Big game applications on the rise

A record number of hunters applied for Nevada's big game tags this year. Wildlife Administrative Services, the contracted vendor responsible for producing the big game draw for the Nevada Department of Wildlife, reported 146,911 applications for the 2008 main draw, a 4.2 percent increase over 2007 numbers.

A total of 53,757 hunters applied in 2008, compared to 52,878 in 2007. Hunters can apply for up to seven different hunts. More than 93 percent of the applications were submitted online via the Internet.

While many sportsmen now wait to hear whether they can make their vacation plans around a 2008 hunt, others are setting themselves up for a hunt at a later date. More than 15 percent of the 2008 applications were for bonus points only.

Bonus points allow a hunter to build points toward a future draw, and allow flexibility to plan hunts around family time and other time constraints. Building bonus points early enhances the greater possibility for obtaining a tag later; and with the ever- increasing number of big game applicants, outdoorsmen should begin to build bonus points as soon as possible.

Hunters will be informed about whether they drew a tag by June 20, the information will also be posted on line at www.ndow.org and in all NDOW regional offices.