You forgot to double check your application and now you have a big game tag for the wrong area. You got the hunt of a lifetime in Montana and now you can’t use your Nevada tag. The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) is happy to say “no problem” because now hunters can return most big game tags for any reason.

The best part of the deal for these hunters is that their bonus points, providing them more chances in the random big game tag draw, will be reinstated when their tags are returned by the deadline. It will be as if they had never applied.

The idea to allow return of tags for any reason was initiated by sportsmen themselves, through the Tag Allocation and Application Hunt Committee established by the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners a few years ago. Through that public input process, NDOW staff, the commission and members of the public identified various changes to big game tag allocation processes.

“It allows an option for hunters who simply cannot use a tag; and for bighorn sheep and mountain goat, provides an opportunity for an alternate to receive and use the returned tags, if the tag is turned in by the deadline,” said Bob Haughian, Operations Division Chief at NDOW. “Hunters have been asking for this option for years, and we are pleased to be able to accommodate them.”

Regulations already allowed for the return and refund of tags and reinstatement of bonus points for death, disability or armed forces transfers. This expanded regulation doesn’t require a reason for return of tags.

For bighorn sheep and mountain goat hunters who meet the July 15 deadline, bonus points will be reinstated and hunters will get a refund of their tag fees. Those tags will be reissued to an alternate hunter.

For elk, antelope and mule deer hunters, bonus points will be reinstated for those who return their tags at least one day before the opening day of the hunt. However, there are no tag refunds for these species, and the tags will not be reissued.

Hunters can find a quick reference table in the 2009 Nevada Hunt Book, available at NDOW offices, licensed sales agents, and online at ndow.org.

Those wishing to return their tags should contact Wildlife Administrative Services, a contractor handling draws for NDOW. They can be reached at (800) 576-1020.

Much of the Western Wilderness is best accessed by horseback. Unfortunately some folks don’t adequetely prepare their horses for the narrow trails and steep grades.   Every year, ill prepared horses get hurt or killed in remote locations.  On the other hand, there are folks that are great horse handlers who take the time to condition beforehand, expose their stock to narrow steep trails, and distractions such as wildlife, flapping tarps and  backpackers.

One of my feed customers, Ann Sands was telling me about her latest ride; A 5 day, 250 mile trail ride in the Schell Creek Range of Eastern Nevada. Now THAT is being a Western Wanderer.

As a competitive trail rider, she has put a lot of time and miles in conditioning her horse Bella over the last two years and exposing her to a variety of obstacles and sights and sounds throughout her training rides.

She sent me this picture below from the ride we talked about and I think it illustrates what a mountain horse is all about. When the path is too steep to ride up, a savvy rider will step off to allow their horse to climb the ridge. But the BEST mountain horse will pull you up as they find their way to the top.

So think of that before you catch the pack horses for hunting season. It might save you some headaches on the trail, and some hard hikes too.

I thought that the results for the California big Game Drawing wasn’t due out untill the 24th, but like Nevada, California hustled up and had Drawing results available on line, well before the expected date. 

As I read my results I expected  to be mostly “denied”. 

MARTIN JOHN ANTELOPE: Not Drawn random # .902199

“That’s OK I have a Colorado tag for speedgoats.”  I told myself

MARTIN JOHN ELK: Not Drawn random # .058965

“That’s OK that tag’s season comes during my Nevada Mule Deer Hunt.  it would be tough to hunt that one too.”  I rationalized…

 MARTIN JOHN SHEEP: Not Drawn random # .611847

I told myself that “This was a loooongshot, so I am not disappointed in the least.”

Then I  came to the next line.  The species that would cap my year off with a November hunt in the rut for Blacktail Deer.  This would make or break my Psyche for The Hunting season to come….

MARTIN JOHN DEER: Drawn for 2009

 

Alright!   That’s what I was looking for.    Looks like I have some scouting to do. 

