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In The Outdoors

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

Not your typical turkey season for two hunters

Birds with multiple beards are classified by the National Wild Turkey Federation as atypical. Should they choose to record their birds, Kensen Lee and Kevin Pratt will be the first hunters to record atypical Rio Grande turkeys in Nevada.

Spring turkey hunt full of surprises as tale begins

Kensen Lee had drawn a tag for the last of three weeklong seasons to take place in the Moapa Valley area. While that was the place Lee was looking forward to hunting for a turkey, he was concerned that pressure associated with the first and second seasons could make his third-season experience less than he had hoped for.

County fair attendees relate interesting tales

During the Clark County Fair last weekend in Logandale, I talked with hundreds of outdoor enthusiasts. Among them were two whose stories caught my attention. The first is an angler, and the second is an avid archer from England.

Field report from Moapa Valley turkey opener ends happily

Larry Hanneman beat the odds by drawing a tag for the Moapa Valley turkey season, and his patience paid off with a 19.5-pound Rio on his second day of hunting.

More to fishing than simply dropping a line in the water

Fishermen are finding it tough to catch stripers on Lake Mead. So, the conversation turns to weather patterns, unseasonably warm temperatures and abundant bait fish in the lake. It’s amazing how much thought and study fishermen put into their pursuit.

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Waiting for right buck, or tag, is usually worth it

Along with the waiting associated with the hunt itself, there are at least two other times each year when hunters find themselves waiting. The first is when we wait for that day when the big game tag draw finally arrives, and the second is when we wait for the results of that draw.

Sometimes sportsmen must speak up in political arena

Anti-hunting interests are well funded and tenacious. In recent years, sportsmen across the country have begun to speak up, and 18 states — though not Nevada — guarantee the right to hunt and fish in their constitutions.

Rainbows to shine again at Willow Beach Hatchery

An agreement between federal and Arizona officials will restore rainbow trout stocking at the Willow Beach Hatchery, the very purpose for which the facility was originally built along the cold waters of the Colorado River more than 50 years ago.

Grandma’s lesson: Keep it simple

Grandma cut a piece of fishing line from its spool and tied one end to the small end of willow rod. To the other end of the line, she tied a hook and then placed a split shot sinker a foot or so above that. Then we walked down the bank to a brushy area where she schooled me in the art of simple fishing.

Outdoor enthusiasts oppose transfer of public lands

Across the West, sportsmen and other outdoor enthusiasts are making their voices heard. Their message? “Keep your hands off our public lands.”

Sporting clays added enjoyment to Valentine’s Day

When it comes to deciding how to celebrate Valentine’s Day you generally won’t find shotguns and clay pigeons among the list of options. So imagine our surprise when my brother-in-law and nephew walked into the living room of the Southern Utah farm house we had rented and announced that we had an appointment to shoot a round of sporting clays.

Winchester XPR appeals to Model 70 fans, costs less

Firearms bearing the Winchester label have been part of American culture since 1866. It was then that Oliver Winchester bought control of the New Haven Arms company and changed its name to the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.

Time to comment on use of public lands

The National Park Service is asking for comments to help determine future management and planning decisions for Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Great day on the water

Though the fishing was a little slow, we caught plenty of memories — glass-smooth water, a bald eagle and the unique courting ritual of the western grebe.

Good news for anglers

There has been a resurgence in the striper fishing in Lake Mohave, which could be because of the presence of threadfin and gizzard shad. Plus, government officials are moving toward a deal to restore the trout-rearing program at the Willow Beach National Hatchery.

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