Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Wildlife board will meet this weekend

Paula DelGiudice

Thursday, Oct. 18, 2001 | 11:05 a.m.

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

The Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners will hold its monthly meeting in Las Vegas this Friday and Saturday.

The commission will review management plans for pronghorn antelope and bighorn sheep at the meeting, which will be held at the Environmental Protection Agency, 944 East Harmon Avenue.

The meeting gets under way at 10:30 a.m. Friday and will include a request by the Nevada Division of Wildlife to approve funding from the Heritage Program for monitoring of desert bighorn sheep in the Delamar mountain range in Lincoln County.

The commission also will hear a request to appoint three members to serve on elk arbitration panels for Elko and White Pine counties.

Among other agenda items are reports on Elko County elk planning, the state's sage grouse plan, Overton Wildlife Management Area, the 2001 fire season, a proposal for a wind power generating system near Mount Potosi in Clark County, and wildlife revenue trends.

On Saturday, the commission will review the bighorn sheep management plan, a possible position on proposed wilderness designations in Clark County, and discussion on the pronghorn antelope species management plan. Saturday's meeting begins at 8:30 a.m.

The meeting is open to the public and comment periods are scheduled for both days.

The exhibit features a desert bighorn ram atop a rock, and a ewe and lamb drinking from a big game water development. Funding for the project was provided by the Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn, Bighorns Unlimited-Reno and the Foundation for North AmericanWild Sheep.

After the first day, Byron Velvick of Boulder City was among the leaders with a one-day catch of 13 pounds, 8 ounces, but slowed down in the second and third days to finish in 51st place. Finishing in the money standings was Dennis Kolender with 24 pounds, 6 ounces, placing him in the 18th spot. Jack Gadlage of Logandale had another excellent tourney with 27 pounds, 3 ounces, capturing 10th place and $2,900.

The winner of the tournament, Michael Gibney of Troutdale, Ore., caught a total of 44 pounds, 1 ounce, earning him a fully rigged Skeeter bass boat valued at $35,000.

There are several hikes slated for Red Rock Canyon. On Saturday, enjoy the Ponderosa Pine Trail while learning about Red Rock's wildlife. This easy, two-mile trail is available to those ages 12 and up.

Also on Saturday, enjoy "Storytelling in the Canyon." This program is aimed at ages 3-12. Each story will be followed by a craft, nature walk or other activity.

On Sunday, "Desert Mysteries" a moderately easy, two-mile hike into First Creek Canyon to observe the desert. For more information or to make reservations, call 363-1992.