Columnist Paula Del Giudice: Wildlife board cuts deer tag numbers

Thursday, May 16, 2002 | 9:51 a.m.

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

As expected, the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners cut the number of deer tags that will be issued to hunters this year due primarily to range fires and a severe winter that severely impacted the state's mule deer herds.

During a meeting last weekend, commissioners voted to issue 9,984 deer tags for the 1131 (any legal weapon) buck hunt for residents. This is a decrease of 3,810 from last year with much of it coming from fire-ravaged areas in northeast portion of the state.

One of the hardest hit areas was Management Area 6 in Elko County where this year's quota for the 1131 deer hunt was set at 402 tags, down from 1,573 in 2001. NDOW recommended a quota of 618 for the area.

"We tried to accommodate the county wildlife advisory boards and what their wishes were," said John Moran, commission chairman. The Elko advisory board recommended a 402-tag quota for Area 6.

Biologists estimate the state's total deer population has dropped from 130,000 animals last year to a current population of 108,000.

If the reduction in deer tags leaves you wondering what your other options might be for hunting big game in the West, you're running out of time to exercise what remains. Arizona has one of the latest application periods for fall hunts. The deadline in Arizona for fall hunts is June 11. You can apply on-line at www.azgfd.com.

If you're interested in learning if Wyoming has any leftover nonresident elk, deer or antelope tags, the application period is July 10-20. For applications and other information, go online to gf.state.wy.us.

The online site for locating courses is www.safeboatingcouncil.org. In addition, Nevada offers a home-study course called, "Navigating Nevada" that is available free at all NDOW offices.

To help prevent accidents on Nevada's waters, the Nevada Legislature enacted a new boating law during their 2001 session. Effective Jan. 1, 2003, all boat operators born on Jan. 1, 1983 or later will be required to have completed an approved boating education course before operating a vessel that has a motor larger than 15 horsepower on Nevada's interstate waters.

Copies of "Navigating Nevada" may be obtained weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the NDOW offices at 4747 Vegas Drive in Las Vegas and 744 South Racetrack Road in Henderson.

Ivy Santee, NDOW angler education coordinator, said the agency relies on volunteers to assist with a variety of fishing clinics, from basic clinics that introduce children to fishing to the more advanced fly fishing classes. They also help by cleaning and preparing rods and reels for clinics.

Volunteers are also needed to assist classroom teachers by being "tank buddies" for Trout in the Classroom. Tank buddies assist with setting up the tanks and provide assistance if equipment problems should arise.

Volunteers are provided with training and are invited to attend annual outdoor education academies that are held in Lake Tahoe, Lamoille Canyon in Elko County and Mesquite.

For more information, contact Santee weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 486-5127, ext. 3503.6One of the hardest hit areas was Management Area 6 in Elko County where this year's quota for the 1131 deer hunt was set at 402 tags, down from 1,573 in 2001. NDOW recommended a quota of 618 for the area.