FASTEST...Nevada Bighorns Unlimited P.O. Box 21393 Reno, Nevada 89515-1393 A non-profit, tax-exempt...

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NBU Journal . Volume 37 . Number 4

NBU Journal . Volume 37 . Number 42 3

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TABLE of CONTENTS

12 NDOW NEWS RELEASE - 2020 EMERGENCY WATER HAULSBy NDOW

36 RECIPE: WILD GAME CHILIBy Amanda Sharkey

16 NBU GUZZLER CREW REPORT By Lydia Peri and Steve (Rocky) Hall

22 MY BIGHORN SHEEP HUNT (WITH A CAMERA)By Lynn B Starnes

26 NEVADA WOUNDED HEROES HUNT By Jon Dalton

Volume 37 . Number 4

8 IN THE FIELD

29 THROWBACK PHOTOS

38 YOUTH IN THE FIELD

31 NBU LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

20 LIVING THE DREAM By Brad Lang


e are finally to the end of 2020, and I

think most of us are looking forward to a

fresh start! Although there was no banquet and the guzzler season was cut short, our board of directors has been busier than ever! Our guzzler crew has spent several weekends conducting emergency water hauls, guzzler repairs and general inspections. I hope some of you were able to get out and inspect a few guzzlers. It is something fun to do and also a good excuse to explore some new country. I was able to go out with the crew to a few guzzlers near Luning. We did a few repairs to the rocks around a drinker and did inspections on other guzzlers. It was so much fun driving through old mining operations on our way to the guzzlers! It is crazy to think people used to live in places like that.

The NBU store has been stocked up with new apparel and gear! Be sure to go to our website and take a look at all the new items. Several of the apparel items have a special 40 year logo.

This is a great opportunity to buy something nice for yourself or a special person in your life. NBU is working hard to come up with new ideas to keep the fundraising going. We are still funding much needed projects and without a 2020 banquet, we need to get creative. If you would like to donate to NBU, please visit our website. Recent funding and projects from NBU include fire rehabilitation and reseeding, emergency water hauls, sheep captures, and guzzler repairs to name a few. The board of directors has been working hard on applying for grants and trying to think of fun and new fundraising ideas so Nevada conservation projects can continue as they have for so many years.

I was fortunate enough to join fellow NBU director Rocky Hall on his third desert sheep hunt. Can you believe that!? He sure is lucky, but he definitely deserves it after all the hard work he puts in for wild sheep. We had a blast and hiked our butts off! I’m very proud of Rocky for pushing himself physically and entertaining the group with all of his silly jokes. Congrats Rocky!

I hope you found some happiness in 2020, and I wish you a healthy and cheerful 2021. Happy Holidays!

Letter from the Editor

NBU Journal is published quarterly by:

Nevada Bighorns UnlimitedP.O. Box 21393Reno, Nevada 89515-1393

A non-profit, tax-exempt organization incorporated under Nevada State Law.

Board of DirectorsPat Pinjuv, PresidentTom Fennell, Vice PresidentEvan A. McQuirk, SecretaryGreg Smith, Treasurer Chris CefaluSteve FieldSteve HallMark McVeighLydia Peri Jim PuryearTrevor PuryearPat ReichmanMike RyanAllen Stanley Caleb Van KirkJoshua VittoriMario WaltherDan WarrenPaul Young

Submission Dates:Spring Issue: February 1stSummer Issue: May 1stFall Issue: August 1stWinter Issue: November 1st

For more information on NBUcall (775) 870-4094 or visit our websitehttp://NevadaBighornsUnlimited.org

Cover Photo by Victor Clark

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hope you all had successful hunting experiences or enjoyable outings this fall. I have seen some great photos of some great animals. This is one of the many blessings we still experience in Nevada.

The NBU Board is in the throes of working on the next banquet. Like so many organizations and businesses, Covid has interrupted and put a wrench in our decision process. I can assure you we are working on it relentlessly to come up with a banquet in 2021. We are reviewing various opportunities and venues. I believe it is essential to have some type of event. This is to make sure we promote the NBU legacy into the future.

Trouble in southern Nevada: some areas did not see any measurable precipitation in the southern part of our state for over 200 consecutive days. This put an enormous strain on all wildlife including the Desert Bighorn Sheep.

NBU along with several other non-profits stepped up to assist with monies to pay for helicopter water hauls to various guzzlers. NBU along with our NBU members, donated $50,000, to help pay for helicopter time. Over 43,000 gallons of water was delivered in the first wave of water drops.

There is still a significant amount of water needing to be hauled into other affected areas. NDOW continues to monitor and supply water until moisture arrives naturally. Without these water drops, hundreds upon hundreds of sheep will perish. Please take time to look the powerpoint put out by

Alan Jenne with NDOW on their website. The average cost of this type of water drop is $0.67 per gallon.

On 10/27/2020 the guzzler crew headed up by Rocky Hall, Pat Riechman, Mike Ryan and Matt Sweitzer along with Kenny Pirkle and Kris Urquhart, completed a water haul to the Wildhorse Guzzler in the Gillis Range. Five side x sides were outfitted with special custom tanks built by MSM Sheetmetal (Steve Field) and plumbed by Mel Belding. Parts from Western Nevada Supply (Rick Reviglio), delivered 3,000 gallons of water. Caleb Van Kirk donated his side x side for the project.

This type of work and guzzler rehab work can all be accounted for and turned in to NDOW for matching funds from the Pittman Robertson Act. This should be taken advantage of for all the excess money available to go to NDOW. This can be leveraged into huge dollars that go back to wildlife. Please go to NDOW’s website or NBU’s on how to perform inspections and work on guzzlers. Then make sure you turn in your paperwork.

