Join park rangers at Washoe Lake State Park for a leisurely spring wildflower walk. Discover some of the many beautiful wildflowers in bloom on this two mile, moderate walk starting at the main boat ramp. Phlox, Daisies, Butterweed, Lupine, Larkspur, Paintbrush and many more wildflowers will be highlighted on this walk.

WHAT: Spring Wildflower Walk

WHEN: Saturday, May 4 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

WHERE: Participants will meet at the main boat ramp.

Nevada Sen. Harry Reid said Wednesday on the floor of the U.S. Senate that he supports an assault weapons ban, limits on high-capacity ammunition clips and polices to improve access to mental health services. He spoke of mass shootings that have happened across the country and close to home in Carson City.

"As the case of the Carson City, Nevada IHOP tragedy reveals, the deficiencies in this nation’s mental health treatment system are another important part of the discussion about how to prevent gun violence," Reid said on the Senate floor. "We have simply not done a good job of providing funding for and access to mental health services. We have also done a poor job of removing the stigma that keeps many Americas from seeking the treatment they need."

In our many wanderings in the Great Outdoors in the last few years, Elaine and I have encountered all kinds of wildlife and birds; and I thought that it might be fun to share some of those encounters in the hope that, you too, might also experience some unforgettable memories.

So, with that as a lead-in, here's where to look and what you might see, and don't forget to take your iPhones or digital cameras for photos:

This is a reminder that if you're one of many thousands of big game hunters interested in drawing a 2013 hunting tag for Pronghorn Antelope, Mule Deer, California Bighorn Sheep, Desert (Nelson) Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Elk and Rocky Mountain Goat in the State of Nevada, be advised the application period begins Monday, March 18 at 8 a.m.

If you’re a fisherman or fisherwoman, it’s that time of the year to remind you to purchase your Nevada 2013-2014 fishing license.

That new fishing license year begins on March 1 and it will run through the last day in February, 2014.
As a special tip you would be well advised to purchase that new license ASAP, because if you forget, go fishing and get checked by “The Friendly Old Game Warden,” he isn’t going to be very happy nor will you.

This is the last installment of “The Sagebrushers.” This series was written to profile the lives and careers and credit some of Nevada’s early newspapermen. The men named in this story were some of the more prominent Sagebrushers. There were many others, but space here did not allow us to name those who also deserved recognition.

Elaine and I spent last Friday and Saturday manning an exhibit at the ninth annual Grand Slam Club OVIS Hunter and Outfitter Convention held at the Grand Sierra Hotel and Casino Hotel in Reno.

We were there to help Paul Dankowski, Game Warden and Operation Game Thief (OGT) Coordinator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW).

The two of us serve as State Directors on the OGT Citizen's Board, and had volunteered to man the OGT exhibit trailer for those two days.

First, let me say Happy New Year. This is the first part of January and this is also a good time for all of us (including me) to make some personal resolutions for the year 2013.
Most importantly, remember that if you do make any resolutions, be sure to follow through with what you resolve to do in this new year.
Resolutions are easy to make, but sometimes hard to accomplish.
I have a number of things I would like to accomplish this year, so without any further ado, here are my 2013 resolutions:

I RESOLVE TO:
Finally catch a fish larger than Elaine's:

As I have done for many years, my last article of the current year is to present the Annual Don Q Awards for a number of different reasons.

Those reasons include such assorted things as: Outstanding, memorable, good, not so good, questionable, bad, serious, funny, dumb, head-scratching, are-you-kidding, etc.

Those annual awards are presented to all kinds of people or places or things for what has occurred throughout the year. It’s a fun way to end the year for yours truly, so without further ado, here are my 2012 winners:

Thin Veil Investigatiors present their second annual Holiday Bazaar.
Saturday, November 10, 2012 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
430 Jeannell Drive Carson City, Nevada
Beat The Shopping Rush with our Artisians, Professionals and Regional Vendors.
No cover charge
Some of the Vendors are:
Katerina's Korner.
Sandie's Psychic STUFF : Metaphysical items for your personal and ritual needs, Hemp jewerly, Paranormal

Paraphernalia, more!
Lisa's Antique Creations.
Sandie's Psychic Stones - Intuitive Readings gift certificates.
Ribbons & Rainbows handmade jewelry.

When you talk to chukar hunters in Nevada you hear about how challenging the hunt actually is. You climb up steep mountains with rough terrain trying to catch a bird that is fast and clever and seems to take great joy in taunting you. It makes you wonder why they do it.
“There are so many reasons why chukar hunting is so popular in Nevada,” said Chris Vasey, Western Region outdoor educator at the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW). “It really is the thrill of the chase. I can honestly say there are very few things as rewarding as getting your limit in chukar.”

