Wildlife Commission Sets Upland Game Seasons

Upland game hunters can now circle Saturday, Oct. 8 on their calendars because that is the date that the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners has set for the opening of chukar, quail and most sage grouse hunts in the state.

During a meeting held on Friday, June 24 in Reno, commissioners set the chukar and quail hunting seasons for Oct. 8 through Jan. 31. Cottontail rabbit hunting will open on Oct. 8 and run through Feb. 28.

Bird hunters will be able to take to the field on Thursday, Sept. 1 when hunting begins for mourning dove, a migratory bird. That season will run through Friday, Sept. 30.

Blue grouse, ruffed grouse and snowcock hunting begins on Saturday, Sept. 3 with each lasting through Wednesday, Nov. 30. Pheasant season will run from Saturday, Nov. 5 through Sunday, Dec. 4.

“Season frameworks are fairly simplified with fewer special season dates for specific geographic areas,” said Craig Mortimore, staff biologist for the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW). “Many seasons are now listed as statewide where before the regulations only listed open for hunting in those counties where a species, like blue grouse, existed. This strategy assumes that hunters will know to pursue species only where they exist.”

He also said that commissioners are continuing a strategy that was developed 16 years ago to open small game seasons concurrently with the deer opening date for most game management units in the state. The rationale for this is to spread out the hunters by encouraging them to select one species, thereby alleviating crowding in the marshes, canyons and at campsites in popular deer hunting areas.

Fall and spring turkey hunting seasons were set as well with a number of season dates. “The spring turkey hunting seasons for Pershing and Lincoln counties are now under the open quota, general season framework. The department recognized the contribution of landowners in the establishment of this popular game bird in Nevada and didn’t want to exclude them from hunting turkeys on their own land simply because they didn’t have the good fortune to draw a limited tag,” Mortimore said.

Information on upland game bird hunting in Nevada can be obtained on NDOW’s web site at www.ndow.org.