Pat PinjuvNBU President

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

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Editors Note: Please feel free to email us a picture of you in your NBU gear for the journal. Emails can be sent to Lydia Peri at [email protected] THE FIELD

Cole andMark Hildahl

Damon Booth

Michael Teel Jr, John Powrie, Mike Teel, Connor Bohach, Colten Storlie, Joe Fording and Easton Storlie

Richie French, Devin Murphy, Alex Seghieri, and Travis Hawks

Joe, Casey and Harper Zweifel and Anders King

Evan McCoy, Chad Plattsmier, Micah Hand, Baelin Borg, and Ted Jost

WadeMcCammondDustin

Moschetti


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Representatives for these great manufacturers:

Eden Kirkwood and Breanna James with a couple king salmon from the

Sacramento River this fall

Micah Hand

Tom Irwin and DD Lapointe with Tom's 2020 California Bighorn 163+

Michael Teel Jr and Mike Teel

Chris andOwen McCuan

Steve Duncan, Pat Reichman, Tim Brehmer, Steve (Rocky) Hall, and Lydia Peri


Dry, parched, dehydrated and downright desperate for a drink. Even those descriptors do not seem adequate to describe habitat conditions in Southern Nevada. Some areas of the state went more than 220 days without any measurable precipitation, and that has put wildlife in desperate circumstances.

Throughout Nevada, the lack of moisture has had a negative impact on wildlife species in desperate need of water for survival. To provide relief for wildlife during these dry times, the Nevada Department of Wildlife and several sportsman-conservation group partners stepped in to haul more than 150,000 gallons of water to 38 guzzlers in seventeen mountain ranges. Water developments or “guzzlers” are manmade devices designed to collect and store rainwater in large tanks and then provide this water to wildlife through a drinker system. In normal precipitation years, these guzzlers are enough to carry wildlife through the hot and dry summer months. But not this year. The lack of precipitation left many guzzlers without the necessary replenishing rainfall. To get the water to 38 guzzlers spread across the seventeen mountain ranges, dozens of NDOW employees from multiple divisions and locations around the state and members from Nevada Bighorns Unlimited and the Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn began hauling water in late July and continued into mid-November. These crews often worked from sunup to sundown to complete the emergency water hauls and ensure the multitude of wildlife species that depend on these water sources were not lost.

To accomplish the emergency water hauls, helicopters were used to deliver water to remote guzzler locations and water trucks were used to fill more accessible sites. NDOW used “Bambi“ buckets slung below helicopters to haul 180 gallons of water at a time. During the project, helicopter pilots logged hundreds of hours of flight time

to haul, hover and dispense water from the buckets onto the guzzler’s apron or catchment where it then flowed into the storage tanks and replenished the guzzlers water level. It was with bighorn sheep in mind that large volume water developments were first built in the mountains of Southern Nevada during the mid-1960s. At the time, Nevada’s bighorn sheep population was on the edge of a precipice with only 2,500 – 3,000 animals statewide. Today there are more than 12,000 bighorn sheep. “The severe drought has left many populations of bighorn sheep, who are habituated to artificial water sources, in jeopardy,” said Sam Hughes, Southern Region water development biologist for NDOW. “These guzzlers deserve credit for re-bounding the population from the 1960’s historic low. They have allowed water limited habitats that are perfect for bighorn sheep to support animals in otherwise uninhabitable landscapes.” This emergency operation and Nevada’s water development program would not be possible without the help of sportsmen-conservation organizations who have donated their money and volunteer time to construct and maintain these units. This emergency water haul was supported by donations from the Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn, Nevada Bighorns Unlimited and Nevada Dream Tags.

NDOW NEWS RELEASE - 2020 EMERGENCY WATER HAULS

Northern Nevada

By NDOW


The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and 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. Find us on Facebook, Twitter or visit us at www.ndow.org.

Let’s face it, hunting isn’t just something you do. It’s who you are. At Cabela’s, we feel the same way. That’s why it’s in our nature to support you with thousands of experts, more than 50 years of experience and every last bit of expertise, so you can treasure this passion for the rest of your days.

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Southern Nevada


Over 220 days without a drop of rain in southern Nevada began to create a problematic situation for the bighorn sheep that so dearly rely on it. The National Weather Service recorded the last measurable precipitation in the Las Vegas region on April 20, 2020. It is safe to say that Nevada is currently experiencing varying severities of drought, something that we are unfortunately all too familiar with.

There are several guzzlers in southern Nevada that are strictly the only water supply for certain bighorn sheep herds. The benefit of these guzzlers is they have allowed populations of sheep to exist in areas where they wouldn’t

have been able to before. These artificial water sources can provide a year round resource; however, when these guzzlers begin to dry up with arid weather patterns, in which they recently did, herds are put in jeopardy.

As you may have read in Nevada Department of Wildlife’s (NDOW) article titled “Emergency Water Hauls”, several parties came together to ensure these precious water resources continued to be available to herds. This called for emergency water hauls. These water hauls were able to sustain several sheep populations that otherwise would have experienced a dreadful outcome.

This also would not have been possible without the financial support from wildlife conservation organizations. Your donations to Nevada Bighorns Unlimited helped fund $50,000 towards initial emergency water haul efforts with an additional $25,000 pending upcoming precipitation trends. Nevada Dream Tags and Fraternity of Desert Bighorn also funded these efforts.

During the efforts in southern Nevada, NBU was hard at work filling guzzlers in northern Nevada. On 10/27/2020, members of the NBU Guzzler Committee with Kenny Pirkle and Kris Urquhart of NDOW completed a water haul to the Wildhorse Guzzler in the Gillis Range/Mineral County. Five side by sides, one very old Toyota pick-up and the NDOW water tender made the trip possible. 3,000 plus gallons were transported to the guzzler over the course of eight hours.

The NBU Guzzler Committee would like to thank Steve Field, Mel Belding and Caleb Van Kirk for their help with the project. Steve's crew at MSM built five water tanks to fit in the side x sides, Mel plumbed the tanks and Caleb loaned his Ranger to the guzzler crew.

NBU GUZZLER CREW REPORT By Lydia Peri and Steve (Rocky) Hall

Gabbs Table Before

Approximately a week prior to our arrival, Mike Ryan and his wife Pam hauled 200 gallons to the guzzler. It was nearly empty and sheep weren't in the area. Toward the end of our day, Allen Stanley saw one ram cross the road while driving back to the staging area. Hopefully, the water will carry through until the next weather event.

On 11/14/2020, Matt Sweitzer, Pat Reichman, Allen Stanley, Lydia Peri, Steve Duncan, Mike Ryan, Pam Ryan and Steve Hall conducted rehab work on the Gabbs Table guzzler. The rehab work consisted of placing rocks around the drinker.

