Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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The Phoenix at Lake Pleasant is one of several Arizona "girls" who offer scenic cruises on Arizona's spectacular lakes. From Lake Pleasant to Saguaro and Canyon lakes, these vessels, whom I like to call "hostesses" ply the waters while providing wonderful experiences for their guests. During the summer heat, The Phoenix, Desert Belle, and Dolly Steamboat invite you to cool off onboard and at the same time you are savoring the scenery, you can also enjoy some dinner perhaps, some music, and... Full story
Even if you bought a pistol purely for self-defense purposes, you need to practice with it often. For one thing, you need to develop muscle memory. Muscle memory comes after you've done a movement so often that you can totally zone out and your body still performs the movement flawlessly. With guns, safety should always be your very first priority, and becoming completely familiar and competent with your pistol is one of the keys to staying safe. Of course, you don't want to get so familiar... Full story
We in Arizona are blessed to have a world-class birding destination in our own backyard. Madera Canyon and Madera Creek cover four different habitat types, from the desert to the top of the Santa Rita Mountains. There are tons of great trails to hike, ranging in difficulty from paved and handicapped-accessible walking trails, to steep and difficult trails that will take experienced hikers to the top of the mountains. You'll not only see beautiful birds here, but also you'll have the chance to... Full story
If you're like a lot of shooters, you probably think that taking a gun class is a waste of time and money. After all, there's not much to it - you just aim and pull the trigger, right? That might be okay if all you want to do is go put a few holes in a piece of paper, but what if you decide you want to step up your game? Target shooting is fun, but at some point you may want to get better, and that usually means taking a class. Even For The Seasoned Shooters I've been shooting for decades, and I... Full story
The warming spring weather brings out "the best in show". Make that plural: shows! The first of the Arizona favorites is the 16th annual International Sportsmen Exposition & Arizona Boat Show, this year at WestWorld of Scottsdale from Thursday, March 10 through Sunday, March 13. One of the highlights of the Expo is shown on this month's cover - the giant WesternBass.com Aquarium Demonstration Tank, which is presented again this year by Arizona Boating & Watersports/Western Outdoor Times news... Full story
There are a few absolute essentials that every shooter, no matter what his sport, must wear. No range will let you shoot without "eyes and ears" - eye protection and hearing protection. That being said, there are tons of different ways to protect your eyes and ears, and some are better than others, some are good for one kind of shooting and not another, and some are just barely acceptable. Ear Protection Ear protection is one place where you'll find a lot of different products to prevent hearing... Full story
One of our favorite places for a relaxing and beautiful hike is the Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park on Highway 60 just south of Superior, Ariz. This lovely place is open every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and has over two miles of trails to explore. It is $10 per person to enter, and that includes guided nature walks if you want to go on one. They also have classes that you can sign up for, including photography and various craft classes. There are fees for the classes. 'Walk About' Australia... Full story
Margie Anderson has again been honored with the Arizona Game & Fish Commission's "Outdoor Writer of the Year" award. Anderson and her husband John are invaluable parts of our Arizona Boating & Watersports/Western Outdoor Times team. Together, they contribute informative and meaningful articles on a plethora of outdoor topics: hiking, fishing, shooting, outdoors products and news, wildlife (including birding knowledge) and more. This couple knows and relishes the incredible wonders offered in... Full story
The annual Arizona Game and Fish Commission Awards Banquet will be held on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, at the Arizona Grand Resort, 8000 S. Arizona Grand Parkway, Phoenix, Arizona 85044. The event will honor the recipients of the 2015 Commission Awards that were selected at the Commission’s September 4, 2015 meeting (see below). The purpose of these awards is to recognize Arizonans who have contributed significantly to the conservation of the state's wildlife, its outdoor heritage, and the mission... Full story
Being around shooting enthusiasts can be daunting. They toss the lingo around with such ease, and if you don't know the basics, you can soon be lost. There's no big mystery - most of the language makes perfect sense, especially once you begin to understand where the words come from. So here are a few to start you out. (As I write this, I'm assuming that you're a complete beginner when it comes to firearms.) Types Of Weapons There's quite a bit of confusion about types of weapons, partially... Full story
PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Commission will recognize 16 people during the 2015 Commission Awards event, which will commend national, state and local leaders, wildlife advocates and volunteers for their work to support the state’s wildlife. The event will be held on Saturday, Jan. 16, at the Arizona Grand Resort at 8000 S. Arizona Grand Parkway in Phoenix. Reservations are being accepted for $65 per person to attend the event, which begins with a social hour and live music at 5 p.m... Full story
Anything that makes your favorite sport more fun, more rewarding, or easier is a welcome gift. For a shooter, there are a lot of great options at a variety of prices. Here are a few great gift ideas for the shooter in your life. Shooting Vest For Women Hey, just because a company throws some pink trim on a shooting vest, that doesn't mean it's great for women. Women are built differently than men, and a well-fitting vest is extremely important in a sport where lifting a shotgun to your shoulder... Full story
