Workshop helps hunters stay sharp

By Sean Ammerman

Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008 | midnight

The Nevada Department of Wildlife’s workshop on upland game was so successful last week, the department plans to hold more in the future, hunter educators said.

More than 50 sportsmen, most of whom responded to mailed-out invitations, attended the workshop Sept. 25 at the new Sportsman’s Warehouse on East Lake Mead Parkway in Henderson. Attendees got tips from hunting experts on hunting upland game such as chukar, quail and waterfowl.

Learning hunting basics on upland game is generally easier than learning on big game such as deer.

“This is Basic 101 Hunting,” hunter educator Robert Gaudet said. “We’re trying to get some people who haven’t been out hunting in a while, or some younger folks who haven’t hunted, and get them more familiar with it.”

The workshop was Southern Nevada’s first to be sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation Hunting Heritage Partnership Grant, which was issued to promote more hunting in the state.

Gaudet said Nevada hunting has gone down in recent years due to the economy and because some legal hunting areas have been closed because of environmental concerns.

Chukar — Nevada’s No. 1 game bird — had a harvesting count of 61,153 last year, but was down 41 percent from the year before.

“It’s a popular species to hunt but a lot of people don’t know much about it,” Gaudet said.

The workshop succeeded in whetting the hunting appetite for many sportsmen, including Las Vegas resident David Porter.

Porter, an experienced quail hunter, came to the workshop to learn about hunting chukar and duck.

“I didn’t realize chukar was available in so many places in the state,” he said. “I don’t think a lot of people think of hunting upland game like they do of big game.”

Chukar is located in most mountainous areas in the state while quail is located throughout Southern Nevada.

The evening began with a review of basic hunting etiquette such as proper attire and firearms.

Nevada game warden Virgil Hayden reminded sportsmen on citable offenses, such as laying a loaded firearm on a vehicle, while reenforcing the need for safety.

“I’ve had to dive under my truck before to avoid shotgun pellets,” said Hayden. “If you don’t think it will happen, believe me, it will eventually happen to you.”

Brock Perry, duck calling pro and member of Ducks Unlimited, completed the evening with a presentation on hunting waterfowl.

Sportsmen must be older than 12, have an upland game bird stamp and a hunting license while hunting for upland game. For waterfowl, state and federal duck stamps are generally required in addition to a hunting licence.

Visit www.ndow.org or call 485-5127 for information.

Sean Ammerman can be reached at 990-2661 or [email protected].