NDOW presents the Nevada Wild Podcast

Ice fishing season is almost here! For those anglers new to ice fishing, you are in for a surprise. It is relaxing, quite easy and much more social than its warm weather cousin. In this week's Nevada Wild, NDOW's Ashley Sanchez talks to eastern Nevada's Conservation Educator Joe Doucette about the best ice fishing locations, safety, tips, gear and more!

National Audubon's Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is the nation's longest-running citizen science bird project. Over a century's worth of data has been collected since the project began, and now its as much of a tradition for many friends and families as it is a massive scientific project. In this week's Nevada Wild, NDOW's Ashley Sanchez sits down with Lahontan Audubon Society's Jim Woods and Rob Lowry to talk about local bird counts, how you can get involved and the significance of the Christmas Bird Count to scientific research. Learn more about the Christmas Bird Count here: https://www.audubon.org/conservation/join-christmas-bird-count You can get involved and sign up for the count circles Lowry and Woods talk about in the podcast here: https://www.nevadaaudubon.org/2018-christmas-bird-count.html

Waterfowl hunting season is well underway! In this week's Nevada Wild NDOW's Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with NDOW Migratory Game Bird Staff Specialist Russell Woolstenhulme and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Waterfowl Biologist Chris Nicolai to explain their work with waterfowl, how they first started waterfowl hunting, their appreciation for the birds, and share insight into what makes Nevada the perfect state for this outdoor pursuit.

Black Friday weekend is here! It's officially the time of year when people rush to the stores to find the best deals on gifts for their family and friends. In this week's Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with Cabela's Assistant Store Manager Mike Aiazzi, and Nevada Wild regular Julie Watson to share gift ideas for Nevada's outdoorsmen and women, and share Black Friday giveaways at Cabela's and Bass Pro Shops.

Tired of using the same old recipes to cook wild game? There are so many fun, creative recipes! Just looking at the thumbnail picture makes us hungry! In this week's podcast we feature Kristy Crabtree with Nevada Foodies Wild Game Cuisine and Nothing to It! Cooking School & Kitchen Store's Lara Ritchie! They share some great information on cooking wild game, just in time for the holidays! Be sure to keep an eye on our page for it.

In 2018, we mark the centennial of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the most powerful and important bird-protection law ever passed. In honor of this milestone, the Nevada Department of Wildlife has joined forces with other nature lovers around the world for the year-long Year of the Bird celebration. Every month, all year long we are posting photos and facts about Nevada's birds as part of our commitment to protect birds today and for the next hundred years. In this week's Nevada Wild NDOW's Aaron Keller and Ashley Sanchez sit down with avid bird watchers Rob Lowry and NDOW's Julie Watson to talk about the importance of this celebration and what you can do to contribute. To see monthly Year of the Bird posts, be sure to find the Nevada Department of Wildlife on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/NvDOW/). Learn more about the Year of the Bird Celebration at these links: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/projects/year-of-the-bird https://www.audubon.org/yearofthebird Find out how you can contribute to bird research locally with the Lahontan Audubon Society here: https://www.nevadaaudubon.org/

In this week's Nevada Wild, Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with Nevada Department of Wildlife Director Tony Wasley and Mule Deer Staff Specialist Cody Schroeder to talk about all things mule deer. They discuss the current state of mule deer populations in Nevada, projects to protect and understand those populations, mule deer hunting and more.

NDOW is celebrating Bat Week from October 24 right to Halloween. Bat Week is an annual, international celebration of the role of bats in nature. Many people think of bats as one of the scary creatures associated with Halloween. You might be surprised, however, to learn that nearly everything you thought about bats is incorrect and they are actually extremely important to the success of Nevada’s ecosystems. In this week's Nevada Wild, NDOW's Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller speak with Wildlife Diversity Biologist Christy Klinger, who debunks the myths surrounding bats and talks about their importance to the ecosystems they inhabit.

The fall months in Northern Nevada provide plenty of fishing opportunities. In fact, some fisherman wait until the fall months to dust off their rods and put on their waders. This week, Aaron Keller talks fall fishing in Northern Nevada with Jan Nemec, Angler Education Coordinator out of Reno and Mike Curtis, Angler Education Volunteer, Fishing Guide and all-around fish head. Enjoy!

On this week's show Aaron Keller and Ashley Sanchez sit down with NDOW's Wildlife Veterinarian Peri Wolff. We find out how Peri got into her position, and why wildlife agencies across the country are hiring veterinarians into their ranks. We also talk through Avian Botulism, wildlife monitoring, how we can be proactive when we have animals in our hands, and tips on what the public can do to help us while they are out in Nevada.

