Columnist Barb Henderson: Commission sets seasons for big game hunting

Barb Henderson

Friday, March 7, 2003 | 9:21 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.

Nevada hunters who draw a big game hunting tag during the random computerized tag draw system in June will be given the opportunity to hunt.

To become eligible for the drawings, licensed hunters must submit an accurate application by April 21. Hunters born after Jan. 1, 1960 are required to successfully pass a hunter education course before purchasing a Nevada hunting license.

Hunting seasons for big game such as mule deer, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, elk, mountain goat and mountain lions, have been set by wildlife commissioners.

The commission set the big game seasons for two years after hearing recommendations from county wildlife advisory boards during the February meeting in Las Vegas.

About half of the buck deer rifle seasons will open Oct. 4, with various ending dates. The separate muzzleloader hunt will run Sept. 13-28 in nearly all areas of the state, with a few late season hunts.

A late mule deer archery hunt was created in unit 101-108 to provide additional hunting opportunities for primitive weapon hunters. A few buck archery seasons will open Aug. 9, but most will open Aug. 16.

Doe mule deer hunts were reduced from 34 in 2002 to nine in 2003. The Division recommended a conservative approach to doe hunts in response to concerns about the status of mule deer populations statewide.

The rifle buck antelope hunt will run Aug. 23-Sept. 1, except in two unit groups. Similarly, archery season is set for Aug. 2-17, except for one unit group. Doe antelope hunts will be in 10 unit groups in northern Nevada, with the first opening date Aug. 9.

Two new antelope hunt units were established for unit groupings 171-173 and 181-184, where antelope transplant efforts have been successful.

Sixteen rifle bull elk hunts were established for the season, three more than last year. Two of the unit groups will open Nov. 1, but most will open Nov. 15 and run through Nov. 30.

Two bull elk muzzleloader hunts will open Sept. 20, with most others running Nov. 1-Nov. 14. The bull elk archery hunt will open Aug. 30 with various closing dates.

Most cow elk seasons will run Oct. 4-Oct. 26, with a few early and late seasons. With a few exceptions, cow elk muzzleloader hunts will run Nov. 1-Nov. 14, and the archery cow elk hunt will extend from Aug. 9-Aug. 29.

Two California bighorn sheep seasons will run Sept. 6-Oct. 3, and the remainder will extend from Aug. 9-Aug. 31. Desert bighorn sheep hunts will run Nov. 8-Dec. 7 in most unit groups. Recovery of a couple of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep herds has allowed units 074 and 102 to be hunted again. A total of three Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep hunts will run Aug. 23-Oct. 26.

Three mountain goat hunts will open Aug. 23 and run through Oct. 26.

Mountain lion seasons are set for March 1, 2003-Feb. 29, 2004.

For a complete listing of all Nevada Big Game Season dates, click on the Internet at: www.ndow.org

Briefs

Until next week, enjoy the great outdoors.