Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Head north for good hunting

Paula DelGiudice

Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2000 | 11:17 a.m.

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

Most of the hunting seasons in the state opened last weekend. Reports are coming in of some very nice deer being taken in the Schell Creek Range near Ely. Some hunters are waiting for cooler weather to prevail. If you're a chukar hunter, some of the best hunting of the last few decades may await you, though it's not likely you'll find it in Southern Nevada.

In chukar surveys this year, it was determined that chukar counts are down 35 percent from last year's record count -- but 45 percent above the long-term average.

It is anticipated that conditions should be excellent early in the season with birds distributed near water, particularly in Northern Nevada. Those traveling north may also encounter larger Hungarian partridge and California quail populations than they're used to. As a result, hunters should find some of the best hunting in two decades.

In Southern Nevada, though, conditions present a different picture.

Poor production and population numbers are below average. Conditions were not helped at all by the very dry summer. When the moisture did fall across the southern part of the state, it may have only served to disperse the birds. Chukar hunting across the southern portion of Nevada is predicted to be very poor.

Hunters may be concerned about the effects of range fires and their impacts on hunting. Though range fires did impact population numbers and habitat, it's unlikely that hunters will notice the impacts.

Many hunters wait to hunt chukars until cooler temperatures arrive to protect their dogs from snakes that might still be active. If you're lucky enough to find yourself in Northern Nevada just after a light snow storm, you might enjoy the kind of chukar hunting conditions that many only dream about.

The refuge was closed Sept. 27 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For those who applied for swan tags and received them, NDOW has decided to refund tag fees. Much of the swan hunting in Nevada takes place at the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge.

Though the refuge is closed, the Wildlife Management Area, which is part of the state WMA system, is still open to hunting. The area includes waters such as Timber, Likes and Indian lakes.

NDOW personnel and volunteer instructors will teach fishing fundamentals such as fish identification, choosing baits, rigging a fishing rod, casting techniques and how to find fish. The class is for all ages and family groups are welcome.

Enrollment is limited. To register for the class, call Ivy Santee at 486-5127, ext. 3503.

The words "Open to nonresidents" found under the listing of various pheasant hunting seasons in the brochure was actually meant to follow the listing of chukar and Hungarian partridge -- which are open to nonresidents -- in the previous listing, according to Nevada Division of Wildlife.

Copies of NDOW's pocket-sized 2000 Upland Game Birds, Rabbits, Mourning Dove and Crow Season and Limit Regulations brochures are available at all retail stores that sell hunting and fishing licenses, as well as at all NDOW offices throughout the state.

Except on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas and New Year's Day, the visitor center will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Regular tours are still under way at Lehman Caves at the following times: 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. for 60-minute tours or 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for 90-minute tours.