Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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Yes, you can set official Lake Havasu Speed Records at Desert Storm 2015! For the first time, the top speeds in each class recorded at the Desert Storm Shootout, Saturday, April 25 will become the "Official Record Speed for the Lake Havasu Flying Mile" and will be sanctioned and preserved by the Lake Havasu Marine Association. Event protocols are being formulated now and Ross Wallach has been retained to serve as Competition Director to facilitate the operations. Once again, a collection of the... Full story
Ed Huntsman is the Recreational Boating Safety Program Manager, United States Coast Guard, Eighth Coast Guard District. As spring approaches, temperatures rise, and ice melts, paddlesports enthusiasts begin to contemplate their first paddle-trip. But, before grabbing the canoe, kayak or SUP for that first trip, Eighth Coast Guard District boating-safety program manager Ed Huntsman wants to offer a few tips to ensure your safe return after an enjoyable trip. Know Basic Safety Skills How to... Full story
Visitors are flooding the gates at Picacho Peak State Park to get into the park in time to see the mountainside blooms of bright yellow Mexican poppies, purple lupine, pink globemallow and yellow brittlebush. The Arizona State Parks department reports that the bloom this year is because over the past six months the park has received an accumulated record of almost 12 inches of rain. To help the public track the different wildflowers as they start to bloom in all the different State Parks, the... Full story
Established by Congress in 1939, the 30,000 members of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary are Semper Paratus "Always Ready." Vessel safety checks, harbor patrols, safe-boating courses, search and rescue, marine environmental protection - these are just a few of the services provided by the Auxiliary. Each year, Auxiliarists volunteer more than two million hours benefitting boaters and their families. We invite you to learn more about who we are and what we do to be Semper Paratus.... Full story
For the most part, boat trailers are like Rodney Dangerfield - "They don't get no respect." But, they're the only thing between our beautiful boats and trouble. And, the trailer tires are the only thing between the trailer and the pavement. Why do we see boat trailers sitting on the side of the road? Usually for one of two reasons - first are underinflated tires, causing excessive heat buildup and sidewall rupture. Virtually all tire manufacturers recommend using maximum-rated pressure shown on... Full story
Get ready to climb into an OHV and go for a ride at the Arizona Game and Fish Department Outdoor Expo presented by Shikar Safari Club International. A 50- by 100-yard OHV track is the newest addition to the hands-on event on Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29 at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix. Qualified participants can ride in a side-by-side OHV and experience some of the latest OHV performance features. Admission and parking are free. Also see OHV and ATV exhibits. Kayak,... Full story
Since the 1990s the number of students enrolling in sailing schools has more than doubled. The number of schools accredited by the largest certification organization American Sailing Association (ASA), based in California, has close to 200 schools. This recent boom has turned the mom-and-pop sailing instruction business into an industry. It's also creating a smart new way of sailing without all the hassles of boat ownership. A sailboat, it is often said, is a hole in the water into which one... Full story
Arizona's largest fishing, hunting, boating and travel consumer show, the International Sportsmen's Exposition and Arizona Boat Show®, has announced it will be moving from Glendale to the 386-acre WestWorld Facility in Scottsdale, Ariz. Beginning in the spring of 2016, the 16th annual ISE will utilize WestWorld's North Hall and Multiuse Tent, plus outside space. Show dates will be March 10-13, 2016. "As evidenced by record attendance at our just-completed 2015 event, we have grown our show... Full story
You've probably heard of, and even supported food banks for people, but did you know there are pet food banks as well? In addition to being a no-kill shelter that saves hundreds of pets annually, Lost Our Home Pet Rescue also has a Pet Food Bank. Many Had To Choose Between Kids And Pets Executive Director Jodi Polanski states, "When I started this rescue in 2008 I saw many families struggling during the financial crisis. We were being asked to take in pets from families who wanted to keep their... Full story
Did you know that your state taxes do not support the conservation of Arizona's wildlife, but your donations do? Taxpayers can help the state's wildlife at tax time by "making a mark" on their state income tax form. The Arizona Wildlife Fund is a voluntary program that allows Arizona taxpayers to make a donation to specifically help imperiled and endangered wildlife, including majestic bald eagles, black-footed ferrets, California condors, Apache trout, Mexican wolves and desert tortoises,... Full story
Arizona's largest boat show is just around the corner: The 24th annual Lake Havasu Boat Show is primed to deliver more exhibitors and attractions than ever before. Join the fun at Lake Havasu State Park, Windsor 4 on London Bridge Road. In addition to 60-plus different brands/kind of boats, there is a chili and salsa contest to benefit the local high school, the IJSBA Jettribe PWC WaterCross Race, and the appearance of the remarkable Miss Geico, reigning 2013-14 SBI offshore world champion.... Full story
A growing number of outdoor recreationists are getting involved in an effort to ensure continued access to public lands in Arizona by promoting outdoor ethics. The Respected Access is Open Access in Arizona initiative is being supported by a coalition of partners including the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, and Tread Lightly!, a national non-profit organization that promotes responsible outdoor recreation through education and stewardship... Full story