Michael P. Carion has been named chief of the Law Enforcement Division at the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG).
Carion, a lifelong hunter and angler, has been a DFG warden for more than 30 years. He also teaches waterfowl enforcement techniques and waterfowl identification to cadets at DFG’s academy.
“Throughout my career, I have made every effort to include hunting, fishing and environmental stakeholders in the decision-making process,” said Carion. “I have found we get much better results by working together.”

Ghost hunting isn't about TV shows. It is about effort and participation. The Mesopotamians, the Egyptians, those in the Renaissance era, and investigators throughout history had to hunt for spirits in basic ways.
A "Back To Basics In Paranormal Investigation 101" class is being held by the Thin Veil Investigators ghost hunting team. Learn how to hunt ghosts applying simple techniques and common tools.
Learn about the importance of: spirit communications, protective agents, and how your interest and enthusiasm matter most.

It's time that ghost hunting returned to hunting ghosts.

With the big Labor Day weekend, the last outdoor trips of the summer, the start of many different big game and bird hunting seasons, the beginning of a new school year, etc., all coming up around the corner, here are some suggestions that just might save your life, if you are planning to venture into the Great Outdoors, all alone, on a photographing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, backpacking, camping, fishing, hunting, climbing, trip:

Wilbur Lane came into the world July 4, 1921 and is one of a handful of remaining World War II veterans who served on the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, which entered the war Dec.7, 1941 when her planes found the Japanese squadrons attacking Pearl Harbor.
“It was the most decorated ship of WWII, called The Galloping Ghost because (the Japanese) couldn’t find us,” Lane said from his home in Dayton. “Every time they bombed us, they’d announce it on the radio in Japan.”

Nevada Department of Wildlife game wardens are seeking information on a deer that was shot and left to suffer and ultimately die near Pioche in the early morning hours of May 31.

The Operation Game Thief Citizens’ Board is offering a $500 reward on information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.

My wife and I take two weeks each fall to hunt moose in the Yukon.
 We decided to travel 90 miles from home into the mountains and camp near a large swamp where I had called in two moose the year before. 
We left home on Wednesday and set up our camp.
We have a Toyota Tacoma 4 x 4 and a Four Wheel Camper loaded on.
It was a 5 minute walk to the swamp edge to allow quiet coming and going.
I called some on Wednesday night.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife's quota recommendation for the 2012 black bear hunt is being challenged by an Alaskan biologist and author hired by one of the hunt's most passionate opponents.

“The State has not met its burden of proof that this population is robust enough to withstand repeated sport hunting without its viability being seriously jeopardized,” said Stephen Stringham, who holds a doctorate in behavioral and population ecology, in a statement. Stringham is president of Wild Watch based out of Alaska.

CARSON CITY – A coalition of Native American tribes has filed a lawsuit in Nevada District Court seeking to overturn a ruling issued earlier this year by the state engineer granting nearly 84,000-acre-feet of groundwater in four rural eastern valleys to Las Vegas.

This is a first reminder that if you're one of many tens of thousands of big game hunters interested in drawing a 2012 hunting tag for Pronghorn Antelope, Mule Deer, California Bighorn Sheep, Desert (Nelson) Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Elk and Rocky Mountain Goat in the State of Nevada, be advised that the final deadline for RECEIVING your application(s) is 5 p.m. on Monday, April 16.

The drawing results will be made available to the public by June 11. If you want to apply, you can do so by one of two different methods: 


If you're one of many thousands of big game hunters interested in drawing a 2012 hunting tag for Pronghorn Antelope, Mule Deer, California Bighorn Sheep, Desert (Nelson) Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Elk and Rocky Mountain Goat in the State of Nevada, be advised that it is almost time to begin to submit your application(s) to hunt one or more of the big game species listed above.
The 2012 application period begins Monday, March 19 at 8 a.m.

On Feb. 12, Sal and Catali Quilici of Dayton and Elaine and I traveled by two convoying vehicles on U.S. 395 from Carson City to Lone Pine, Calif., which was the half-way point to our final destination of La Quinta.
It was our annual winter escape to Southern California.

The four of us had been invited to join Don and Norma Reasons of Carson City for several days at one of their friend’s home, located across from the ninth green at the PGA West – Stadium Golf Course in La Quinta.

The year of 2011 was anything but quiet for the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG).
Pesky bears, a roaming gray wolf, significant poaching arrests, tsunami relief work and dramatic wildlife rescues were among the stories that captured the public’s attention.
DFG also welcomed new Director Charlton H. Bonham, who was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown in August.

It’s the very first part of January and this is a good time for all of us to make some personal resolutions for the year 2012. Most importantly, remember that if you do make any resolutions, be sure to follow through with what you resolve to do in this new year. I have a number of things I would like to accomplish this year, so without any further ado, here are my resolutions: