Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Sorted by date Results 601 - 625 of 1682
The road to the top of the Harquahala Mountains takes you to the historic Solar Observatory. We had read several accounts of the road, and many of them said that it was very rough, even dangerous. The day we went there it was neither. Yes, there are a couple of place where 4WD came in handy because of loose rock, but for the most part it was not that bad. There is one short stretch near the end that has been paved with concrete, and that part was apparently the worst place before the paving was... Full story
For the first time in more than 150 years, elk are leaving their hoofprints on West Virginia soil. Dozens of elk that were captured and quarantined in January east of Flagstaff were loaded into a livestock trailer and transported nonstop to a release site in the Tomblin Wildlife Management Area in southwest West Virginia in early March. The elk were captured at the Raymond Wildlife Area through a partnership between the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the West Virginia Division of Natural R... Full story
In recognition of Grand Canyon National Park's 99th birthday, the National Park Service and Grand Canyon Association unveiled the logo for the park's upcoming 2019 Centennial. Depicting one of Grand Canyon's most significant elements, the Colorado River, the logo is a visual reminder of the rich natural, cultural, and historical resources found at Grand Canyon National Park. The accompanying tagline, "Go Grand", encourages inspiration and grand adventures. The logo was the result of a... Full story
Approximately 50 desert tortoises will soon awaken from their winter slumber and the Arizona Game and Fish Tortoise Adoption program will once again be looking for good adoptive homes. There is no charge to adopt a tortoise. The desert tortoises up for adoption are a wide range of ages and sizes. AZGFD is accepting applications for those willing to provide a special home. Adoption application packets and general information can be found at www.azgfd.gov/tortoise. Adopters need to have a securely... Full story
Survey results shine light on recovery effort in Aubrey Valley, on Double O Ranch. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking volunteers to assist with spotlighting efforts to help document the population of endangered black-footed ferrets in Aubrey Valley and on the Double O Ranch near Seligman. As part of the recovery effort, the department has scheduled one remaining spring spotlighting project: April 26-29 (the department also conducts two spotlighting projects in the fall). The... Full story
The effort to prevent the spread of quagga mussels throughout fresh water lakes and rivers in the western United States has been ongoing since 2007 when the harmful mollusks were initially discovered in Lake Mead and specific portions of the Colorado River including Lake Havasu. Although numerous containment strategies have been employed by various local, state and federal agencies during the past ten years, quaggas have proven to be a stubborn and virtually unstoppable adversary, infecting a... Full story
The Hassayampa River begins somewhere south of Prescott and flows through Wickenburg before joining the Gila River near Hassayampa, Ariz. It is around 113 miles long, but most of the time the Hassayampa is flowing, but you can't see it - the water is below the surface of the ground and the river looks like a very wide dry wash. However, near Wickenburg are a couple (or three) places where you can enjoy seeing the waters of the Hassayampa flowing on the surface. The Hassayampa is one of the few... Full story
Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation's (AZSFWC) "Conserving Wildlife" license plate ended 2017 surpassing the prior year both in license plate sales and grant awards from the proceeds. Last year, AZSFWC, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, awarded 16 different grants totaling $170,665 in funding. Putting this into perspective, it means 10,039 Conserving Wildlife license plates were purchased or renewed to fund those projects. Since 2012, the organization has awarded 100 grants totaling... Full story
PHOENIX - Desert Roses and Desert Roses, Too – the women's shotgun-shooting program at the Ben Avery Clay Target Center – will conduct a fun shoot at 10 a.m. April 7. All participants in the program are invited to attend. Desert Roses is the introductory level of the program that meets every first and third Thursday of each month. Desert Roses, Too is a new level of the program for women who want to learn advanced shooting techniques. The cost is $20 per shooter and includes firearm rental, amm... Full story
You all amaze me! Thank you for another productive and engaging gathering of the Hunting and Angling Heritage Workgroup this past Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018 – it is one for the books for sure. For those that didn't make it, below is a quick recap. If you want to see the full presentations, shoot me an email and I'll forward them to you, dburt@azgfd.gov. Overview: 37 attendees total 8 first‐timers (20%, includes 1 new organization – Arizona Huntress Facebook group) 17 + unique organizatio... Full story
PHOENIX, March 2, 2018-For Immediate Release. Tonto National Forest fire specialists will continue to conduct prescribed fire treatments on approximately 1,566 acres in areas north of Payson, starting on Monday, March 5, and continuing through Friday, March 9, 2018. The treatment areas are located north of Payson, northwest of Whispering Pines, and southwest of Verde Glen. The prescribed fire treatments are designed to maintain the thinning conducted over the last decade to improve the health... Full story
PHOENIX — One of Arizona’s largest hands-on outdoor expos is less than three weeks away. And it’s FREE! The Arizona Game and Fish Department Outdoor Expo, presented by Shikar-Safari Club International, will be held on Saturday, March 24, and Sunday, March 25, at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix. The event offers loads of activities, presentations and exhibits for everyone from novices to seasoned outdoor recreationists. The Expo has come a long way since its inception, growing from a s... Full story
