Some selected information on upland game hunting seasons

Today is Aug. 19 and it is also that time of the year when bird hunters and their hunting dogs are beginning to perk up and come alive again.

So, if the "man of the house" or your next door neighbor, relative, co-worker, friend, significant other, "main squeeze," casual acquaintance, etc. has been acting a little strange recently, relax.

There's nothing wrong.

They're perfectly OK, it's just that time of the year, it's bird hunting time.

So, if someone you know falls into that category, here is some selected upland game hunting information for their use:

• Blue and Ruffed Grouse:

The 2004 Nevada Blue Grouse and Ruffed Grouse hunting season will open on Sept. 4 in the following counties: Carson City, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Nye, Washoe and White Pine.

It is closed in all other counties.

There is a daily limit of 2 and a possession limit of 4.

This season closes on Nov. 30.

Hunting hours are sunrise to sunset.

Open to non-residents.

Note No. 1: 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.

Note No. 2: Persons harvesting ruffed grouse in Humboldt County are requested to report the harvest to the Department of Wildlife's Winnemucca sub-office at 815 East Fourth St., Winnemucca, NV 89445.

For information, call the Nevada Department of Wildlife office in Winnemucca at (775) 623-6565.

• Common Crow:

The 2004 Nevada common crow Fall Season will open, statewide, on Sept. 1.

There is a daily bag limit of 10.

The Fall Season closes on Nov. 14.

Shotguns only.

All crows must be retrieved and removed from the field.

Note: Season is closed on all Ravens.

Crow/Raven identification tips:

The crow (17.5 inches) is noticeably smaller than a raven (24 inches).

Crows often flock, while ravens are more solitary birds.

The crow's bill is much smaller than the raven, and its tail is square.

The raven's heavy bill, shaggy throat feathers and wedge-shaped tail also set it apart from the common crow.

Open to non-residents.

For information, call the Nevada Department of Wildlife in Reno at 688-1500 during business hours.

• Mourning and White Wing Dove:

The 2004 Nevada Mourning and White-Wing Dove hunting season will open, statewide, on Sept. 1.

There is a limit of 10 Doves daily and 20 in possession.

This season closes on Sept. 30.

Shooting hours are one half hour before sunrise to sunset daily.

This season is open to non-residents.

Special Note No. 1: White-wing dove season is closed in all counties except Clark and Nye Counties.

Special Note. NO. 2: 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 No. 3: All hunters, 12 years and older, are also reminded that they will need to obtain a Harvest Information Program (HIP) validation number by either calling (800) WETLAND or going to www.wetland.net to be able to hunt migratory bird species.

That validation number is free.

For information, call the Nevada Department of Wildlife at 688-1500 during business hours.

• Falconry:

The 2004-2005 Nevada falconry hunting season will open, statewide, on Sept. 1.

There is a daily bag limit of 2 and a possession limit of 2 (Chukar, sage grouse, blue grouse, ruffed grouse, pheasant, snowcock, Hungarian partridge, quail and rabbit).

This season closes on Feb. 28, 2005.

Hunting hours are sunrise to sunset daily.

Can hunt all resident upland game birds, except turkey and sharp-tailed grouse and sage grouse in those areas where there is not an open general season. All rabbits.

Limits singly or in the aggregate.

Open to non-residents.

For information, call the Nevada Department of Wildlife at 688-1500 during business hours.

• Snowcock:

The 2004 Nevada Snowcock (Himalayan Snow partridge) hunting season will open on Sept. 4.

Open in Elko County's Management Units 101, 102, and 103, and that portion of White Pine County in Unit 103.

It is closed in all other counties and other areas in Elko and White Pine.

A daily and season limit of two birds.

This season closes on Nov. 30.

Hunting hours are sunrise to sunset.

Open to non-residents.

Special Note: Persons planning to hunt snowcocks are requested to obtain a snowcock hunting, free-use-permit, which is in PDF format at Internet website www.ndow.org or from the Department of Wildlife Eastern Region Office, at 60 Youth Center Road, Elko, Nevada 89801.

Permits can also be E-mailed to the hunter from the Elko office.

For information, call the Nevada Department of Wildlife regional office in Elko at (775) 777-2300.

• There you have it:

Some selected information that a bird hunter might need for those hunting seasons that begin early next month.

Most importantly, be sure that hunter either picks up a copy of the 2004 seasons and regulations and he/she carries it in the field, or goes to the Nevada Department of Wildlife website (www.ndow.org) to check on those seasons and regulations.

• Bet Your Favorite Pigeon

Bet your favorite pigeon that he can't tell you where Nevada's snowcocks (AKA Himalayan Snow partridge) 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 very serious trouble with this particular bet.