Following a severe fire season, NDOW's Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with Conservation Ecologist Lee Turner and Public Information Officer(PIO) Beth Kenna, a former PIO for the North Tahoe Fire Prevention District, to talk about the restoration efforts. The Habitat Division plays an important role within the Nevada Department of Wildlife. The division's main objective is to ensure that Nevada wildlife habitats are productive and in good condition. In this week's Nevada Wild, Turner also outlines the other major habitat projects the Department is working on and the impact those projects have.

As fruit trees ripen, bears are going through a phase called hyperphagia, taking in more than 25,000 calories every day to see them into their dens. Every fall there are issues with bears getting into fruit trees. Aside from the damage bears can do to a fruit tree, it also brings them into close proximity to homes and other possible attractants resulting in conflict. That's why NDOW is encouraging you to pick the fruit from you fruit trees as soon it ripens. There's even a few groups that will pick fruit for you, and donate that fruit to pantries. In this week's Nevada Wild, NDOW's Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with NDOW bear biologist Heather Reich and arborist Tom Henderson with Healthy Trees out of Carson City to talk about the help gleaning groups need from you this time of year. For more information about Healthy Trees tree service and gleaning, visit them on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Healthy-Trees-216423199852/) or at their website http://healthytreesonline.com/.

Saturday, September 22 is National Public lands Day, the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands, held annually on the fourth Saturday in September. NPLD brings together hundreds of thousands of individual and organizational volunteers to help restore America’s public lands. NDOW is partnering up with agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management Nevada, to hold events around the state for you and your family to take part in. The fun doesn't stop after Saturday, the entire month of September is Public Lands Month, which celebrates great places to hunt and fish. In this week's Nevada Wild, NDOW's Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with BLM Nevada's Rita Henderson to talk about all of the events going on this month and why you should celebrate. For a map of events click here: https://www.blm.gov/get-involved/volunteers/national-public-lands-day Be sure to use #NPLD in your pictures, so we can share them.

The Wayne E. Kirch Nevada Wildlife Conservation Award is given annually to recipients who have demonstrated significant results towards conservation, management or enhancement of wildlife. This year's recipient is the Tortoise Group, which has shown astounding commitment to Nevada’s wildlife by working to protect and educate the public on desert tortoises for almost 30 years. In this week's Nevada Wild, NDOW's Ashley Sanchez, Aaron Keller and Julie Watson discuss the Tortoise Groups work with Tortoise Group Eand why it is critical for desert tortoises in Nevada and surrounding states. If you are interested in adopting a desert tortoise or volunteering for the group head to this link: http://tortoisegroup.org/

The Nevada Department of Wildlife is starting a brand new program in October, that encourages not only students to learn about wildlife, but the entire public! The new program, Nevada Knockout, takes place on our Facebook page. ANYONE can participate. We will be releasing brackets on September 17 with 64 Nevada animals for you to choose one winner! Then every Monday starting October 8 we will post the outcomes of the matchups until we get to the Championship on December 10. In this week's Nevada Wild, Aaron Keller and Ashley Sanchez sit down with NDOW Wildlife Educators Julie Watson and Jess Brooks to explain the program, and the importance of getting everyone involved.

The University of Nevada, Reno's Field Day is coming up on September 8. This event features hands-on activities and information focusing on the latest advancements in agriculture, horticulture, nutrition, natural resources and the environment. In this week's Nevada Wild NDOW's Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with Claudene Wharton and Robert Moore with UNR's College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources to talk about the event, NDOW's role in the event, and the importance of agriculture to Nevada and Nevada's wildlife. Find more information about Field Day here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2057703351175918/

Every year upland game hunters look forward to September 1! This is the day when hunting opens for many birds, including dove and blue grouse. In this week's Nevada Wild Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with Migratory Game Bird Biologist Russell Woolstenhulme and Upland Game Staff Shawn Espinosa to talk about what makes upland game hunting seasons so family friendly, and to go over some bird hunting tips.

A crucial division of the Nevada Department of Wildlife that doesn't get a lot of attention is its Fiscal Services Section. Fiscal Services has an important role, managing all of NDOW's funding, including your license dollars! In this week's Nevada Wild, NDOW's Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with Fiscal Services Section Chief Gabe Pincolini to talk about where NDOW's money comes from, and how it is used to fund conservation efforts.

This week Nevada Wild is focusing the podcast on Nevada's state mammal, the bighorn sheep. Over the years, the Nevada Department of Wildlife has worked with its partnering agencies to increase bighorn sheep populations across the state. NDOW's Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with Bighorn Sheep Biologist Mike Cox to talk about Nevada bighorns and the efforts to expand their populations.

