OUTDOOR BRIEFS

ANGLER EDUCATION

Join program to teach at fishing clinics

When asked about fishing, do you describe yourself as one who not only loves to fish but is also passionate about fishing? Do you get a thrill when showing a young person or a friend how to cast a line or bait a hook? If this sounds like you, then the Nevada Department of Wildlife would like to invite you to join the angler education program and introduce nonanglers to fishing.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer in the angler education program is invited to attend a new volunteer meeting and training session at 6:30 p.m. March 12 at the NDOW Las Vegas office, 4747 Vegas Drive. For more information, contact Ivy Santee at 486-5127, Ext. 3503 weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FREE COURSE

Fly-tying workshop scheduled for March 6

Fly-fishing is one of the fastest growing segments of the recreational fishing world. As it has grown in popularity, so too has the hobby of fly-tying. Many fly-anglers say there are few experiences as satisfying as catching a fish on a fly they tied themselves.

For those are interested in tying their own flies, the Nevada Department of Wildlife will be having a free fly-tying workshop at 7 p.m. March 6.

For this workshop, all equipment and materials will be provided. The class will be at the NDOW office located at 4747 Vegas Drive (at Decatur Boulevard). Registration for this class will begin at 8 a.m. Monday. For more information, contact Ivy Santee at 486-5127, Ext. 3503 weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FINDING YOUR TYPE

Hunters often evolve through five stages

Nevada's big game tag draw is still weeks away, but as hunters get ready to send in their tag applications they may want to ask themselves, "What type of hunter am I?"

Natural human instinct, the personal challenge, a relationship with nature and sport are just some of the many reasons millions of hunters take to the field each year. While each hunter has his or her own reason or purpose in taking up hunting, there are five basic stages that each hunter will pass through at some point during their hunting career: the shooter stage, limiting-out stage, trophy stage, method stage and the sportsman stage.

The shooter stage is just that. A person finds satisfaction in getting a lot of shooting in during the hunt. Success is defined by the number of times the trigger is pulled during the hunting process whether or not he bags his quarry.

In the limiting-out stage, a hunter still talks about satisfaction gained from shooting, but success is measured through the number of birds or game animals taken. Limiting-out, by filling a big game tag or harvesting the legal number of game birds, is the absolute measure.

The trophy stage hunter is so termed because of the selectivity he exercises when choosing game for harvest. A duck hunter may select only greenhead mallards while a deer hunter may pass on several bucks while hoping for a particular deer in size or character. They may go home empty handed but find success through the hunting adventure itself.

In the method stage, the hunter's focus is on how game will be taken and he spends an enormous amount of time researching different techniques and strategies to successfully harvest game. At this stage, hunting is very important in a person's life.

During the sportsman stage, as a hunter ages and after many years of hunting, he tends to "mellow out." Satisfaction comes through the total hunting experience and in sharing that experience with others. Being in the field, enjoying the company of friends and family and seeing nature outweigh the need for taking game.