You may check your results here:

https://biggame.dfg.ca.gov/biggame/

Cindy was a great resource when I went down to Tejon Ranch on my feral hog hunt. So I wasn’t surprised to see an e-mail here last week with the latest bruiser she had arrowed

Got lucky last night and shot this nice boar. His teeth aren’t all that big, but he was a little more than 200 pounds on the hoof. I got within 10 yards of him before I finally got a clear shot at his heart. So much fun!

Kirk Beckstrand had a great turkey season this year. He secured a piece of private land to hunt that had a great turkey population.  He even had gobblers battling in front of him among his decoys. 

On May 1st he connected on a tom with a 9 inch beard, and 3/4 inch spurs.

Then he connected again on the 17th with a 10 inch beard and 1 inch spurs.

Those birds along with his opening weekend success on a young tom, filled out his 3 tom allotment for the 2009 California turkey season.

“I was very happy with the year; I got all three with my bow.”

As my readers know I have been fortunate enough to draw a Nevada deer tag.    As a child I heard stories from the 50’s,and 60’s about how Nevada was teeming with big bucks.  I saw the mounts of big , wide Nevada  mule deer bucks in bars and restaurants in the West. 

While there are still big bucks out there, they are not as common as legend may make it seem.  Pressures on mule deer in Nevada are the same as many other Western States.  Drought, development of winter range, predation, competition for browse and forage , and disease all place added pressure on the species that is perhaps the most iconic of Nevada’s fauna. 

In order to address these issues , the Nevada Department of Wildlife has added a deer management specialist position as the following press release explains:

Responding to a decline in mule deer numbers, the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) has re-structured positions to create budget for a wildlife staff specialist focused solely on the coveted game species. The mule deer specialist position will be under the Game Division, headquartered in Reno.
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PUEBLO, Colo. – Youngsters interested in the sport of archery are invited to attend a one-day archery event at the Bighorn Archery Range in Pueblo from 9-3 on Sat., June 27. The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) and Johnson Sport and Ski will co-sponsor the event.

Activities include target practice, a fun shoot, a 3-D shoot, and instruction. Boys and girls age 7-16 are invited to attend, but must be accompanied by a parent.

Instructors from the DOW and local archery experts will provide instruction on the finer points of archery safety and shooting a bow. The DOW will furnish the equipment.

“This event is a great opportunity for youngsters to learn more about this rapidly growing type of outdoor recreation and try their hand and using a bow,” said Steve Lucero, an education coordinator with the DOW. “Archery is one of the world’s oldest sports. It is safe and fun when done properly.”

The Bighorn Archery Range is located just east of the DOW office at 600 Reservoir Road. The range features ten shooting stations with covered platforms.

For more information, call Johnson’s Sport and Ski (719) 542-6012 or Division of Wildlife (719) 227-5207.

A quick movie clip from  DJ Rankosky’s trail cam in Western Montana.  A Grizzly bear sow and cub.  

The Blacktail bucks are growing pretty well in my neck of the woods. Caught this guy out feeding last evening. Looks like he may put on a few more inches in the coming weeks.

The late Spring rains, and cool foggy weather has really made for a good feed year.

Mule Deer : Nevada Aug 8-16

Antelope: Colorado Early September

Blacktail Deer: California November 14-29 (Awaiting the Draw with fingers crossed)

With these premium archery hunts scheduled, plus a bear tag, and one more General Deer tag for California,  the physical conditioning and archery practice has begun to consume nearly all of my free time.

My calendar now has these items locked in on a weekly basis:

Sunday: Trail Run (mileage increases from 8-15 miles through July 26th)
Monday : Rest and recover from Sunday’s run.
Tuesday: 40-45 minute Run (recovery run 5-6 miles)
Wednesday: Archery 3-d League
Thursday: 45 minute Run
Friday Tempo run easy:tempo:easy for 40-60 minutes.
Saturday: Cross train (hiking, biking, something other than running)