Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Wildlife harmed by political games

Paula DelGiudice

Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2000 | 11:51 a.m.

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

Strange things can happen in the waning days of a legislative session, as you probably have noticed if you keep an eye on what's happening in Washington, D.C. Bills that haven't been acted upon often become something of a contortionist's dream -- they become hammered into submission and attached onto some other bill that has a chance of passing.

That is the case this year with CARA (the Conservation and Reinvestment Act). Though it passed through the House of Representatives by a 2-1 margin and passed through the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee by a vote of 13-7, it has stalled in the Senate. It's being held ransom by some western senators (not ours).

Deals have been cut to attach a lesser version of CARA (being termed the Land Trust bill) to the Interior Appropriations bill. Though some groups are hailing it as a significant conservation victory, it really is a game of mirrors.

The watered down version increases the allocation for wildlife in the first year, but then the funding would be subject to the annual appropriations process. Wildlife is left out in the cold.

Compromise for the sake of compromise isn't always the best strategy.

Our Congressional representative must know that this substitute CARA bill isn't the one that their colleagues supported the first time around. They need to know that the public wants the original bill to be brought to a vote in the Senate.

Usually deer don't move much until some bad weather hits, so hunters will need to get back into the remote country or up high to find the animals. Without early frosts or snowstorms to move them, migrations usually aren't in full swing, either. Hunters will likely need to work to get to where the deer are.

Hunters should also be prepared for hunting in warm weather with an adequate supply of water and ice. If you do harvest a bird or an animal, getting it cleaned and cooled is of the utmost importance. Packing the inside of a deer's body cavity with ice will help keep it cool until you can get it to the meat locker for hanging. Bringing it back to Las Vegas and hanging it in your garage is not an option, considering how warm the temperatures are getting during the day here.

If you're hunting game birds with your dog in the early season, watch out for snakes and carry lots of water for your dog.

Division biologists are able to obtain sex and age data from the wings. They are also able to determine if an adult female successfully hatched a brood of chicks.

Fires this and last year destroyed key sage grouse habitat in several areas, and NDOW stresses it is especially important that biologists are able to collect as much data as possible from a large number of wings.

Hunters are asked to remove the least damaged wing from each bird and deposit it in a collection barrel. The barrels are being placed in strategic areas near sage grouse habitat. If a barrel cannot be located, wings may be left at any NDOW office.

Those who deposit wings at an NDOW office will be asked to provide the date and location of the harvest, and attach it to the wing. Wings may also be given to Division personnel in the field or at hunter-check stations.

Hunters are asked to keep the wing dry and away from flies by placing it in a paper bag. Do not use a plastic bag.

Participants representing sportsmen, NDOW personnel, concerned citizens and an advisory group formed for the WMA met to offer input on the Conceptual Management Plan (CMP) for the Steptoe Valley WMA. The CMP is used to guide the management of wildlife, habitat and special WMA programs. The CMP will also provide background information on the resources and public use associated with the area.

Some of the numerous concerns raised included multiple use, restroom facilities and trash disposal at Comins Lake, along with access and hunting on the WMA.