If you hunted small game or waterfowl in Nevada during the 2008-09 season, you have probably received a Nevada Department of Wildlife Small Game Harvest Questionnaire in the mail. Don't throw it away.

The questionnaire is a way for the Nevada Department of Wildlife to collect small game harvest and hunter effort data. Department biologists use this data to analyze trends, determine species abundance and to develop and evaluate management actions.

"We recently changed our questionnaire to ask more questions in order to yield more precise data," said Dr. Mark Atkinson, Game Division chief.

The department s now making the effort to track ruffed grouse and mountain quail harvest. It s also measuring harvest of uncommon pygmy rabbits and moorhens, and asking for specific hunting locales from waterfowl hunters.

"The department strives to share our analysis with the small game hunter," Atkinson said. "Each year we produce our status report which is filled with information that sportsmen will value. This publication is available at our Web site (www.ndow.org) in the late summer and we encourage you to take a look."

Hunters are asked to return the questionnaire as soon as possible to reduce the number of reminders sent by the department, thus saving valuable sportsmen's dollars.

Included with the questionnaire is the pocket-size Nevada Hunter's Journal. The department encourages sportsmen to take this recording diary out into the field with them to log and track conditions, and record harvest information.

It is also a great memento to keep over the years to reflect on and remember your past hunting trips.