Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 473
This is worth celebrating: The Arizona Game & Fish Department's Outdoor Expo is back! After a two-year hiatus, the popular family friendly event returns. I am taking this as a sign that our past couple of years of restricted activities are finally coming to an end. I hope I am right and that we will be able to cheer on "normal", be it the new or otherwise. The Expo, in a sense, kicks off the spring season in the Southwest, and as you will note in this issue, the focus is on such great outdoor... Full story
Here are some suggestions for kayak and canoe safety and equipment. AZGFD Paddlesports Training Course Is First The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) was recognized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for offering the nation's first paddle-sports class that meets the national standard for "On-Water Recreational Boating Skills – Human Propelled." AZGFD's "Paddlesports Arizona" course teaches fundamental paddlecraft skills that entry-level recreational boaters should be able... Full story
The funeral service with military honors will be held on Monday, March 14, 2022, at 2:00 PM at Peace Lutheran Church with Rev. Cory Burma officiating. Interment will be at Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell, Nebraska. Visitation will be on Sunday from 2:00 - 4:00 PM at Gass Haney Funeral Home and continue on Monday from 1:00 PM until service time at the church. There will be a family prayer service on Monday at 1:45 PM at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the... Full story
Register today for the 2022 UTV Rally at Mormon Lake. Due to a scheduling error, the dates for the UTV Rally, Mormon Lake, have been updated to May 6 and 7. We are enhancing our show by adding more vendors, activities, and more. This year we are also allowing people to purchase their camping space in the location they choose; if they and their friends want to camp together, we advise getting your spaces early. To Those Who Have Already Registered If you are unable to make the new dates for the... Full story
Early in February it can seem like the fish are on strike," says local resident and ournament angler Debbie Blanchard, "but before long the big smallmouth start to move in and you can catch a lot of really big fish." The smallmouth begin to spawn when the water reaches about 58 degrees, and they spawn deeper than largemouth do. Easy To Spot Debbie looks for beds in at least ten feet of water. They're easy to spot, she says, because smallmouth nests are as much as three times as big as... Full story
We save most of our desert drives for winter because although our Jeep would make it through snow and mud, many northern Arizona off-highway trails are closed in winter, and we also don't like to make deep ruts in muddy roads just from a conservation standpoint. It's too hot in summer to really enjoy a desert drive, because we like to get out of the Jeep and do a lot of walking and exploring. In the summer we have not only the excessive heat to contend with, but also my constant fretting that... Full story
Christmas Gifts For Outdoorsy Types Need some stocking stuffer and gift ideas for your outdoorsy family and friends? Look no further – here are a bunch of great ones at all different price ranges. UNDER $25 STANSPORT knows it's never too early to start kids on a love for the outdoors, and they make it easy for you by providing fun stuff for your little explorers at great prices. For instance, you can get a Kids' Insect Catching Kit for $25.99 and a Kids' Magnifying Jar for 10.99. That will k... Full story
PHOENIX – November 8, 2021 — The Tonto National Forest Supervisor's Office along with all ranger district offices will be closed Thursday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day. Ranger district offices will resume normal business hours on Friday, November 12. The Supervisor's Office remains temporarily closed to the public. People visiting the Tonto on November 11 also can enjoy many day-use recreation sites -- such as picnic grounds, shorelines, and boat launches operated by the Tonto --... Full story
With Live Country Music At Pleasant Harbor Pleasant Harbor at Lake Pleasant and the City of Peoria will host the Peoria Country Fest on Saturday, Oct. 9, featuring live country music from three popular country artists. The event also features food trucks, a beer garden and live bull riding. The event runs from 2 p.m. –10 p.m. Headlining this year's country fest is David Nail, a country music artist whose multiple albums have produced seven chart entries on Hot Country Songs and Country A... Full story
PHOENIX, October 5, 2021 — Tonto National Forest officials signed the Final Record of Decision for the forest's Travel Management Plan today. Today's release of the Final Record of Decision is the culmination of a Forest-wide, multi-year planning effort that designates a more sustainable motorized transportation system for recreation, administrative and emergency response access. Following several years of public input and analyzing comments and objections, Forest Supervisor Neil Bosworth is r... Full story
When I was a kid, the only things I worried about when I was camping or hunting were bears and mountain lions. As it happens, I've only seen lions two or three times in my life, and each time the lion was hightailing it away from me. And sad to say, I've never seen a bear in the wild. However, I have had plenty of narrow escapes and a few times when I didn't escape some of the dangers that you might run into when you're enjoying Arizona's great outdoors. Most can be avoided if you simply pay... Full story
Water Is The Driving Force Of All Nature Leonardo da Vinci Although we fish in it, boat on it, swim in it, we sometimes take water for granted - not, of course, for our recreational needs but for its crucial role in life preservation for all flora and fauna. This need for our wildlife was recognized as early as 1945 when Arizona Game and Fish began its "Arizona Guzzler" program. This year, it is estimated that three million gallons will be used to fill water catchments throughout the state from... Full story
Camping is awesome, especially if you know some basics. Choosing a great spot and setting up a camp site is something I've been doing for decades. Of course, when I first started camping, my dad did most of the choosing, but we all helped set up the camp. Where and how we camp still depends a lot on the purpose of the trip. In other words, are we hunting, fishing, hiking, or just exploring and camping? How elaborate our camp becomes is largely dependent on the answer to that question, but the... Full story
Celebrate America 2021 At Lake Pleasant Pleasant Harbor at Lake Pleasant will host its annual Celebrate America fireworks show on Saturday, July 3. Located on the southeastern shores of Lake Pleasant, conveniently adjacent to the Phoenix Metro area, Pleasant Harbor hosts this annual firework show, as well as food trucks, free kids activities, including water slides, bounce houses and live music. Festivities begin at 5:00 p.m. with fireworks at 9:00 p.m. and activities running through 10:30 p.m.... Full story
The Outdoor Hall of Fame annually recognizes individuals and organizations that have made significant and lasting contributions toward Arizona's wildlife, the welfare of its natural resources, and the state's outdoor heritage. The 2021 Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame Inductees are Becoming an Outdoors Woman, Bill Hardy, Margie Anderson, Charlie Kelly and Randy Babb. The Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation invites you to join us and the Arizona Game and Fish Department in honoring these deserving and...
