April 2025 Edition
April 2025 Edition
Few things are as pleasant as spending time on the water with one's canine best friend. That's why Bombora introduced the new Dog Lover Bundle: it comes with a premium Dog Life Vest and an inflatable Slim Belt for its human companion. Available in four sizes to fit dogs from extra small to 90 pounds, Bombora Dog Vests are designed for unrestricted movement, whether swimming or running. Layered and segmented flotation covered in soft, yet durable polyester conforms to the body. A padded neck... Full story
To All Antelope Point Marina Guests and Owners At APM: We hope you are doing well and are just as excited as we are for the upcoming summer season at our marina. We are contacting you all in regards to a minor update regarding our 2025 Customers Cart Policy contact information. Due to some changes at our marina, any customers with questions regarding this year's cart Dock Permits or our Cart Valet services can get in contact with our Guest Service team at cartvalet@apmlp.com or call... Full story
"Knowledge – Skills – Fun" while celebrating NWSA's 35th anniversary in St. Petersburg, Fl. The National Women's Sailing Association (NWSA) is expanding its 2025 National Women's Sailing Association Conference, presented by American Sailing, to three days. This year, the annual event will be held June 6th to 8th at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg. The event welcomes women sailors of all skill levels, ages and backgrounds to workshops including the popular Take the Helm®... Full story
Determining a boat's heading is simple with the X-11Y SportAbout Handheld compass from Ritchie Navigation. It can be used in the palm of the hand or raised to the eye as a line-of-sight compass. The SportAbout's easy-to-read 2" white dial is set on a sapphire jewel atop a hardened steel pivot to reduce spinning and jumping. Bold black degree marks, numbers and headings are easy to read. Included Cyalume chemical light sticks provide 18 hours of night illumination. The impact-resistant safety... Full story
Few boats have dedicated work spaces outside of the cabin. And no one wants to chop bait on gelcoat. That's why when it's time to prep hooks or make a sandwich, it's time to bring out the Large Cutting Table from SeaSucker. It mounts quickly, yet temporarily, to any non-porous surface. Made in the USA, the Large Cutting Table was designed for offshore fishermen to prepare bait. That's why it'll support 210 pounds-more than enough to hold a case of beer or TV. Large Cutting Tables secure using... Full story
Boats, RVs and outdoor gear stored for the winter need a thorough cleaning - inside and out. Freshly relabeled Iosso Mold & Mildew Stain Remover not only removes tough stains on fabrics and hard surfaces but also eliminates fungi that cause musty odors and annoying black staining. Made in the USA, biodegradable Mold & Mildew Stain Remover Cleaner doesn't contain bleach or chlorine, so it won't damage fabrics or alter their color. It's the perfect product for boat and RV covers, biminis, dodgers... Full story
April 30 - Welcome Home Vietnam Vets! VFW Post 3513, Scottsdale Get ready, folks, because our Welcome Home celebration is just around the corner, and the excitement is in the air! We're putting the finishing touches on what promises to be an unforgettable day, and we want YOU to be a part of it! If you know of any organizations related to Vietnam and its impact, don't hesitate to reach out and invite them to join us in this meaningful celebration. This event is not just a celebration; it's a... Full story
Please Note - Articles and information will be added throughout the month. We welcome readers input on each article. Thank you. - Publisher The Three Servicemen statue and flagstaff were added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 1984. The statue depicts three American servicemen and the things they carried. Sculptor Frederick Hart's goal was to create a moving evocation of the experience and service of the Vietnam veteran. As Hart described the sculpture, "The contrast between the innocence of... Full story
Art wasn't just one of the best-known crappie fishermen in Arizona; he was also a dynamite bass fisherman. He was one of those guys who was generous with his know-how and even his fishing spots, and he was always willing to teach a seminar, visit a fishing club, or take an outdoor writer out on the water. We will miss him so much! Over the years, Art has helped me with stories about trolling for crappie, night fishing for bass, fishing plastic worms, fishing for spring crappie - you name it,... Full story
WHEN I GOT HOME . . . By Tom Cole, Retired Marine And Vietnam Vet Special Features Writer When I left for the Vietnam war, I was an impressionable young man of 21 who wanted to see as much of the world as possible. Call me naïve, call me crazy. But at that time as a young Marine, I wanted to go to and experience Vietnam and the war raging there. Many people didn’t want to go and took major steps not to even entertain the thought of going there and serving in the war, but that wasn’t me.... Full story
Many people feel that it’s the politicians or protesters of war who hate war the most. This, even though the vast majority of them have never experienced war firsthand. This is SO not true. It is the warrior who hates war most, for they have experienced it, seen it, smelled it, tasted it and hopefully lived through it! March 29th we celebrate Vietnam Veteran Recognition Day recognizing those who served in and during the Vietnam War. At VFW Post 3513 there will be a celebration on April 30th.... Full story
