Posted By:
Bill-Reed
Guest
N/A 01-26-2004 18:06
– – –
Jim, I do have mixed emotions about leaving. I have been here all my life, and have so many memories. I remember going up to Elko for deer with my dad in the early 70’s. We got our two bucks, two does, stopped off at Wildhorse and limited out on trout, then down to Sunnyside to hunt the streams. We brought home a possession limit (was that 20 per person then?) of mostly greenheads with a few suzies. I remember hunting the upper Pittman pond with my dad (funny, most of my fondest hunting memories are with him) and picking just Bull Sprigs. Or the day we hunted the flooded fields East to the pond for mallards. Like you, it is not about the killing for me, but I do enjoy at least watching the birds. Great memory this year was watching a Bull Can come into my dekes and land, not more than 15 yards away. It didn’t matter that he was out of season, it was amazing to just watch him. I think I got 63 ducks and 11 geese this year, so I can’t complain. There was a LOT of luck, especially with the geese, but it was a pretty good year considering how few birds we had in the valley.
I know Southern NV like the back of my hand, and all that knowledge won’t be much use in MT. Sure, I know how to find and hunt game, but getting to know the area will take time. When I do figure it out, remember, I have two spare bedrooms planned, so there will always be room for a NV guy (and wife and dog) to come up and enjoy the Northern birds, or the trout, or whatever else you might want to pursue. Next season might be a bust, since I will be building, but keep some space open for 2005! 🙂
Posted By:
Cappy_TX
Guest
Pahranagat Valley 01-26-2004 11:20
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Bill … You have been a great addition as a field editor and I look forward to your SO NV reports … with mixed emotions. Hehe.
On the one hand I’m glad to read of your at-least weekly success, on the other hand it’s almost more than I can stand because of our having the worst season in the past 8 there in the Valley … numbers wise.
I hate to sound philosophical about the fact that the enjoyment of the hunt is not in the nembers killed, at least it really isn’t for Carol and me. However, if he could talk, our yellar dawg Cappy would tell you that the 39 ducks we killed for an entire season (33 hunt days) is just plain pi$$ poor.
Carol and I wish you the best of luck in your move to MT. Happy retirement Sarge and may your days be filled with Elk, deer, antelope, trout, walleyes, ducks, geese and … wait a minute … if ya happen to find any affordable land nearby, e-mail us please!!!
Posted By:
Bill-Reed
Guest
Key Pittman-Hiko 01-25-2004 18:33
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Well, the last day of the season came, and gave me some surprises. No one was on the upper marsh with me at shooting time. There were two groups on the ponds, at least one on Nesbitt, and two groups (when I left) on Frenchy. I can count the number of ducks I saw flying on both hands. However, the geese were another story.
The main bunch (150+) got off the lake at first light and went to the private fields to the North. The wind was HOWLING out of the North. Around 9:15, another group of geese (45+) were working their way North along the highway and suddenly turned right at me. They passed about 80-90 yards, right over the top of me. That was odd enough, but they had set wings and were dipping and flipping right over me. Very unusual for that spot. They continued North, low, and I lost sight of them. About 9:45 it appears the main bunch got spooked, bad, off the private property, going with the wind at low altitude. They got to Nesbitt, and swung into the wind, then directly at me again. This time they came in (I have no goose dekes out) and started landing 10 yards outside of my dekes. Half landed, more were coming, the place was a madhouse! Finally a group swung over me, and I picked out two. Had to hit the second one again, (hit him too far back) Both hit the water belly up.
Other than that, there was almost no action, unless you count the Drake Can that ran the gauntlet of 3 shooters on the ponds and Nesbitt. He was going with the wind, so he was pretty safe. 6 shots barely scared him.
Lots of geese on the fields, and Upper Pahranaget. Lower Pahranaget is about 1/3 full, with water on the lower end now and reaching the shore-line cover. There were 18 swans and about 30 ducks on it, mostly teal and Cans. Gee, in about a week that would have been worth hunting.
This will probably be my last post in Nevada. I hope to build our new home in S/W Montana, starting in August, so I will be busy up there for about 6 months. We will then sell everything here and move there. I am an original Las Vegas Native, born and raised, but I won’t be looking back. Read the posts in Montana and you will understand why. Our property is on the East Fork of the Bitteroot River, 5 Acres, and we can’t wait. NVJim, I am sorry we didn’t hook up. Maybe see you at the Henderson D/U Banquet in Feb.
Posted By:
Bill-Reed
Guest
N/A 01-20-2004 00:25
– – –
AQ:
I may not be the best to answer this question. I have killed a swan in NV, and one in UT, but it was in the 70’s for NV. You have to apply for a tag, and I am not sure if Non-Residents can apply, but let’s assume they can. Last I looked, there were about 500 tags being given out. So, first you draw. You are limited on areas, and that is documented in the NV Regulations. Stillwater was the place in those days, and I think it still is. No swan hunting in Southern NV, to my knowledge. We have lots of em, but not allowed to hunt down here. You might want to look at UT also, as they talk about hunting swans like hunting rabbits. Still a draw system, but an easier hunt.
Sorry I couldn’t be of more help. Check the NV Regulations for better information.
