Columnist Paula DelGiudice: DU donors help conservation efforts

Paula DelGiudice

Monday, Nov. 29, 1999 | 11:01 a.m.

Paula DelGiudice's outdoors notebook appears weekly. Reach her at PDelGiudice@compuserve.com.

For anyone who cares about ducks and their habitat, the place to be was the Rio Suite hotel-casino Friday, Nov. 19. That's where the valley's largest group of waterfowl supporters were gathered to raise money to support "the ducks."

The Las Vegas Chapter of Ducks Unlimited hosts one of the most successful banquets on the West Coast. Each year they raise thousands of dollars to support waterfowl and waterfowl conservation. This year was no exception.

Donors generously opened their hearts and wallets as emcee John Gaynor quickly pointed out when the auction bidding reached higher and higher grounds -- especially on the guns up for bid.

Each year, DU has a special gun auction that draws most of the bidding attention. The top bidder chooses from the dozen or so shotguns and rifles available. The first choice this year went for $2,400 at auction to the bidder, who then chose a 12-gauge Browning Citori over & under.

Each successful bidder thereafter had his choice of remaining guns. For the bunch of waterfowl enthusiasts in the room, it's not surprising that the shotguns were the first out the door.

In addition to the guns, there were many other items of interest, including some incredible hunts in top locales -- Argentina, for instance. There was also a wide variety of other equipment up for auction and raffle, including hunting equipment, clothing and even a German short-hair puppy.

Ubiquitous waterfowl artwork was also on hand. Much of it went for far less than its value. But then how many walls adorned with waterfowl art can one have?

It was not surprising that the tables started to empty early, some right after the delicious surf-and-turf dinner of steak and shrimp. Perhaps the early birds were anxious to get home to bed in order to be up early to take advantage of the change in weather that was moving birds around. The topic of conversation at dinner unsurprisingly was the weather -- something that duck hunters have long been awaiting.

Warmer-than-normal temperatures have kept ducks holed up in northern waters with only small and spotty flights hitting Southern Nevada.

That all was changing as the dinner progressed, however, as the cold fronts moved through Canada and the northern tier of states. Until the weekend, Ducks Unlimited reported that flights had been slow.

"This year's persistent warm weather well into fall means that many birds are still much farther north than they would usually be this time of year," said DU Chief Biologist Dr. Bruce Blatt.

"On top of that, much of the country is experiencing drought conditions. And that means these record numbers of migrating waterfowl will be flying south into some of the poorest habitat we've ever seen."

Local reports show that the weather played a role in improving hunting conditions over the weekend.

According to NDOW reports, Keith Brose, acting manager at Overton Wildlife Management Area, said hunters were averaging less than one duck per outing last week. Five Canada and two snow geese were harvested on the opening day of goose season last Saturday.

Wayne E. Kirch WMA in Nye County had fair hunting with hunters taking two to three ducks per day. Hunters at Key Pittman Wildlife Management Area in Lincoln County have been averaging around two ducks with four Canada geese harvested on Saturday's opener.

Craig Mortimore, NDOW supervising game biologist in northwestern Nevada, said waterfowl hunting made a big improvement in that part of the state over the weekend. A storm that brought cold weather, wind and the first ice of the season forced the birds to begin flying.

* THOSE DAM TURKEYS: A group of 19 wild turkeys spent Thanksgiving roaming the grounds of Beaver Dam State Park in Lincoln County, thanks to their release last week by the Nevada Division of Wildlife and National Wild Turkey Federation.

The birds were trapped earlier in the week by the California Department of Fish and Game in northern California and delivered to Nevada for the release. They joined other turkeys that were brought from Texas and introduced into the park this past spring.

San Stiver, NDOW staff biologist, said all of the turkeys that have been released into the park are Rio Grande strain. The turkeys in last week's releases consisted of yearling males (jakes) and yearling females (jennies). Stiver said he hopes that the two releases eventually result in turkey numbers increasing to 400 to 500 birds.

* GUZZLER MAPS: Newly published wildlife water development maps that pinpoint the locations of 1,000 big and small game developments in Nevada are now being sold for $30 at NDOW offices in Las Vegas and Henderson. The maps are spiral-bound and are beautifully compiled. They would make a great gift.

The water catchments, often referred to as guzzlers, have been installed around the state by the NDOW and volunteer groups to provide water for a variety of big and small game. The maps are useful in finding wildlife for hunting and viewing.

NDOW offices are located at 4747 W. Vegas Drive in Las Vegas and 744 South Racetrack Road in Henderson. Office hours are weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on state holidays.