In The Outdoors

A down-and-up year, that’s how 2009 has played out for Southern Nevada’s recreational shooters.

Don’t tell me that speaking out doesn’t make a difference.

If you’re planning a hunting trip that will take you out of the country next year, or even out of state, then one of the details you need to decide on is whether you will be flying. If you decide to fly, be sure to check the fine print before you buy your plane ticket. Failure to do so could make your return trip somewhat less than pleasant, especially if you plan on checking a set of antlers or horns on the way home.

The fish-stocking truck had just left when I arrived at Boulder Harbor on Friday morning, but the fishing pier already was packed with anglers who were casting assorted hardware and other trout baits. Many were stacked up at the end of the pier, while others were spread out between there and the shoreline.

It’s always interesting to see people acknowledged for their hard work, especially when those efforts reach above and beyond the norm. I enjoy learning about these extraordinary people and discovering what it is that drives them to do whatever it is they do. And when the person being recognized is someone you know, that learning process takes on a whole new meaning.

Last winter I wrote about a surge in the number of kayak anglers fishing on lakes Mead and Mohave. Kayaks are not only an excellent source of exercise but also are a stealthy approach to fishing. While fishing at Willow Beach early last spring, a friend of mine caught two stripers that went beyond the 25-pound mark. The fish both hit a trout-imitating swimbait he was trolling behind his kayak.

Imagine that you put in your time and hard-earned gas money to locate an area that holds quail or chukar. Then imagine that you make the long drive to that newfound honey hole and begin hunting only to learn that your every move is being closely monitored and copied by an SUV full of yahoos you don’t know from Adam.

To my surprise, several anglers already were lining the pond bank when I pulled into the parking lot at Veterans Memorial Park in Boulder City on Friday. I figured there would be some fishing pressure, but I wasn’t expecting to see that many people on a weekday.

About the current waterfowl hunting conditions, a hunter named B. Shaw reported Tuesday that there is “no migration” and “few local birds.” Weather conditions are sunny, with early-morning temperatures ranging from 51 to 60 degrees. The day before, B. Julain reported similar hunting conditions.

About three years after politicians and other dignitaries turned over the golden shovels full of dirt at a ceremonial groundbreaking for the long-awaited Clark County Shooting Park, those same individuals joined nearly 250 park supporters at the park’s official dedication ceremony in August.