Category Archives: Amusement

Shed antler hunting? Stay on roads and trails

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wln_100507_Shed_PickupPHOENIX — As many shed antler hunters prepare to scour the landscape for the best dropped rack, the Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds those utilizing an off-highway vehicle (OHV) in their search to stay on roads and trails.

“Just like during the hunting season, it’s important for those using an OHV to remember to ride safely and responsibly,” said Matt Eberhart, AZGFD OHV Safety Education coordinator. “That includes always wearing a helmet while operating the machine and safeguarding against habitat damage by riding on established trails. Once you’ve found your search area, all sheds should be packed out by foot to keep habitats intact. ”

Many animals shed their antlers in the spring and spend the summer and fall seasons growing a new set. Many shed hunters begin their search in early spring and utilize OHVs to easily cover more ground.

However, damage caused by those driving off-trail can take more than 100 years to recover, especially if the area travelled is wet. Vehicle tracks can be seen by other users as an open invitation to unknowingly ruin a pristine recreational area.

OHV operators are reminded that riding off-trail is illegal, negatively impacts wildlife and can cause erosion in sensitive areas.

Additionally, excessive noise can cause animals to leave their normal habitat or could startle an animal into defending their territory. Minimizing impact on habitat is key to successful wildlife conservation.

For more information about the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s OHV program and safety course options, visit www.azgfd.gov/ohv.

Annual Procession of the Cross kicks off Easter weekend

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Rt66 procession 2016-03-25 009WILLIAMS — Williams held its annual Good Friday Procession of the Cross down Route 66 starting about 6 p.m. to kick off the Easter weekend festivities. Members of several churches joined together to carry the cross. The Williams Police Department made the traffic directions look routine to ensure the safety of the event.

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The event started with a prayer of safety by Father Killian of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church. He followed with the announcement that, since this is a leap year, the ladies would have to carry the cross down the near two-mile stretch. The procession started at the Mustang store on the east end of town and traveled west the length of Route 66.

The crowd lifts the cross in preparation for its journey down Route 66

The crowd lifts the cross in preparation for its journey down Route 66


The Good Friday event precedes the annual Easter Eggstravaganza at the Recreation Center on Railroad Avenue across from Circle-K. The event begins at 11 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m.
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2016 fall hunt recommendations to be available for review

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Bighorn_Sheep_-_Ram_1_1PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department has scheduled a series of six “open houses” for its constituents to review and ask questions about the proposed 2016 fall hunt recommendations for deer, turkey, javelina, bighorn sheep, bison, bear, mountain lion, predators and furbearers, small game and trapping.

The department annually makes recommendations to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission regarding the management of game species, which establish the seasons, dates, bag limits, open areas and permit-tag allocations based on the framework of the hunt guidelines set by the commission every two years.

The proposed recommendations will be posted Friday, March 25, at www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines. The open houses will be conducted at the following Game and Fish regional offices:

  • Thursday, March 31: 3-5 p.m., Pinetop, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.
  • Thursday, March 31: 4:30-6:30 p.m., Mesa, 7200 E. University Drive.
  • Monday, April 4: 3-5 p.m., Yuma, 9140 E. 28th Street.
  • Monday, April 4: 3-5 p.m., Tucson, 555 N. Greasewood Road.
  • Monday, April 4: 3-5 p.m., Kingman, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road.
  • Tuesday, April 5: 6-8 p.m., Flagstaff, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road.

Constituents who are interested in particular game management units within those regions will be able to review the hunt recommendations and ask questions. No formal presentations are planned.

“The meetings allow us to meet with sportsmen and other members of the public to answer questions and discuss the direction for the recommendations based on survey data, harvest rates and the hunt guidelines,” said Amber Munig, big game management program supervisor.

The proposed recommendations will be presented to the commission for consideration during the Saturday, April 9, portion of its April 8-9 meeting at Game and Fish headquarters, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, in Phoenix. The agenda will be posted at https://www.azgfd.com/Agency/Commission.

To learn more about the hunt recommendations and hunt guidelines processes, visit www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines.

What’s new at this year’s Outdoor Expo? Wildlife assets!

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Assets_-_2PHOENIX — Get ready to place your bids.

