Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Deer hunting to pick up

Paula DelGiudice

Thursday, Oct. 11, 2001 | 10 a.m.

Paula DelGiudice's outdoors notebook appears weekly. Reach her at desertdenizens@aol.com.

The change in the weather is a good sign for deer hunters.

Deer hunting has been a tough go so far this season in much of the state as a result of warm, dry conditions.

The small cold front that passed through northern Nevada ought to help conditions and get deer moving.

If you have a deer tag and are waiting for better conditions, don't wait too long, but be prepared to find deer at high elevations and in hard-to-get-at spots.

Make sure to bring ice to cool down your deer as soon as possible. Those cool evenings melt away into warm days and if your deer doesn't stay cool, it is bound to spoil.

As the temperatures drop at the three other developed campgrounds, the water will be disconnected. The water taps at the visitor center, the picnic area and dump station are posted, "Non-Potable Water: Boil Five Minutes Before Drinking." The visitor center provides water dispensers and cups for drinking water.

Weather will determine the closing of the Wheeler Peak scenic drive and developed campgrounds. Lower Lehman Creek campground remains open year-round.

For more information, contact Great Basin National Park at (775) 234-7331.

On Saturday, enjoy the wetlands trail hike, an easy to moderate hike with excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, which will begin at the Las Vegas Bay ranger station at 9 a.m.

On Oct. 14 at 7 p.m., at Boulder Beach campground, a one-hour slide program will bring viewers a close look at some of the desert's peculiar and interesting creatures.

At Red Rock Canyon, there are several interesting hikes planned in October. The seventh annual harvest festival is scheduled for Saturday. There will be crafts, live creatures, wildland fire safety presentations and cultural history demonstrations.

On Sunday, enjoy the "Gila Monster Hike," for ages 8 and up. Hikers will enjoy the Calico Hills and discuss the misunderstood Gila monster. The leader will help hikers understand how the Gila monster got a bad rap and will explore myths and legends associated with the lizard along the one-mile route.

Also on Sunday, for those who enjoy a more strenuous hike, try the six-mile hike along Mt. Charleston's North Loop-Mummy Springs trail. Hikers on this one will meet at the Mt. Charleston Hotel.

Those who plan to participate in the hikes must call 363-1922 for reservations.

Canvasback season is open from Oct. 27-Dec. 2 in these counties as a result of declining numbers of canvasbacks in the Pacific Flyway.

The duck season will be open Nov. 3-Jan. 20 in the Moapa Valley portion of the Overton WMA. In this area, canvasback season is open from Nov. 3-Dec. 2.

Though much of the state was open to the youth waterfowl hunt late in September, in Clark and Lincoln counties the hunt will be held Jan. 26-27 after the regular waterfowl season closes.

The youth waterfowl hunt is open to hunters 15 and under.

Youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult. Adults are not allowed to hunt during this season.

The youth hunt combined daily limit on all ducks is seven, including not more than two female mallards, one pintail, one canvasback, four scaup, two redheads, Canada and white-fronted geese, three snow and Ross geese and 25 coots and moorhens.

All waterfowl hunters are reminded that they are required to have federal and state waterfowl hunting stamps, nontoxic shot, and shotguns plugged to limit overall capacity to three shells.

In addition, hunters age 12 or older who plan to hunt any kind of migratory birds need to obtain a Harvest Information Program number annually prior to hunting migratory birds. The validation number is free and can be obtained by calling (800) 938-5263.