Four additional guzzlers were inspected in the area which included the Gabbs Butte, Gabbs Homestake, Gabbs Volcano, and GV 13 (small game guzzler). All drinkers were cleaned and all were in good working order with varying levels of water.

Thank you to everyone for your support during this trying time. The water hauls were a huge task to conduct, but it wouldn’t be possible without all of the generous contributions from members like you!

Mike Ryan, Pat Reichman, Lydia Peri, Pam Ryan, Allen Stanley, Steve Duncan, Matt Sweitzer and Steve (Rocky) Hall (not pictured)

Allen Stanley, Pat Reichman, Matt Sweitzer and Lilly the Wonder Dog

Gabbs Table After


BECOME A PART OF THE

Photo by Victor Clark

Nevada Bighorns Unlimited needs your help to continue the growth of our education and conservation programs for Nevada’s wildlife. Consider NBU in your estate planning.

NEVADA BIGHORNS UNLIMITED LEGACY

We have an increasing number of members of Nevada Bighorns Unlimited who are now benefiting from life income gifts, gift annuities, and other plans. Please show your support of Nevada Bighorns Unlimited and all of its many worthwhile programs by giving today.

Planned gifts benefit both the individual and Nevada Bighorns Unlimited. Through planned giving, individuals can achieve both income tax benefits as well as estate tax savings. Such a gift is usually the result of careful financial and/or estate planning, and is often combined with current gifts as part of an overall giving program.

Individual gifts can be structured in many ways. You can contribute through gifts of stock, real estate, or other personal assets. Our Foundation Directors are here to work with your needs and answer questions regarding contributions.

If you would like more information on this conservation opportunity or have questions about how you might be able to donation, please contact us at [email protected]

With 2020 guzzler builds and other projects on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NDOW is launching a new Volunteer Guzzler Inspection Program in an effort to support mandatory

maintenance needs for water development assets throughout the State of Nevada. If you find yourself doing some outdoor social distancing or scouting for an upcoming hunt this fall and you happen to be

checking guzzlers, NDOW could use your help in reporting any potential issues you see in the field. Damage, maintenance, or other issues observed can be reported quickly and easily.

Contact Matt Maples ([email protected]) for more information.


We made it to our vantage point that would give me approximately a 300 to 400 yard shot. The hillside was covered with juniper trees and deep cuts making it hard to locate the sheep. DeeBo and Chip were chasing the ewe throughout the day and would lie up under the trees when they got tired. While we were hiking, Ken said he saw DeeBo T-bone Chip and sent him flying off his feet. After about seven hours of waiting, DeeBo stepped in an area where I could get a shot at about 300 yards. Teddy was watching through the binoculars and said that DeeBo dropped like a rock! Funny thing right after DeeBo was out of the picture, Chip took that ewe and off they went over the next ridge. It looks like he moved up in the sheep ranks that day.

Hugs, handshakes and even a few tears were shed. This was a very emotional time for me as I was remembering my first sheep hunt with my father-in-law, Fred McCloud, in 2003, who recently passed away. He would have loved to have seen this ram. After Andy and Ken heard the whooping and hollering, Ken was on his way up to help us. When we finally made it over to the sheep we were amazed at the mass and how well he carried it, down to his broomed off tips. After all the picture taking, Josh and Teddy skinned and distributed the meat for the pack out—it was getting dark. We had a two-hour hike to get back to the ATV’s and we did not get back to the hotel until 2:00 am. All of a sudden, my alarm went off on my phone and we started to laugh. The next morning Josh caped the head and we all headed back to Reno except for Ken who

was going to continue hunting elk. Thanks again Ken for your support.

We made an appointment with the Department of Wildlife to check in my ram. Ground Zero Outfitters met me there with anticipation of finding out the score. He scored out at 170 and 1/8! They had a hard time with his age because the rings were so close (10 or 11) years, but they put him down as a 10 year old ram on the score sheet.

I would like to thank all the people that helped make this happen. The State of Nevada and the Department of Wildlife for allowing the opportunity for anyone to draw

this tag. The many sponsors who donated the prizes, NBU for putting sheep back on the mountain, Ken Tavener for his dedication and support to me and introducing me to Ground Zero Outfitters, Andy, Josh, and Teddy for a job well done and all of their encouragement throughout the hunt. Thanks for including me as part of your family. Hope we can do this again real soon. But most of all to my family, for their support and allowing me to pursue what I love to do most in the fall.

I will always be grateful to all the above for the opportunity to harvest my best sheep ever.

Like everyone else in Nevada, the week of the big game draw couldn’t come fast enough. I took Friday, the day of the draw, off, which was also my birthday so I could check in and see the results. On Wednesday, I got home from work and there was a message from Jack Robb with the Department of Wildlife asking me to return his call. I could not imagine what this was about. When Jack called back, he asked if I had checked my email and I said not lately. He then told me that I had drawn the Silver State Desert Sheep tag. I didn’t know what to say, I think I was in shock at the moment. I just couldn’t believe what I had just heard. Everyone I know puts in for this dream tag of a lifetime, but many like me believe it will never happen to them. Along with that, Jack told me about the prizes I also won: Vortex binoculars, Vortex spotting scope, a rifle and scope from NBU, head to toe clothing from Sitka and a pair of Kenetrek boots. This is really a dream come true.

After talking with Jack a few minutes, I called my wife and told her she would not believe what tag I had drawn. It was finally starting to sink in. I then called a good friend, Ken Tavener, telling him that I was disappointed that I had not been drawn for the California Sheep tag that I was hoping for, but I drew the Silver State Desert Sheep tag. Ken said, “Are you ------- kidding me?!” Ken asked me if I had an outfitter in mind and I was hoping he had a suggestion. For those of you who don’t know, the Silver State tag lets you hunt anywhere in the State of Nevada for Desert Bighorn except the unit where a Bighorn was killed the year before. Also the hunt is open from September 1 through January 31.

Ken is good friends with Andy and Josh of Ground Zero Outfitters and suggested we all meet and get to know each other. We spent hours talking of sheep and what I was looking for in a ram. The next week my wife and I decided to book my hunt with Ground Zero Outfitters and hunt the first week of the season starting September 1.

Throughout the summer I received photos of good rams to consider. Andy would ask my opinion about what I thought about them. Andy and I picked the number one and number two ram to go after. Number one was in the Mesquite, Nevada area. We decided to hunt from a hotel and travel to and from the hunt area due to the intense 100 degree days, thinking this will give us a break from the extreme heat.