For the first time, the Arizona Game and Fish Department will auction off its annual collection of wildlife assets April 2-3 during the 2016 Outdoor Expo at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, just west of Interstate 17 on Carefree Highway.

Assets_-_4_1More than 100 sets of antlers, hides, skulls and head mounts, as well as wildlife artwork and taxidermy – all seized during law enforcement investigations, obtained from animals killed in vehicle collisions, or acquired through donations — will be put on the auction block. There also will be smaller loose antlers that will be sold by the pound, as well as some that will be turned into chew treats for pets.

While a detailed list of assets is unavailable at this time, the department soon will be posting photos on Instagram (www.instagram.com/gf_assets) as examples of some of the individual items that will be auctioned off (opening bid prices have not been established). Once the expo gets underway, photos of all assets will be posted for the benefit of those tracking their bids or wanting to see what items become available throughout the day.

“Besides the antlers, this year we have a couple of very large elk racks, some bighorn sheep hides, wildlife artwork and some fish mounts,” said Gene Elms, law enforcement branch chief. “It doesn’t matter if you’re working on a craft project, adding décor to your home, or picking up a treat for your pets, we’ll have something for everyone.”

Here’s how the auction works:

  • The majority of the sales are through a silent auction. The length of a silent auction is usually one hour. That time is lengthened for larger items, however.
  • All bids are recorded on a sheet so everyone is aware of the highest bid at all times.
  • A minimum bid will be established for each item. If the starting price is not met, that item will be removed and made available for bidding at a later time. Tip: The larger or more desirable items will be put on the auction block during high traffic times at the expo.
  • In addition to the silent auction, one item – usually a head mount – will be raffled off each day at the expo. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase.

Funds generated from the wildlife assets auction are used to purchase equipment and technology used in the investigation of wildlife crimes and to protect the state’s wildlife resources.

For more information about the 2016 Outdoor Expo, visit www.azgfd.gov/expo.

Ready for free family fun?

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EXPO.paddlemorePHOENIX — Around 35,000 people are expected to explore the expansive grounds at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility throughout the weekend of Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3 for some all-ages, hands-on adventures at The Arizona Game and Fish Department Outdoor Expo, presented by Shikar Safari Club International.

Admission and parking are free.

There will be all sorts of live wildlife. Kids will be all smiles at the huge kids’ fishing tanks. Target archery and other shooting sports will be held in a safe, supervised environment on the range. Get a feel for specialty shooting disciplines like clay target, cowboy action, practical pistol, black powder, and air gun.

Don’t miss the always popular cowboy mounted shooting competition. See OHV and ATV exhibits. Give kayaking a try at the “Lake Paddlemore” kayaking pond. Hike a field course and learn cool camping tips. Get information about boating and how to stay safe on the water. Talk to experts about wildlife, hunting and fishing tips, and more.

You can also visit with more than 150 exhibitors, including outdoor recreation and conservation groups, government agencies, and commercial vendors of outdoor products and services.

Expo2Once again, admission and parking for the Expo are free! You may want to bring some cash for the many food and beverage concessionaires that will be on-site, or for the commercial vendors who will be selling outdoors-related goods or services. For those who want to try shooting sports, there is a nominal charge for ammunition at some of the target shooting venues.

Expo hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 2, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 3. The 2015 Outdoor Expo is easy to get to, located on Carefree Highway, about 1/2 mile west of I-17 in Phoenix.

The title sponsor for this year’s event is Shikar Safari Club International. Gold sponsors are Cabela’s, Arizona State Credit Union and the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

Student archers taking aim at 2016 state tournament

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Archery_in_Schools_-_2_1PHOENIX — More than 320 student archers from throughout Arizona, participants on the state level of the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP), will be competing Saturday in the 2016 state tournament and 3D shoot at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department coordinates NASP on the state level and hosts a half-dozen state qualifying tournaments throughout the academic year, beginning in September and ending in March. The top three boys and girls competing in the bullseye and 3D events in three divisions — elementary, middle and high school — will be awarded.

The student archers also will be attempting to qualify for the 2016 national NASP tournament, scheduled for May 12-14 in Louisville, Ky.

The competition will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the FITA and FITA practice ranges. Admission is free. Several local outdoors organizations, as well as a food truck, will be on-site.