Editor's Note: All of us at Arizona Boating & Watersports/Western Outdoor Times congratulate our Outdoor Editor Margie Anderson on her third win of the Arizona Game & Fish Commission's award for Outdoor Writer of the Year. We are especially honored to have her on our editorial staff, along with Don McDowell (our Sportfishing editor) of Shake, Rattle, and Troll Radio who has received the Media of the Year award twice: in 2012 and 2014. It has been our honor also to receive the Media of the Year... Full story
Arizona is a dynamic state with a wide array of climate zones, and conditions particularly in the northern part of the Grand Canyon State allow for a beautiful array of fall foliage colors from mid-September through mid-November. Drives along U.S. Highway 89 will take you through an elevation change of more than 4,000 feet in the relatively short distance of 80 miles and plunge you into a mountainous kaleidoscope of fall color that covers the entire autumnal spectrum. Here are a few sites that... Full story
Ah, it's almost that time of year again! Time for my wife to do all the holiday shopping, decorating, cooking, baking, buying and wrapping gifts, etc. I just do the paying. Since those days will be upon us sooner than you think, here's a list of great gifts for shooters. If there's a shooter in your family (and I sincerely hope there is), something on this list is bound to make him or her happy. If you are the shooter in question, circle the items you would like and leave this in a conspicuous... Full story
The absolute best way to keep your children safe around guns is to teach them about guns. We keep our guns locked in a gun safe, but we have also taught our children, and now our grandchildren, how to use guns. They know that if a friend displays a gun or even talks about having a gun, they are to go immediately to a responsible adult and let them know. This is not tattling - it's saving a life. I wouldn't let my granddaughter use my table saw without teaching her the safety rules and... Full story
A lot of people think that cleaning a gun is a long, involved process that requires mountains of patches, lots of smelly chemicals, and way too much time. I've been cleaning guns for over 50 years now, and it's true that in the old days, cleaning a gun was a lot more involved. But you can teach an old dog new tricks, and there have been some great advances in the gun industry, especially when it comes to cleaning. Why Clean? Why should you clean your gun? A clean gun shoots more accurately, has... Full story
Riordan State Park - Memories In A Mansion - Built in 1904 for two Riordan families, Riordan Mansion is an impressive reminder of gracious living in a small, territorial logging town. The historic building is an Arizona treasure - a remarkable example of Arts and Crafts style architecture featuring a rustic exterior of log-slab siding, volcanic stone arches, and hand-split wooden shingles. The expansive home has 40 rooms, over 13,000 square-feet of living area, and servants' quarters. The... Full story
Target shooting is a sport that a lot of families enjoy, but let's face it - the thrill soon wears off if you shoot poorly. I see it all the time on social media: People post "went shooting with the family, but didn't hit anything – LOL!". Odds are, they weren't actually laughing out loud when they continued to miss time after time. The photos they post usually tell the story: They're holding a pistol with arms stretched straight out ahead, their feet are together, and the top half of their b... Full story
In her article that features ten places to "Beat the Heat" during an Arizona summer, Margie Anderson notes that one of her favorites is Prescott and nearby Watson Lake. She says that although this lake has fewer trees -- and therefore less shade -- than the area's Lynx Lake, the boulders are spectacular. If only just to see them, Anderson recommends a trip to Watson Lake. Also, readers may want to add to their summer enjoyment by four-wheeling the Mingus Mountains or fishing, hiking, swimming... Full story
Maybe you're not old enough to remember Ben Avery. I grew up reading his outdoor stories in the Arizona Republic. Ben loved the outdoors and was a heck of a writer. He started writing in 1928 and continued for over 60 years. He received the highest honor that the Department of the Interior ever gives to a non-employee: The Conservation Service Award was bestowed on him in 1968 by then Interior Secretary Steward Udall. Ben Avery was the epitome of an outdoor writer, and the Game and Fish... Full story
The area around Sierra Vista Arizona is diverse: everything from pine forests to desert and riparian areas. It makes for a great little vacation, and there is plenty to do down there. Last month I told you about a couple of things to do on the way down there from Phoenix or Tucson, plus Ramsey Canyon which is just south of Sierra Vista. After hiking Ramsey Canyon, you may be in the mood for a drive and perhaps another little uphill hike along the way. Coronado National Memorial The perfect... Full story
With the price of shells going through the roof, it pays to improve your shooting. One of the best ways to do that is to spend some time at the sporting clays range. The Ben Avery Sporting Clays Center on the Carefree Highway just west of I-17 has a great range with five-stand, two sporting clays courses and several trap and skeet ranges. John Greenwell, a National Sporting Clays Association Certified Level II Instructor, teaches shotgun shooting at Ben Avery's Clay Target Center. After thousand... Full story
Action: Open two sections of the Yakima River to fishing for hatchery spring chinook salmon. Species affected: Hatchery chinook salmon. Locations & Dates: Area 1: Open daily May 2 through June 15 from the Hwy. 240 bridge in Richland (river mile 2.1) to the Grant Avenue bridge in Prosser (river mile 47.0) approximately 1,000 feet downstream of Prosser Dam. Area 2: Open daily May 9 through June 30 from the Interstate 82 bridge at Union Gap (river mile 107.1) to the BNSF railroad bridge approximately 600 feet downstream of Roza Dam (river mile... Full story
A few months ago I wrote about some hikes near Safford in the Pinaleno Mountains, and the hiking and fishing available at Roper Lake and Dankworth Pond. The Safford area has a lot to offer, and it's a great place to visit this time of year because the weather is gorgeous and it's the perfect time to hike or just camp somewhere beautiful. Beautiful Scenery If you take Highway 70 east from Safford for ten miles or so, you will come to Highway 191. Follow 191 to milepost 160, four miles south of... Full story
