Columnist Paula Del Giudice: NDOW picks 3 candidates

THE BOARD of Wildlife Commissioners met in Gardnerville last Thursday, Friday and Saturday to attend to several important tasks on their agenda. The first and foremost was to conduct interviews with the candidates who are seeking the position soon-to-be-vacated by Nevada Division of Wildlife Administrator Willie Molini who will retire mid-September.

The commission interviewed the candidates on Thursday and Friday and announced the top three choices who will be forwarded to Pete Morros, director of the super agency if which the Division of Wildlife is part -- the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Morros will make the final choice in the administrator's position.

The three candidates chosen by the commission and announced on Saturday are: Terry Crawforth, currently the deputy administrator of NDOW; Tom Spaulding, the assistant director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department; and Raymond Lee, currently staff specialist also with Arizona Game and Fish.

In other action, the commission rejected the petition brought by Sandra Shverha of Las Vegas to reconsider the decision made by the commission to commence a statewide crow hunt.

The crow hunt created by the commission recently is controversial with some because crows aren't considered a game bird. Some object to shooting birds that aren't going to be eaten. In addition, some fear that hunters will mistakenly shoot ravens, which are a federally protected species.

Also rejected was a petition brought to ask the commission to reconsider its decision to ban boats at Key Pittman Wildlife Management Area during the waterfowl season. This regulation may complicate the ability of hunters to retrieve their downed ducks during the season.

The commission also elected Reno attorney Bill Bradley as its chairman and Boyd Spratling as its vice chairman for the upcoming year.

VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT:Instructors Volunteer instructors are being sought by the Nevada Division of Wildlife to assist the agency in conducting clinics that teach basic fishing techniques to adults and children.

Ivy Baker, NDOW angler education coordinator, said volunteers do not need to be expert anglers. "They only need to have a willingness to help children learn to fish," she said.

A training session for new instructors will be held Saturday at Cave Lake Park near Ely. For more information on becoming an instructor, call Baker at 486-5127.

CATFISH PLANTS:Channel catfish are scheduled to be stocked Thursday in ponds at Floyd Lamb, Lorenzi and Sunset parks.

Approximately 800 catfish will be planted in each of the ponds. The fish are purchased from private growers in Arizona and shipped to Las Vegas.

Anglers 12 and older are required to have fishing licenses when fishing at the park ponds. The daily and possession limits are three game fish.

NDOW ON WEB: The NDOW has joined the Super Highway and is putting wildlife information on the Internet at http://www.state.nv.us/cnr/nvwildlife/

Information currently available includes a fishing forecast for most Nevada waters, locations where fish were stocked and a schedule for fishing clinics. In the future the agency hopes to expand the website with additional game and non-game information and fishing and hunting regulations.

HIP HUNTERS: A new program that is being implemented this year requires hunters to write a "HIP" number on their hunting license before hunting migratory birds, such as doves, ducks, geese and swans. The Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP) is a national effort by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state wildlife agencies. It will give biologists more reliable estimates of the number of birds harvested throughout the country.

Hunters may obtain a HIP number by calling (800) WETLAND. Hunting licenses must be purchased before the number can be obtained.

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