The program is a physical education curriculum designed to teach international-style target archery for students in grades 4 through 12. The core content covers safety, techniques, equipment, mental concentration, and self-improvement, as well as the history of the sport.

It’s also about having fun. Kelsey Gerchar, the department’s archery education coordinator, said there has been tremendous interest in the NASP/IBO 3D Challenge, where students take shots at six different foam animal targets placed at various distances, then rotate to take shots at each of the remaining targets.

“This interest has led to the introduction of a new NASP bowhunting program the department will be rolling out at the end of the year,” Gerchar said.

Arizona’s Archery in the Schools program is funded through an excise tax on the sale of hunting and shooting sports equipment. No state general funds are used to support the program. Game and Fish administers the program for the purpose of promoting safe, responsible aspects of the sport, as well as wildlife conservation as part of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Act (WSFR). Visit www.azgfd.gov/archery for more information.

Gilbert man catches state record for native roundtail chub

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AGF Photo

General area of the Verde River where Rudolph Hoffman caught his state record catch-and-release roundtail chub.

CLARKDALE — It’s the native fish with a sporting fight. On Feb. 13 on the Verde River above Clarkdale, Rudolph Hoffman of Gilbert found a large pool of water and began cranking in multiple roundtail chub. The first measured at about 17 inches. Then another at 18 … then 18 1/2 inches …

Typically, the length of a roundtail chub is 8 to 18 inches, weight is 4 ounces to more than 3 pounds, and they potentially reach 8 years of age. George Andrejko/AZGFD

Typically, the length of a roundtail chub is 8 to 18 inches, weight is 4 ounces to more than 3 pounds, and they potentially reach 8 years of age. George Andrejko/AZGFD

Finally, a 19-inch chub took a 1/4-ounce bronze spoon with a spinning rod and 8-pound fluorocarbon line. This Gila robusta set a state catch-and-release record for roundtail chub. (Topping Dave Wagner’s 16-inch roundtail caught 2011, also on the Verde).

“There is really something special about being able to catch and release a fish that has been part of our Arizona waterways for tens of thousands of years,” Hoffman said.

The Department has initiated numerous conservation efforts since the early 2000s. Maintenance of healthy roundtail chub populations were likely influenced by all of these conservation measures in the Verde River.

AZGFD biologists prepare to stock chub. George Andrejko/AZGFD

AZGFD biologists prepare to stock chub. George Andrejko/AZGFD

By 2008, several flood events and conditions aligned to boost their populations. A few high-flow years helped young chub to survive. Conservation efforts by the Salt River Project’s Habitat Conservation Program and the Department have led to healthy populations of chub in the Verde River and across the state. These efforts included the development of a brood stock of chub to be raised at the Bubbling Ponds Hatchery, near Cornville, Ariz., and a stocking strategy to enhance wild populations of chub in the Verde River.

There also are special fishing regulations for the Verde River and its tributaries that likely have benefitted the chub — it’s all catch and release, and downstream from Granite Creek to Horseshoe Dam, anglers can enjoy unlimited daily bag limits for smallmouth and largemouth bass, and channel and flathead catfish.

So why not chase some of these Arizona natives during your next fishing trip?

“These chub fight better than smallmouth,” said Matt Chmiel, Aquatics Program Manager in the AZGFD Kingman office. “I’ve caught both and every one of the chub fought better than the smallmouth. Fishing from a canoe one time I had three chub break me off on 4-pound line.”

Artwork and Poetry from Inmates of Coconino Jail to be Showcased at Local Coffee House

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500-Art2FLAGSTAFF — More than thirty artistic drawings and sketches created by individuals while they were in-custody at the Coconino County Jail will be on display at Firecreek Coffee located at 22 East Route 66, Flagstaff, Arizona. The event will take place on Friday, March 25, 2016 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and is open to the public free of charge. This event also will highlight a compilation of poems and literary pieces completed by inmates titled “My Self Portrait.”