Just in time for hunting season, we want to remind you about NDOW's Operation Game Thief (OGT) program. OGT provides a confidential, easy and effective way for you to report wildlife violations to the Nevada Department of Wildlife, 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week. And, just like Secret Witness, it's confidential - you can remain completely anonymous. In this week's Nevada Wild, Aaron Keller and Ashley Sanchez sit down with OGT Volunteer Andrea Emnas, Game Warden Captain Brian Eller and Game Warden Reserve Sergeant James Kocijanski to talk about the program, and what you can do to volunteer and help our wardens protect Nevada's wildlife resources.

With hunting season almost here, the Nevada Department of Wildlife wants to ensure that all outdoor enthusiasts are aware of the new seasonal restrictions on the use of trail cameras. In this week's Nevada Wild, NDOW's Aaron Keller and Ashley Sanchez sit down with Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioner David McNinch and NDOW's Chief Game Warden Tyler Turnipseed to talk about the regulation, and how and why it came into effect. You can read more about the regulation here: http://www.ndow.org/Our_Agency/News/Articles/New_Trail_Camera_Regulation_Now_in_Effect/

Right now, waters across Nevada are prime for boating. In this week's Nevada Wild, NDOW's Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with Conservation Educators Doug Nielsen and Joe Doucette to talk about the best places to boat in Nevada. Whether you're looking for popular waters for recreational boating and water sports, like Lake Mead and Lake Mohave, or a more peaceful spot for wildlife viewing, like the waters of the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge, we cover it all! If you haven't got your boat out this year, head to ndowlicensing.com today to register your boat and get out there!

It's almost time for the 28th Annual Angel Lake Kids Fishing Derby! The derby is Saturday, July 21 starting at 8:30 at beautiful Angel Lake just outside of Wells in Elko County. It is geared for children age 4 to 15, but the whole family is invited. In this week's Nevada Wild NDOW's Ashley Sanchez and Julie Watson sit down with conservation Educator Joe Doucette to talk about everything you need to know about the event and fishing conditions in eastern Nevada.

In this week's Nevada Wild, we're focused on giving visitors and property owners the information they need to help us keep Nevada bears wild. NDOW's Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with bear biologist Heather Reich to talk about electric fencing, a great option to keep bears and other wildlife away from your property, and other resources people can use in bear country.

In this week's Nevada Wild podcast, NDOW's Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with Boating Education Coordinators Aaron Meier and Nick Duhe to talk about Operation Dry Water, a nationally coordinated heightened awareness and enforcement campaign focused on deterring boaters from boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol. They also explain the steps you should take in order to keep your family safe out on the water.

You have less than 10 days left to purchase your tickets for the Nevada Dream Tag Raffle! Tickets will be available from now until Saturday, June 30th at 11:59pm. Not only does Nevada Dream Tags give you an opportunity to win a hunt of a lifetime, but most importantly it contributes to Nevada’s wildlife habitat. In this week's Nevada Wild, NDOW's Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller talk to Gohunt's Brady Miller to explain the Dream Tag program. In the second half of the podcast, they sit down with Habitat Division Chief Alan Jenne to talk about the impact the tag has on Nevada's wildlife habitat. Buy your Dream Tag raffle tickets here: http://nvdreamtag.org/

The summer season is almost officially here, so it's time to explore our state and see its diverse wildlife. NDOW's Ashley Sanchez sits down with avid hikers Julie Watson, Jinna Larkin, Abbey Czarnecki(all with NDOW) and Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation's Executive Director Nathan Daniel to give suggestions on where you should go for your next adventure and some tips you should consider to prepare.

We're excited about an event coming up on June 16, The Nevada Outdoor Experience. The FREE event is co-sponsored by the Wild Sheep Foundation and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. The goal is to excite and inspire the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts. In this week's Nevada Wild podcast, NDOW's Ashley Sanchez and Aaron Keller sit down with the Wild Sheep Foundation's Ryan Brock to talk about the event. Two special guests join us in the second half! For more details on the Nevada Outdoor Experience head to this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/379842715831751

Free Fishing Day is your one chance during the year to get hooked for free! No fishing license is needed for adults or children on this date. In this week's Nevada Wild, Education Coordinators Aaron Keller, Joe Doucette and Ivy Santee sit down with Public Information Officer Ashley Sanchez to talk about Free Fishing Day and all of the events being held around the state. For a complete list of Free Fishing Day events and more details head to this link: http://www.ndow.org/Fish/Free_Fishing_Day/

Every year NDOW holds carp derbies across the state to encourage people to get out and fish for carp. In this week's Nevada Wild, Public Information Officer Ashley Sanchez and Conservation Education Chief Chris Vasey sit down with carp fishing enthusiasts Aaron Keller, Jan Nemec and Ivy Santee to cover everything you need to know about carp fishing and some of the upcoming events.

