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Nevada Department of Wildlife
Nevada Department of Wildlife
Fall Issue - August, 2009
Big GameForecastEye inthe Sky
Biologists now trackingNevada’s big game bysatellite (Page 3)Many of Nevada’s biggame herds continue tothrive and set populationrecords (Page 7)
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Nevada Department of Wildlife
Director Ken Mayer
Fellow Sportsmen and Outdoor Enthusiasts,
As I read through this issue of the FallWildlife Almanac, I started to notice an importantreoccurring theme. From the story on wildlife
viewing, the big game forecast or shing on Lake
Mead, the Nevada Department of Wildlife website(www.ndow.org) offersthe public an incrediblylarge and comprehensiveamount of information andmaterials to help themwith nearly any questionor situation in the outdoor world.
Take shing in Nevada
for example. Anglers in
this state can check onup-to-date shing reportsand stocking informationbroken down by region. Angler Information
Guides detail the top 79 waters in the state, and
the How to Fish in Nevada book explains the ins
and outs of angling the Silver State. Where to
sh, how to sh, sh identication…if you have aquestion about shing in Nevada, there is a good
chance the answer is on the NDOW website.Hunters in the state are just as fortunate. Thewebsite has nearly everything a sportsmen needsto ensure a successful hunt. Hunter information
sheets detail specic hunts by species and
region. These information sheets tellyou about herd movement as well as
nding camping or gas stations in the
area. NDOW’s mapping section covers
everything from hunt unit maps to BLM
maps to an interactive mapping programthat allows you to build your own map
with your own specications. Application
information, hunt statistics and draw odds,and bonus point tables allow sportsmento put themselves in the best positionpossible for the big game tag draw. The
key to a successful hunt is preparation and
there is no better place to start than www.ndow.org.Outdoor and wildlife enthusiasts can
nd detailed information sheets on the
Director’s Message
animals and habitats of Nevada. Learn how toavoid conict with wildlife or what conservation
programs are under way across the state. Frombird watching to volunteering, the information isthere for your education and enjoyment.So enjoy yourself as you read the 2009 FallWildlife Almanac, there are some great storiesabout what’s going on around the Silver State. But
if you have any questions once you’ve nished,you might want to take a minute and check out
all the great information on the NDOW website.
You just might be surprised how much you nd.
Consider signing up for one of our list serves:
shing, hunting, habitat and wildlife, follow uson Twitter or in Facebook. There are lots of new
ways to learn about the recreational opportunitiesthat the Silver State offers.
As always, I recommend that you take some
time off from your busy lives and spend it outdoors.
I sincerely hope that your days aeld are the best
ever!Sincerely,Kenneth E. Mayer, Director Nevada Department of Wildlife
FALL WILDLIFE ALMANAC
Nevada Department of Wildlife
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By Aaron Meier
The last time mountain quailwere plentiful in the Stillwater Range in Churchill County (1948)Harry Truman was president and
Joe Louis was the heavyweight
champion of the world. ShawnEspinosa, upland game biologist for the Nevada Department of Wildlife
(NDOW) thinks it’s about time theymade a comeback.“Mountain quail are magnicent
birds, especially their plumagecharacteristics. They occupydiverse and varying habitats.We just hope for success in re-establishing the population,”said Espinosa. “Our hope is that these effortswill provide diverse recreational opportunity tosportsmen while creating additional populationstrongholds.”Mountain quail are found primarily in themountains along the West Coast and are thelargest North American quail averaging 10-11inches in length. While the California quail has
the well-known curved plume on top of its head,
the mountain quail has a beautiful long straightplume. Espinosa states that mountain quail oftenoccupy the steepest, and more densely covereddrainages in a particular mountain range.NDOW began re-introducing mountain quail inthe Stillwater Range in Churchill County in 2008with the release of 97 birds. This year, NDOWreleased another 87 birds, whichEspinosa reports will be the lastrelease for the foreseeablefuture in this location.“No more releasesare planned in theStillwater Range for now until the successof these releases hasbeen determined,” hesaid. “Plans are inplace to release birds
into Lincoln County
and Humboldt County in 2009 and 2010, but
much of this depends on source stock availability
from other states.”Initial efforts to restore mountain quail numbers
in Nevada were difcult with no source stock
available. However, a relationship was formedbetween
NDOW and the China Lake NavalWeapons Station (CLNWS), near Ridgecrest,
Calif., to supply mountain quail for transplant intoNevada. Since the initial release in the ToiyabeRange in 1986, over 1,500 quail have beenreleased into 29 different locations in Nevada.“Much of the credit for getting this programrolling goes to retired NDOW biologist Sid Eatonwho facilitated and coordinated efforts with
CLNWS,” states Espinosa. “Recently, CLNWS has
not had a base population number or productionto support removing any birds; however, westernOregon mountain quail populations have beendoing well and the Oregon Department of Fishand Wildlife has provided 200 mountain quail for translocation to Nevada over the last two years.”He explains the overall goal is to establishsustainable populations of mountain quail intotargeted mountain ranges with the birds spreadthroughout the range. This will allow the birdsto compensate for any environmental events inparticular areas that may cause drastic populationdeclines.
Mountain Quail back in the Stillwaters
NDOW game biologists Shawn Espinosa(right) and Jason Salisbury releasemountain quail back into the Stillwater
Range for the rst time since 1948.
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