Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Hunters urged to act early

Paula DelGiudice

Thursday, Feb. 28, 2002 | 11:18 a.m.

Paula Del Giudice's outdoors column appears Thursday. She can be reached at desertdenizens@aol.com.

This is the best time of year to take care of outdoors-related business.

For those who plan on hunting next fall, that business might include purchasing your hunting license. Again this year, NDOW is encouraging hunters to purchase licenses early in order to avoid the rush that is expected to occur near the April 22 big game tag application deadline.

Hunting and fishing licenses for 2002-03 are available at most sporting goods stores and bait and tackle shops in the Las Vegas area. They can also be purchased weekdays, except state holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at NDOW offices at 4747 Vegas Drive in Las Vegas and 744 South Racetrack Road in Henderson.

Hunters are reminded that the only license fee increase is in the cost of a trout stamp, which has been raised from $5 to $10.

If you need to take a hunter safety education course before applying for a tag this year, now would be a good time to get it out of the way. The closer it gets to the deadline, the harder it is to find a spot in a class. For more information about classes, call 486-5127.

While you're taking care of other business, take care of wildlife by attending one of the fundraising banquets held in Southern Nevada. The Las Vegas Strutters have their annual banquet slated for Saturday, March 9 at 5:30 p.m. at the Fiesta (formerly the Reserve) in Henderson. The Strutters is a group dedicated to promoting wild turkeys and their conservation. All proceeds will go toward turkey enhancement projects in Nevada and nationally. Tickets are $60 for individuals and $90 for couples. Ticket information may be obtained by calling Guy Brown at 567-1113.

If you'd rather support mule deer, then put the Mule Deer Foundation's second annual convention, which will take place in Reno, on your agenda. Expect to see outstanding artwork on display at the convention. Noted wildlife artist Cynthie Fisher has been named the Mule Deer Foundation's 2002 artist of the year. A special painting created for the Mule Deer Foundation by Fisher will be auctioned in Reno.

"We're elated someone of Cynthie's stature would create a one-of-a-kind painting just for the Mule Deer Foundation," said the organization's president, Terry Wayne Cloutier. "Money raised from the auction of her artwork will go a long way toward realizing our mission -- stopping the decline of mule and blacktail deer across the United States."

If fishing is more your sport, you can learn how to tie some flies for your upcoming fly fishing forays at NDOW's free fly tying workshop. The workshop will be held Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the Sport Chalet, 701 Marks Street in Henderson. The class is designed for beginners and will cover the basics of tying fishing flies. All equipment and materials will be provided. To register for the class, call NDOW at 486-5127, ext. 3504.

Stevenson said that most of the work was conducted by volunteers from the Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn. Members of Wildlife and Habitat Improvement of Nevada assisted with last weekend's project.