It is hard to tackle the story of the Vietnam War and especially a challenge to do so on film. The complex guerilla war lasted for nearly 20 years and direct American involvement for at least 10 years. It is impossible to say that a single movie captures the essence of the Vietnam War given the war experience is different for every person. And there is creative license that needs to be considered, that is, the creativity of the director and writer and whether or not they had military technical... Full story
Editor's Note: There is no end to the list of recommendations re: books on Viet Nam. However, our Special Features Writer, Viet Nam veteran and retired Marine - Tom Cole - gives us a start with some of his favorites: • Apocalypse Now • Bat 21 • Boys in Company C • First Blood (Rambo) • Full Metal Jacket • Forrest Gump (I just threw this one in • Good Morning Vietnam (Robin Williams) • Go Tell The Spartans • Hamburger Hill • Platoon • The Deer Hunter • The Great Santini... Full story
Trout Unlimited are hosting Salt River Saturday River Cleanups every other Saturday. This is a great event if you are looking to help promote conservation and keep our waterways clean. After a few hours of picking up trash, you can relax and wind down with some fishing on the Salt. This is a great opportunity if you are new to fly fishing, as there will be tons of experienced fly anglers who are willing to help. For more information, check out the FishAZ Network at the link below. The FishAZ... Full story
Have Some Fun While Practicing Your Casts Fly fishing is not that difficult a skill to learn, but it offers a lifetime of opportunities to get better as you increase your casting distance, accuracy and approaches for every possible stream condition. Payson angler Jim Strogen has a great article in the Payson Roundup about how to make it fun and set up challenges through practice to improve your skills and catch more fish on a fly. Read the article: Payson angler Jim Strogen Please... Full story
The recent discovery of invasive golden mussels (Limnopernafortunei) in the California Delta region serves as a reminder to boaters and anglers to please do your part to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) in Arizona's waters. Golden mussels have similar impacts as quagga mussels, but can survive in locations that typically quagga mussels cannot. Boaters and anglers are strongly encouraged to clean, drain, and dry their watercraft before launching in ANY Arizona... Full story
Publisher's Note - Dan Pennell, owner of Toro Construction, has been fishing Arizona's hidden fishing holes for more years than he might want to admit. Long 4-wheel drives and long hikes are part of his getting to the best locations around the state. PS - Pennell is even better at building block walls than he is at fishing. - Jim Allen PARADISE ALONG THE BLACK RIVER Lots of bear tracks, wild turkeys, mountain goats, eagle nests, elk and deer everywhere, and yes---rattle snakes and poison ivy... Full story
Good news for southern Arizona anglers! Pena Blanca Lake received monthly rainbow trout stockings starting in the last week of January through March. Pena Blanca Lake is located in the Coronado National Forest 68 miles south of Tucson and 17 miles northwest of Nogales in Peña Blanca Canyon. There is a day-use fee of $8 per vehicle, or you can purchase an accepted pass. Learn more about accepted passes here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/coronado/passes-permits/recreation This is our One... Full story
Gorgeous White Pocket, Ariz. - If You Get A Chance To Go, Do It! - By Margie Anderson John and I talked about doing a trip to White Pocket, but pretty much every site says you shouldn't go alone because the deep loose sandy road makes it easy for even a 4x4 to get stuck. Then one day I mentioned it to our granddaughter Trinity, and she told us that she and David always wanted to go there too, so could they come with us. Heck yes! Then Trin and I mentioned our plans in front of our granddaughter... Full story
Seven of the passes are honored nationwide at all Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and US Fish & Wildlife Service sites charging entrance or standard amenity fees. The eighth pass is honored within the Coronado National Forest only. All types of passes admit the pass holder and any accompanying passengers in a private non-commercial vehicle. The Coronado National Forest does not have any per-person fee for visitors walking or bicycling... Full story
Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) wildlife officers never know what they'll face from one day to the next. Several weeks ago, the department's radio dispatch center received a call about a deer fawn in Chloride, Ariz., that was covered in cholla cactus. They relayed the information to AZGFD wildlife officer Troy Moody in Kingman, who contacted the reporting party and was told the fawn typically came onto the person's property around 2:30 p.m. each afternoon. Officer Moody arrived to find... Full story
