Date: 3/11/08
Contact: C. Doug Nielsen
Phone: (702) 486-5127, ext. 3500

HUNTERS SHOULD START TAG RESEARCH AT NDOW.ORG

Nevada’s 2008 big game tag draw will officially get under way when the online application process fires up Monday, March 24. With the applications due no later than 5 p.m., Monday, April 21, this is traditionally a very busy time for folks at the Nevada Department of Wildlife. This is especially true for those whose job it is to answer questions posed by hunters who are looking to maximize their odds at drawing one of the state’s coveted big game tags.

One of the more common questions asked by hunters is “Where should I go hunting this year?” While this question seems fairly straight forward, a closer look will reveal that it is not really a simple question at all. In fact, it is a question whose answer is obtained only through first asking and then finding the answers to other related questions. Many of those answers can be found on the Internet at www.ndow.org.

“When hunters are trying to decide where to apply for big game tag, the first question they should ask is “What kind of hunting experience do I want?” Ultimately this is a personal decision that cannot not be made by someone else,” said Doug Nielsen, a public information officer for NDOW. “They need to know whether they want to hunt in an area where they can use their vehicles or in a backcountry setting where the hunting has to be done on foot or on horseback. The answer to that question should be a big factor in their selection of hunt area choices.”

In the past hunters could get a good idea of the physical demands a particular hunt unit might impose by talking to someone who has been there before, but with the creation of many new wilderness areas that is no longer the case. Areas where vehicle access was previously allowed may now fall within wilderness boundaries where motorized travel is restricted, Nielsen said. Hunters should contact the Bureau of Land Management or the U.S. Forest Service for detailed maps of the appropriate wilderness area boundaries, but they can also find some information in the maps section of the NDOW website. That information includes links to the BLM and USFS web pages where basic maps and more detailed wilderness information can be found.

In addition, NDOW offers an interactive mapping service that allows hunters to customize a map of Nevada by adding the layers of information in which they are interested. For example, the hunt units can be overlaid by the new wilderness areas and layers that show portions of the state that have been damaged by fires. By combining this information with that found in the Hunter Information Sheets, also posted on the website, hunters should be able to get a very good picture of what a unit offers.

“Hunters should also ask whether they are looking for a trophy quality deer or simply to put meat in the freezer. By studying the harvest data available on the website hunters should be able to get a good picture of the type of bucks that are available in each unit without ever having been there. Of course, you can never learn more from a distance than you can on the ground,” said Nielsen.

For information about the status of a particular species, like mule deer, elk or bighorn sheep, hunters can peruse the various species population reports that are written by NDOW biologists every spring. These reports address habitat conditions, population growth and survival rates for young of the year by hunt area.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.