Columnist Barb Henderson: Wildlife conventions make plans to flock to Reno

Barb Henderson

Friday, Dec. 5, 2003 | 10:30 a.m.

Barb Henderson is an outdoors enthusiast, freelance writer and producer/host of outdoors radio television programming. Her column appears Friday in the Sun.

Hunters and anglers will soon be Reno-bound.

Nevada will again, become a prime destination for sportsmen and sportswomen in January and February.

Plans are underway by four wildlife conservation organizations -- the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, the Safari Club International, the Mule Deer Foundation and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation -- for their annual conventions in Reno.

Here are the four organization's convention dates, locations, missions and contact information.

The 27th annual FNAWS convention will be at the Reno Hilton Hotel and Casino.

The Foundation for North American Wild Sheep's mission is to promote and enhance increasing populations of indigenous wild sheep on the North American continent, to safeguard against the decline or extinction of such species, to fund programs for professional management of these populations and keeping administrative costs to a minimum.

For more information, telephone FNAWS in Cody, Wyo., at (307) 527-6261 or click onto the Internet at: www.fnaws.org.

The 32nd Annual Safari Club International Hunters Convention will be at the Reno Hilton Hotel and Casino.

SCI is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide.

For more information on SCI hunter's convention telephone SCI in Tucson, Ariz., at (888) 746-9724, for information on SCI call (888) 724-4868 in or click on to the Internet at www.sciforhunters.org.

The MDF's fourth annual convention will be at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.

The Mule Deer Foundation's mission is to ensure the conservation of mule and blacktail deer and their habitats.

For more information, call the MDF in Reno, Nevada at (888) 375-DEER or click onto the Internet at: www.muledeer.org.

RMEF's 20th annual elk camp and exposition will be at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center and the Reno Hilton Hotel.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation's mission is to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat.

For more information, telephone RMEF in Missoula, Mont., at (406) 523-4500 or click onto the Internet at www.rmef.org

Mark your calendars!

Be sure to check with each organization for specific details on attending their convention. Activities will include: exhibits banquets, seminars, guest appearances, live auctions, silent auctions and much more.

LAKE MEAD PARADE OF LIGHTS: The Lake Mead Boat Owners Association's 27th Annual Parade of Lights is scheduled for Saturday in the Boulder Basin area of Lake Mead.

The parade will begin at 6 p.m. from Lake Mead Marina along Boulder Beach between Lake Mead Marina and Hemenway Harbor.

LAKE MOHAVE PARADE OF LIGHTS: The Lake Mohave Resort's 20th Annual Holiday Parade of Lights is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 13.

The parade will begin at dusk from Lake Mohave Resort's harbor at Katherine Landing, travel south to Davis Dam and then return to the resort docks.

For contact information for parades on Lake Mead or Lake Mohave within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, call the Alan Bible Visitor Center at 293-8990.