Outdoors /
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Pahrmnp Valley Gazette, Thursday, November 20,
1997 23
[
Bighorn Sheep back home in the Delamars
Goose hunang off to good
Geoff Schneider
ties, according to the NeDivision of Wildlife.
The bright spot for penerwas
Key
were taken atthe areaon
fill for hunters
White River Valleys. Several hunters mistakenly shot at
snow geese Saturday at the refuge.
Duck hunting has slowed at the area and hunters only
managed to take 20 ducks on Saturday.
Roy Horsley, of Overton Wildlife Manage-
ment Area,
Saturday's opening day. They harvested five Canada geese,
two snow geese, one Ross' goose and 51 ducks.
Currently there m-e approximately 350 geese and 3
ducks at Overton.
fuel taxes.
Durin
taxesthat will be
by C. Douglas Nielsen
More than 20 years after being identified as a high
priority release site for desert bighorn sheep, the
Delamar Mountain Range in Lincoln County has fi-
nally received its first shipment of the elusive animals.
Under the watchful eye of Nevada Division of Wild-
life (NDOW) biologists, 19 sheep, four young rams
and 15 ewes, scrambled from a transport trailer and
into their new home.
"This is a big step forward for our sheep program,"
said Craig Stevenson, NDOW biologist. "We have
been working for many years, laying the necessary
groundwork, so we could begin the process of reestab-
lishing a resident population of bighorn sheep in this
range."
The 19 sheep were transplanted from the River
Mountains located between Henderson and Lake Mead,
nearly 100 miles from the release area. Prior to being
moved, each animal was tested for parasites and dis-
eases which might create problems later on.
"Eventually we would like to see between 200 and
250 sheep in this area, "said Stevenson. "It may take 15
to 20 years to reach that goal, but if conditions are right
it may happen sooner."
According to Stevenson, the Delamar Range pro-
vides excellent bighorn habitat and has probably al-
ways done so. Historical and archeological evidence
seems to support his thoughts. There are numerous
anecdotal accounts of the animal's presence, and de-
pictions of bighorn can be found at Native American
petroglyph sites throughout the area, he said.
"Not long after the settlers' arrival, bighorn popula-
tions began to dwindle as livestock and land use
practices significantly altered the animal's habitat.
Water then became the limiting factor as natural water
sources were piped off or dried up," Butch Padilla,
supervising habitat biologist said.
In addition to the lack of fresh water supplies,
unregulated hunting by early Nevada residents also
took its toll on the overall sheep populations.
In 1974, NDOW identified the Delamar Range as a
priority release site in the agency's plan for reestablish-
ing bighorn sheep populations throughout the state.
However, before sheep could be released, the area's
water problem had to be resolved.
"The main factor holding up the reintroduction of
sheep was the lack of natural water sources in the
Delamars. Therefore, we had to build water develop-
ments before beginning the reintroduction process,"
explained Stevenson.
NDOW began laying the paperwork foundation for
the necessary water developments during the 1980s,
but the status of the Delamar Range as a Wilderness
Study Area slowed the process significantly. Approval
for proposed water developments was long in coming,
with final approval being given by the Bureau of Land
Management early this year.
Once the projects were approved, however, the
division moved quickly. By the end of April, with the
assistance of volunteers from local sportsmen's orga-
nizations, two 7,000-gallon water developments were
completed and ready for water.
"These water developments are designed to catch
and store rainwater for use by the sheep when natural
sources are unavailable. Though they are designed
specifically with sheep in mind, we have aady docu-
mented more than 64 different wildlife species that are
using the water developments. There are probably far
more," Stevenson said.
NDOW began to actively transplant bighorn sheep
in 1969. At that time, the desert bighorn was found in
fewer than 25 mountain ranges throughout the state.
Today they can be found in more than 50 mountain
ranges.
Managcr'sofficc at
submitted beforeDecember 1.
expansion for public review
The Bureau of Land management (BLM) and County of
San Bemardino have released a joint fedend-county Fmal
Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact
Report (EIS/EIR) for the proposed Castle Mountain Mine
Expansion Project for public review and comment.
