In The Outdoors

Throughout most of Nevada, Saturday is opening day of the chukar partridge, quail and duck seasons. The one exception is in the Overton Wildlife Management Area, where duck season won’t open until Nov. 1.

There was a time when the great thing about living in Southern Nevada was its wide-open spaces, most of it on public land. One could travel in just about any direction and find someplace new and interesting to visit or someplace new and inviting to hunt.

With the sun at his back, Las Vegan Paul Harris hunkered down and began his final stalk on the large Alaskan black bear that stood feeding in one of “Bear Valley’s” open meadows. Harris’ only chance for concealment was a single large rock between him and the bear, but it would have to do. Keeping the rock between him and the animal, Harris made his way across the meadow.

For the past two decades, participation in hunting has steadily declined. For most of us, this is no secret. The subject has been discussed in a variety of outdoor publications, and I have touched upon it in a past column or two. The question is: Why are we losing hunters?

As you read this, the second week of the dove season is about half over. Let’s hope the last couple of days have been far more productive for hunters than the previous week. Opening day was a mixed bag, with some hunters bagging limits and others firing nary a shot.

During September and October, one of rural Nevada’s busiest roads is the Harrison Pass Road in Elko County. This relatively short road links Ruby Valley on the east side of the Ruby Mountains with Huntington Valley on the west, and during the fall months it is a major thoroughfare for hunters seeking to fill their big-game tags in Area 10.

The dove season begins Monday. Since that’s a holiday, you can expect a lot more hunters in the field than you have seen the past couple of years. While that will make some areas crowded, the additional people also can help to keep the birds flying and improve success for those who can shoot.

Preseason scouting always has been an important part of the hunt preparation process, especially when it comes to hunting big game such as Nevada’s mule deer. Anyone who has spent at least one season in the field will understand that, even if they haven’t taken the opportunity to go scouting themselves. Nothing can replace time spent on the ground. Not even satellite imagery.

It was well past dark when we finally found the campsite we had been looking for. The directions Chris’ plumber had given him were easy to follow until we turned off the main road and began looking for the location he recommended. In the darkness, trees blended together and every clearing began to look the same. I suppose that’s why the outdoor gurus always tell you to make camp before dark.