Columnist Paul DelGiudice: Deer, duck hunters find conditions good

Paul DelGiudice

Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1999 | 10:14 a.m.

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

Whether you were hunting ducks at Kirch Wildlife Management Area (WMA) or hunting deer in Area 6, it's likely you enjoyed very good hunting conditions. Game wardens and NDOW staff who have talked with hunters have discovered that most have successful stories to tell.

Last weekend, the duck hunting season opened in every county but Clark and Lincoln. Hunters reported the opening day at Kirch WMA (Sunnyside) was good, then slowed on the second day (Sunday). Hunters who spent time at Franklin Lake in Ruby Valley north of Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge (the Marshes) reported that hunting was very good.

Franklin is unusual in that it doesn't fill with water every year. In the years that it dries, the vegetation has a chance to regrow. When the good moisture seasons come and fill it, the vegetation provides excellent nutrition for migrating waterfowl. It can be one of the most productive duck spots in Nevada, though cold weather can cause it to freeze over earlier than other water holes.

Deer hunters have found good hunting throughout the eastern and northern parts of the state. Cooler temperatures in northeastern Nevada have likely resulted in deer being more active to feed. According to one Las Vegas hunter whose party hunted the opener in Area 6, all six in his party filled their tags on opening weekend.

The sage grouse season continues through Sunday in the open counties of Elko, Eureka, Lander, Humboldt, Nye, Washoe and White Pine. Hunters should be aware that portions of those counties are closed to sage grouse hunting. Those hunters who have been hunting in central Nevada report that hunting is good with birds tied closely to available water.

* OVERTON PHEASANT: Approximately 40-45 permits to hunt the pheasant opener at Overton WMA remain following the drawing held at NDOW's Region III headquarters on Monday. Permits will now be sold over the counter on a first-come, first-served basis.

A hunter or his/her representative must appear in person with the necessary documents (hunting license, etc.) to purchase a permit.

For info, call NDOW at 486-5127. The pheasant season in Clark Count runs Oct. 9-15.

* COUNTY DUCKS: Saturday marks the opening of duck season in Clark and Lincoln counties except on the Moapa Valley portion of the Overton WMA, which opens Nov. 6.

A drawing for reservations was held for Key Pittman WMA and no reservations remain for the opening day. Hunters who wish to hunt on a standby basis can arrive at the WMA and wait for an opening.

Hunters should remember that Key Pittman opens for the first weekend of the season and then is open to hunting on odd-numbered days for the rest of the season.