Great opportunity for youngsters to learn how to hunt quail
A real treat is in store this month for all youngsters in the Yuma area (open to youngsters outside of Yuma as well) who enjoy hunting quail or would like to learn how, when and where to hunt these tasty birds along with getting in on a share of camping fun.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department, Yuma regional office, working with members of the Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club, The Southwest Habitat Partnership Committee, the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge and BLM will conduct a Juniors Quail Camp Oct. 22-24 for any youngster 17 years old or younger who would like to try their hand at it. Each youngster signing up for the camp must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult and pay a $40 “refundable” registration fee prior to the event to hold their spot - the camp is limited to the first 35 juniors. The camp will be located at Highway 95 and King Valley Road (between Yuma and Quartzsite).
Everyone attending will need camping equipment for two nights, a shotgun if possible (some loaners will be available), and a hunting license if 14-17 years of age (licenses will be available in camp if needed). All food for the juniors, parents and experienced mentors will be provided as well as ammunition and goodies for the kids.
Experienced mentors are necessary to conduct a camp such as this to be sure it stays safe from start to finish while providing the great experience the kids will enjoy, learning everything from firearms safety and how to hunt quail, to being a good sportsman/woman and to enjoy the outdoors and everything it has to offer. Any adult who would like to become a mentor should call Alicia Allen of Game and Fish at (928) 345-3113 or visit aallen@azgfd.gov. Interested youngsters and their parent(s) should contact Ms. Allen as soon as possible to sign up for this great event.
HUNT HAPPENINGS
•Elk Poaching: The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking the public's assistance to find the person or persons responsible for the poaching of a 6x6 bull elk, found north of Ash Fork, Ariz. The animal was illegally shot and killed around Sept. 6-8. It was found east of Oliver Tank and north of Sevens Ranch. The bull elk's antlers were individually sawed off but left at the scene where the entire animal was left to waste. The area is part of Game Management Unit 10.
The poaching happened just before the legal archery season and it is hoped that anyone scouting in the area at that time might have information that will lead to an arrest in this crime. Game and fish Wildlife officer Benjamin Shelby said, “This is not the action of a hunter. Poaching is stealing from the people of Arizona and wasting a valuable resource.”
To report information on this incident, call the department's Operation Game Thief hot line at 1-800-352-0700 or visit www.azgfd.gov/thief. Callers' identities will remain confidential upon request. A reward of $2,700 is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the violator responsible for this poaching case. Shelby added, “Dedicated sportsmen wait many years to draw a permit-tag for this area, well known for the quality-class elk like this animal. Unlike poachers, ethical hunters harvest the animal respectfully, fill the freezers with the healthy game meat and they support wildlife conservation through their license and tag purchases.”
•Game on! Small game season now open: Arizona's fall hunt season has opened for quail and squirrel (opened Oct. 1), cottontail and jackrabbits (open all year) to name a few. Be sure to pick up a copy of the 2010-11 Arizona Hunt Regulations.
•Town Hall in Yuma: The secretary of state has scheduled a town hall meeting in Yuma at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at the County Board of Supervisors Auditorium, 198 S. Main St. to inform voters about all of the propositions on the November ballot. A worthwhile meeting for us all to attend.
•Oct. 12 Application deadline for 2011 spring hunts: Apply before 7 p.m. Oct. 12 for spring turkey, javelina, buffalo and bear. Be sure to purchase the 2011 hunt license before applying. A reminder postmarks don't count and there is no online application process. Address applications to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn: Draw Section, P.O Box 74020, Phoenix, AZ 85087-1062 or hand deliver to any Game and Fish office. Electronic copies of the application form and regulation booklet are available online at www.azgfd.gov/draw.
•Yuma Friends of NRA: Don't miss the Oct. 16 “Annual Dinner and Live Auction” being held at the Yuma Civic and Convention Center with doors open at 5 p.m., the buffet serving line beginning at 7:30 p.m. Individual tickets are $30 with corporate/club tables ($300), Liberty Friends Sponsor ($250) and Freedom Friends Sponsor tables ($1,250) available. Seating is limited so get your tickets early. Purchase tickets with check or money order to Yuma Friends of NRA, 2676 La Cruz Ave., Yuma AZ 85365.