This week we are talking about a threatened species of the west, the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout. Public Information Officer Ashley Sanchez and Outdoor Education Coordinator Aaron Keller sit down with Fisheries Biologists Travis Hawks, Cody Byrne and Mike Star to talk about NDOW’s efforts to recover the species.

Bears are up and about! NDOW has a lot of resources available to help you avoid conflicts with bears. Here to talk about the resources and tips on keeping Nevada bears wild are NDOW bear biologist Heather Reich and Caughlin Ranch Homeowners Association General Manager Lorrie Olson. For more tips on avoiding human-bear conflicts, head to http://www.ndow.org/Nevada_Wildlife/Bear_Logic/

Reno's biggest event this May is only one week away. In last week's Nevada Wild podcasts we talked about all of the events celebrating the river for One Truckee River Month. This week we're talking about Reno River Festival 2018. Outdoor Education Coordinator Aaron Keller talks about the event and how much it's grown over the years with Conservation Education Administrator Chris Vasey, Angler Education Coordinator Jan Nemec, Wildlife Education Coordinator Tricia Dutcher and Public Information Officer Ashley Sanchez.

The month of May, now officially One Truckee River Month, is full of events celebrating the importance of the river. In this week's Nevada Wild we sit down with Conservation Educator Tricia Dutcher and One Truckee River's Patricia Tierney to talk about the events and what to expect! If you're interested in volunteering or attending any of One Truckee River month events, head to onetruckeeriver.org for more information and a list of all of the events.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife was excited to find out our partner agency TravelNevada is featuring Nevada’s wildlife on travelnevada.com and on social media for the entire month of April. In this week's Nevada Wild podcast NDOW Public Information Officer Ashley Sanchez sits down with TravelNevada's Kaitlin Godbey, Devon Blunden and Sydney Martinez and NDOW Staff Conservation Educators Aaron Keller and Aaron Meier to talk about how the agencies are working together to get the word out about the amazing wildlife in our state

With our Big Game Application Period coming to a close this coming Monday we wanted to put out one last podcast reminding our listeners to quit procrastinating and fill out your applications. We have posted a few podcasts over the last month or so about doing your homework and using our new system. This week Outdoor Education Coordinator Aaron Keller sits down with Chris Vasey, Conservation Education Administrator and Austin Willis, Hunter Education Instructor to talk about last minute applying. Get your application in today here: https://hunt.ndowlicensing.com/big-game-draw-application/

Now that spring is here, and the weather is warming, NDOW is noticing people are ready to bring out their boats! With so many people anxious to head out on the water Public Information Officer Ashley Sanchez talks boating safety with Boating Education Coordinator Aaron Meier, Conservation Educator Zac Campbell, and Staff Conservation Educator Julie Watson.

Last week NDOW received a call from one of our partner agencies, Desert Research Institute in Reno to look into a great horned owls nesting on the DRI building. NDOW and DRI are working on a way to allow the public to view the nesting, while leaving the owls in peace. We sat down Denise Hammond and Jaquelyn Davis with Desert Research Institute, and NDOW’s Supervising Biologist David Catalano to explain.

Each year NDOW rounds up dozens of volunteers who help our biologists count sage-grouse as part of our conservation efforts. We sat down with explain the count are Upland Game Staff Specialist Shawn Espinosa and Staff Conservation Educator Julie Watson, who explain the importance of the count and the volunteers who make the effort happen.

Even in the dead of winter, Northern Nevada has plenty of fishing opportunities. In fact, Topaz Lake doesn’t even open for fishing until New Year’s day. With unseasonably warm weather this winter, now is the time to grab a fishing pole and get out there. This week, Edwin talks fishing in Topaz Lake with Kris Urquhart, biologist out of Fallon Nevada and Ashley Sanchez, friend of the show.

The Nevada big game draw application period will open in less than a month, and now is the time that sportsmen need to be doing their homework to give them the best chance possible at drawing a tag. Hunters will turn into college professors inventing formulas and algorithms involving tag quotas, demand, harvest data and bonus points in an effort to get any advantage in the upcoming draw. In this week’s Nevada Wild we sit down with big game biologists Cody Schroeder and Cody McKee, and outdoor educator Aaron Keller to talk about the seminars, the ins and outs of the application process, and tips that just might help once the application opens.

In December, NDOW discovered a headless moose 20 miles Southeast of Jarbidge. Many people might be unaware of the growing moose population in Nevada and the fact that they are protected game animals. In this Nevada Wild podcast we talk to Chief Game Warden Tyler Turnipseed, biologist Cody McKee and Ashley Sanchez, friend of the show.