Monday, August 31 I met everyone in Mesquite, the day before the hunt and we discussed opening day. We decided Josh, Andy’s son, myself, and my friend Ken, who left his elk hunt to come on my sheep hunt (thanks Ken), would hunt from one location. Andy and Teddy would go check out another where big rams had been spotted. After a few hours in our location we spotted the ram we were looking for, which was named DeeBo, because he was the biggest bully on the mountain. He was pushing everything around. DeeBo was with a ewe and another large ram which we named Chip, as well as a smaller ram. Chip was missing the top half of one of his horns; otherwise he would be a dandy. The group was out at 948 yards for most of the day and had no interest in coming our way. After a lot of pics and video throughout the day, Josh heard footsteps and a ram walked by us at eight yards, stopped at 40 yards and stared at us for about 20

minutes. A while later a ewe and her lamb also stopped for a visit at around 30 yards when the lamb decided to lay down for a while before finally getting up and walking away with its mother.

That evening we met back up with Andy and Teddy at the pickup and they brought street tacos for dinner. They really hit the spot, great idea Andy. While eating we discussed what each group had seen and looked at photos. We decided we would all go back to our location and look for DeeBo in the morning.

Day two was going to be even hotter, 109 degrees. We hiked back to our lookout and spotted DeeBo and the group out almost at 1,000 yards. After watching them for a while, we decided Josh, Teddy, and I would make a stalk up the drainage while Andy and Ken would stay behind to keep an eye on the sheep.

LIVING THE DREAM By Brad Lang


lens can get. I continued to wait getting shin splints from trying to stand on the steep slope without fidgeting. I tried both toes pointed uphill; then, toes pointed downhill. Nothing helped the growing pain. The relaxing rams were monitoring me without being nervous. I sat down. That was actually worse than standing as the lava rock that I

picked had lots of sharp points. That was still better than sitting on the ground as I had just seen a rattlesnake’s head under a rock nearby. Was I wasting my time?

All of a sudden, a ewe busted over the ridge above me with a large ram immediately behind. Every time she stopped, he bred her. With the ram and ewe appearing near the bachelor herd, I thought all the rams would jump up but none did. The ewe was panting heavily. She was trying to run away from the ram without any success. She made a beeline toward the bachelor herd which had built to 11 rams. As she approached, all the rams stood up. When she split the herd, it started the best bighorn sheep photography of my life. Every ram (young and old, large and relatively small) was now pushing to cut between the ewe and the original breeding ram. It was absolute

mayhem. Every time the breeding ram stopped to fight off a challenger, multiple rams lined up behind the ewe. Rams were head butting. Rams were chasing each other, full speed; trying to push each other uphill or downhill to gain advantage. The ewe charged downhill in to a ravine full of large rocks that she tried to hide under. Of course that only worked for a short period before multiple rams started kicking her to get her moving again. This action went on for more than an hour before a hierarch seemed to re-establish itself again.

Enjoy the accompanying photographs. In summary, I have to say that this experience was 50% skill in knowing where to look based on several previous “scouting” trips and 50% luck. I could have spent that hour watching the bachelor herd without getting any notable photographs. That ewe busting through the resting rams was total luck!

After the 4th year of watching sheep nearing and in the rut, my observation is that Nevada sheep populations are growing through the successful efforts of Wild Sheep Foundation, Nevada Bighorns Unlimited and Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn to name some principals that I am aware of or have supported.

Frequently, customers ask me if it is skill or luck that allows me to get my great or unusual photographs. I think that successful photography, just like successful hunting, is hard work, persistence, skill in spotting and then making that ultimate approach close enough to get those photographs. While many assume photography is easier than hunting, I think that the reverse is true. I harvested my bull elk at 422 yards. Through my best telephoto lens, that elk would have been a poor image! I have to not only get closer to the animal(s) but customers will only buy photographs where the animal is looking at my camera and/or exhibiting an appealing “pose!” If I could only “pose” my animals I’d be rich! Ha.

At the end of October, I decided to make a trek to see if I could find dramatic action in the desert bighorn sheep rut. For the last three years’ I have been “practicing.” (That is what I call it when I make a trip for an animal or an event without success). In previous years, I have found rams and ewes but only involved in sporadic head butting or territorial disputes. By going a week later, would this year be different?

I decided to start at Walker Lake looking for desert bighorn sheep in the rut. I found lots of sheep but no large rams. I did not have the time or gear with me to hike my favorite ravines! There were large herds both above and below Highway 95. The rams were not notable and they were either laying down or eating. There was temporary tending or following but no breeding attempts. No jousting between rams for ewes. I have better pictures from last year!

I continued to Red Rock State Park, Valley of Fire and down along Lake Mead’s shoreline toward Boulder City. I continued to see sheep. With the exceptional hot and dry summer, sheep were predictably along access points for water. I was seeing smaller rams moving too fast for me to follow. I assumed that they were headed towards other sheep but once they entered the larger rocks and shadows, I kept losing them! I was seeing bachelor herds; I was seeing groups of ewes together with young rams. No action that made my trip worthwhile.

I finished the trip at Hemenway Park. A large herd of sheep was present. The herd seems to have grown larger in the last year! What I did not expect was the number of tourists packing the park. Eco tours out of Las Vegas are bringing tourists to the park all morning and evening! The guides apparently dump the visitors out without any guidance! Tourists were allowing their children to chase both ewes and rams. Tourists were taking their children up to the sheep to attempt to take selfies. Despite the harassment, the ewes and rams continued to stay in the park. The tourists seemed happy with their selfies and photographs of “wild” sheep. There were two weddings and birthday parties in and around the sheep in my three trips around

this park. So, I started scoping the surrounding hills and ridges. Relatively small rams were heading to the subdivision to the east of Hemenway Park which meant they were crossing the four lane highway! There were scattered sheep on Black Mountain behind Boulder City. Due to lava scree, I hate walking up the eastern side of that ridge but maybe that was my destiny as it was the only area I could see large rams actively tending ewes. Troubling to me, I was not hearing rams butting heads.