FISHING CLUBS
•Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club: Attend the Oct. 6 Club meeting at 6:30 p.m. at American Legion, 2575 Virginia Drive for details on the John Howell Handicapped Children's River Cruise being held Oct. 9 launching out of Fisher's Landing at Martinez Lake. If you have a boat and would like to provide room for these kids to get out on the water, call Jerrett Howell at 210-6124 or Cort Bacon at 580-9539. Members are reminded of the Oct. 10 Bob Hefner Memorial Bass Derby - call Don Emmel at 342-3016 or get details at the meeting.
•Desert Bass Anglers: Get up early to be in on the fishing fun, also on Oct. 9 when the anglers will compete at the latest team tournament launching out of Fisher's Landing. Annual dues are $15 ($10 each additional family member) with tournament entry $30 plus options. Boats must have remote steering and kill switches and a live well with aeration capable of supporting a 5-fish limit of bass. Call Mac or Bobbi McDermott at 726-1984.
•Yuma Bassmasters: Attend Tuesday's meeting and join the club with dues $25, tournament fees $60 team plus options and fish the Oct. 16 Open Team Tournament out of Fisher's Landing. Call Jeff Pacewic at 580-2031 or visit pacific@msn.com for meeting location.
•Yuma Pro/Am Series: Keep in practice for the Oct. 24 Pro/Am Tournament launching out of Fisher's Landing with sign up Oct. 18-23 and the draw the evening of the 23rd. Visit Bob La Londe at bob@yumaproam.com.
•American Bass: Be ready to fish the Oct. 30 ABA Open Team Tournament launching out of Fisher's Landing, open to all anglers. Call Gabe Valdez at (928) 897-5691.
•Bass Class on the Water: Learn to fish for bass with Dave Willhide 782-2621 with instruction on rigging, selection of gear and lures, when and where to fish in all seasons and conditions learning tips, techniques and locations to fish successfully at local waters. Ask about instructional seminars at RV Parks and Home Groups.
•Ban on lead ammunition and fishing tackle: The petition dated Aug. 3 requesting a national ban of lead ammunition and fishing tackle is still in the process of being reviewed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) required to respond within 90 days. Game and Fish is in the process of analyzing the petition and its potential ramifications in Arizona and believes that further research regarding population-level effects on wildlife is appropriate, given the effectiveness the department has seen in nonregulatory approaches. The department believes that voluntary, state-level approaches, where the science shows them to he necessary, are the best approaches to address lead-wildlife concerns. Science, not sweeping regulatory change, is the foundation for the conservation and management of healthy wildlife populations. The department has been proactively engaged in reducing the scientifically known impacts of lead to wildlife since the 1980s and is currently following the direction provided by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission in 2009 to work with the public to increase discussions on the impacts of lead on wildlife and possible voluntary strategies to minimize those impacts in the near future and long-term. I will provide updates on this issue as they are reported.
SHOOTING SPORTS
Stay in practice for big and small game hunts coming our way by practicing as much as time allows to ensure accuracy and fairness to the animal. The Foothills Archery Range is open for archery practice with 3D animal trail shoots each Sunday provided by Renegade Archers - call Jean Wilson at 246-4450 - as well as at Adair Park with Southwest Bowhunters who shoot at 8 a.m. on Sundays.
For trap and skeet, the Yuma Trap and Skeet Club holds open matches 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays and Sundays at the Adair Park range - providing some great practice - call John Gross at 580-7837. If black powder is your bag, get together with Yuma Territorial Longrifles the 1st and 3rd Saturdays each month at 8:30 a.m. at Adair Park - call James Ingram at 726-6632.
After taking time out during our summer heat, the Yuma Rifle and Pistol Club will begin shooting again with sign up at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 18 - call Paul Lerma at 783-6766. And to shoot the Speed Challenge the 1st Saturday, IPSC Combat Match the 2nd Sunday or Cowboy Match the 4th Sunday of the month with Yuma Matchmasters, call Ron Gissendaner at 726-0022. Sign up is at 7:30 a.m. at the Adair Park small bore range.
