Native Americans had answer for disappearing deer tracks

Have you ever been following deer tracks on a trail while hunting only to have those tracks just disappear? I have! Made me wonder if I'd been seeing things to begin, that maybe the tracks had been a figment of my imagination. Maybe there actually hadn't been deer anywhere around.

Marty Prokop, deer hunting expert, explains what he has found with the solution if/when this might happen. He says, "Disappearing tracks have been tricking hunters since the earliest times when man started to first track animals. Here is a solution if this happens to you. Without stepping on the actual tracks and ruining the trail, indian trackers used to step from side to side to allow the most favorable light to shine onto the trails. With favorable amounts of light cast at the right angles onto the trail, hoof impressions or the upturned leaves seem to pop out because of the shadows they cast. Try this Native American tracking trick the next time you seem to lose a set of fresh deer tracks in the woods or desert. It could have you walking up on a big buck in his bed."

Another of Prokop's "tried and true" bits of advice includes rainproofing your deer hunting rifle other than by using waterproofing sprays that tend to wash off in the rain (yes, it does rain at Arizona locations other than Yuma).

Car wax is the answer! It lasts longer than gun oils and silicone spray lubricants. After you have applied a safe car wax to your rifle, rain water will bead up on the fresh coat of wax - be sure the car wax you use does not have any buffing compounds that would remove the bluing or gun stock finish.

Hunt happenings

*Hunter Safety Education: The next "free" class being conducted at the Yuma Arizona Game and Fish regional office is 6-9 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays July 21 through Aug. 1 with a final hands-on class Aug. 2 at Adair Park. A truly great class for any adult (even if you've taken the class before, its a super refresher), mandatory for any youngster 10-14 years of age who wants to hunt big game in Arizona. It's first-come, first-served so plan to arrive early.

*Annual Elk Hunting Clinic: If you've been lucky enough to be drawn for that elk hunt this fall, make plans now to attend the clinic - learn how to find elk, where to find them, how to call elk, what to do after harvesting your elk and much more - being conducted July 26 by the Arizona Elk Society at the FOP Lodge, 19th Ave. and Sweetwater in Phoenix.

*Poached mule deer: Game and Fish is seeking information that could help lead to the arrest of individual(s) responsible for the recent poaching of a mature doe mule deer near Kingman, AZ. The incident occurred on or around May 27 southwest of Bull Mountain, just west of Stockton Hill Rd. The carcass was left to waste. If you may have seen or heard anything related to  this criminal act, call Game and Fish - maybe a person bragged about the crime during a conversation. Any information, no matter how trivial, might help with the investigation. The Game thief hotline is (800) 352-0700 or call the Yuma office at 342-0091 (The Kingman office is (928) 692-7700.

Fishing club

*Yuma Desert Bass Anglers: Fish the July 12 Open Team Tournament launching out of Fisher's landing. Most welcome are all anglers who have tournament approved boats with a livewell, remote steering and kill switch. Anglers may fish one tournament as a non-club member with membership $15 a year, $10 each additional family member. Call Mac or Bobbi McDermott at 726-1984.

*Yuma Women's Reel and Rifle Club: A reminder to members that Bass, Catfish and Striper Contest are ongoing throughout the year - report all catches to me at 726-0953. All ladies and their young gals are welcome to fish The Open Mid-summer Catfish Derby after 12-noon July 18 to the final weigh-in at 5 p.m. July 20 by signing up with me prior to fishing. Winners to be reported at the July 24 Open Meeting at American Legion, 2575 Virginia Dr.

*Yuma Bassmasters: Check next week's column for dates of July Team Tournaments or call Curtis Cernik at 941-2993 or any of the guys at Yuma River Marine at 783-6502.

*Yuma Pro/Am Series: Check with Bob La Londe at 580-1270 for information on July tournaments open to experienced as well as beginning fishermen. I'm hoping to have results of the June 22 tournament in next week's column.

*Goin' Fishin' Productions: To learn the tricks of the trade in catching  small and largemouth bass like the pros at Colorado River waters in the Yuma area, get together with fishing guide, Dave Willhide (call him at 782-2621) and his "bass class on the water" - also available to home and RV Park groups.

Shooting sports

Even though our weather is blistering and uncomfortably humid, if we intend to hunt this fall, practice should be the name of the game - in all fairness to the animals we hunt - to ensure a ethical and successful hunt resulting in delicious meat in the freezer. Yuma shooting ranges are always open for that much needed practice - check out maintaining clubs listed here.

*Renegade Archers of Yuma: All archers are welcome to shoot the trail of 3D animal targets at 7 a.m. Sundays at the Foothills Archery Range as well as during daylight hours all week long for practice and recreation with youngsters always shooting free of charge. The first shoot is free for adults as well with dues $15 a year ($25 couples) until the end of the year. Call me anytime at 726-0953.

*Southwest Bowhunters: Archery shoots open to archers at 8 a.m. Sundays 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 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays and Sundays at Adair Park - great practice for dove season beginning soon. Call Jaime Almazan at 246-8299.

*Yuma Territorial Longrifles Club: Open black powder matches first and third Saturdays each month at Adair Park. Call James Ingram at 726-6632.

*Cholla Gun Club: Call Jim Stewart at 342-7392 for club and shooting information at the Adair Park metallic silhouette range - a ideal range to practice for rifle/pistol hunt seasons this fall.

*Yuma Rifle and Pistol Club: Scheduled matches will begin again in September at the Adair Park big bore range. The range remains open daylight hours through the summer for big bore practice. Call Paul Lerma at 783-6766.

*Yuma Matchmasters: Open IPSC Combat Match at the Adair Park small bore range with sign up at 6:30 a.m. to shoot at 7 a.m. Call Ron Gissendaner at 726-0022.