Update: From the NV Reg’s
2003 -2004
Swan
Season Dates
(Inclusive)
Open Counties Limits
Daily/Possession
October 18, 2003 – January 4, 2004 Churchill
Lyon
Pershing
1 by tag only
SPECIAL REGULATIONS/INFORMATION:
Open to nonresidents who have a valid annual Nevada hunting license and required waterfowl stamps.
Persons possessing a valid annual Nevada hunting license and both a current Federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Stamp, and a current Nevada Duck Stamp, when required, may apply for one of the 650 swan tags. Applications must be mailed through a postal service to the address listed on the application or submitted online through the Internet at www.huntnevada.com.
Application Deadline:
Applications must be received by
5:00 p.m., Friday, September 19, 2003
Apply Online at www.huntnevada.com
No hand delivered applications for the drawing.
Results
Results will be provided by first Friday in October.
Remaining Tags
Any remaining tags will be available on a first come, first served basis through the mail or over the counter during normal business hours (M-F 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) at the Wildlife Administrative Services Office, 185 North Maine St. Fallon, Nev. Applications are available at all Department of Wildlife offices and select license agents, or can be downloaded from www.ndow.org.
Validation
Successful swan hunters are required to have their tag and swan validated within five (5) days of harvest at selected sites. Mandatory validation requirements and validation sites will be provided with swan tags.
Trumpeter Swans
If a harvest of five (5) trumpeter swans is reached, the swan season is closed for the remainder of the season.
[Edited By Bill-Reed on 2004-01-20 00:27]
Posted By:
Greenhound
Web Member
01-19-2004 00:55
– – –
Bill Reed:
Question for you:
How would a non-resident, fellow waterfowler, go about hunting swan in Nevada? Any info would be helpful. Thanks.
AQ
Posted By:
Bill-Reed
Guest
Key Pittman-Hiko 01-09-2004 18:11
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Hey Norm, was that you flying over me at Pittman on 1/9? Someone in a single engine plane made three passes over the project, then went North.
Got another lucky goose, from a few that were sitting on my water before shooting time. Only one flew close enough to drop. Banded again.
Lots of teal, in flocks of 20-40. Seemed to be a few more mallards, but can’t really confirm. Upper pond is 40% ice. Lower pond is open, and birds were using it. Upper marsh is 30% ice. Nesbitt is pretty much open (80%) while Frenchy is about 70% ice. Not a lot of birds on the Pahranaget refuge. Met (got checked by) Eddie, the Ranger/Warden there. He checked me at Pittman. Very nice, considerate. Seemes to be working hard to get Pahranaget going again. He can come by my blind anytime.
Posted By:
Norm-Saake
Web Member
January Aerial Survey 01-07-2004 23:16
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Got the first day of the Mid-winter Waterfowl Survey completed yesterday and wanted to file a report before I leave for the rest of the survey tomorrow morning (1/8) for three more days of flying the rest of the state.
The last ice buildup really moved the birds out. Both Stillwater and Carson Lake have now lost about 80% of their birds. Now with warmer temperatures on the way, it will scatter the few remaing birds out over the whole area. I saw a lot more open water than I had expected on the flight.
I will try and get some of the data from the rest of the flight together before I leave for a duck shoot in New Mexico on Monday and get on the NWA website if possible
Shot the CL this afternoon (1-3:45) and only managed three shots. Almost no flight in the Rice where I was at. Some shooting was heard to the north and to the west of my blind.
Posted By:
Bill-Reed
Guest
Key Pittman-Hiko 01-03-2004 17:06
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
First hunt of the new year, and what a doozy!
Got set up VERY early, since it was a Sat. Thought I heard geese very close, but dismissed it because of where I was. 10 minutes after shooting time, looked across the water and see the geese. Jeeez, and I had been standing just a moment before. Change out shells, just as 5 birds lift off and head toward me. BBB’s drop two for two, with bands! Bout an hour later get buzzed by a group of drake greenwings, drop two for three. Hour later get buzzed by a flock of scaup, and again go two for three. That was all that flew, except for two single Pins that both dropped into my set.
Left early to look at the valley. No birds left on the project to speak of, maybe some divers in the middle. Saw no geese as I drove down the valley until I hit Pahranagat. A few geese were on the upper lake. Not many ducks to be seen either.
There was one change. Water is coming into the lower lake, and the birds are already using it. No cover to speak of, but maybe if a guy had a field blind?
Overall, very disappointing. Excellent weather, with a North wind and scattered snow. Just no birds to move around.
Posted By:
Bill-Reed
Guest
Key Pittman-Hiko 12-31-2003 23:01
Cloudy, High Winds – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Mixed bag special today, one each mallard, spoonie,widgeon,gadwall,mallard and spoonie. Oh, I guess that’s two mallards and two spoonies! 6 birds total, 8 shots.
Birds really didn’t fly, I just didn’t miss, and was in the right spot for the few that did come up the valley. Didn’t see many birds, and only about 100 geese that got off the project at shooting time. Great weather, cloudy with a fairly strong south wind, but they didn’t want to fly. Not much ice except around the shore in the shady areas. Nesbitt was 98% open, and the ponds were getting a good supply of warm water.
Posted By:
hunterox
Guest
Churchill County- Private 12-31-2003 16:29
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Hunted the club this morning…No geese, really don’t know where they are. Last year at this time, we were loaded with honkers…
Had 3 doubles today and ended with 6 birds. Tomorrow should be good also.
Feetdown!