The next morning, I was debating between heading down to the Colorado River or heading up Black Mountain. I was sitting in the car at the base of Black Mountain when I heard a crack that could only be two rams head butting! Oh, maybe my luck is changing. I started throwing my camera, lens, and water in to my backpack. Another crack. I know where I am heading. I head up a small ravine and look up to see five healthy rams laying down chewing their cud. No fighting. No ewe. Do I leave these big boys and hope or do I try to find the two rams who are already fighting? I was unsure I could back out of the ravine without running this bachelor herd higher or out of my range. Since I no longer heard head butting, I decided to sit and watch the rams. Over the next hour, the herd of 5 grew to 11 really nice rams. As each new ram came over the hill, it would join the other rams warming up in the sun sheltered from the cold, wind. Each ram quickly laid down a respectable distance from the rams already in the group. I took photographs of each ram alone; I took group shots. Each photo is publishable quality but they are photos that everyone with a reasonably good camera and good

MY BIGHORN SHEEP HUNT (WITH A CAMERA) By Lynn B Starnes


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O U R S P E C I A LT Y I S Variety…

NBU Gratefully Acknowledges Leicaas a 2020 Sponsor


The next morning, we inserted via Ranger, a few kilometers from his bed down location. Right before we started moving to his location we got a call from Sean and Duke Bingham. They had sighted a buck with several doe meandering about, similar in size, maybe slightly smaller than the one we were stalking and informed us if we headed over there we could park, throw the gun on the hood and take the shot less than 50 yds from him and we’d be drinking beers by noon. Tom and I quickly talked

it over and both overwhelmingly agreed I was not here to simply kill a deer; I was here to hunt one. We declined and continued the stalk.

On the stalk, Tom and I moved with a purpose to close the distance and get within firing range of the buck. We spoke about tactics when paused or when hung up while waiting for other critters to move out without scaring them. Despite realizing I needed to cut down on eating my favorite food, bacon, so I could keep up with Tom a litter easier, I had a great time and enjoyed discussing our strategy and plan of attack using dead space and land features to get as close as possible to our target.

We were approaching our terminal point to set up for the shot when Tom recognized the buck was in a different spot than we thought. This put us much closer than we anticipated. I looked behind us at a great, stable, and elevated platform that would give an unobstructed line of sight to the buck. Unfortunately, at that point the buck was already sensing our presence and we both agreed that was not an option. The sagebrush was quite tall where we happened to be and the only way I could take a clear shot was to balance my pack on the sagebrush in front of me. Setting the gun on the pack confirmed I could still not get a clear so I extended the bipod, resting it on top of the pack which balanced on the sagebrush and put the buck standing quartered at me, clearly into the Vortex’s field of view albeit bouncing around. The sagebrush was doing a little jig underneath me from the wind and the reticle moved in a bouncy yet somewhat predictable diagonal, upward left to downward right then back again. Considering that movement and factoring a bit of windage, I adjusted so when it came back to the same spot the reticle was lined up with on the target’s front left shoulder, I broke the trigger. Laughably, the sagebrush and pack jumped about so I could not even get a second sight picture on him. I struggled for a second to get him back in my scope when Tom told me he went down. Boy was I stoked to hear that. I felt good about my point of aim and point of impact but still, it would have sucked to blow the shot. We located the buck and the first thing I did was search to make sure the I hit where I intended. I think that was more important to me than putting down the buck. Turns out I was dead on my point of aim which made me feel great.

Tom asked me if I got buck fever when I took the shot. I explained why I did not and we both chuckled. However, I then told him that I do have hunting fever. I explained to him further; This entire experience woke up something inside of me I figured would stay in my past. If I have PTSD, it is not because I feel bad about anything in my past that I have done. It is that I miss that I do not do it anymore. Stalking a target with a weapon back in my hand, taking a shot, confirming the kill, and walking away, beer in hand, with another mission accomplished felt incredibly good to me. I cannot explain the positive impact that made on my life that day.

To all involved with the Nevada Wounded Heroes Hunt,I would like to take this opportunity to express the incredible gratitude I have for everyone that helped to make this hunt happen. For me, this was much more than a hunt. It re-awakened my passion for long distance shooting, hunting, and more.

A little over a year ago, a friend of mine told me about the Nevada Wounded Heroes Hunt put on by the Nevada Outfitters and Guides Association. He recommended I apply for it. I declined because whatever challenges I may have, I know there are others who are worse off and someone else should take advantage of it. I later met Tom Fennell who does the heavy lifting for this event, and he talked me into saying yes. I look back now, and I am very grateful he did.

For reasons that are difficult to articulate, transitioning out of the military can be more challenging than people realize. For some SEAL’s it can be incredibly challenging. Leaving that kind of life can be difficult, akin to the depression and challenges other professional athletes have when leaving their industry such as an NFL player. The question of “what’s next” can be difficult because, lets face it, nothing is going to be as cool or as meaningful or provide the passion I found with being a SEAL for 23 years. This can be a very hard thing, psychologically and spiritually, to deal with. When I was invited to participate in this, I was unsure if I even wanted to because I wasn’t sure I wanted to be reminded of what it was that I put in my rear view mirror.

I was told I was going to be given a gun, and I met Steve Fields of MSM Sheet Metal, a director of Nevada Bighorns Unlimited, a true American, and super nice guy, who facilitated the gun transfer to me. I picked up the Bergara .300 WM with the Vortex Viper HS 4x16 scope, and I began to feel a positive charge, an excitement, to go sight the gun in and start pushing rounds through it. One of the unfortunate parts of spending a career in the SEAL Teams is getting promoted, which means you are doing less font line tactical work (the fun stuff) and more leadership focused, strategic level operational roles. As a result, being an active sniper had been behind me for a while, so it has been over eight years since I actively shot a bolt action weapon system. I was a little nervous because everyone expects a SEAL, especially an old sniper, to maintain those skills and perform as a super human when in fact, that kind of precision is a very perishable skillset and I wasn’t sure I wanted to see how rusty I had become. To take the pressure off when Tom Fennell and I went to go sight in the gun, I joked that what he was about to witness was Don Knotts playing his role in The Shakiest Gun in the West. In truth too, my hands shake a bit now and nerve damage has left me with neuropathy and decreased range of motion in my shooting hand. However, after shooting the first couple three round groups, I was pleased to see with that Bergara, I was still capable of shooting sub minute of angle. Ok, thank God this is not going to be the Shakiest Gun in the West sequel.