With more people getting outdoors to take advantage of the state's warm spring weather, it's important to keep in mind that 13 species of rattlesnakes also call Arizona home and become active as temperatures rise. The species that are encountered most often are the Western diamondback, sidewinder, Mojave, and black-tailed rattlesnakes. In warm desert areas, rattlesnakes are most active from March through October. During the spring, it's not uncommon for rattlesnakes to be out during daylight... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has partnered with the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center (SWCC) to host virtual wildlife lectures. • Wild About Arizona: Deep Dive into the Natural History of Wolves and Coyotes — 6:30 p.m. April 24 (AZGFD). Description: Learn about the highly adaptable coyote, an extraordinarily intelligent and opportunistic species. That will be followed by a deeper look into the history of Arizona’s wolves. Find out what caused them to become extinct... Full story
On Monday, March 3, 2025, it was announced that the latest (end-of-year 2024) population census of Mexican wolves had increased for the ninth straight year, to a record 286 wolves in eastern Arizona and western New Mexico. To get a glimpse of the numerous activities that take place during the wolf count, including counting techniques, affixing radio collars, processing/health check, and release, see this video by David Majure of the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s video production... Full story
The wild population of Mexican wolves saw another year of growth in 2024, according to the results of the annual census. The 2024 population survey revealed a minimum of 286 Mexican wolves distributed across Arizona and New Mexico. This increase marks the ninth consecutive year of population growth, the longest continuous streak since recovery efforts began. The 2024 minimum count represents an 11% increase from the minimum of 257 wolves counted in 2023. Survey results show the population is... Full story
If you found yourself tag less after the 2025 pronghorn and elk draw, have we got a deal for you! Conservation First USA is holding its Big Game Super Raffle where tickets to hunt pronghorn and elk for 365 days are only $10 per species. The best part: There is no limit to the number of tickets you can purchase. Buy tickets today! Ten lucky individuals will win one of 10 special big-game tags (elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, mule deer, white-tailed deer, bison, turkey, javelina, bear and mountain... Full story
2025 Pronghorn, Elk Hunt Draw Results Applicants should check their AZGFD portal account . The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has released the draw results for 2025 pronghorn and elk hunts. A customer's AZGFD portal account is the only source for finding out draw results and viewing bonus points. A free portal account can be created at accounts.azgfd.com/Account/Register (account features for minor dependents are available). A portal account allows customers to create a secure account... Full story
AZGFD Issues Notice Of Proposed Rulemaking To Amend Article 2 Rules See link below for rationale on proposed repeal of R12-4-216 (Crossbow Permit). The Arizona Game and Fish Commission proposes to amend its Article 2 rules, addressing licenses, permits, stamps, and tags, to enact amendments developed during the preceding Five-year Review Report. The proposed amendments are designed to increase the effectiveness of the rules to meet the department’s mission, ensure consistency with state and... Full story
Vietnam Combat Art Painter, sculptor, muralist, teacher and author, Austin Deuel, was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1939. He served in the United States Marine Corps twice: from 1959-1965 and rejoined in 1967 to serve in the Vietnam combat art program. After His Military Service Following his military service, he relocated to Scottsdale, Ariz., and pursued his career as a professional fine artist. Deuel has completed numerous monument commissions such as the Vietnam War Memorial in San Antonio,... Full story
This comment by her brother's friend was her mantra during the incredible trauma a young nurse experienced during her service in Vietnam. The Women is a historical fiction novel by American author Kristin Hannah published by St. Martin's Press in 2024. The book tells the story of Frances "Frankie" McGrath, a young nurse who serves in the United States Army Nurse Corps during the Vietnam War. The novel debuted at number-one on The New York Times fiction best-seller list. Background And... Full story
Parks For Healing "Being...out in nature, it's just good for the soul. It's cleansing...it gets you outside of yourself. It's my...way to decompress."- Edye Joyner, U.S. Marine Corps and Desert Storm veteran Many national parks have direct connections to the American military - there are dozens of battlefields, military parks, and historic sites that commemorate and honor the service of American veterans. In addition, every national park is part of our collective identity that defines who we... Full story
'Women Can Be Heroes Too' This comment by her brother's friend was her mantra during the incredible trauma a young nurse experienced during her service in Vietnam. The Women is a historical fiction novel by American author Kristin Hannah published by St. Martin's Press in 2024. The book tells the story of Frances "Frankie" McGrath, a young nurse who serves in the United States Army Nurse Corps during the Vietnam War. The novel debuted at number-one on The New York Times fiction best-seller... Full story
