Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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Do you like to hike, mountain bike, drive or horseback ride in Rim Country? Do you have thoughts about how to make our trails better in the places we love? The Rim Country Trails Working Group invites all trail enthusiasts and others interested to help develop a comprehensive trails plan for the Rim Country. The Rim Trails Working Group is comprised of the towns of Payson, Star Valley, Pine and Strawberry, as well as the Tonto National Forest, many trail user groups and organizations with...
Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation's (AZSFWC) "Conserving Wildlife" license plate ended 2017 surpassing the prior year both in license plate sales and grant awards from the proceeds. Last year, AZSFWC, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, awarded 16 different grants totaling $170,665 in funding. Putting this into perspective, it means 10,039 Conserving Wildlife license plates were purchased or renewed to fund those projects. Since 2012, the organization has awarded 100 grants totaling... Full story
PHOENIX, March 2, 2018-For Immediate Release. Tonto National Forest fire specialists will continue to conduct prescribed fire treatments on approximately 1,566 acres in areas north of Payson, starting on Monday, March 5, and continuing through Friday, March 9, 2018. The treatment areas are located north of Payson, northwest of Whispering Pines, and southwest of Verde Glen. The prescribed fire treatments are designed to maintain the thinning conducted over the last decade to improve the health... Full story
Each year as part of its highly successful program to manage and conserve bald eagles in the state, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) asks outdoor recreationists, aircraft pilots, drone operators and motorized paragliders to help this magnificent bird in Arizona. Various land and wildlife management agencies close areas around breeding locations during the birds' breeding season to protect the state's 67 breeding pairs of bald eagles. Some closure areas are located near popular... Full story
Tonto National Forest joins other federal agencies in waiving fees at day-use sites on six remaining days. These special days will provide people an easier way to experience national forests and grasslands, sometimes referred to as "America's Backyard". The fee-waiver program is in cooperation with other federal land management agencies under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. Day-use fees will be waived at all standard amenity fee sites operated by the forest for these listed dates.... Full story
CANYON LAKE, Ariz. — Boaters and other outdoor recreationists are advised that the Palo Verde Boat Ramp at Canyon Lake will temporarily close from March 1 through March 17 for a facility improvement project. Arizona Game and Fish has been working with the Tonto National Forest to maintain the pavement in and around the ramp, and this project will involve milling, crack-sealing, seal-coating and other services as necessary. During the work, the area from the main highway down to the ramp will b... Full story
Attention target shooters! The Tonto National Forest has implemented restrictions on target types — as of November 20 — in an effort to reduce the amount of refuse and trash being left on the forest from target shooting. Only the following types of approved targets will be allowed during target shooting on the Tonto National Forest: • Cardboard, and/or cardboard targets with reusable frames (excluding wooden pallets), which are removed from the site after shooting • Paper and/or paper targets... Full story
The Tonto National Forest is extending the comment period on the Preliminary Proposed Plan. After receiving several requests, the public and interested parties have an additional 22 days to provide comments to the plan, the first step toward revising the current Tonto National Forest land and resource management plan. January 12, 2018, is the new deadline to submit comments. Comments on the Preliminary Proposed Plan can be submitted in the following ways: • By e-mail to: tontoplan@fs.fed.us ... Full story
Wear a life jacket when fishing from a boat in cold water - it could save your life, plus here are some good catching tips to snag a keeper this fall/winter. Nearly one-third of Arizona's boaters say fishing is their favorite activity to do while boating, and for many, fall is an ideal time of year to go out in search of that state record bass (or trout or catfish or ...). But, as the weather cools down, so does the water temperature. The U.S. Coast Guard reports that cold-water immersion and hy... Full story
Fee machines have been installed and are available to pay fees for overnight camping on the Mesa, Cave Creek, Globe and Tonto Basin ranger districts. Timber Camp Campground, on the Globe Ranger District, and Burnt Corral, Cholla, Frazier Horse, Schoolhouse and Windy Hill campgrounds are currently open on the Tonto Basin Ranger District. The Tortilla Campground on the Mesa Ranger District opened for the winter on Oct.1. Fee machines are available at the Tortilla, Burnt Corral, Cholla,... Full story
Beginning October 1, Maricopa County's Parks and Recreation Department will bring back the Buy One, Get One campaign! The campaign allows park visitors who pay the camping fee for one night, or more, at a desert mountain county park to receive one night of equal or lesser value for free at any of the county's desert parks during that same stay. "We take a lot of pride in our park system because it showcases so beautifully what's unique about living in the desert southwest," said Chairman Denny... Full story
At 5000 feet, Payson stays quite a bit cooler than Phoenix in the summer. Temperatures may reach the mid 90s, but if you're in a shady forest, it seems a lot cooler. We love to go to Payson, and started taking the granddaughters there years ago. There are plenty of good hotels and lots of great places to eat in Payson and the surrounding area, and there are great hikes as well. Tonto Natural Bridge One of the places near Payson that we love the most is Tonto Natural Bridge. It's actually more... Full story