The Founder of Sitka, Jonathan Hart, asked me if I needed any gear. Knowing a guy like this, probably everyone answers yes to that question, and I told him I still had my field cammy clothing and my sniper pack so I should be good. He laughed, ignored my attempt to decline, and the next thing I know I had a box full of the latest and greatest Sitka clothing. Holy crap. They outfitted me head to toe which I am thoroughly convinced was why I was later able to stalk surprisingly close to wildlife without being noticed. It also went a long way to helping me look like the ultimate hunter. Truly, he should have me on one of his Sitka photo shoots because it made me look that good!

When it came time for the hunt, Tom Fennell drove us out near Eureka where I was honored to meet the Bingham family who were gracious enough to put us up during the hunt. Candidly, I sometimes have a hard time dealing with average civilians who do not understand or appreciate the bubble of safety our nation provides them. This is something I have found hard to adjust to in transition to civilian life. This is why, when COVID-19 forced everyone into their homes, I was perfectly comfortable not being around anyone except my dog and girlfriend. The Bingham’s are anything but the “average civilians” I described. I found them to be the epitome of what defines a true American Patriot. Their love of our beautiful Country, God, and guns, and their pride of that way of life, made me immediately feel like I was a part of their family. They are the kinds of patriots who when they say “thank you for your service” do so in a way one can tell is so much more than five words. They understand the consequences of what that service means, it comes from deep in their hearts. I was immensely appreciative to be

there, immersed in this beautiful Nevada landscape, and felt welcomed by them. In that moment, I was so thankful to be asked to participate in this hunt.

Later, we went out to glass some areas and spotted the buck Tom and I knew we should go after. The sun was going down and he was on an adjacent hillside over a klick away, so we discussed his probable bed down locations and decided to move out at first light to begin the stalk.

NEVADA WOUNDED HEROES HUNT By Jon Dalton

NBU's Steve Field and Jon Dalton


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THROWBACK PHOTOSEditors Note: We love seeing your throwback photos! Send us your best old school photos so we can see what the good ol’ days used to be like! Photos can be emailed to [email protected]

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1. Daryl Peterson and Dale Ryan (1986ish)

2. Kyle Swanson and father Harry Swanson

3. Nick Ryan with his first buck (1998)

4. Kyle Swanson and Wayne Capurro - 1997 in the Jacksons

5. The late Steve Foley at Pyramid Lake (2013ish)

UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP!

Tom and Tammi Czyz invite you to come see the new and continuing upgrades!

RV Hookups Restaurant, Bar & Pool Table

Tent Camping Available

Two Motel Rooms

MAJOR'S PLACE BAR & RV PARK ELY, NEVADA

Just 26 miles SE of Ely on Highway 93

(775) 591-0347

NBU Gratefully Acknowledges Czyz’s

as a 2020 Sponsor

The second order effect of this hunt for me is that I am now shooting again for fun, and I look forward to seeing how many yards out I can take that Bergara. The third order effect, which may be the most important part of this story and the biggest impact from this experience, is that I have bought a pair of Henry lever action Golden Boys for myself and my twelve-year-old son for Christmas. Thanks again to Steve Fields for helping to make that happen also. It will be his first firearm, and I look forward to teaching the next generation of my kin how to safely handle firearms, enjoy shooting, and enjoy the freedom given to us by our 2nd amendment rights. In the beginning of this letter, I mentioned how difficult it is to find meaning after the teams. Doing this with him helps me realize that finding meaning now means opening his eyes to this world and what better way could there be than father and son, side by side, plinking targets together. That was a direct result of this hunt.

I am truly humbled by the graciousness of the Nevada Outfitters and Guides Association for starting the Nevada Wounded Heroes Hunt, Nevada Bighorns Unlimited for providing the weapon system, Steve Field for facilitating the gun transfer, Sitka for giving me this super high end clothing system, the Bingham family for hosting me especially Sean and Duke for being an extra set of eyes, and Kinross Bald Mountain, A Kinross Gold Corporation Company for donating the tag. The collaboration involved by everyone to make this happen is a testament to the patriotism and appreciation Nevadans have for us veterans. Thank you so much, God Bless you, and God Bless America.

Jon Dalton, Tom Fennell and Sean Bingham


NBU LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The NBU Legacy Scholarship Program was developed to honor individuals that have contributed significant time and resources to NBU. The program was also developed to commemorate the accomplishments of NBU throughout our history. It’s our goal as sportsmen and working professionals to leave a legacy of wildlife conservation for future generations. We feel that supporting students with academic scholarships will aid our mission and benefit Nevada’s wildlife immensely. Funding for this program comes from countless sportsmen volunteer hours and dollars. This summer, NBU selected the following students as the recipients of the Legacy Scholarship Program. Learn about them below!

I would like to thank each of you for awarding me with the Nevada Bighorns Unlimited Legacy scholarship. I am truly honored to receive this scholarship and the support from this organization. I share a similar passion for protecting and conserving wildlife and their habitat as does NBU. My greatest memories come from being in the outdoors, whether that is hunting, fishing, hiking, or camping. I have grown to love and respect the outdoors and all it encompasses. This scholarship will help ease the financial stress that comes with obtaining a degree in upper level education. I will be able to set the stress aside and focus on my classes as well as the other goals I have set for myself. I will graduate from the University of Nevada, Reno in the spring of 2021 with a degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation and a minor in Rangeland Ecology and Management. Throughout my education, I have worked for the Nevada Department of Wildlife as a James Lathrop and Wayne Capurro intern. This work experience really solidified what I want to do when I graduate. With this degree, I will continue to work hard to begin a career as a Wildlife Biologist and specialize in ungulates. My goal is to put my knowledge and experiences back into conservation, to make a positive impact on wildlife and their habitat so that future generations can share the same love and passion that I have. I could not do this without the support and motivation from Nevada Bighorns Unlimited and this amazing Legacy scholarship.