The art and poetry are from inmates enrolled in the Coconino County Detention Facility Exodus program which is an in-custody substance abuse treatment program for men and women detained within the jail. Goals of the Exodus Program include:

• Reduce the impact substance abuse has on our community.
• Provide therapeutic and educational services to assist addicted inmates in making the decision to avoid future alcohol or drug consumption.
• Enhance inmates’ ability to make positive changes in their lives.
• Strengthen families, reduce recidivism and provide a proactive response to alcohol and substance abuse related crimes.
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The Exodus Program incorporates parenting classes, health education, creative writing, expressive art classes, stress management training and other life skills lessons that are provided by staff and outside agencies. Our on-staff art and creative writing teacher recognized the extraordinary artistic talent possessed by many of the men and women who participate in the Exodus Program. The Sheriff’s Office hopes this art display will enlighten community members as to the value and abilities of many of our inmates.

We would like to thank Bookmans Entertainment Exchange, Hidden Light Framing and Firecreek Coffee for their vision to see the value of this project and for their support and contributions.

Please visit the Coconino Sheriff Facebook page to get a preview of some of the art that will be showcased.

As Arizona’s boating season approaches, prepare with a safety course

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PHOENIX — Spring and summer isn’t far off and Arizona’s waterways will soon be teeming with activity. To make sure you’re ready for another great boating and paddling season, the Arizona Game and Fish Department recommends all water users to take a boating safety course.

The department offers free courses in Phoenix and Lake Havasu City every month to provide water users the information and tips needed to stay safe while on the water. Each year many deaths and injuries on Arizona’s waterways are the result of people who don’t know how to operate a watercraft properly or how to act to avoid placing themselves in danger.

For more information on boating safety or to register for a hands-on or online safety course, visit www.azgfd.gov/boating and click “Boating Safety Education.” Below is a list of hands-on boating safety courses scheduled for March:

Arizona Boater Education Course

  • 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. March 19, Apex Arms Facility, Green Building, Lake Havasu City
  • 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. March 19, Arizona Game and Fish Headquarters, Phoenix

Arizona Paddlesports Education Course

  • 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. March 26, Biscuit Tank at Ben Avery Shooting Facility, Phoenix.

Department’s courses include instruction on the basic skills needed to safely operate a boat or personal watercraft, trailering your vessel, navigational rules, buoys, anchoring, legal requirements, boating emergencies, watersports and paddling. In addition, most insurance companies offer a discount on boat or watercraft insurance rates for completing a course.

The department also reminds all watercraft users that boats in Arizona must have a life jacket aboard for every passenger aboard and those 12 years old and younger must wear a life jacket at all times, under state law. Users should also check to make sure a life jacket fits properly by ensuring there is no excess room above the openings of the jacket and that it does not ride up over the chin or face.

For more information on boating in Arizona or to sign up for a safety course, visit www.azgfd.gov/boating.

New amateur radio operators seek to re-establish Williams Group

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stationWILLIAMS — A few ham radio licensees in Williams are trying to re-establish the Bill Williams Mountain Radio Group. They are looking for former members who would like to re-establish the group as well as anyone who would like to obtain and amateur radio license.

Glen Davis, who recently obtained an amateur radio license, is one of those making the attempt. He tried to contact some of the former members through the web site, but received no response.

“A strong amateur radio group is important,” Davis explained. “It gives the opportunity for new amateur radio operators to learn from experienced operators. Most people do not know that a person of any age that can past the test can get a license.”

Amateur radio has been around since radio began. People interested in obtaining a HAM radio license no longer have to worry about Morse code.

“In fact you do not even need a radio, anymore,” Davis said. “With programs such as Echolink you can make contacts around the world on your computer or smart phone.”

Amateur radio also serves the community with emergency communication. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)—also known as the National Weather Service—has established the Skywarn system that trains weather spotters to report hazardous or unusual weather conditions during a storm. The Federal Communications Commission has established the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES). In some areas, such as Coconino County, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) has established the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES). These services provides emergency communications when other forms of communication fail.

Another advantage of a local group is that experienced amateur radio operators can help those interested in obtaining a license pass the examination. Communications even with a simple Technician license can be expansive through the use of repeaters. Mobile units no bigger than your hand can keep you in communication on the highways even where cell phone service fails.

Davis also noted that there are several new forms of communication that people do not think about. “You can communicate with a 2-meter hand held radio via satellite. You can bounce signals off of the moon. You can do digital communications through a computer. There are contest where you try to make as many contacts as possible in a set time. And you can even learn and use good-old Morse code.”

Anyone who is interested in re-establishing the Bill Williams Mountain Radio Group can contact Glen at kg7ydj@kg7ydj.us.