Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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Whether in a canoe or kayak or on a stand-up paddleboard, all offer a calm, serene way to enjoy boating - unless of course there are many power craft sharing the lake or a sudden storm makes an appearance. Then, the best advice is to hug the shoreline and quieter waters, or if in real danger, the obvious choice is to get out of the threatening weather. (Experts will always advise that you "know before you go"; in other words, check the weather reports before putting in.) September in Arizona is... Full story
The Sea Scout Ship Invincible (Ship 502) is exemplar of the best traditions of Sea Scouts BSA with more than 15 youth participating in a range of on-water adventures and community service activities. Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is proud to honor the S.S.S. Invincible for its incredible program as the 2024-25 BoatUS National Sea Scout Flagship. The honor was created by the Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) in 2002 to mark the 90th anniversary of Sea S... Full story
The Dirt Expo is going back to Westworld in Scottsdale, Ariz., Arizona's original and largest Off-Road, Sand, and UTV Expo is going BIG for its 10th Anniversary on December 7 and 8, 2024! Everything from -industry-leading vendors, legendary raffles, seminars, classes, and more will be on the agenda with so much more to be announced. 100's Of Vendors Exhibitors from across the country will be available to show the latest and greatest the industry has to offer. Seminars And Classes Everything... Full story
When it comes to dove hunting in Arizona, one thing is pretty much indisputable: There's never a bad season opener. When it comes to dove hunting in Arizona, one thing is pretty much indisputable: There's never a bad season opener. All signs indicate that there will be birds aplenty when the 2024 season gets underway 30 minutes before legal sunrise Sunday, Sept. 1. This is especially true for hunters who are willing to scout in the mornings and evenings between now and the opener to locate some... Full story
Adapted From An Article By Rudri Bhatt Patel For Visit Arizona In Arizona, there are so many opportunities to get out on the water-from the lakes of the Mogollon Rim to the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Here are ten of the top spots to canoe and kayak. 1. Lake Pleasant, Morristown Lake Pleasant, located 45 minutes northwest of Phoenix, is a favorite venue for those on paddle craft. Canyons and cliffs rise over the six-mile lake, islands dot the middle of it and slot canyons hide on the... Full story
Cool, clear air. Sparkling stars on velvet sky. Heady fragrance of pine. Soft breeze. Gentle stream songs. Delicious aromas of brewing coffee, of sizzling bacon. Silence. Peace. Refreshment. These are some of the descriptors I could use as I remember my days of camping in Washington State and in Alberta, Canada. Mind you, I could also say "cold", "freezing", "chilling", but those would apply to late-season camping in the Northwest. Not here in the Southwest. In fact, generally that is one of... Full story
August 6: More Opportunities The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) once again will be offering hunting opportunities that will provide hunters with a chance to draw an additional elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and Gould's turkey permit-tag, while generating revenue to support wildlife conservation efforts across the state. The draw will close at 5 p.m. (Arizona time) Tuesday, Aug. 6. Applicants who are drawn for a limited-entry permit-tag will be contacted by the department (during... Full story
According to the nationwide TowBoatUS on-water towing fleet, the busiest time of the year for America's recreational boat owners is, hands down, the Fourth of July holiday period, which typically includes some days, even weeks, before and after the official holiday. It also may be the longest time many boaters will spend the day on the water at anchor, enjoying fishing holes and raft-ups. Are they ready? The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water has four tips to help boaters... Full story
(Maricopa County) – Who's ready to enjoy a free night's stay in one of Maricopa County's regional parks? Starting September 18, the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department is bringing back its popular Buy One, Get One camping promotion! The promotion allows park visitors who pay the camping fee for one night or more at a participating desert mountain county park to receive one night of equal or lesser value for free during that same stay. "Maricopa County is home to 12 beautiful r... Full story
Most of the trout in Arizona are stocked fish, which means that trout fishing is mostly a "put and take" game. The Arizona Game and Fish Department puts the trout in, and we take them out. Most of the fish that are stocked are small, what the Game and Fish calls "catchable" trout, but some of our lakes and streams have genuine trophy fish, and the Game and Fish Department usually throws in a couple of bigger fish in each stocking just to give you an incentive to fish. Don't miss the Arizona... Full story
Here's to getting boat work done right – and keeping you safe on the water! If there is one thing boaters all agree on, it's the need for quality marine service and repair work. At the heart of any good boat maintenance program is a qualified marine technician with the necessary training, knowledge and skills to tackle the job. With the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) celebrating its 2024 Outstanding Technician Award, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) thought it would b... Full story
The youngest of three children, Jerelyn Biehl was born into a sailing family. She learned sailing from her parents and as a teenager absorbed all things boating at her father's marine store. She shared sailing with kids during summers in high school and college. After competing for the University of California, Los Angeles Sailing Team, she met her husband on the racecourse. They fostered a love of sailing in their sons, Graham (a two-time Olympian) and Cameron (a world champion). Educating, Enr... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is urging everyone to wear a life jacket, and follow all safety regulations and laws this summer when recreating on Arizona's waterways. "A life jacket does exactly what it says - it saves your life when you need it," said Danny Rodriguez, watercraft law enforcement program coordinator. "However, it can only save your life if you're wearing one, and often it's too late to put one on once you realize you need it." According to U.S. Coast Guard... Full story
