Date: 7/24/08
Contact: Aaron Meier
Phone: (775) 688-1998

SPECIAL SAGE-GROUSE HUNT APPLICATIONS OPEN

Applications for the 2008 Special Sage-Grouse Hunt at Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, in northwest Nevada on the Oregon border, are now available on the Nevada Department of Wildlife website at http://www.ndow.org/hunt/apps/.

The Sheldon hunt will be open for two weekends Sept. 20-21 and Sept. 27-28. This is a permitted hunt, with 75 permits awarded by random draw available for each hunt by reservation only. The hunt is open to both residents and nonresidents. The daily limit is two and the possession limit is four for sage grouse.

Permit applications are available in a paper copy format via the NDOW website (www.ndow.org). Applications must be received by mail or in person by 5 p.m. on August 1, 2008 at the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) headquarters office.

“The Sheldon Sage-Grouse Hunt is a popular hunt with only 75 reservations available for an early and late season. Last year the Department received over 450 applications for the 150 available reservations,” said NDOW game biologist Shawn Espinosa.

He adds that a regulation change was adopted by the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners at their June meeting. “One of the more important things for folks to know regarding the Sheldon Sage-grouse Hunt is that the limits have been reduced this year from three daily and six in possession to two and four respectively,” said Espinosa. He points to a low lek count (776 in 2007 and only 392 this year) as the main factor for the reduced limits.

Both residents and nonresidents must have an upland game stamp and either a hunting license or short term permit to hunt while hunting upland game in Nevada.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.