Outdoor Briefs

ANGLER EDUCATION

Free fly-tying workshop scheduled

For anglers wanting to tie their own flies, the Nevada Department of Wildlife will have a free fly-tying workshop at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 9. This hands-on, entry-level course will teach participants the basics of tying fishing flies. Students will learn what equipment, materials, and techniques are needed for this hobby. All equipment and materials will be provided. The class will be at the NDOW office located at 4747 Vegas Drive. Registration for this class will begin at 8 a.m. Thursday. For more information, call 486-5127, Ext. 3503.

THINK AHEAD

Get ready now to apply for game tags

The cold, gray days of mid-winter are not a time many hunters think about hunting next fall. But in Nevada, January, February and early March mean big game tag application season will soon arrive and with it, renewed hope of drawing a coveted tag this fall.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife urges hunters to get ready for the busy draw season now by ensuring their hunter education requirement is met by pre-registering their hunter education information with the Wildlife Administrative Services Office or taking a Hunter Education class before the rush to apply begins.

Nevada law requires anyone born after Jan. 1, 1960, to show proof of having successfully completed a hunter education course before purchasing a hunting license. For many hunters each year, it is this hunter education proof requirement that can stand in the way of submitting the application that will result in a tag.

Hunters who have already completed a hunter education course can quickly confirm their information is on file by going to www.huntnevada.com. Simply click on "Hunter Education Confirmation Lookup" and follow the instructions to make sure your record is on file. If the search doesn't produce the record, download the form and follow instructions to preregister. Hunters who need to take a hunter education class will find plenty of classes to choose from at www.ndow.com. A multitude of locations and times are offered.

For those new to the Nevada draw, NDOW will once again have tag application workshops in Las Vegas and Reno. The workshops are designed to explain the tag application process, covering such topics as game management, hunt unit information, draw odds, bonus points and the mechanics of the draw itself. Workshop details, times and locations can be found on the NDOW Web site at www.ndow.org.

Maureen Hullinger, NDOW licensing program officer, recommends every hunter attend a workshop at least once to gain a better understanding of the process.

"If there is one area where we are constantly trying to correct misinformation, it's the tag draw," said Hullinger. "There are no secrets, no magic formulas presented, but understanding how the process works is one of the single most important steps a hunter can take towards being successful in the draw."