Since I was a young girl, my family and I have enjoyed the Nevada outdoors. From hiking, hunting, and fishing to riding horses and gathering cattle for friends and family to process each spring. I have seen firsthand the delicate balance between wildlife habitat and that of ranchers. The ranchers, in partnership with various wildlife conservation groups, have provided improved water sources as well as protected feed sources through managed grazing practices. I have hunted with my family and always attempt to leave the outdoors cleaner than I found it. From picking up an old can or even old fence wire, I attempt to leave as small a footprint on the land as possible. I want to continue this practice and promote it with my friends and family. I believe education is the best way to promote conservation. I believe in leaving a thriving resource for the next generation of animals and humans. Proper range management by both ranchers and conservation groups led by the state, has and will continue to provide this precious resource. As a pre-veterinary student at UNR, I will be able to assist in the medical care of animals both wild and domestic. Preservation of life and care for the animals of Nevada is how I intend to contribute to my home state’s wildlife conservation.

Joshua Kirk

Karen Lund

NBU Gratefully Acknowledges Scheelsas a 2020 Sponsor


I am a fourth year Ph.D. candidate in the Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology (EECB) program at the University of Nevada, Reno. Twenty years ago, I was a transplant from California that found fertile soil here. I put down roots, thrived, and now proudly call Reno and Nevada my home - ‘Home Means Nevada’ really does ring true for me. I have a passion for the state’s aquatic heritage, so my goal is to give back to Nevada by applying my education and skill sets to conserving Nevada’s aquatic species and ecosystems. Examples of this dedication include my master’s degree research on threatened Lahontan cutthroat trout (our state fish) and my active participation in the local Trout Unlimited chapter. I am honored, grateful and humbled to receive this scholarship. It was an honor to be chosen from among the highly qualified applicants. I am grateful because as a mature, married student with the responsibilities of a family and home ownership, this scholarship will alleviate some of the stress of meeting my filial obligations while continuing my education. And I am humbled that organizations like yours give unselfishly to support the goals of fellow Nevadans. Further, my family thanks you too! I will use the funds to cover tuition, books, and research expenses.

My name is Aimee Thompson, and I was fortunate enough to be selected as a recipient of the NBU Legacy Scholarship for 2020. I am currently a senior at the University of Nevada, Reno studying Veterinary Science. I will be graduating in the spring and I am currently in the process of interviewing with veterinary schools. The NBU Legacy Scholarship allows me to put more of my time towards studying and clubs at UNR, without the pressures of cost. Scholarships have greatly helped me achieve my goal of graduating early from UNR, by allowing me to take extra coursework without financial burden. Through the support of NBU and other organizations, I have been able to save up some money to help me on my next adventure, veterinary school. The scholarships I have received have made my undergraduate education possible. I would like to thank NBU for their support of my undergraduate education.

I will be graduating Winter 2021 with honors with a Bachelor’s of Science in Veterinary Medicine and a minor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. I am planning on attending Veterinary School in the Fall of 2022 in the hopes to become a wildlife veterinarian. Like most young girls, I dreamed of saving animals. While this dream is still the main motivation for my future career, it has evolved to a broader scale of helping to save and conserve species. As an individual that loves the outdoors, the health of our environment is directly influenced by the health of the species, large or small, living within. Wildlife veterinarians are one of the most important individuals in the fight for preservation and conservation. Their work of treating individuals impacts the health of populations and the surrounding environment. My goal is to advocate and care for those unable to advocate for themselves while fighting for the preservation of the environment. NBU is an organization that exemplifies a fighting role in wildlife conservation, and I am thankful that they support individuals like myself in the fight for wildlife conservation.

James Simmons

Aimee Thompson

Katarina Wulstein

My name is Elizabeth Mast and I will be graduating from Nevada State College in the spring of 2021 with a major in environmental and resource science and a minor in biology. Upon graduation, I will be applying to UNR’s graduate school of biology. As a first generation, self-funded college student, this scholarship puts me one step closer to my ambitions and my passion for conservation biology. However, this scholarship means more than just the financial support it will aid me; it provides the support of a community who is passionate about our wildlife. My goal is to become a conservation biologist and wildlife manager, and I hope to instill the importance of our wildlife and our deep connections to it. Through my career and community, I plan to continue to promote enthusiasm and education for the responsible stewardship of our outdoors. I truly believe that our incredible wildlife is a precious resource, held in the collective hands of researchers, sportsmen, and all individuals enthusiastic about wildlife.

First, I would like to say that I am so grateful for this opportunity from Nevada Bighorns Unlimited - Legacy Scholarship. The scholarship allows me to continue to pursue my career by giving me a helping hand while getting through school. Although my family has supported me whenever I needed it, this scholarship is a blessing and shows my hard work has paid off.

Let me introduce myself! Nevada’s rangelands have always been a major part of my life and upbringing as I grew up in a very small town in central Nevada. Nevada’s rangelands are my backyard, which many wildlife species also call home. I grew up hunting and fishing with my dad, a native Nevadan and an outdoorsman, who spends all his spare time with his hound dogs and the pine trees. Growing up this way gave me a huge respect for Nevada’s wildlife. Not only are they gorgeous creatures, but they also allow my family to continue our lifestyle.

I am a senior at the University of Nevada, Reno where I am studying to become an agriculture educator. I intend to instill the proper knowledge, information, and opportunities into my students for them to understand how they play an important role in Nevada wildlife and conservation as well.

As a recipient of the Nevada Bighorns Unlimited Legacy scholarship for 2020, I can genuinely say that this scholarship means the world to me. It has given me more freedom and opportunity to pursue my schooling and relieve the stress of having to work to afford college. This scholarship will help me free up my schedule for next semester and take a break from working part time in order to pursue the research I do for the University of Nevada, Reno. I look forward to being able to take more time in my research lab and continuing my education, all of which would not have been possible without this scholarship. I’m deeply honored to be a recipient, and I will use this award to pay for my school and focus more of my time towards my research.

Elizabeth Mast

Josie Merritt

Emily Ostfeld


SHEEP PICS?When you post your sheep pictures on Instagram or Facebook, be sure to tag us! Use #nevadabighornsunlimited @nevadabighornsunlimited to see your photo in the next journal!

