To protect and enhance Nevada’s wildlife resources for sportsmen, outdoor and wildlife enthusiasts, and future generations.  NBU volunteers do this through the reintroduction of big game, habitat conservation and improvement, public education and participation, biological and scientific research, and the influence of public policy.

-- NBU Policy --

Core Values
Our guiding principles are:

• Integrity—trust, honesty, ethics, responsibility, respect
• Dedication—commitment, diligence, hard work, service, hands-on volunteerism
• Results—quality, production, accomplishment, resolve, resourcefulness, focus
• Science—knowledge
• Culture—community, family, humor, adventure
• collaboration—cohesiveness, visibility, influence

NBU's mission is to promote and enhance increasing populations of wildlife in Nevada, to fund programs for wildlife movement and habitat improvements, and to protect the heritage of sportsmen and hunters. The organization is led by a rotating group of 18 volunteer Board Members dedicated to making a difference in Nevada’s natural habitat. The membership is made of primarily hunters, who are also conservationists, outdoorsmen and wildlife lovers of all ages. NBU-Reno is striving to protect wildlife, habitat, and hunting rights with game reintroduction programs, conservation activities, education, scientific research, legislative action, cooperation with other organization and honest hands-on labor. Since its beginning, NBU-Reno has grown into one of the most successful and respected, action-oriented non-profit organizations in the nation with a growing membership base of well over 3500. NBU-Reno is an organization concerned with the conservation and management of not only Bighorn Sheep, but all of Nevada’s wildlife.

Before the turn of the 20th century Bighorn sheep were Nevada’s most numerous big game animals occupying every single mountain range in the state. By 1900 however, Desert Bighorn populations had been drastically reduced while Rocky Mountain and California Bighorn had become essentially extinct in the state.

NBU's mission is to promote and enhance increasing populations of wildlife in Nevada, and to fund programs for wildlife management and habitat improvements was born out of the desire to put back what was lost.

At this time bighorn sheep have been reintroduced into over 60 of the 300+ mountain ranges in Nevada. Nevada's wild sheep population is now second only to Alaska. For the first time in modern history, the state is opening up new management areas for hunting each year. Through our efforts to create a balanced and healthy wildlife population in Nevada and beyond, generations of hunters and non-hunters alike will benefit for years to come.

NBU supports Nevada’s habitat with funding for anumber of special restoration projects and with many volunteers donating hands-on labor for these projects. NBU’s major habitat improvement programs take areas of poor quality and restore them to useable land, which benefits all types of wildlife, including man.

Reseeding
Range fires have devastated millions of acres of big game winter range and habitat over the years. Timely donations from NBU have aided in purchasing seed and private helicopter services to assist in the reseeding efforts of critical range areas literally saving the lives of hundreds, potentially thousands of animals.

Water Development
Water is often the limiting factor in the expansion of wildlife populations. NBU is involved with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nevada Division of Wildlife, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and the Fraternity for the Desert Bighorn in all facets of planning, design, funding, and construction of water development projects. This allows for expansion of habitable ranges for all wildlife. Dozens of these water development systems known as “Guzzlers” have been completed in Nevada over the past couple of decades with great success.

Legislative Efforts
Over the past decade NBU has become more involved in legislative activities in order to further support the future of Nevada’s wildlife. Through NBU’s efforts, a number of important victories have been won in the legislature. Thanks to our efforts, Nevada proudly boasts the most strongly worded hunting, fishing and trapping rights laws in the nation.

NBU fully believes without educating our teachers and youth with the facts and merits of hunting, sportsmanship, wildlife management and conservation, the results of our other endeavors will be of little or no benefits to the future of wildlife in our state.

Jim Lathrop Memorial Scholarship Fund
The scholarship fund was created to pay for summer internships at the Nevada Division of Wildlife for selected Nevada high school graduates majoring in wildlife management. The objective is to assist and train the professional game manager of tomorrow.

Operation Game Thief
NBU helps to fund this program which uses mass media to promote hunter ethics, as well as posting rewards on poaching cases.

Access Signage
NBU promotes respect of private property by funding sportsmen access signage on private land corridors.

The Nature Library In Verdi, Nevada
NBU contributed to a nature exhibit at the new Nature Library in Verdi, Nevada. The library includes an exhibit hall and meeting rooms for the publics use and education.

NBU Directors are key members of various councils, boards, and committees that set policy for management of our public lands. NBU commonly reviews and comments on Environmental Impact Statements and Land Management Plans in respect to wildlife issues. Our members are heavily involved in the following:

• BLM Natural Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board
• Governor’s Sage Grouse Committee
• Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition
• Black Rock Desert
• Immigrant Trail
• High Rock Canyon Wilderness Planning Committee
• Central Nevada Elk Planning Subcommittee NDOW Private Lands Subcommittee
  

We are strong supporters of grazing and multiple use of our public lands, but also strongly feel that wildlife resources have an equal right and priority.