Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Registration time arrives for boaters

Paula DelGiudice

Thursday, Dec. 16, 1999 | 10:51 a.m.

Paula DelGiudice's outdoors column appears Wednesday. Reach her at PDelGiudice@compuserve.com

With the end of the year drawing near, it's time for boat owners to take care of paperwork. Along with their Christmas cards, more than 60,000 boat owners in Nevada will find their boat registrational renewal information in the mail this week.

Patti Wagner, license office manager with the Nevada Division of Wildlife, said boaters can save time and avoid lines by renewing their boat registration by mail. All boaters with registered boats who renewed their registrations in 1999 will receive registration renewal information in the mail. Renewal information will not be mailed to boaters who did not renew their registrations in 1999.

Though registrations expire at the end of December, there is a grace period for registering boats that extends through January 31. This is a good time to renew though, especially if you plan to do it in person.

The NDOW boat registration offices on Vegas Drive in Las Vegas and the Henderson office on Racetrack Road are the only spots in the Valley where there are no lines. That will all change, though, when the first warm sunny day presents itself.

For more information about registering your boat, call NDOW's Las Vegas office at 486-5121 or the Henderson office at 486-6742.

* WHAT'S UP WITH DUCKS: Duck hunting has picked up in Southern Nevada as the ducks are finally making their way south after a very warm fall that kept them holed up in Canada and the northern tier states.

Keith Brose, acting manager of Overton Wildlife Management Area, said hunters have been averaging nearly two ducks per outing on recent hunt days. The most common ducks found in bag checks are shoveler, green-winged teal and mallard.

Key Pittman Wildlife Management Area in Lincoln County has seen improved hunting with hunters averaging nearly three ducks during the past week. Bart Tanner, manager of the area, said hunting is better on days that are windy and cold.

The lakes at Wayne E. Kirch WMA (Sunnyside) in Nye County are frozen and hunting has been fair for ducks along the stream and in areas where there are pockets of open water.

* NEW ANTELOPE: Antelope numbers increased by 91 this holiday season thanks to two releases of animals last Friday.

Mike Cox, staff biologist for the Nevada Division of Wildlife, said that 49 antelope were released in Ione Valley in Nye County northwest of Tonopah and 42 in Churchill Canyon north of Mason Valley in Lyon County. The animals were captured by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources at Parker Mountain near Torrey, UT.

Big-game water developments were installed in the lower end of Ione Valley prior to the release. These will serve as a reliable water source for the antelope. This release is an augmentation of a release that occurred more than a decade ago. The Churchill Canyon release is an introduction of antelope into that area.

Plans are under way to release approximately 50 antelope next month at the North Eccles Ranch near Contact in Elko County. Antelope for that release will be provided by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

* AVOID THE CROWDS: If the long lines and crowds have got you down and you feel like you've lost your Christmas spirit, Red Rock Canyon is just the spot for you this weekend.

Enjoy a nice two-mile walk into Pine Creek Canyon on Saturday and watch for wildlife along the way. On Sunday, those 15 and older are invited to participate in a very strenuous seven-mile hike over rough terrain that will put you at the top of Red Rock Canyon's more prominent peaks. Learn about the area's geology as you take in a terrific view of all those "shoppers rushing home with their treasures."

Next Wednesday, volunteer Melissa Campbell will lead adults on a strenuous six-mile hike into Lost Creek Canyon.

As with all programs at Red Rock, participation is limited so reservations are necessary. To reserve your spot or to ask any questions, call the visitor center between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Those participating in hikes meet at the Visitor Center unless otherwise specified.

* CHUKAR HUNTERS REJOICE: Chukar hunters are enjoying the tail end of what's been termed the most successful chukar season in nearly 20 years. This excellent season is the result of several conditions: prime habitat and nesting conditions caused by ideal weather delivered at just the right times.

According to San Stiver, NDOW staff biologist, there was some expectation going into the spring breeding season of a good hatch in the northern part of the state because there was low winter mortality which resulted in fair numbers of breeding birds. There was also early green-up of grasses that are necessary to get the birds into prime breeding condition.

When the hatch occurred, the rains stopped and a large insect crop appeared that benefited the young birds by providing necessary protein for their growing bodies. The warm, dry weather resulted in far less mortality to young birds than takes place most years when the weather is wetter and colder.

However, if you want to enjoy these good conditions, you'll have to don your warm gear and head for snowier northern climes, because the same conditions haven't occurred in Southern Nevada. A lack of rain produced poor habitat conditions and has resulted in little production of young during the spring breeding period.