PHOENIX, June 30, 2017 -For Immediate Release. The Tonto National Forest will offer a 30-day public comment period from July 1 through July 30, 2017, to collect feedback on suggested changes to the proposed management plan for the Apache Leap Special Management Area and forthcoming Forest Plan amendment that would incorporate the new management direction. Guidance for providing comments is included in the June 30, 2017, Legal Notice. Guidance also is available on the project website at:... Full story
Want to spend your summer in the mountains of Arizona? Consider applying for a campground host position with the Tonto National Forest. The Pleasant Valley Ranger District is looking for a campground host to volunteer at the Haigler Creek Campground, near Young, Arizona. This campground is located approximately eight miles away from Young on a dirt road. The campground consists of 14 campsites and two day-use areas. A host is needed from mid-May through mid-September. Duties include, but are not... Full story
Tours will be on July 1 and 2 and will include Friday's history lesson and Saturday's morning viewing cruise MESA, Ariz. — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is offering two unique opportunities to view one of Arizona’s most iconic arid land animals, the desert bighorn sheep, in an intimate, small-group setting July 1 and 2 on Canyon Lake. Participants ages 10 and older will board department work boats to explore the canyons and bluffs of this scenic lake in search of these spectacular ani... Full story
Forest officials say they expect large numbers of visitors to the Tonto's popular campgrounds and picnic areas over the weekend preceding July 4. The following information will help visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience. Fireworks or other pyrotechnic devices are prohibited on the Tonto National Forest. Also currently prohibited are: * Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building. (Smoking is prohibited in all federal buildings) * Building, maintaining, attending, or using a... Full story
Fire season is under way in Arizona and with Easter occurring April 16 followed by Memorial Day and its customary three-day weekend in late May, visitation is beginning to increase on the Tonto National Forest. Officials offer the following campfire tips to help practice fire safety. • When possible, use an established campfire ring; • Clear the area down to bare soil; • Build campfires away from overhanging branches, steep slopes, rotten stumps, logs, dry grass, pine needles and... Full story
They are man-made homes for fish, some made of concrete, others of PVC, and like building a neighborhood, provide the architecture for sustainable life. The first step in placing fish habitat into the Central Arizona reservoirs took place on Thursday, April 20 at Roosevelt Lake with Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists dropping Fishiding HighRise structures made of environmentally safe PVC to the bottom of Roosevelt Lake. These recycled items, 8 feet tall and excellent habitat for... Full story
The Day on the Lake program is the only adapted water sports program for those with physical and neurological disabilities offered in Arizona. Summer 2016 marked our 20th year of helping people who suffer from a neurological disability ride the waves at one of the most accessible waterside facilities in Arizona - Bartlett Lake Marina. Day on the Lake 2017 will occur on the following dates: June 1-3 and Sept. 7-9. The cost is $50.00 per day for all activities, and includes a t-shirt. Bartlett... Full story
In first phase of long-term project on Tonto National Forest lakes, AZGFD biologists sink fish habitat structures. PHOENIX – They are manmade homes for fish, some made of concrete, others of PVC, and like building a neighborhood, provide the architecture for sustainable life. The first step in placing fish habitat into the central Arizona reservoirs took place on Thursday, April 20 at Roosevelt Lake with Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists dropping Fishiding HighRise structures made o... Full story
Note - See the update at the bottom of this story for areas that have reopened since the issue date. PHOENIX, AZ, February 28, 2017—For Immediate Release. Forest Road 19, leading to Bartlett Lake, is closed due to flooding just east of the Cave Creek Ranger District office. Forest Road 20 which leads to Needle Rock and Box Bar is also closed due to flooding. Recreation sites around Horseshoe and Bartlett reservoirs have been closed because of water flowing into and through the Verde River s... Full story
Tonto National Forest joins other federal agencies in offering four more fee-free days on public lands in 2017. The fee-free program is in cooperation with other federal land management agencies under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. Fees will be waived at all day-use sites including picnic grounds, shorelines and boat launches operated by the Tonto National Forest. Concessionaire-operated facilities, camping and campground fees will not be waived. The remaining four fee-free days... Full story
Tip Of The Week Bartlett Lake in the Tonto National Forest can be a great place for winter crappie and bass. Some of the best crappie fishing can be done in the cold of the morning - then anglers can switch to bass. Consider throwing crankbaits and spinnerbaits with a slow presentation. Trailers on spinnerbaits, and slow-rolling across the rock stringers, can work well at times. Once you get a feeling for where the bass are holding, switch to the finesse style of drop-shotting. Did you know the... Full story
The Tonto National Forest began selling Christmas tree permits on November 16. Permits will be available at Cave Creek, Mesa, Payson, and Pleasant Valley ranger districts and at the Supervisors Office at the hours and locations listed below. Permits will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis until they are gone. Permits can be purchased in person with cash, check, or credit card. Customers will be provided a map that shows the designated cutting areas along with additional Christmas tree... Full story
Publisher's Note: We at Arizona Boating & Watersports / Western Outdoor Times would like to congratulate Don McDowell. His hard work, perseverance, and dedication to preserving our wildlife has been acknowledged by his being awarded the AZGF Commission Advocate Of The Year (Federal). McDowell has worked tirelessly for many years to preserve our outdoor heritage. He is a valuable asset to the State of Arizona and the country as well. We hope that those who are responsible for making decisions... Full story
