Outdoors: Selected information on upland bird hunting seasons

This is that time of the year when bird hunters and their hunting dogs perk up, come alive again and get a chance to enjoy their pursuit of different types of game birds.

So, if the man of the house or your next door neighbor, relative, co-worker, friend, significant other, "main squeeze," etc. has been acting a little strange recently, relax. There's nothing wrong. They're A-OK. It's bird hunting time!

So, if he is any kind of a bird hunter, ranging all the way from the casual "weekend warrior" to the deadly serious, season-long, dedicated hunter, here is some, selected, upland bird hunting information for his use:

-- Blue and Ruffed Grouse:

The 2001 Nevada blue and ruffed grouse hunting season opened on Sept. 1. This season closes Nov. 30.

It is open only in the following counties: Carson City, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Nye, Washoe and White Pine.

The daily limit is two and the possession limit is four.

Also open to non-residents.

Special Note: The head or one fully feathered wing must be attached to all blue and ruffed grouse until the carcass reaches the possessor's residence or a commercial facility for its preservation.

Special Note: Persons harvesting ruffed grouse in Humboldt County are requested to report to the Nevada Division of Wildlife Western Region Office at 380 W. "B" St. in Fallon or to call that office at (775) 423-3171.

-- Chukar and Hungarian Partridge:

The 2001 Nevada chukar hunting season opens on Oct. 6 in Clark, Esmeralda, Lincoln and Nye Counties. This season will close on Jan. 31.

The 2001 Nevada chukar hunting season opens in the rest of the state on Oct. 13. This season will close on Jan. 31.

The daily limit is six and the possession limit is 12.

Also open to non-residents.

-- Common Crow:

The 2001 Nevada crow hunting season opened on Sept. 1 in all counties except Clark and Lincoln. This season will close on Nov. 6. This season will re-open on Mar. 2 and run through Apr. 21.

Shotguns only.

The daily limit is 10.

All crows must be retrieved and removed from the field.

Season is closed on common raven.

Open to non-residents.

The season in Clark and Lincoln Counties is Oct. 26 - Jan. 20.

-- Mourning and white wing dove:

The 2001 Nevada mourning and white wing dove hunting season opened on Sept. 1 in all 17 counties. This season will close on Sept. 30.

The dove limit is 10 daily and 20 in possession.

Also open to non-residents.

Special Note: The white wing dove hunting season is closed in all counties, except Clark and Nye.

Special Note: Hunters are reminded that because the dove is a migratory bird and comes under Federal regulations, shotguns must be plugged to limit the overall shotgun capacity to three shells.

Special Note: Any person, 12 years or older, who plans to hunt any kind of migratory game bird, including ducks, geese, swans, coots, dove, snip or gallinules in Nevada, is required to obtain a Harvest Information Program (HIP) validation number. They must write that HIP number on their hunting license before entering the field.

The validation number is free.

It is available by calling 1-800-WETLAND (800-938-5263) or on the Internet at www.wetland.net.

-- Pheasant - Cocks only:

The 2001 Nevada pheasant hunting season will open on Oct. 13 in Clark County and close on Oct. 21. Hunters should be aware that Overton Wildlife Management Area has been closed to pheasant hunting for this season.

The 2001 Nevada pheasant hunting season will open on Nov. 3 in Pershing County and close on Nov. 11.

The 2001 Nevada pheasant hunting season will open on Nov. 3 in Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Eureka, Lander, Lyon, Storey, Washoe and White Pine Counties, and close on Nov. 18.

The 2001 Nevada pheasant hunting season will open on Nov. 3 in Humboldt County and close on Dec. 2.

The daily limit is two and the possession limit is four.

Closed to non-residents.

-- California, Gambel's, Scaled and Mountain Quail:

The 2001-2002 Nevada quail hunting season opens on Oct. 6 in Clark, Esmeralda, Lincoln and Nye Counties with a daily limit of 10 and a possession limit of 20.

The 2001-2002 Nevada quail hunting season opens on Oct. 13 in Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Humboldt, Lyon, Mineral, Pershing, Storey and Washoe Counties, except for the fenced and cultivated areas of Lovelock Valley in Pershing County, with a daily limit of 10 and a possession limit of 20.

The 2001-2002 Nevada quail hunting season opens on Oct. 13 in Elko, Eureka, Lander and White Pine Counties with a daily limit of five and possession limit of 10.

The 2001-2002 Nevada quail hunting season opens on Nov. 3 in the fenced and cultivated areas of Lovelock Valley in Pershing County, with a daily of 10 and a possession limit of 20.

Limits can not include more than two mountain quail daily or four in possession.

Open to non-residents.

All of these seasons will close on Jan. 31.

Note: The Nevada Division of Wildlife requests that hunters contact the NDOW Headquarters at 1100 Valley Road in Reno (688-1500) to report their mountain quail harvest.

-- Sage Grouse (Sagehen):

The 2001 Nevada sage grouse hunting season opens on Oct. 13. This season will close on Oct. 21.

This season will be open in Elko, Eureka, Humboldt except unit Nos. 042, 044 and 033, Lander except unit Nos. 183 and 184, Nye, White Pine and Washoe Counties, except unit Nos. 033, 021, 022, 194 and 196.

The daily limit is two and the possession limit is four.

Closed to non-residents.

The 2001 Nevada sage grouse hunting season opens on Sept. 15 in Unit No. 033 in Washoe and Humboldt Counties. This season will close on Sept. 16. This hunt is for special tag holders only.

The 2001 Nevada sage grouse hunting season opens on Sept. 22 in Unit No. 033 in Washoe and Humboldt Counties. This season will close on Sept. 23. This hunt is for special tag holders only.

-- Snowcock:

The 2001 Nevada snowcock hunting season opened on Sept. 1. This season will close on Nov. 15.

It is open only in Management Unit Nos. 101-102-103 in Elko County and a portion of White Pine County in Unit No. 103.

The daily and possession limit is two birds.

Also open to non-residents.

Note: Persons harvesting snowcocks are requested to report the harvest to the Nevada Division of Wildlife Eastern Region Office at 1375 Mountain City Highway in Elko or call (775) 738-5332.

-- So, there you have it, some selected information that a bird hunter would need to go out and enjoy the various, 2001, Nevada upland bird hunting seasons.

Be sure to pick up a copy of the 2001 season and regulations and carry it with you in the field.

-- Bet Your Favorite Pigeon

Bet your favorite pigeon that he can't tell you where Nevada's snowcocks originally came from.

If he grins and says, "They were introduced into Nevada, many years ago, from the Himalayan Mountains area of Asia," you are in serious trouble with this particular bet.