Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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The year 2020 saw a lot of people venturing into the outdoors for the first time. According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, this past year 6.2 million new shooters took up the sport. There was also a spike in camping and other outdoor activities. Some people were afraid to gather together inside, but outside is a different matter. If you are one of the newbies, I hope you continue to enjoy the outdoors this year and for many years to come. Many Good Reasons There are a lot of good... Full story
Doug Burt - AZGFD Hunting/Shooting Sports Manager (R3) Nothing says "Arizona" more than the desert quail. The iconic "topknot" of the Gambel's quail, and the distinguishable "ka-KAA-ka-ka" chorus of their calls are unmistakable. Not to mention the cartoonish way they run. Clever Quail But to the hunter who has pursued them, they lose their cuteness quickly. That funny run through densely brushed desert, can be at times - infuriating. Pick one thing bird, either fly or run, not both. The cute... Full story
People are always telling me I'm hard to buy for, but since I shoot and hunt, it's actually really easy to find great things I'd love to have. If you have a shooter or hunter on your list, here are some things to consider this year. The Jaeger Pak ™ The Jaeger Pak ™ by Outdoor Edge has everything your hunter needs to field dress and break down game of any size. Compact and lightweight, it has a skinning, gutting, and boning knife, a rib cage spreader, wood/bone saw, and a two stage cer... Full story
In Other Words, Know Before You Go If you have taken a Concealed Carry class and have gotten your permit, congratulations! Now you need to start thinking about what that permit does and doesn't do for you. Within Arizona, there are still many places where you cannot legally carry a firearm, even with a permit. As for travel, well -- Native American Reservations, National Forests and Parks, and other states have different rules, even within your home state. I'll try to cover some of those rules,... Full story
Arizona's Hunting and Angling Heritage Work Group (HAHWG) and Payson's Jim Strogen were among the conservationists recently honored at theWestern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) virtual awards ceremony. "The Arizona Game and Fish Commission and Department congratulate these conservation advocates on this well-deserved honor," said Commission Chair Kurt Davis. "Arizona's WAFWA award recipients are valuable partners in AZGFD's mission to conserve and protect the state's 800+... Full story
If you have tried to buy any ammunition lately, you already know that shelves are bare. Buying online is just as trying: I've put a couple boxes in my cart on the Cabelas website, and before I could check out, they were already out of stock. Ditto on other websites: page after page of "out of stock" messages on almost every kind and caliber of pistol ammo. The only thing I've found on the shelves lately is bird shot, rifle ammo, and tracers. So odds are, even if you want to get a little practice... Full story
Ben Avery Shooting Facility (BASF) customers should expect some operational changes when they visit one of the nation's largest publicly operated shooting facilities. It re-opened on May 13. To ensure public health and safety protocols are observed, and to maximize opportunities for all recreational shooters, only online reservations will be accepted. BASF customers can reserve shooting times on the rifle and pistol ranges, as well as the Clay Target Center (CTC), by visiting... Full story
It's June and you know what that means – time to celebrate Dad! Here are some ideas for you to give to your hunting/shooting buddy. There is a wide range of prices to suit any wallet and dad is sure to love any of them. Grizzly Targets If you dad likes to go out in the desert to target practice, he probably already knows that the Forest Service says you must take your targets home with you. Personally, I think the targets that are the most fun are the metal ones because you can hear whether y... Full story
If you're lucky enough to have a mom in your life who likes to shoot, getting her something for Mothers' Day that she will love is easier now than ever. More and more companies are designing gear just for women, and you can find something great no matter what your budget is. Read on for some ideas for this Mother's Day. Tactica CC Clothing Tactica Defense Fashion has concealed-carry clothing such as jackets, sweaters, and pants that look great – they don't look tactical at all unless you want th... Full story
Editor's Note: The following information was applicable as we went to press. For updates, call (602) 942-3000, or email customerservice@azgfd.gov The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is committed to staying connected with its customers and continuing to provide exceptional service. As updates related to the COVID-19 situation become available, AZGFD will share any new developments or changes to processes. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Q: Is the Ben Avery Shooting Facility open? All r... Full story
Operational Changes Include Scheduling Shooting Times Online PHOENIX - Ben Avery Shooting Facility (BASF) customers should expect some operational changes when one of the nation's largest publicly operated shooting facilities reopens at 7 a.m. Wednesday, May 13. To ensure public health and safety protocols are observed, and to maximize opportunities for all recreational shooters, only online reservations will be accepted. BASF customers can reserve shooting times on the rifle and pistol ranges,... Full story
If you are new to shooting, going to the range may be a bit intimidating. I know my girls were nervous the first time, and they wanted to know all about it before they went. Just knowing what to expect and how to act takes a lot of the apprehension out of things, so here's what you need to know about going to the shooting range. Outdoor Range I usually visit Ben Avery Shooting Range on the Carefree Highway, but shooting ranges will all have very similar rules. Safety, obviously, is the... Full story
