Wednesday, April 1, 1998 | 6:35 a.m.
PAULA DEL GIUDICEhas been an outdoors freelance writer, author and photographer for 13 years. Her column appears Wednesdays.
DEER HUNTERS who have been unable to draw a tag the past few years since the advent of the bonus point system will have a better shot this year. The Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners at their meeting over the weekend in Reno adopted regulations that would square the number of bonus points a deer hunter has accumulated for the upcoming season only.
Say I've been applying for a deer tag in a popular area for the past four years and haven't drawn a tag. Normally, I would go into the upcoming drawing process with four bonus points (one for each of the years I didn't draw a tag).
This year the number of my bonus points will be squared, so 4x4 would give me 16.
Next, the computer assigns a random number to each application plus an additional random number for each bonus point the applicant has earned.
So this year, the computer would randomly assign me 17 draw numbers or 17 opportunities to draw the area of my choice.
Because this is a one-time deal, if I'm unsuccessful in the drawing this year, next year I will have my original four bonus points plus one for not drawing this year.
It is hoped that this "squaring up" of bonus points will give patient deer hunters the chance they've been waiting for.
In other action, the commission also adopted crow hunting seasons in Nevada. The fall crow season would run from the first or second Saturday in October through the second Sunday in December. The spring season would begin on the first Saturday in March and run through the fourth Sunday in April. The limit is 10, so hunters must collect the birds they shoot.
Crow hunting will be allowed any place where shooting is permitted. Hunters should be careful should they decide to take advantage of this season, because ravens look similar to crows. Shooting a raven is a violation of the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and a violation of state laws because ravens are protected species.
For those who were raised with the notion that, "if you shoot it, you eat it," I wonder how crow tastes?
In other actions, the commission adopted a regulation that allows hunters who have attended a mandatory hunting indoctrination course since 1990 to be exempt from attending future classes. In addition, sheep hunters will be required to carry a spotting scope of at least 15 power and binoculars of at least 5 power.
* APPLICATIONS DUE: Applications and regulations brochures for Nevada's 1998 deer and big game hunts are available at most sporting goods stores and the Nevada Division of Wildlife, 4747 West Vegas Drive. Hunters who applied for last year's hunts will receive applications and regulations in the mail, unless they have changed their mailing address. Applications must be received by mail or by a delivery service in the Hunt Application Office in Fallon by Monday, April 20 at 5 p.m. to be eligible for the tag drawings. Hunters will be notified of the drawing results by June 12.
* CATFISH RELEASE: The Nevada Division of Wildlife plans to begin planting channel catfish in three urban park ponds beginning Thursday, April 16. NDOW will be stocking Floyd Lamb State Park, Lorenzi Park and Sunset Park with catfish every month through the summer and early fall months. The plants will take place on the second Thursday of the month. Fish for the plants are being purchased from commercial growers in Arizona. Daily and possession limits at the urban ponds are three game fish.
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