DAN SIMMONS Sportsman's Quest MORE COLUMNS Advertisement

This has been a great year for travel for this sportsman and I've gained a new perspective and appreciation for transportation and its ability to get us to where the game is.

The flexibility we have with today's variety of air, auto, boat and RV transportation opens new possibilities for the serious sportsman.This was most evident during my travels this fall, with all the challenges it offered along the way.

Along with our ever-expanding travel opportunities and our all consuming home and job obligations in this fast paced world, come some challenges.

These include climate contrasts, from blazing heat one day to freezing in a far away place the next, and extreme time changes exacerbated by our tight schedules.

Once, hunters would take four weeks to three months for an African safari. Some are now on seven day hunts, with 14-day hunts being a luxury.

Climates can also be extreme, when traveling from your home to a sheep hunt, high in the mountains of British Columbia, the Yukon or Alaska, where temperatures can drop far below zero, with snow, even in July, August and September.

Traveling to the Southern hemisphere can be equally challenging. Having recently returned from fishing in Nicaragua, and its humid rainy season, I'm enjoying Nevada's warm, dry climate once again.

The contrast was most evident when traveling from our Sept. 1 opening day dove hunt with four-star Marine General "Buck" Bedard, his family and some other fine fellows.

The hunting was great and the doves seemed more plentiful than ever as these speedsters dove and twisted through the sky.

The temperature was at least 100 degrees in the Amargosa Valley, and the humidity seemed near zero. The next day I flew to Nicaragua with the temperatures in the low 80's and enough humidity to require multiple daily shirt changes, or wringing them out several times a day. The fishing made it worthwhile, though.

Another factor became evident, and no one understands it better than a four-star general: transportation and logistics.

With more hunters and fisherman in the field, and fewer game tags available, local hunting and fishing locations are more crowded and more expensive. It's necessary to travel further, or to places the average sportsman has trouble reaching.

Exotic, far away places are certainly one answer and many are less expensive than a Colorado or Wyoming hunt. Some distant fishing opportunities even cost less than a Montana excursion or a long-range, multi-day, ocean trip.

But it's not really necessary to travel far away to get where the game is and away from the crowd. Transportation and logistics are the key.

It probably means you need to discover more private lands to hunt, if you don't draw a valuable big game tag. This can be accomplished by helping large landowners with some of their chores, or joining an outdoor group that has a working relationship with large landowners.

It can also be accomplished by paying a trespass fee to some owners, which helps them with their financial obligations.

What is necessary, however, is transportation. Whether by boat, plane, truck, quad or horse and lama, you need to get into the back country where the game lives, or where big fish hide.

This can be done by renting equipment or hiring someone, but for most of us it means having a truck to carry us and our gear, with perhaps something that floats to get us to where the big fish are.

I'm a canoe and small skiff fan, so something on top of, or behind the truck works well. For bigger waters, I'll hire what I need and the expertise that goes along with it.

That leaves the truck or SUV as the primary transportation and a necessity for all the other types of equipment. These are not just boy's toys.

A 4x4 is certainly helpful and worth the extra bucks (pun intended) to get you where you need to be in all road and weather conditions.

A 4x4 will certainly get you more opportunities in the upcoming quail, chukar and water fowl seasons.

With more folks in the field it will probably require a little more effort, but things worth while do. These seasons are great for the family, but we usually need to be the leader and initiator of these outings.

So, like the General, get the family together, research a good location and get there no matter what it takes. The memories will be priceless.

Update

Fishing in the Sierras is at its best. Try Crowley, June Lake and both of the Twin Lakes in California for Rainbows and Browns. The local tackle shops can lead you to the correct lure and fly selections.

Topaz Lake and Walker River in Nevada are also excellent stops along the way or as destinations.

The Fraternity of the Desert Big Horn supported the division of wildlife in the last emergency water haul to the guzzlers which were left dry following the regional rains this summer. They flew eight trips to fill the tanks to 2,000 gallons. Our hats off to both the Fraternity and the Nevada Department of Wildlife for their efforts and dedication. For more information go to www.desertbighorn.com.

Events

Here's the big one. The Mount Charleston Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is holding its 10th annual banquet at the Mountain Falls Clubhouse in Pahrump on Nov. 17.

This popular banquet gets bigger, better, and more exciting each year, thanks to the dedicated committee headed by Mike and Tracie Dreyer.

For more information, contact Michael or Tracie Dreyer at 209-6750

The Las Vegas Chapter of Ducks Unlimited is holding its annual wetlands banquet at The Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nov. 15 Doors open at 5 p.m.

For more information contact Cliff Russell at 1-702- 378-5598 or Scott Bowles at 1-702-461-8779

The Las Vegas Desert chapter of the Safari Club International is holding its banquet at the Rio Jan. 19. For more information, contact Dave Small at 1-702-334-3860, Rance Spurlock at 1-702-564-5668, Chris Petersen at 1-702-873-1094 or Marian Hinebauch at 1-702-419-6516.

Recipe of week

Dove hunting with the General is always fast and furious. I think he outshot me about five to one, so I got to shoot more rounds.

It's like golf; I get to hit the ball more times than the other guys with a low score. I have more fun and my guests are pleased to win the competition. How's that for rationalization, let's not tell them.

Here's one of the groups favorite recipes when we do that after-hunt get together.

Bedard's Spicy Breast of Dove

Ingredients: 12 dove breasts; 2 cups dry red wine; 1/2 cup olive oil; 1/2 cup soy sauce; 1/4 cup packed brown sugar; Franks Hot Sauce, 1 tbsp. (or a few dashes to suit your taste); 1 clove garlic, minced; mustard, 1/2 tsp.

Directions: Arrange dove breasts in a large glass baking dish. Mix wine, olive oil, soy sauce, brown sugar, hot sauce, garlic and mustard; pour over meat. Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours.

Place in a large oven-proof skillet and bake uncovered for about 40 minutes, basting every 10 minutes, then place skillet on stove top on medium heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, reducing liquid. It goes well with a mix of brown and wild rice, steamed, or egg noodles.

A green salad topped with pineapple would round the meal out nicely.

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If you have an adventure, a story or a comment give me a call at 727-9777 or e-mail me at dansimmons@usa.net.