Hunters looking to bag a few chukars this fall may want to turn at least part of their hunting attention north and east to the Beehive State. Utah’s chukar numbers are the highest they have been in 17 years.
In The Outdoors
Freelance writer Doug Nielsen is a conservation educator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. His “In the Outdoors” column, published Thursday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NDOW. Any opinions he states in his column are his own.
intheoutdoorslv@gmail.com
Almost 400 miles north of Las Vegas and just over the hill from Elko is one of Nevada’s natural treasures, a mountain range with 10 jagged peaks that climb past 10,000 feet in elevation. The highest tops out at 11,387 feet. Some call these mountains the Swiss Alps of Nevada, but their true name is the Ruby Mountains.
With opening day of dove season behind us, it is probably safe to assume that the quick-flying birds humbled more than a few hunters. Some may even be counting the number of shots they took and asking how they can improve their bird-per-shot ratio.
With mourning dove season beginning Tuesday and the waterfowl hunting seasons not far behind, some readers are asking, “Where can I go?”
Sidelined. Benched for much of the season. Those weren’t the orthopedic surgeon’s exact words, but that’s what he was saying. “But Doc, you don’t understand, I have a cow elk tag.” I was pleading for understanding, but finding none.
Whenever you travel somewhere to fish for the first time, it is always a good idea to get intel from one of the locals. Of course, you never know how good that information is until you hit the water and put it to the test.
Like many of yours, my 2015 big-game hunt ended with a stop by the taxidermist’s shop, where we left them in charge of creating a piece of artwork that will serve as a memoir of a hunting experience we look forward to reliving the rest of our lives.
Everyone who fishes the lower Colorado River seems to have an opinion on striped bass. Some call them everything but a quality sportfish, while others sing their praises as a fighter and a food source. And there seems to be little middle ground.
Each year during the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST) Show, industry buyers and members of the outdoor media from around the world get a first-hand look at many of the newest products bound for the sportfishing marketplace. These products, appropriately enough, are displayed in the New Products Showcase.
Though the days of fall may still seem distant, hunting season is fast approaching, and for some of you that will include journeying to other states, or perhaps another country. Such adventures often involve airline travel, which poses some unique challenges for those who will have firearms or bows and arrows in tow.
The bottom line is be careful with fire and anything that might cause a fire as you celebrate our independence. The desert and mountains of the Southwest are like a pile of tinder awaiting a source of ignition.
The crush of humanity can make it hard to “get away from it all” at campgrounds, fishing spots and hiking trails. It’s important for outdoor enthusiasts to be respectful of their neighbors.
Mike O’Donnell won the Nevada Striper Club’s monthly fishing tournament at Lake Mead with a fish that measured 42 7/8 inches long, had a girth of 24½ inches and weighed in at 30 pounds, 13 ounces.
Find food sources and cover and you will stand a good chance of catching a fish or two. A recent trip to Eagle Lake Reservoir in Lincoln County, this group caught five species of fish.
Lack of playgrounds and shoreline access kept Lakes Mead and Mohave off the list of America’s top 100 family fishing and boating spots as compiled by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation.