Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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Just because the summer's over, that doesn't mean boating season is over! What better way to enjoy this weather, Arizona’s finest time of year, by spending the day on the water? Well, the best place to do that is at Bartlett Lake! Located right in the heart of the Tonto National Forest, Bartlett Lake is the second largest lake in the Phoenix Metro Valley area, with boatable surface area of 2,815 acres — bigger than Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake, combined! Bartlett Lake Marina offers eve... Full story
Fort Verde State Historic Park will be decorated for the Christmas holiday through Jan. 4, 2013. Visitors can glance into the past and see how those who once resided at Fort Verde celebrated Christmas on the Frontier. Christmas trees and fireplace mantels will be adorned with unique Victorian decorations, while wreaths and garlands help spread the holiday cheer. Fort Verde State Historic Park is the best-preserved example of an Indian Wars period fort in Arizona. Spanning from 1865 through 1890 Camp Lincoln, Camp Verde and finally Fort Verde... Full story
Every Saturday — Wildlife Exhibit The Reptile/Wildlife Exhibit runs every Saturday from 9am - Noon, weather permitting. Volunteer Jim "the Snake Man" Cloer and his crew of volunteer assistants enchant visitors at the park trail head with a menagerie of reptiles, arachnids and animals who inhabit the Sonoran Desert. Meet at Main Trailhead parking area at Catalina State Park. Contact the Park for more information at (520) 628-5798. Sunday Hikes Register with Volunteer Gaston Meloche at (520) 6... Full story
The last of Mata Ortiz Pottery demonstrations will be held at Kartchner Caverns State Park on Jan. 28. Demonstrations will take place at 11am and 1p.m. in the park theater on the event days. Learn more about Mata Ortiz pottery and see examples during the demonstrations. In a remote river valley on the plains of Northern Mexico, a remarkable ceramic arts revival is taking place. In the village of Mata Ortiz, master potter Juan Quezada, inspired by ancient potsherds, is leading a renaissance of... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has been receiving inquiries from outdoor enthusiasts who are uncertain about new Forest Service Travel Management Rules and whether the rules apply to them and their favorite recreational areas. Many hunters, anglers, campers and wildlife watchers are especially concerned about how the new travel management rules are being enforced, especially in national forests located in Arizona. In response to these questions and concerns, Arizona Game and Fish has... Full story
Tempe, AZ October 17, 2012 – Did you know that a great catch might be related to the moon’s cycle? Or that size does matters when it comes to pitching a tent? Black Dog Promotions provides helpful hints like these and more on its new website http://www.FishCampHuntHike.com. Launched in October of 2012, the site shares an array of fishing, camping, hunting and hiking stories for, and written by, avid outdoors people—many with a sense of humor as grand as their love of nature and outdoor sport. Learn how to troll for trout or net the best fishi... Full story
The 53rd Arizona Yacht Club Birthday Regatta and their 14th Annual Leukemia Cup Regatta is just two months away: Jan.18-19-20, 2013! Help fight blood cancers! Race one, two, or three days. Cruise! Party! AYC has some great improvements in store for you and your “shore party.” 1) Lower Costs: Two-day race registration last year was $80. It’s reduced to $50 this year! 2) Moving indoors: The dusty tent is gone and the Saturday night event will move indoors to the Lake Pleasant Waterfront Grill... Full story
Just because the summer's over, that doesn't mean boating season is over! What better way to enjoy this weather, Arizona’s finest time of year, by spending the day on the water? Well, the best place to do that is at Bartlett Lake! Located right in the heart of the Tonto National Forest, Bartlett Lake is the second largest lake in the Phoenix Metro Valley area, with boatable surface area of 2,815 acres — bigger than Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake, combined! Bartlett Lake Marina offers eve... Full story
As always, we are planning a multitude of activities for the holidays at State Parks. "First Day" hikes on January 1, 2013 are always popular and you can start booking them now so you can be out walking on New Year's Day. We know taking your family for a holiday excursion can be daunting when you add up all the costs for meals and hotels. But did you ever think it was odd you were traveling somewhere else when your family from cold states always wants to come to warm Arizona for the holidays?... Full story
Outdoor enthusiasts have been familiar with Arizona Boating & Watersports news magazine. However, as the publication expanded its coverage to include camping, fishing, hunting, RVing, safety and wildlife, it was felt the name needed to reflect growth into new and varied content. Therefore, Western Outdoor Times now appears above the parent name Arizona Boating & Watersports, the original branding of the paper. Along with the expansion of areas covered, we are also expanding our geographic reach.... Full story
There is something almost revere about a campfire. It’s a travelling tradition — while one person sets up the tent or opens up the van, the other forages for fuel and gets a blaze going. It’s romantic, it’s entertaining and it’s often the place that good food is made. But, sometimes it’s actually a part of traveling I could happily do without! It’s hot work, the wood is often damp or if it’s not, there’s a fire ban and I get tired of telling the kids, “Don’t run around near the fire!” So we...
As most of you have read or heard, the Arizona State Parks department has struggled to survive during the budget crisis. What we want you to know is largely because of 14 partnerships with rural communities, we have been able to keep all 27 of State Parks open, although some of them only seasonally. Because the State Parks are open, we can invite visitors to Arizona from around the world. Arizona is fortunate to have 900 dedicated volunteers who work every day to greet two million guests in... Full story
Hey, with temperatures in the deserts expected to soar into the triple digits, it might be time for a cool dose of scented pine air. Especially since we are getting great fishing reports from most of the mountain lakes. Woods Canyon Lake Big Lake and Woods Canyon Lake are both hot spots right now. Both of those waters have stores and boat rentals, making them even more attractive. I have been getting lots of reports of anglers catching limits of trout — even some larger holdover ones. Ironically... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department recently distributed information addressing an “open letter” from a constituent group describing challenges facing sportsmen. The Department provided some additional information regarding the “loss of wildlife” issue described in the open letter. Another issue listed in the open letter is that of “access to public lands.” We agree that access for public recreation has been, and will continue to be, an issue as our state continues to grow. Challenges include p... Full story
What a concept! Arizona is a great location for solar cooking, and it suits boating and watersports enthusiasts as well as campers (as shown in this photo) perfectly! Possible future articles may include recipes, stories of experiences with solar "appliances," and information on the eco, health, and practical benefits of cooking with sunshine. Meanwhile, for more information, e-mail heather.r.stevens@gmail.com... Full story
The Lake Pleasant Paddle Fest will be on Saturday, April 28. Save the date and put on your calendar for a wonderful, waterful experience. There will again be a wide selection of watercraft to try out and many fun contests, demos, and free instruction as well. Time to checkout the cool equipment, new boats, listen to the clinics on various subjects and meet with fellow paddlers. Some plan on camping Friday night to be in place with help for Saturday events. From the organizers, a word on dinner... Full story
Whether you’re a seasoned outdoors enthusiast or a novice wanting to learn, be sure to come on out to the Arizona Game and Fish Department Outdoor Expo on Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1. Arizona’s largest hands-on outdoor expo is held at the world-renowned Ben Avery Shooting Facility in north Phoenix and offers loads of fun activities, exhibits and educational presentations for the entire family Adults and kids will get a chance to see live wildlife, including hawks, owls, snakes, sma... Full story
The 12th annual Arizona International Sportsmen’s Exposition (ISE) arrives at the University of Phoenix Stadium, Thursday, Feb. 23-Sunday, Feb. 26. This year, the ISE is proud to announce appearances by several celebrity guest speakers, including Lt. John Nores Jr., co-star of National Geographic TV’s Wild Justice and Hank Shaw, author of Hunt, Gather, Cook. Over 300 Exhibitors More than 300 exhibiting companies will participate across the generous 160,000-square-foot space. Vendor booths inc... Full story
The Boy Scouts of America’s Grand Canyon Council will partner with the 12th annual Arizona International Sportsmen’s Exposition (ISE) during the state’s largest outdoor event Feb. 23-26 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. Scott Impecoven, BSA’s COO for the Grand Canyon Council, said, “It’s a great partnership for us because what we do fits right in the with the outdoors. We appreciate the opportunity for the increased visibility the ISE offers to us through this partnership... Full story
According to Stew Kohnke, our Alamo Lake wildlife manager (and one of my favorite fishing partners when he doesn't outfish me too badly), some boats are catching 20-plus crappies in a day. Most boats are catching 10-15 in a day. Crappie have been ranging from ¾ lbs to 2 pounds. Jigs tipped with minnows in 14 to 20 feet have been working the best. Others are having some luck by the buoy lines in 25- to 30-feet. Bass Could Stage Soon Kohnke said that the water temperature is 54 to 56 in most... Full story
Whether you are a seasoned outdoors enthusiast or a novice who wants to learn about the amazing outdoor recreational opportunities in our state, you won’t want to miss the Arizona Game and Fish Department Outdoor Expo on March 31 and April 1. Arizona’s largest hands-on outdoor expo will have loads of hands-on experiences, demonstrations, exhibits and presentations on activities such as fishing, archery, wildlife viewing, shooting sports, hunting, camping, boating, and off-highway vehicle rec... Full story
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in conjunction with other agencies within the Department of the Interior, will waive recreation-related day-use fees for visitors to the National System of Public Lands for Get Outdoors Day (June 9); National Public Lands Day (September 29); and Veterans Day weekend (November 10-12). “While the BLM serves as the steward of America’s public lands, we can’t do our job alone,” said BLM Director Bob Abbey. “Waiving fees a few days out of the year may help some... Full story
Bartlett Lake In The Tonto National Forest Bartlett Lake has a boatable surface area of 2,815 acres - more than Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake, combined. Fed by the pristine waters of the Verde River, Indians of this valley spoke descriptively in their legends of the river's "sweet waters". Outdoor enthusiasts frequent Bartlett Lake for a variety of recreational opportunities, including shoreline camping in Arizona's natural desert terrain. While in this part of the Tonto National Forest,... Full story
The Time Has Come To Enjoy — Annual AZGFD Family Friendly Outdoor Expo Mark your calendars for March 31 and April 1. The dates are set for the AZGFD 2012 Outdoor Expo: Saturday, March 31 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, April 1 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Don't miss out on this chance to experience the great Arizona outdoors! The Outdoor Expo is an annual event conducted by Game and Fish to give the public the chance to learn about wildlife-related and outdoor-recreation activities, including wildlife v... Full story
Tonto National Forest ORV Plan Is Disaster for Air, Wildlife and Watersheds PHOENIX, Ariz. The Tonto National Forest released a plan this week that would open an additional 1,441 miles of roads despite the fact that off-road vehicles have been identified as a major contributor to air- and water-quality problems in that forest and in Maricopa County. Many of the Tontos watersheds are already impaired or at risk for impairment, and roads are often in poor quality in damaged watersheds. The f... Full story