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - The Humane Society of the United States and their Arizona Shell Organization, Arizonans for Wildlife, Admit Major Defeat by a Coalition of Arizona Wildlife Conservationists Phoenix - The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), a scandal laden political organization, waited until a slow news holiday weekend to announce their stunning failure to qualify an anti-science based wildlife management initiative for the upcoming 2018 ballot. In an excuse laden message to... Full story
Ziggy is a handsome Hybrid Calico Macaw (Greenwing x Military Macaw) who is missing the toes on both feet as well as the portions of his wings where his flight feathers would grow. Most likely he was born with these deformities due to poor hybrid genetics. Like all special needs birds, Ziggy does not realize that he has any "problems" and has adjusted to life exceptionally well. After living with a family for over 16 years, he was abandoned in their home when they moved. A neighbor alerted a... Full story
WDFW IS seeking comments on the draft status reviews for sea otters, pygmy rabbits, and grizzly bears. OLYMPIA – State wildlife managers are seeking public input on their recommendations to keep the pygmy rabbit and grizzly bear on the state's endangered species list, and to downlist the sea otter from endangered to threatened. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) periodically reviews the status of protected species in the state. The public can comment on the listing r... Full story
Residents of Alpine, Ariz., Reserve, N.M., and surrounding areas may notice a low-flying helicopter in the region between through Saturday, Feb. 3 as biologists conduct their annual Mexican wolf population survey and capture. The flights are part of the Mexican wolf Reintroduction Project, a multi-agency cooperative effort among the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Service... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) prides itself on providing ample fishing opportunities for its legions of anglers and the state's growing populations of cormorants have taken notice. State Has Two Species In early 2017, AZGFD began a study of the state's two species of the bird - neotropic and double-crested cormorants - both of which are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Under those protections, cormorant populations have flourished nationwide, competing... Full story
Each year as part of its highly successful program to manage and conserve bald eagles in the state, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) asks outdoor recreationists, aircraft pilots, drone operators and motorized paragliders to help this magnificent bird in Arizona. Various land and wildlife management agencies close areas around breeding locations during the birds' breeding season to protect the state's 67 breeding pairs of bald eagles. Some closure areas are located near popular... Full story
People love their pets. But sometimes hardship forces them apart. That's where we come in. As the only organization in the Valley focused on both pets and people in crisis, we are dedicated to rescuing pets abandoned or at risk of homelessness. We provide pet care when people find themselves in challenging life situations. When people are facing times of crisis that jeopardize their ability to care and provide for their pets, we are here to help. Some Unfortunate Factors Domestic Violence... Full story
Tonto National Forest joins other federal agencies in waiving fees at day-use sites on six remaining days. These special days will provide people an easier way to experience national forests and grasslands, sometimes referred to as "America's Backyard". The fee-waiver program is in cooperation with other federal land management agencies under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. Day-use fees will be waived at all standard amenity fee sites operated by the forest for these listed dates.... Full story
CANYON LAKE, Ariz. — Boaters and other outdoor recreationists are advised that the Palo Verde Boat Ramp at Canyon Lake will temporarily close from March 1 through March 17 for a facility improvement project. Arizona Game and Fish has been working with the Tonto National Forest to maintain the pavement in and around the ramp, and this project will involve milling, crack-sealing, seal-coating and other services as necessary. During the work, the area from the main highway down to the ramp will b... Full story
While many parts of the country are shoveling snow and driving snow mobiles, in the desert areas of the Southwest, others are readying their craft for a new year of boating pleasure. Soon, two popular expos will showcase - among other outdoor activities -boating models and accessories. As the fun on the water begins, it is vitally important to remember "safety first" so that 2018 has zero-to-very few boating accidents. To this end, we highly recommend one of the safety courses listed on page 3... Full story
Standing at less than 11 inches tall, the American kestrel is a mighty bird of prey, yet the future of this fierce little falcon is uncertain, as populations are on the decline nationally. Locally, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is enlisting the help of landowners and citizen scientists to assist biologists as part of the American Kestrel Partnership, a program designed to collect data to be used to conserve this important species for future generations. AZGFD is participating in... Full story
Sometimes things happen when you least expect them. "I came upon this brave cactus wren taking on the cholla cactus," said Pamela Parker of Mesa, explaining how she got the winning shot of this year's wildlife photo contest. "I loved how the wren was framed by all the needles and had to take the photo." She kept a watchful eye, taking several shots and capturing the bird surrounded by the cactus. Parker used a handheld camera because she likes to be "on the same level as my subjects." She... Full story
At its regular December meeting, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission passed a motion in opposition to a proposed ballot initiative that would ban the hunting of mountain lions and bobcats and restrict management of the state's wild cats by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The proposed initiative has not yet qualified for the ballot, but the Commission regularly takes positions on federal and state legislation with potential impact on the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) and the... Full story
