Columnist Barb Henderson: Bird hunters greet the start of quail season

Barb Henderson

Friday, Oct. 8, 2004 | 9:18 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.

There's something remarkable about the dawn of a new day, watching the sun as it begins to peek over the mountain and lighting the desert floor.

It's a spectacular sunrise and the distinctive call from a covey of quail that many bird hunters are anticipating for this Saturday's opening day of quail hunting. An unique call from quail has a way of getting the adrenaline flowing in both the hunter and his or her sporting dog.

With quail hunting season beginning Saturday, bird hunters have already gathered up their gear and are ready to flock to the field.

You'll discover a variety of species of quail throughout the country; Nevada is home to four: Mountain, California, Scaled (a small population), and the Gambel's.

The Gambel's quail is a native upland game bird that has adapted well to the desert southwest and is also found in parts of California, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Idaho and Texas.

California quail can be found in the northwest portion of the state. A small number of mountain quail are also found in the state. Bird hunters are requested to report any harvest of the birds to NDOW.

A fair season has been projected based on moderate precipitation in spring and early summer that resulted in good production of young birds in our neck of the woods.

"It looks like a fairly good year for quail hunters here in the southern part of the state. There was a nice hatch of birds this spring, which is encouraging. So, it looks like a pretty good year to get into the field," said Geoff Schneider, information officer with NDOW.

"I speak with lots of new residents who are interested in finding out where they can hunt chukar and quail in the state. I always recommend that they purchase a guzzler map because, this is the best source that I know of for finding places to hunt."

The Nevada Department of Wildlife is offering an atlas of wildlife water development/guzzler maps that provide locations for nearly 1,500 of the developments that have been installed throughout the state.

These water developments have been constructed to provide water for wildlife.

Besides locating guzzler sites on the maps, the atlases also provide UTM coordinates so the guzzlers can be located with a Global Positioning System.

The water development atlases are $30 and are available at all NDOW offices. For more information on bird hunting, regulations and hunting licenses for Nevada click on the Internet at: www.ndow.org

Students will be taught what equipment is needed for fly fishing, terminology, knot tying, and basic casting techniques. Fly rods will be provided for students who do not have their own.

Registration is limited. To enroll, call NDOW weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m at 486-5127 ext. 3504.

Total participation is limited to 500 entries. Proceeds will benefit Friends of Red Rock Canyon, a nonprofit volunteer organization.

Entry forms can be obtained at Red Rock Canyon National Recreation Conservation Area visitors center or online by visiting: www.friendsofredrockcanyon.org or www.Active.com

Registration and race day packet pickup will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30, at Land Rover Las Vegas,t 5255 W. Sahara.

The race will begin at 8 a.m. on Oct. 31. For more information please call 255-8743.