Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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Everything is coming up roses for the women's shotgun shooting program at the Ben Avery Clay Target Center. Desert Roses, Too, is a new level of the program for women who want to learn about advanced shotgun shooting. Participants are meeting every second and fourth Thursday of each month. A $10 registration fee includes eye and ear protection, loaner shotguns, ammunition and clay targets. Desert Roses, Too is the big sister to Desert Roses, the introductory level of the program that meets... Full story
Roast Quail This is a basic roast quail recipe that can serve as a stepping stone for other, fancier recipes. Once you know how to properly roast a quail, you can then play with glazes or marinades -- even though I am not normally a fan of marinades, they will work with quail because the birds are so small. Serves: 2 people. (Author: Hank Shaw) Ingredients • Optional Brine - • 1/4 cup kosher salt • 1 quart water • 2 bay leaves • Quail - • 4 whole plucked quail • Lard, butter or olive oil • S... Full story
PHOENIX - When hunting for big game, off-highway vehicles (OHVs) can be a key part of how hunters retrieve downed animals. In fact, sometimes it's the only way to retrieve a harvested elk or bison. As hunters hit the trails on OHVs like side-by-sides, it's important to buckle up if the vehicle is equipped with seatbelts. Numerous fatal accidents this year have involved utility task vehicles (UTVs) that roll over and pin the operator underneath. Wearing a seatbelt is critical because it will... Full story
Arizona hunters know that timely rainfall is the elixir that gives the state's quail populations a much-needed boost. Good winter precipitation particularly benefitted Gambel's quail, the best-known and most widespread of the state's three main species. That led to spring call counts that were almost double what they were in 2016 and higher than the average of the last 10 years (2008-2017). Throw in statewide summer rains that sustained forage and habitat conditions, and it was a good year for... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission approved guidelines for fall 2018 through spring 2023 hunting seasons at its September meeting in Williams. The hunt guidelines provide the biological and social parameters used by wildlife managers when developing the annual hunt recommendations (season structures, season lengths, season dates, permits allocated, etc.) These recommendations result in the hunts in which licensed hunters may participate. Wildlife is held in the public trust; therefore, using... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has posted the 2017-18 Arizona Waterfowl and Snipe Regulations on https://www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Regulations/. The general waterfowl season in the "Mountain Zone" (Game Management Units 1-5, 7, 9, 11M, 12A, and those portions of Units 6 and 8 within Coconino County) began Oct. 6 and runs through Jan. 14, 2018. The general waterfowl season in the "Desert Zone" (Game Management Units 10 and 12B through 46B, and those portions of Units 6 and 8 within Yavapai Coun... Full story
We shooters are all alike: No matter how close our groups are, we wish they were closer. We wish we shot better at long range, or on the move, or in low light, or from a different position, or with our non-dominant hand - well, you get it. We just flat wish we shot better. We all know that practice is the best way to improve our accuracy, but not all of us have the time to get to the range as often as we should, and the range can be pricey even with a membership. For some of us, the range is a... Full story
According to a report released in April by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the total economic impact of the firearms and ammunition industry in the United States increased from $19.1 billion in 2008 to $51.3 billion in 2016, a 168 percent increase, while the total number of full-time equivalent jobs increased from approximately 166,000 to more than 300,000, an 81 percent increase in that period. On a year over year basis, the industry's economic impact rose from $49.3 billion in 2015 to... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has awarded $68,357 in grant funding for local sportsmen's organizations to provide public, hands-on, mentored projects focused on the retention of new hunters and anglers. Of 20 proposals submitted in this latest grant cycle, 18 were rated by a three-member panel. The grants were approved and awarded through a competitive application process that closed July 30. "We continue to hone the Local Sportsmen's Group grant program using the latest science for... Full story
These Martinis are neither shaken nor stirred. Instead they are made to be shot. Of course I am referring to the Martini-Henry Rifle... So where did these Martini rifles come from? In learning about firearms prior to working on them, it is important to understand what was going on in the world at the time. Early progress in firearms design was usually motivated by the world situation, or at least the situation in the country of origin. It is also true that the genealogy of the firearm is also... Full story
In an earlier article I discussed the pros and cons of wearing clothing that is obviously tactical in nature - the olive green or camo BDU pants, combat boots, etc. Those send a signal to even a casual observer that you may be armed or at least need to be watched. But there are plenty of tactical clothes that don't stand out but still give you plenty of places to stash your gear where it is easily accessible, whether that is a gun or just your usual EDC (Every Day Carry) gear. EDC Gear Is... Full story
Join Richard Childress, honorary chair for National Hunting and Fishing Day, in creating the next generation of conservationists. National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHF Day), an annual celebration of hunters and anglers, features a new twist this year. Richard Childress, NASCAR legend and honorary chair for NHF Day, is asking hunters and anglers to participate in the new NHF Day Challenge by taking someone hunting, fishing or target shooting. You Could Win By pledging to introduce someone to the... Full story
Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshop offers the opportunity to fulfill your hunter-education field-day requirements. The Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) workshop on Sept. 8-10 is still accepting registrations. Take aim in rifle marksmanship, and learn the proper way to mount and fire a shotgun. How about handguns? There's a class on the range, one to learn proper maintenance, and you can get help figuring out what firearm is best for you. You also can earn your field day requirements for the... Full story
YUMA, Ariz. – Yuma’s reputation as the “Dove Hunting Capital of the United States” is well-deserved. Banners on street poles welcome hunters by the thousands. Hotels and restaurants are packed. The news of the day takes a back seat to opening-day coverage on the front page of the Yuma Sun. It has been estimated that dove hunters pump up to $5 million into the city’s economy. In addition to offering some of the finest wing-shooting for doves in the nation, Yuma also takes pride in hosting t... Full story
The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) honored four leaders from the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) for their conservation efforts at an awards ceremony last month. Craig McMullen received the WAFWA Professional of the Year Award for achievements during his 24-year career with AZGFD. Starting with the department in 1993 as a wildlife manager, McMullen quickly moved into positions of increasing responsibility including as chief of the Wildlife Recreation Branch... Full story
The waiting is over for hopeful hunters who applied for a 2017 fall hunt permit-tag. There are three ways to obtain draw results for the deer, fall turkey, fall javelina, bighorn sheep, fall bear, fall bison and pheasant seasons: • Sign in to your AZGFD customer portal account. • Visit https://draw.azgfd.gov, then click on "View Results and Bonus Points." • Call (602) 942-3000 and press "2." A record 90 percent of all applicants applied online (131,457), compared to 10 percent who filled out a... Full story
Winners of the 12th annual Arizona Big Game Super Raffle were announced recently at Arizona Game and Fish Department headquarters in Phoenix. The prizes included a total of 10 Special Big Game Tags, one for each of the state's big game species – bighorn sheep, elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, bison, turkey, bear, javelina and mountain lion. The permit-tags were awarded by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. Raffle tickets ranged from $5 to $25, depending on the species. A New M... Full story
When the Ben Avery Shooting Facility's main range opens bright and early Aug. 30, recreational shooters will zero in on several improvements: • Earthen berms that serve as backstops for 67 shooting stations will be higher, more level and -- most important -- safer. • Target bumpers (which hold up the target frames) with re-stenciled lane numbers. • Refurbished shooting benches. In order to complete more than $100,000 in improvements, the main range will be closed to the general public Aug.... Full story
Arizona's quail hunters have had it rough. Ask them to recount their best hunt in the past few years, and most will look down at their dust-covered hunting boots and shake their heads. Well, if the results from the latest Gambel's quail call counts are any indication, those hunters just might find a few more birds to chase when the 2017-18 general season opens statewide Oct. 6. The Arizona Game and Fish Department conducted its traditional call-count routes from about mid-April to mid-May near... Full story
ONLINE RESOURCE -- The 2017 edition of "Hunt Arizona," the Arizona Game and Fish Department's yearly compilation of big and small game hunting statistics, is now available online at https://www.azgfd.com/Hunting/surveydata. The free, downloadable, PDF publication includes draw, survey and harvest statistics for a five-year period, as well as information on distribution, life history and behavior of big game, small game and other wildlife.... Full story
It was a fun road trip. Prescott is a beautiful city, and the drive up always seems to be a pleasant outing; besides, the destination is not only the city. For those of you who haunt gun shops, looking for deals, military surplus, bulk ammo etc., if you have not been to J&G Sales, let's just say that you are missing out. Through the years, I have obtained some very sweet deals on some great guns. Besides, the trip allowed us the opportunity to have a Ruben Sandwich at the Dinner Bell, a place I... Full story
The Joe Foss Shooting Complex at Buckeye Hills Regional Park is temporarily closed to the public while Maricopa County's Parks and Recreation Department fleshes out contract negotiations with a potential new operator. This decision affects public use of the Joe Foss Shooting Complex which has been open to the public Thursday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and includes the following facilities and amenities: • The administration and retail building which houses the office, classrooms a... Full story
When it comes to choosing a "how-to" outdoor skill event, one size does not fit all. So, where does one begin? Look no further than the Arizona Game and Fish Department, along with its extensive network of partnering organizations, which offers dozens of events throughout the year to suit almost everyone's needs through the Outdoor Skills Network. Those events now appear in a new format, organized based on skill level and interest: • Introductory: No hunting or pursuit of wildlife, shooting less... Full story
PHOENIX — While practice might not make perfect when it comes to dove hunting, it sure could put more of the fast-flying, acrobatic birds in the game vest. As part of the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s “Getting Ready for Dove” campaign, the Ben Avery Clay Target Center is offering dove hunters an opportunity to sharpen their wing-shooting skills in advance of the season opener Sept. 1. A $5 coupon has been posted online, good for one round (25 targets) of trap, skeet or sporting clays.... Full story
Are you the type of man or woman who wants great shooting firearms along with unrivaled accuracy every time you pull the trigger? Fantastic! You are among most other shooters and hunters out there who are always looking for a way to optimize your firearms for a trip to the range, the next hunt, or when you have tickets for an exotic hunt in a foreign country. Or perhaps you're an aspiring competition shooter looking to shoot your first 1000 meter target? Either way, you need the most out of your... Full story
