OUTDOOR BRIEFS

LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

Introduction to fly-fishing class set

The Nevada Department of Wildlife, in cooperation with the Boulder City Parks and Recreation Department, will be having an introduction to fly-fishing class in Boulder City on Oct. 25.

There will be a $5 fee for the class.

This hands-on class will be split into two sessions, with the first part beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the gymnasium located at the ABC Park, 801 Adams Blvd.

That will be followed up with the casting portion of the class, which will start at noon and be at the pond in Veterans' Memorial Park (weather permitting).

All equipment will be provided free of charge.

For more information, contact the Boulder City Parks and Recreation Department, (702) 293-9256.

HUNTING SEASON

Field care key to having tasty table fare

Upland game and waterfowl seasons are now officially under way throughout much of the Silver State.

As hunters bag their game, it's important to remember the key to turning game into tasty table fare is proper care in the field.

"The rule for taking care of game is really quite simple," said Martin Olson, Hunter Education Coordinator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. "Keep it clean. Keep it cool. Keep it dry."

Hunters, he said, should field dress their birds or rabbits as soon as they retrieve them.

This is especially important during the early part of the season when daytime temperatures are still warm.

It only takes a minute to gut the bird and remove the crop before placing it in a game bag or in a cooler.

The area surrounding the crop is often the first to go bad.

Another important thing to keep in mind is to not pile up warm birds.

Field dressing will help to cool them out, but some hunters will pick up their bird or rabbit and place them in their game bag without dressing them. Doing so creates a situation where the birds remain warm, Olson said.

"As soon as possible, hunters should hang their dressed birds or rabbits in a shaded area where air can circulate and cool the birds. Once the bird is cooled, they can be placed in a cooler with a frozen jug of water so the birds stay dry yet cool," said Olson.