Outdoor Expo this weekend in Phoenix
If you're interested in the outdoors and would enjoy some fun, attend the Outdoor Expo Saturday and March 24 by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and other volunteer outdoor organizations at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility off Carefree Highway, 1/2 mile west of I-17 north of Phoenix. Once you are headed out on I-17, watch for the signs. Admission and parking are free both days with the expo open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
There will be plenty of hands-on activities to keep outdoor enthusiasts of all ages busy and interested with live wildlife exhibits, huge catch-and-release fishing tanks for kids to try, learn and try out target archery as well as to try out different firearms in a safe, controlled environment on the shooting range or to learn about speciality shooting disciplines such as clay targets, cowboy action, black powder, air gun and more. You'll get the chance to navigate a field course, view boating exhibits and learn about watercraft safety, watch hunt dog demonstrations, attend thrilling mounted cowboy shooting competition, learn about raptors, urban fishing, turkey hunting, wilderness survival and setting up the perfect hunting bow, see clay target shooting demonstrations, watch demonstrations of fishing techniques as well as get tips from local fishing pros. More than 150 exhibitors will be on-hand including outdoor organizations to talk to, government agencies and vendors of outdoor products and services such as Cabelas.
Even though admission and parking are free, bring along cash for food and beverages from a variety of concessions and vendors on site. A good excuse to get out of town for a great weekend packed full of fun for the whole family.
Hunt happenings
• Arizona Elk Society: While you're in Phoenix for the Outdoor Expo, make the weekend complete by making arrangements to attend the annual Arizona Elk Society banquet on Saturday. Get your ticket by calling the Elk Society at 1-602-885-0835 or Scott Kelly at 1-480-206-3435 or visit www.blackdogpromotions.com or www.facebook.com/bdpevents.
In addition to some really good food, you will also have the chance to get in on the coveted Arizona Commissioners Special Elk Tag with the winner being able to hunt starting Aug. 15 until Aug. 13, 2014. Every dollar raised from this elk tag goes directly to the management of elk in Arizona and allows for a multitude of wildlife conservation projects. Management of the dollars and projects are in coordination with the Arizona Habitat Partnership Committee. Projects range from water improvements, wildlife friendly fencing, wildlife studies, game surveys, translocations, habitat restorations, land acquisitions and more with many of the projects being matched and further leveraged with other funding sources, labor, or supplied materials, stretching every dollar spend even further. In addition to the Special Elk Tag to try for, there will also be am Arizona Special Buffalo Tag and Hualapai Exclusive Bull Elk Tag. You could be the next winner!
In the end, the real winners of the Special Big Game License Tag Program are the citizens of Arizona. Through the dedication of concerned hunters and sportsmen, Arizonans can continue to enjoy the state's full complement of diverse wildlife for generations to come.
Shooting sports
• Sprague's Sport Shop, 345 W. 32nd St., will present the first Street Survival Safety Training from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday. The seminar will train you on how to deal with active shooting/crossfire situations should you or family members be caught in potentially deadly incidents. The course will cost $75 per person. Class is limited to the first 24 attendees. To register, contact Sprague's Sport Shop at 726-0022.
• 4-H Shooting Sports: The weekend of March 23-24 will be the 4-H Youth Shooting Competition taking place Friday through Monday at the Ware Farm in Dome Valley. Camp will be available from Friday afternoon until noon Monday. To get to the farm from Highway 95, turn east at E. County 3rd Street at about mile post 42. Turn north on S. Avenue 16th, a dirt road about 2 miles. Follow paper plates with arrows. Stanley Gourley will be on-site; his cell phone is 388-8995. Check this column next week for the kids shoot results.
• Renegade Archers of Yuma: All archers are welcome to shoot the trail of 3D animals at 9 a.m. Sunday at the Foothills Archery Range located south of I-8 and east of S. Foothills Blvd. as you head for the Gila Mountain Range east of S. Ave. 15E. The adult shoot fee is $3 ($5 husband/wife) with youngsters always free of charge. Call Jean at 247-4450 or Kevin at 726-0953 if you'd like us to provide bows and arrows to shoot if you do not have your own. Bring your BB guns for some fun, safe shooting after archery is completed and stay for hotdogs before heading home.