If you're looking for a great day trip from Phoenix, I've got a great idea for you - the Pinal Mountain Recreation Area. We have driven past the little brown sign for it in Globe dozens of times, and we finally decided to go check it out. I'm really glad we did, because it's a beautiful place. There are campgrounds and plenty to see up there, and the Forest Service site says the campgrounds are good for trailers up to 20 feet. We actually had a bit of a time finding it, even though we took the t... Full story
The reception at the Fishing Clubs meetings during this month was very enthusiastic. Many new anglers have signed up for the 2015 contest. The excitement is building - just about a month and a half until the first day to fish and even less until the Pre-Fish Seminar and Party at the Bali Hai. Miss Yellowtail Derby 2015 Tiera Hanes has been very busy, promoting, signing up anglers and talking to sportboat captains about setting up Derby charters to Fish with Miss Yellowtail. All of the San Diego... Full story
Doug Burt is the Hunting and Shooting Sports Program Manager at Arizona Game and Fish Department. Hunting And Angling Heritage Work Group, Well you all have done it again - you have all blown me away! The Winter HAHWG meeting had a great turnout and diverse cross-section of participants like I've not seen. Look at this turnout: • 50 attendees • 17 first-timers • 28 organizations represented • 10 game and fish work units or regions represented The biggest takeaways from the meeting for me were... Full story
KUDOS – AZGFD's voluntary non-lead ammunition program designed to further California condor conservation reached record participation levels in 2014. For hunters in the condor's core range in northern Arizona, 91 percent voluntarily chose to use either non-lead ammunition or remove gut piles from the field. Of the 91 percent, surveys show that 73 percent of successful hunters used non-lead ammunition, an increase of 13 percent over the previous year. In addition, 65 percent of the small n... Full story
The following news release was issued jointly by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Population survey shows a 31 percent increase in the population. The Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team (IFT) has completed its annual year-end population survey for endangered Mexican wolves and documented a minimum of 109 animals in the wild in Arizona and New Mexico at the end of 2014. This is a 31 percent increase over the previous year and the fourth consecutive year... Full story
For the entire month of March 2015, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)/Arizona State Parks (ASP) is coordinating activities throughout the state for the 33rd annual celebration of Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month (AAHAM). These events will focus on current efforts to preserve our past by protecting our fragile and non-renewable cultural resources. AAHAM combines education with entertainment to reach both adults and children in an effort to teach responsible... Full story
Grand Canyon, Ariz. – Grand Canyon National Park will celebrate the 44th anniversary of Earth Day with a weekend full of activities April 18-19, 2015. The weekend will culminate with an open-house style celebration from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 19 at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center Plaza. This year’s activities will focus on water, including conservation, quality, the Colorado River watershed, and encouraging people to develop a broader understanding of this precious res... Full story
The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water provides local non-profit groups up to $10,000 to help educate boaters on safe and clean boating topics. However, it needs your help to determine who will get the money. With its 2015 Grassroots Grants program kicking off, the national 501(c)(3) is looking to the public to help it decide which of the eight submitted projects will receive funding in the competitive program. Boaters have until midnight on March 24 to go to... Full story
The striper hot spot this week at Lake Powell is Good Hope Bay. This will be a recurring theme in 2015. Striper numbers and shad forage are higher in the northern lake. Reports from Good Hope this week indicate it is possible to catch 100 stripers per day while graphing and spooning. Begin At Good Hope Bay Begin the search in Good Hope Bay near Red Canyon. You may have to go as far as The Horn to find a school. Graph the 25-45 foot contour looking for big striper schools. These schools are... Full story
Americans are more conscious than ever about properly disposing of, or recycling plastic containers and other materials. The recreational fishing industry, through KeepAmericaFishing®, its grassroots angler advocacy campaign, is asking anglers to add their worn out soft plastic baits to that list. The Start Of It All KAF-PitchIt, the new Pitch It campaign was the direct result of a proposed legislative ban in Maine on the sale and use of soft plastic baits. While legislators were contending... Full story
Mark your calendars! The cats are coming/are back. Our first stocking of the season: Thursday, March 19. For delivery: Close to 15,000 pounds of hungry catfish into 21 core waters - Get your family, grab a picnic basket, and come on outside because it's the perfect time of year to hit the lakes. Last Trout Stocking Of Winter Season Our last trout stocking for central and southern waters this season is taking place March 2-7. Trout will continue to be stocked into Green Valley Lakes in Payson... Full story
When: May 2015 to Sept. 2015 Where: Tonto Creek Hatchery is located approximately 17 miles east of Payson, Ariz. Description: The hatchery host is a volunteer who lives onsite and interacts with visitors, assists with tours, and helps with light facility upkeep. Example of Duties: Host duties include interacting with visitors, picking up litter, cleaning visitor restrooms, replacing full sign-in sheets, tracking visitor numbers, maintaining and updating department pamphlets in visitor center... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department, in cooperation with Mohave County and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), succeeded on March 4 in executing agreements to restore rainbow trout stocking at Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery, which is located along the Colorado River south of the Hoover Dam. "I am very pleased that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Arizona Game and Fish Commission have finalized an agreement to begin restoring rainbow trout stocking operations at Willow... Full story