Compiled By Doug Burt AZGFD Hunting/Shooting Sports Manager Are you interested in going hunting, but not sure where to start? Look no further. The Arizona Game and Fish Department along with an extensive network of partnering organizations host dozens of learn how to hunt, fish, shoot, trap and other outdoor skill development events throughout the year. Most of these events offer mentoring (not guides), hands-on activities, seminars, a hot meal and campfires for sharing your story. Event types... Full story
Flagstaff Has Some Great Ideas For June 20 And, by the third week in June, you and your dad might want to head for the cooler high country to celebrate. From Discover Flagstaff Flagstaff, with its wide-ranging choice of manly activities, is the ideal place to celebrate Father's Day. It's easy to make the day extra special for Dad when you plan a mountain town get-together to show him how much you care. Whether you make it an extended family activity, a gathering of the nearest and dearest or an... Full story
Forest Service News Release Public Affairs Contact: John Scaggs (602) 702-0597 john.scaggs@usda.gov www.fs.usda.gov/tonto Tonto to waive day-use fees for upcoming National Get Outdoors Day PHOENIX, June 10, 2021 – Visitors to the Tonto National Forest (Tonto) will be able to enjoy many day-use recreation sites – such as picnic grounds, shorelines, and boat launches operated by the Tonto – without having to purchase a pass on June 12 in celebration of National Get Outdoors Day. Fees charg... Full story
And the best gift of all is your love and your time. If you're like me, your dad probably had a lot to do with your love of the outdoors. A dad who hikes, fishes, hunts, camps, or goes off-road is so easy to buy for! Basically, when I bought stuff for my dad I just bought stuff I'd like to have myself. If that doesn't work for you, I've got some ideas for you. Here's a bunch of stuff I bet your outdoor dad will love. Ideas For The Off-Road Dad John and I go exploring a lot, so I know there are... Full story
If your mom likes to shoot and/or hunt, think outside the box when it comes to great gifts for Mother's Day that she will love. For example, a mom who hunts may be out in the boonies for a week or more. Make it easy for her to keep her phone charged so she can access those maps she has downloaded. You're probably familiar with Zagg because of their fantastic screen protectors, but they also have portable chargers. Morphie Powerstation The MorphiePowerstation with PD in pink or black is just... Full story
Mother's Day is almost here and if you need ideas for gifts for your adventurous mom, look no further – we've got gifts and adventures here starting at under $20 and something on the list is sure to make your mom smile. Under $20 www.MyTopo.com is the place where you can make Mom a personalized map of her favorite place – that summer cabin, that lake where she and dad honeymooned, the rapids she ran, her favorite camping area, her home neighborhood, her favorite hunting area, or even her fav... Full story
It's more fun at the lake! forty five minutes from downtown Phoenix, Pleasant Harbor, located on the southeastern shores of Lake Pleasant, serves as a one-stop recreation spot for lakeside fun and a safe outing during the Covid-19 pandemic. Activities Abound Pleasant Harbor is open to the public 365 days a year, and features Dillon's Bayou restaurant, sailing, boat and Jet Ski rentals, kayaks, and paddle boards, fly boarding, slip rentals and storage, as well as a full-service RV resort with... Full story
The state's backcountry is the perfect place for experienced hikers to expand their trail horizons. Excerpts From Visit Arizona [admin@visitarizona.com] The following adventures and lesser-known hiking gems range from moderate to difficult, but they share several qualities in common: getting away from the crowds and immersing yourself in the most diverse ecosystems, wildlife and scenic beauty that Arizona has to offer. Note: Backcountry trails are, by definition, remote and isolated, often... Full story
Camping is a blast – there's nothing quite as nice as sleeping outdoors, watching the fire, roasting marshmallows, and cooking out in the open. Everything seems to taste better outdoors. As I've said before, people who say they don't like camping probably mean that they don't like being uncomfortable all night. Where and how you set up your campsite has a lot to do with how comfortable you're going to be. As a kid, I camped countless times with my dad and siblings, and now John and I camp f... Full story
Winds, prolonged drought, and high temperatures have combined to make Arizona's forests and desert areas extremely dry. Long-term drought, changing fuel conditions and the resulting unpredictable fire behavior, combined with increased human activity suggest that this has the potential to be a busy fire year. Conditions change; for your safety, stay informed on current and predicted conditions in your community, and when you are enjoying the outdoors. Think Before You Act! It only takes one... Full story