Columnist Paula Del Giudice: Bear transplant plan considered

PAULA DEL GIUDICE has been an outdoors freelance writer, author and photographer for 13 years. Her column appears Wednesdays.

THE NEVADA Board of Wildlife Commissioners last Saturday agreed to have the Nevada Division of Wildlife look into the feasibility of trapping and transplanting black bears in Nevada after voting 8-1 to deny black bear hunting in Nevada.

Gary West, a veteran bear hunter from northern Nevada, said there wasn't a large enough population to sustain a hunt now, but added there's suitable habitat in the state to support a huntable population in the future.

Commissioners from northeastern Nevada voiced concerns about adding another predator in the country used primarily for raising livestock. Some fear that the only bears that would be available for transplant would be "problem bears" -- animals that have had conflicts with humans. Transplanting them to a new area would only mean trouble for the bears.

NDOW will report back to the Commission on black bears next September, when the board meets to approve the agency's trapping and transplanting program.

In other action taken by the Commission, a petition was denied to return angling limits on the Mary's, Bruneau and Jarbidge Rivers in Elko County back to pre-1998 limits.

Last March, cutthroat trout limits were reduced to "no take" on the Mary's River and from 5-10 fish daily and in possession on the Bruneau and Jarbidge rivers. The limits were reduced to help facilitate the recovery of the Lahontan cutthroat trout fishery in those three rivers.

Several members of Trout Unlimited's Nevada chapters spoke against the petition. With the petition denial, the lower limits remain in place.

A presentation on the commercial collection of reptiles by Steve Ferrand, a commercial collector from northwestern Nevada, was rescheduled by the Commission to be heard at its November meeting, tentatively scheduled for Nov. 13-14 in Las Vegas at the West Charleston Library.

* ELK BUGLING: For those who revel in the delightful sounds of elk bugling in the fall, you need only drive to Cold Creek off U.S. 95 past the turnoffs to Mt. Charleston to see and hear these incredible animals. To see them, you'll need to go up to the burn just past the homes there. Please be respectful of the one archery hunter who may be in the field now with an archery bull tag. The animals will likely be visible first thing in the morning and late in the afternoon.

* CROW SEASON OPENS: Nevada's first crow season will open Oct. 3 and run through Dec. 13. Hunters should be aware that crows are similar in looks to other birds, especially ravens. Ravens and blackbirds are protected by federal statutes and hunters caught shooting them will be prosecuted. Hunters who have any questions about discerning the differences between birds should check migratory bird hunting regulations. Ravens, blackbirds and crows are pictured in the regulations. Hunters should also be aware that they must retrieve and dispose of the crows they shoot. The bag limit on crows is 10 daily and in possession.

* SAGE GROUSE WINGS: In an effort to determine how the state's sage grouse are faring, the NDOW is asking hunters to turn in wings of all birds they harvest. Wildlife agencies are increasingly concerned about sage grouse population declines throughout North America. By examining wings biologists can determine the bird's sex, age and even what day juvenile birds were hatched. Hunters should clip one wing off each bird they harvest. Wings should be dried and placed in a paper sack, not a plastic bag. The date and location of the harvest should be written on the bag. Wings may be given to any NDOW employee or turned in at all agency offices.

* LEAVE A PLAN: With most hunting seasons opening Saturday, the NDOW is asking hunters to leave a trip plan with a responsible adult before taking to the field. A trip plan should include the names of all hunters in the party, exact location of camp, description and license plate numbers of all vehicles and the date and the time that you will return. It's also a good idea for hunters to pack a cellular telephone. This may allow them to call for assistance in addition to reporting wildlife violations to game wardens. Violations may be reported by calling Operation Game Thief at (800) 992-3030.

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