The final EIS/EIR was prepared with the assistance of a
third party contractor. The EIE/EIR analyzes the POtential
environmental impacts of the proposed expansion and contin-
ued operation of the Castle Mountain open pit, leach
gold mine, including geology, water resources, vegetation,
wildlife, air quality, vimal resources, cultural, land
use, and cumulative effects.
The Castle Mounlain lvlineq located in San
Bemardino County, is operated by the Viceroy Gold Coqx
ration. Viceroy has proposedto mine orets adjacant to
deposits currently being mined. The proposal would include
expanding existing and planned open pit areas, anlargingthe
age meas, creatiugJ
may490acrcs, and 140 acaes ofopen mincpi,
Under present permits, the mine can
Sage grouse wings needed for study
by Chris Healy
The Nevada Division of Wildlife is conducting a
long-term study of the state's sage grouse popula-
tions and would like hunters to contribute one wing
from each bird harvested this season to assist biolo-
gists in their work.
"Sage grouse populations throughout the west
have been in decline for sometime now," said upland
bird staff biologist San Stiver. "The most important
thing we can do now, to understand why this is
occurring, is to collect good data."
The best single source of data on sage grouse comes
from the wings of harvested birds. Biologists can
take the wings and determine a myriad of things
about individual birds as well as the sage grouse
population as a whole.
"We earl take a barrel full of wings and deter-
mine the number of males, females and young of
the year along with how successful the females
were in reproducing," says Stiver, " and all of this
information can be gathered from studying the
wings."
The Division of Wildlife is leaving it up to the
state's hunters to gather the wings." needed for the
sage grouse "wing bee" study that will be held after
the hunting season. "Hunters harvest birds in a
wide variety of locations, a far greater number of
locations that we can get to as biologists," Stiver
added.
Hunters are asked to make the voluntary donation
at wing barrels located in the field, or with NDOW
employees whom they may contact while in the field.
Wings can also be left at any division office.
Hunters planning to donate wings are asked to keep
them cook, dry and away from flies. A paper lunch sack
is suggested as a way to make sure the wing remains in
good enough shape for biologists to study.
A diagram and instructions on where to detach the
wing and for its proper care is included in the 1997-
98 upland game bird seasons brochure which is avail-
able at license agents and Division of Wildlife of-
flees.
• Fishing Report
by Coff Schneider
Nevada Disiom of Wildlife
LAKE MEAD - During the.past week there have been days
when the striped bass fishing has been outstanding and other days
when the fishing has been dismal.
The best area for finding stripers has been from Pyramid Island
to the Hemenway Wall and Govexnment Wash. Stripers are also
being taken with surface lures from midnight to sunrise at
Hemenway Harbor.
Several boaters have reported catching stripers that weigh
from eight to 10 pounds. Most of the large fish have come from
deep water by vertical jigging and trolling deep with lures and
anchovies.
Largemouth bass fishing has been good with the fish being
caught in coves with spinners, artificial worms and Sassy Shad.
LAKE MOHAVE. Striped bass fishing has been good for the
small number of anglers who have been trying their luck.
Stripers weighing up to two pounds are being caught around
Owl's Point. Smaller fish are being caught in the Six Mile Cove
area.
Most anglers are going deep with lead line and whole ancho-
vies to catch the fish. Drifting cut anchovies is producing small
stripers.
Two fishermen reported catching more than 30 small stripers
and several channel catfish by fishing from shore immediately
above Cottonwood Cove. They also caught a 10-inch rainbow
trout.
WAYNEE.KIRCH WILDLIFEMANAGEMEI'Cr ARlgA
- Cold weather and fair fishing for rainbow trout is.still being
found at Cold Springs and Haymeadow Reservoirs. Largemouth
bass fishing is very slow.
EAGLE VALLEY RESERVOIR - Anglers report having
only fair success for recently planted rainbow trout.
ECHO CANYON RESERVOIR - Very few anglers have
been seen at the Lincoln County reservoir during the past week.
Fishing is reported to he fair for stocked rainbow trout and slow
for largemouth bass and crappie.
