A very important hunting deadline will be at 5 p.m. on April 18

By Don Quilici

Red Alert! Red Alert! You only have four more days left! It's almost deadline time for application submittal(s).

By way of explanation, Nevada law requires the submittal of application forms, and then a computerized drawing process for the issuance of hunting tags for its big game species.

Those huntable species are Pronghorn antelope, mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk, California bighorn sheep, desert bighorn sheep, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and Rocky Mountain goat.

So, if you are an archer, black powder shooter or rifle hunter or any combination of those three different disciplines, and if you have any hopes of drawing one of those hard-to-get, big game hunting tags, remember that this year's application deadline is 5 p.m. on April 18.

April 18 at 5 p.m. is the absolute deadline for RECEIVING those applications for all the up-coming, 2005 big game hunts.

That's only four more days!

And as I have advised you in previous year's columns, you have two different ways for submitting your application(s):

You can send them either through an authorized postal service or via the Internet.

1. If you use a postal service:

You must use an authorized postal service such as the U.S. Mail, UPS or FedEx.

Your application(s) must be mailed to the Wildlife Administrative Office, P.O. Box 1345, Fallon, Nevada 89407-1345.

Do not mail the application(s) to the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

That's the wrong location.

And, with that deadline only four days away, you would be well advised to so do A.S.A.P.

2. If you use the Internet:

Note: In my less-than-humble opinion, applying via the Internet is the only way to go.

I use the Internet for three very important reasons:

A. The data you enter is automatically checked as you key it in.

If the data that you enter is valid, the computerized system will instantly accept it.

If it is not valid, the system will tell you so and not accept that data until it has been corrected. It's that simple.

B. At the time the computerized system accepts your application information, you also need to provide credit card information for the necessary money amounts.

Once your application information and money amounts have been accepted, you are officially in the drawing.

You are then a serious contender for the computerized drawings to be held at a later date. It's that easy!

C. Then, here's the sneakiest reason why Don Q always, always applies via the Internet:

After that 2005 mail-in deadline of Apr. 18, wait about 3 weeks and then begin checking the status of your charge card account on a daily basis.

If you have been successful in the drawings, your credit card account will reflect a charge.

That will be long before you receive any official notification via the U.S. Mail.

It's sneaky, but very legal and very, very informative.

On the other hand, if there is no charge on your credit card, you will know that you were unsuccessful in your attempt.

Later, you will receive an official notice in the mail stating that you were unsuccessful.

To apply via the Internet, go to website www.huntnevada.com and follow the easy instructions.

Heck, if I can do it, anyone can!

Finally:

This year, I've already applied for rifle buck mule deer, California bighorn sheep, desert bighorn sheep and rifle Rocky Mountain bull elk.

I would sincerely appreciate it if you did not apply for any of those hunts because if you don't, it will increase my odds for being successful in the drawings.

Oh well, that's probably asking too much. Sigh...at least I tried.

Good luck to you, unless you are competing for the same tags that I want. That's mean but true!

For information, call the Wildlife Administrative Services Office in Fallon at (800) 576-1020 during their business hours.

• Bet Your Favorite Pigeon

Bet your favorite pigeon that he can't tell you how many applications were submitted via the Internet last year for big game tags.

If he grins and says, "In 2004, there were a total of 111,490 applications of which 90,116 (80.83 percent!) were submitted via the Internet (including all of Don Q's)," he wins this bet.

By comparison, In 2001, 100 percent of all of the applications were submitted via paper.