From bears to bison, from trout to turkeys, from fish to falcons, our Arizona wildlife is a plethora of precious beings who share our world. Arizona Game & Fish is a major guardian of this resource, assisted by various species-specific groups and caring individuals. The Wildlife for Tomorrow's Hall of Fame each year recognizes people and organizations who have significantly cared for the environment and those who inhabit it, our wildlife. We congratulate this year's inductees and thank them... Full story
From June 10-August 12, organizations are invited to apply for grant funding to clean up their local waterways. WHAT: In a nationwide effort to remove abandoned and neglected boats from our nation’s waterways, the Boat Owners Association of the United States (BoatUS) Foundation is seeking qualified, diverse and experienced organizations to submit projects for funding. The massive cleanup effort to remove abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs) in U.S. coastal waterways and the Great Lakes is f... Full story
Decrease In Fatalities, Accidents, But Problems Persist The recently released U.S. Coast Guard 2023 Recreational Boating Statistics shows some good news on the boating safety front, with fatalities falling by 11.3% to 564 from 636 in 2022, and overall incidents decreasing by 4.9% from 4,040 to 3,844. Nonfatal injuries also dropped by 4.3% from 2,222 in 2022 to 2,126 in 2023. Over the long haul, the Coast Guard report also noted that when the Safe Boating Act was first passed in 1971, the... Full story
Will A Vessel Safety Check Save You From A Random Boarding By Law Enforcement? Each spring and summer, recreational boaters debate getting a free, no-penalty vessel safety check (VSC). Some may also wonder if that VSC decal on their boat will save them from a random summertime boarding by law enforcement. The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water, the boating safety arm of the nation's largest membership-based boating group and Vessel Safety Check program sponsor says there is no... Full story
Waterfowl and snipe, trapping rules also on AZGFD's website. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has posted the "2024-2025 Arizona Dove and Band-tailed Pigeon Regulations" at www.azgfd.com/hunting/regulations. In addition, the "2024-2025 Arizona Waterfowl and Snipe Regulations" and "2024-2025 Arizona Trapping Regulations" can be found on the department's website. The dove and band-tailed pigeon regulations are produced in a downloadable format that hunters will find handy in the field.... Full story
I was going through some old stories today and ran across one of the stories we did on Nitro Chicken a number of years ago. We were fortunate enough to be a minor sponsor of Doug Verstuyft and Nitro Chicken. For several years we were at Firebird Lake where the Top Fuel Hydroplane races took place. Over the years we have attended numerous events. This was undoubtedly one of the most fun and exciting. Carol and I were both able to sit in the Nitro Chicken and when they close that canopy it is... Full story
Compass Mounts Anywhere Many owners skip installing a compass due to a reliance on GPS, but when throttled down due to fog, rain or unfamiliar locations, it can't display direction well — and not at all if stopped. The Helmsman HB-740 from Ritchie Navigation is the ideal addition to any boat. Its bracket mount fits virtually anywhere, making it perfect for everything from a sportfish flybridge to a wakeboard dash to the console of a small center console. Made in the USA, the Ritchie Helmsman m... Full story
Salute 'Old Glory' George M. Cohen said it well in the song he composed: " You're a grand old flag; you're a high-flying flag, and forever in peace may you wave; you're the emblem of the land I love, the home of the free and the brave... " June 14 we are reminded of this on Flag Day and again on Independence Day, July 4. Even in disturbing times like these, there is hope that all that Old Glory has symbolized will prevail. In celebration of our nation's independence, the folks at Lake Pleasant H... Full story
Reprinted from US Sailing Ed Huntsman, 72, who devoted his personal and professional life to boating safety, died after battling stage 4 cancer for nearly seven years on May 1, 2024. He was a committed volunteer to US Sailing as a member of the Safety at Sea Committee and Chair of the Committee Structure Task Force along with being a licensed captain, certified instructor, and combat veteran (Vietnam War). His First Family Son of Arral B Huntsman and Ann McFarland Viles Huntsman, brother of... Full story
The recreational boat owner's advocacy, services and safety group, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), has help for all types of boat owners with its highly popular Spring Commissioning Checklist. A printer-friendly PDF copy of the checklist is available to download and take to the boat. Be sure to follow all manufacturer recommendations for your specific boat, engine and accessories. Before You Launch 1. Check the condition of antifouling paint and repaint if necessary. 2.... Full story
June 1: Free Fishing Day When can you fish for free in Arizona? Arizona fishing licenses are not required when - fishing any public water on free fish ing day, which usually takes place on the first Saturday of National Fishing and Boating week. June 1-8: Star Party The 34th annual Grand Canyon Star Party will be held from Saturday, June 1 through Saturday, June 8, 2024, on the South and North Rims of Grand Canyon National Park. National Parks such as Grand Canyon are protective havens for some... 
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Publishers Note: We realize that we ran this story in our April issue. We feel that it is a timely and important message. Thank you Ed. Have you completed your National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) approved state boater education course yet? If you're a California resident, effective January 1st, 2024 a NASBLA approved California course is required for any California resident age 60 and under. The course is available online, in a classroom or through home study. More... Full story