New health protection strategies being implemented at Ben Avery Shooting Facility The Ben Avery Shooting Facility (BASF) will reopen its Clay Target Center and archery range Thursday, March 26, after temporarily closing last Friday to implement new health protection strategies. Here's what recreational shooters need to know: • Hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday. • To minimize personal contact between customers and staff, the cus... Full story
There are two big outdoor events in Arizona this month, plus two fantastic new holsters I wanted to tell you about. Also, dove seasons, quail season, and waterfowl seasons may all be over, but that doesn't mean you can't still do some great bird hunting. Read on for details! Alien Gear Grip Tuck Holster This holster is different from the other Alien Gear holsters in a couple of ways – it's designed to fit an entire class of firearms instead of a single model like their hard polymer holsters, a... Full story
Make Plans To Attend The National Outdoor Women's Weekend It's a great opportunity to learn more about shooting sports, hunting, wild game cooking, more. Women interested in learning about or increasing their knowledge of shooting sports and hunting are encouraged to attend the inaugural National Outdoor Women's Weekend (NOWW) March 7-8 at the Ben Avery Clay Target Center in Phoenix. The event, hosted by the Valley of the Sun Chapter of Quail Forever, will feature classes, seminars, clay target... Full story
4 Industry Day At The Range Join us Friday, March 27 for the Arizona Game and Fish Department Industry Day at the Range. This event is being hosted to provide invited members of the press and retail, wholesale and law-enforcement purchasing agents the opportunity for hands-on testing, review and evaluation of almost every category of firearm and ammunition in the shooting, hunting and outdoor markets. Exhibiting opportunities are open to all manufacturer exhibitors currently registered for... Full story
In the movies, the heroes only have problems with their firearms if it suits the plot. In real life, I've taken a lot of classes and gone to a lot of ranges, and believe me, if you have problems, you're not alone. As you get older, the sights may be harder to see and racking the slide can get harder to do as well. You don't even have to be older – many smaller people or those with handicaps or just weak hands also have trouble doing things like racking the slide, reloading, locking the slide b... Full story
Arizona: Draft Forest Plan for the Tonto National Forest Addresses both Recreational Shooting and Hunting The US Forest Service has released a plan for the Tonto National Forest that will guide its management for the next 10 to 15 years. The nearly three million-acre national forest is located north of Phoenix and is the 5th largest national forest in the US. Since its establishment in 1905, the Tonto has become of the most visited “urban” forests with over 5 million visitors annually. The pub... Full story
For The Hunter (1/20, 2/20) Happy 2020! It's difficult to believe we're already one-fifth of the way through the 21st century, isn't it? Our Opportunities As we head into the new year, I'm reminded of how blessed we are to have opportunities to pursue 10 species of big game - elk, pronghorn, mule deer, white-tailed deer, bison, bear, javelina, mountain lion, bighorn sheep and turkey - and a variety of small game species like quail, rabbits, ducks, geese and doves, as well as predatory and... Full story
I saw a great meme the other day: It said, "Quit saying I'm hard to buy for – you know where the gun store is!". Made me laugh and also made me realize that gift-giving season is almost upon us. If you've got a shooter or two on your list, here are some ideas from stocking stuffer to splurge. SSP Eyewear SSP Eyewear is known for great shooting glasses, and their newest offering is the Methow Kit with six different interchangeable lenses plus the ability to accept an adapter for prescription l... Full story
The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) recently recognized three individuals from Arizona as well as the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) for their dedication to advancing wildlife conservation. The awards were presented at the association's annual awards ceremony held in late September in St. Paul, Minn. Doug Burt AZGFD Hunting and Shooting Sports Program Manager Doug Burt and the Arizona Game and Fish Department received the Boone and Crockett Award, which honors an agency... Full story
A first for Central Arizona shotgun athletes: The Arizona Senior Olympic Games for Sporting Clays will be on Sunday, December 8th at Picacho Sporting Clays, located at 6185 E. Baumgartner Rd., Eloy, AZ 85131. Open to anyone over 50, regardless of residency, this clay target sports venue will consist of a 100-target competition that is a fun shoot format, not a National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) event. However, this event will follow the rules of a NSCA tournament. Medals are awarded per... Full story
There isn't much hunting going on this month, and it's a bit warm to go out shooting (unless you pay for an indoor range), but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be training. This is a great time for dry-fire practice, mental conditioning, close-quarters combat training, indoor-range time, classes, and research on legal matters. This is also a good time to check your concealed-carry permit to see if it needs to be renewed soon. Dry-Fire Practice Dry-fire practice is simply practicing with an... Full story
There are many situations that probably don't require a lethal response. A dog attacking your dog as you walk, for instance, or some guy with road rage who isn't armed but is still intent on punching you out. There are also a lot of situations that make you feel anxious even if no one is attacking you: walking through a deserted parking garage at night for example, or walking back to your car at night when no one else is around. You probably wouldn't want to have a gun in your hand for those... Full story
If you have a concealed carry permit and carry a weapon regularly, have you ever considered carrying a back-up weapon? Not just a knife or a tactical pen or a monkey fist, but a secondary firearm? I've heard lots of reasons why you would want to have a second gun on you, and I've also heard plenty of reasons why people don't want to carry a second handgun. Let's look at both sides before discussing what type of secondary weapon to choose and where you might carry it. Pros Guns sometimes... Full story
