deteriorate to miserable levels. Now, the politicians are telling sportsmen that the selection of a director for a department totally funded through taxes they pay is none of their business — it's a "government function." ELKO DAILY FREE PRESS Dec. 19

Reprinted from Las Vegas Review-Journal/December 27, 1997

When the weak link is at the top, nothing works right below. This is particularly true of two state agencies, those being the Division of Wildlife and Attorney General's Office. In our lead story we told you how a good NDOW employee, Barton Tanner, was set up by his fellow employees, wardens Dennis Roden and Frank Chaves. The director of the Conservation and Natural Resources Department is Pete Morros. He was quoted in the Elko Daily Free Press as saying, "Roden and Chaves marked the fox three days before the season." Nothing could be further from the truth. In court documents, it is clearly stated that the fox was reported to be in the trap on December 18. Opening day of fox season is December 19. Warden Roden marked the fox on December 19. That is not three days but one day. When the head of a state agency doesn't know the facts how can the Division of Wildlife make informed judgments on this or any other case? With his statement, Mr. Morros proves the weak link is at the top.

The timing of this announcement enables Governor Miller and Pete Morros to appoint a new administrator before the new governor takes office next January. Let's see, Molini retires in September, the gubernatorial election takes place in November, and the new governor is seated in January. I guess they figured the sportsmen in the state of Nevada aren't smart enough to figure this out. The 3M Destroyers (Miller, Morros. and Molini) were smart enough to realize one thing, that no other governor would put up with Willie Molini's antics. Rest assured. Miller and Morros will appoint a Willie Molini clone to the vacated position.

Congratulations also are in order for Joe Ondreako of the Nevada Sportsman's Association for his efforts in persuading the county commission to make a call for the abolition of the Nevada Department of Wildlife. We agree with his contention that the removal of NDOW Director Willie Molini no longer would be enough, the department is too far gone and a completely new beginning is needed Reprinted from the Elko Daily Free Press, August 9, 1996

County votes to draft bill to abolish NDOW

Elko County Commissioners unanimously voted to assist a local sportsman's group and introduce legislation next session to eliminate the Nevada Division of Wildlife and restore its predecessor, the Nevada Fish and Game Commission.

THE OUTDOORSMEN

For the last three years, there have been many newspapers, sportsmen's groups, agricultural, and mining groups calling for the dismissal of Nevada Department of Wildlife Director, Will Molini. This resentment continues to grow and never was it so overwhelming than at the Wildlife Commission meeting in Elko on July 25, 1992. Mr. Molini was quietly going to shut down Elko County. He sent two letters to the Forest Service which recommended that 4900 acres be set aside for each pair of nesting goshawks. If there were one nesting pair every 4900 acres, in essence, the county would be closed down. In addition to the goshawk, he wanted acreage closed down for the Coopers and Sharp-shinned hawks.