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Build your own custom worksheet at education.com/worksheet-generator© 2007 - 2020 Education.com

Crossword Puzzle

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Down: Across:1. Nevada ______ Heroes Hunt2. Featured recipe3. _____ State Desert Sheep Tag4. Baby sheep

5. Natural home or environment of an animal

6. Person who donates their time to work onan NBU project

7. Male elk8. NDOW uses this to fill guzzlers with water

9. Big ram! Nevada _______ Book10. Living the ______ Article

11. __________ Water Haul12. NBU Scholarship13. Number of bighorn species in Nevada

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Answer KeyDown1. Wounded2. Chili3. Silver4. Lamb6. Volunteer9. Record10. Dream

Across5. Habitat7. Bull8. Helicopter11. Emergency12. Legacy13. Three

Instructions1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 1 tbsp. olive oil.

Add the ground meat and cook until evenly browned. Remove from heat and add meat to slow cooker.

2. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat and add remaining 1-2 tbsp. olive oil. Once hot, add chopped onion and minced garlic and cook for roughly 2 minutes. Add chopped red bell peppers and jalapeno and cook for another 4-5 minutes until veggies are softened. Remove from heat and add veggies to slow cooker.

3. Add in all remaining ingredients to slow cooker and stir until evenly mixed. Cook on high for roughly 4-5 hours or on low for 8 hours, stirring once halfway through.

4. Ladle into bowls and serve with your favorite chili toppings. I personally love adding crushed tortilla chips and queso fresco crumbles into my chili. Sliced jalapenos, sour cream, shredded cheese, and a splash of lime juice are delicious as well!

RECIPE: WILD GAME CHILIWe will be highlighting game recipes every journal issue. If you have a recipe that you would like to share, please email Lydia Peri at [email protected].

Amanda Sharkey is a proud native Nevadan and public land enthusiast. Amanda is relatively new to the hunting world and developed a desire to hunt in an effort to consume more sustainable and ethical meat while supporting wildlife conservation. She had two successful hunts this fall, harvesting a cow elk and a doe pronghorn. She’s looking forward to getting more involved with NBU in the years to come!

Nothing is more comforting during the colder months than a hearty bowl of homemade chili. This recipe is a staple meal to use up some of that ground meat in the freezer and would work well with all big game burger grinds. The chili is full of flavor with a mild spice, but you can easily tweak the recipe to crank up the heat if you prefer a spicier chili (see recipe notes for modifications). After browning the meat and sautéing the veggies on the stove top, the ingredients will be combined in a slow cooker to finish cooking. I love the convenience of being able to walk away for part of the day while the chili is cooking and it leaves your kitchen smelling amazing. Enjoy!

*If you want to make your chili spicier, you can choose to leave in the jalapeno and bell pepper seeds or increase the amount of ground cayenne pepper and dried red pepper flakes.

Ingredients• 2-3 tbsp. olive oil• 1 ½ lbs. wild game burger (I used elk)• 1 small yellow onion, chopped• 2 tsp. garlic, minced• 2 red bell peppers, deseeded* and chopped• 1 jalapeno, deseeded* and chopped• 2-15 oz. cans kidney beans• 1-15 oz. can black beans• 1-28 oz. can crushed fire roasted tomatoes

• 1-6 oz. can tomato paste• 2 tbsp. chili powder• 2 tsp. ground cumin• 1 tsp. ground cayenne pepper*• 1 tsp. dried oregano• 1 tsp. garlic powder• 1 tsp. sea salt• ½ tsp. dried red pepper flakes*• Salt and pepper to taste

Wild Game Chili

By Amanda Sharkey


Skyler Fast

Matteo Gonfiantini

James Waggoner First Mule Deer (pictured with sister Natalie Waggoner)

Natalie Waggoner

Owen McCuan

IN THE FIELD

Giovanni Gonfiantini

Harper Zweifel and Anders King

Skyler and Jerry Fast

Louie Marchese

We love seeing what our youth are up to! Please send us your photos to [email protected]


Queenstown

Auckland

1.2hr Flight

[email protected] | Phone +64 27 228 8119 | www,newzealandhuntingsafaris.com

NBU Gratefully Acknowledges New Zealand Hunting Safaris

as a 2020 Sponsor

NBU Gratefully Acknowledges Vortexas a 2020 Sponsor

NBU Gratefully Acknowledges Wasting Arrowsas a 2020 Banquet Sponsor


Join Nevada Bighorns Unlimited & Support Your Nevada Wildlife!

~ Sportsmen working for the future of Nevada’s wildlife ~

Join NBU Today!

Do you think these bighorn sheep are thirsty?

Don’t make Nevada’s wildlife wait for your

support!Past NBU Director & Water Development Manager Mel Belding

and NDOW Biologist Jason Salisbury

Over the last thirty-nine years, NBU has grown to become the largest grass roots volunteer sportsmen’s organization in Nevada, and quite possibly the country! Through the support of our members, NBU has raised millions of dollars and logged literally thousands of volunteer hours to benefit Nevada’s wildlife. In the past five years alone, NBU has funded and actively participated in numerous big game capture, relocation and survey projects, water development and enhancement projects, Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge wild horse control, made equipment and repair donations essential to NDOW, participated in disease outbreak and prevention programs, funded wildlife research including bighorn sheep, mountain goats, elk, mule deer and sage grouse studies, supported sound science predator control programs, awarded youth scholarships and contributed to youth hunting and fishing forums, as well as participated in numerous range restoration projects.

The efforts of NBU have directly contributed to Nevada currently having well over 11,000 bighorn sheep within our borders. That is more bighorn sheep than any other state in the lower 48! NBU has been largely responsible for transplanting

bighorn sheep in 80 of the 86 mountain ranges in Nevada that bighorns call home. But NBU is not only about wild sheep! Through the donations and participation from concerned sportsmen and sportswomen such as you, NBU has increased opportunities to hunt big and small game animals, as well as otherwise enjoying Nevada’s wildlife experience.

You can become a member of NBU in four different ways: (1) By attending our Annual Fundraising Banquet in the Spring of each year; (2) By making a donation to the Annual Fundraising Banquet; (3) By volunteering your time one day a year on a project sponsored by NBU to perpetuate the mission of the organization; and finally (4) By joining using the application form on the adjacent page or via our website at http://NevadaBighornsUnlimited.org.

Please help NBU perpetuate our mission to protect and enhance Nevada’s wildlife resources for sportsmen, outdoor and wildlife enthusiasts for this and future generations.

Thank you for your consideration.

NBU Journal . Volume 37 . Number 444

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