The Sportsmen for the Rubies Coalition encourages strong collaboration as the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service seeks public input

Today, Nevada hunters and anglers celebrate the Bureau of Land Management’s announcement of a two-year oil and gas leasing moratorium on 264,000 acres in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. The BLM manages the subsurface minerals, including oil and gas, beneath the national forest. This moratorium is a significant first step toward long-term conservation of crucial habitat for big game and coldwater fish species located within the Ruby Mountains.

The federal segregation notice, which was issued today by the Department of the Interior, removes the Ruby Mountains from oil and gas leasing for two years while the department further considers whether to implement a longer-term oil and gas withdrawal for the area. The Sportsmen for the Rubies Coalition understands resource extraction plays an important role in Nevada’s economy and provides jobs for its residents. However, the U.S. Geological Survey classifies the Rubies as having very low to no energy potential. The Rubies are far more valuable for hunting and fishing than speculative oil and gas development.

The Sportsmen for the Rubies coalition applauds this action and thanks Nevada Representative Amodei and Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen for being champions of conservation efforts in the Rubies for many years. The coalition urges Congress to pass the bipartisan Ruby Mountains Protection Act in the 119th Congress in order to make these temporary conservation measures permanent.

“This is a major victory for mule deer and everyone that loves to hunt them,” said Jim Rackley, president of Nevada Muleys. “We’ve been working for nearly a decade with the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and political leaders in Nevada to conserve this landscape, and we sincerely appreciate everybody, particularly the hunters, who have stepped up for one of Nevada’s most iconic mule deer landscapes.”

“The Rubies are one of Nevada’s most iconic landscapes,” said Carl Erquiaga, Nevada field representative for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “From the trophy mule deer to the native Lahontan cutthroat, this range provides hunters and anglers with coveted opportunities. We look forward to working with the state and BLM to maintain the excellent hunting and fishing qualities of the Rubies.”

“The Rubies offer sheep, mountain goats, and many other animals some of the best habitat in the state,” said Marc Selph, president of Elko Bighorns Unlimited. “This announcement is the first step in ensuring that those animals will remain there for generations.”

“The alpine lakes and streams in the Ruby Mountains provide high-quality habitat for trout,” said Russ Meyer, president of Trout Unlimited’s Sagebrush Chapter in Nevada. “The range is home to the threatened Lahontan cutthroat trout, as well as thriving populations of four other trout species that furnish important recreational opportunities. The Rubies are an angler’s paradise in the most arid state in the nation, and their riparian areas contribute habitat for many non-aquatic species as well. We thank Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen and Representative Amodei for their continued support of these conservation efforts.”

“Sportsmen consider the Ruby Mountains as the ‘Crown Jewels’ of our mountain ranges, being one of the rare places that host Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, mountain goats, elk, mule deer, and the rare Himalayan snowcock in breathtaking scenery,” said Larry Johnson, president of the Coalition for Nevada’s Wildlife. “With the ever increasing development pressure by man, the Rubies deserve every degree of protection that it can be afforded.”

“From the iconic big game species such as the mule deer and bighorn sheep to coldwater fish species and wild chukar and Himalayan snowcock, the Rubies are the crown jewel of northeast Nevada,” said Russell Kuhlman, Executive Director of the Nevada Wildlife Federation. “Hunters and anglers, bipartisan politics, and the support of these federal agencies has resulted in a decision that lays the groundwork to conserve this region for generations. And our coalition will be there every step of the way.”

“Nevada’s Ruby Mountains are truly a public lands treasure enjoyed by hunters and anglers. We thank the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management for their action to conserve this landscape for the next twenty years and we share our appreciation with Nevada’s congressional delegation for their leadership in advocating for the permanent protection of the Rubies,” said Dallas Hatch, Board Member for the Nevada Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and Elko County resident. “This incredible landscape supports all kinds of wildlife and alpine lakes that hold fish such as the native Lahontan cutthroat trout. High on the mountain peaks, you may find mountain goats, bighorn sheep, Himalayan snowcocks, and even the occasional pika. Lower down the mountains, there are herds of mule deer and elk, as well as a growing population of Shiras moose, the newest game species to be found on the Nevada landscape.” 

The Sportsmen for the Rubies Coalition includes Trout Unlimited, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Nevada Muleys, Nevada Bighorns Unlimited, Nevada Waterfowl Association, Coalition for Nevada’s Wildlife, Nevada Sporting Dog Alliance, Nevada Bighorns Unlimited Midas Chapter, Nevada Bighorns Unlimited Fallon Chapter, Nevada Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Nevada Chukar Chasers, Ruby Mountain Fly Fishers, Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn, Elko Bighorns Unlimited, and the Nevada Wildlife Federation.

Photo Credit: J. Harsha

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