By David McGrath Schwartz, Las Vegas Sun

It looks like Nevada’s going on a bear hunt Saturday.

Gov. Brian Sandoval has ignored please for him to block Nevada’s first-ever bear hunt, scheduled for Saturday, ending opponents’ hopes for a last-minute intervention.

The issue has captured the attention of Northern Nevadans, with opponents to the bear hunt submitting 15,000 signatures to the governor’s office calling for it to be cancelled.

“He supports the (Nevada Wildlife) Commission on this regulation and expects that the information this hunt will yield can ultimately aid in the conservation of wildlife populations, including bears,” according to a statement from Sandoval’s spokeswoman Mary-Sarah Kinner. She said the commission adopted the regulation based on “scientific standards.”

Earlier Monday, a handful of protesters gathered outside the Capitol Building. “We want a stay of execution,” said Kat Simmons, of Gardnerville. “We want him to intervene and stop the hunt.”

The state Wildlife Commission in February gave final approval for the hunt after its biologists said the state’s bear population could support a hunt.

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