• Southwest Bowhunters: Archery each Sunday at 9 a.m. at Adair Park with the practice range open all week. Call Wayne Wittenberg at 314-0140.
• Yuma Trap and Skeet Club: Open trap and skeet 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays (closed Easter Sunday), noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Adair Park range. There will be a Scholastic Clay Target Practice at 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays as well as a SCTP Phoenix Shoot 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 30. Call Gary Knight at 210-0805.
• Yuma Territorial Longrifles Club: Open black powder matches 1st and 3rd Saturdays each month with sign-up at 8:30 a.m. at Adair Park. Call Dennis Hansel at 342-7573.
• Cholla Gun Club: Scheduled matches will resume again this fall. The Adair Park metallic silhouette range is open to the public for practice during daylight hours. For club information, call Glenda or Rick at 502-0736.
• Yuma Rifle and Pistol Club: Shooters must sign up by 7:30 a.m. at the Adair Park big bore range to shoot today's Across the Course match. Call Paul Lerma at 783-6766 or Gerald Brooker a 305-9681. Stay in practice for the April 21 Long Range Palma match with a Vintage Service match the day before.
• Yuma Matchmasters: Shooters need to sign-up at 7 a.m. as well as attend the 7:30 a.m. shooters meeting for monthly matches at the Adair Park small bore range. Shoot schedule: 1st Saturday - Steel Challenge Match; 2nd Sunday - IPSC Combat Match; 4th Sunday - Cowboy Match. Call Ruth Wilmot at 726-7727 or Ron Gissendaner at 726-0022.
Fishing clubs
• Desert Bass Anglers: April 6 is the Mittry Lake Team Tournament with sign-up at Fisher's Landing the morning of the tournament. Earlier sign-up will be at Sportsman's Hideaway 5-6 p.m. April 5. Annual dues are $15 ($10 each additional family member) with reasonable tournament fees and options. Call Mac or Bobbi McDermott at 726-1984.
• Yuma Pro Am Series: Sign up and pay the $15 dues (if you haven't done so) prior to the March 23 draw meeting at Baron Fuels to fish the March 24 Mittry Lake Tournament. Membership and tournament fees can be paid online at bob@yumaproam.com.
• American Bass - Yuma Division: Open Bass Tournament is March 30, launching out of Fisher's Landing. To sign up, call Jeff Woods at 1-951-201-9461.
• Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club: Attend the 7 p.m. April 3 club meeting at American Legion Post 19, 2575 S. Virginia Drive, for details of the April 13 IRS Bass Derby or call Billy Morgan at 210-2478. Must be a member to compete, single annual dues $30, husband/wife $40, senior (65 and over) $25, active military $20. Come join the fun with many fun activities all year long.
• Kids will want to get in on the annual Youth Fishing Clinic at Mittry Lake April 27 with all sorts of great prizes for all the youngsters. Call Brian Shadd at 271-1234 or Debbie Power at 783-5924. If anyone might want to donate a prize or assist in any way, call Brian or Debbie.
• Wednesday Jackpot Derby: Sign-up $5 each Wednesday at 8 a.m. at the gas dock, weigh-in at 1 p.m. Winner takes the pot for one big fish, any species. Call Jimmy Phipps at 782-2207.
• Swede Ferguson monthly Memorial Bass Derby: Sign-up $10 anytime each month at Fisher's Landing, with the winner taking the pot for the biggest bass, determined the last day of the month. Call Phipps for details or to sign up.
• Bass Class on the Water: Learn all the tricks of the trade for catching bass at local waters with Dave Willhide. Call Dave at 782-2621. Learn to be successful at all times of the year no matter what the weather. A bass boat and all equipment is provided for a great day on the water. Ask about fishing seminars for RV parks and home groups.
• MCAS Recreation Area: Call Mike Castello at 783-3422 to learn about camping, boating and fishing activities available at the lake and the Colorado River for military and families.
Contact Jean Wilson at jeanrenegade@gmail.com or call 247-4450.
