Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Sorted by date Results 801 - 825 of 1703
"I was watching this coyote flipping mice, early one morning at Gilbert Water Ranch," says Bryan Keil of Scottsdale, describing the instant he took the winning shot in this year's wildlife photo contest. Keil didn't just stumble across the scene: The Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch has a devoted following among wildlife photographers, and many people knew coyotes were hunting there. Keil was there, putting in the hours required to capture a special shot. Tools Of The Trade To this opportunity,... Full story
I'm an Arizona native, yet there are still countless sites in Arizona that are on my bucket list. My dad took me hunting and camping hundreds of times, and I've seen some gorgeous places – places that aren't on the typical tourist list of places to see. For instance, on a deer hunt off Dugas Road, I was walking along a small wash when it turned a corner and opened up into a little canyon. There was small stream, maybe a spring, that flowed just a short way before going underground. I'll Never F... Full story
Alexandria, VA – December 12, 2016 – Over the weekend, the U.S. Senate passed a comprehensive maritime infrastructure bill that drew a mixed reaction from the recreational fishing industry. By a 78-21 vote, the Senate passed the “Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN),” which had been approved by the U.S. House of Representatives earlier last week. The WIIN Act now heads to the President’s desk for his signature. The American Sportfishing Association (ASA - http://ww... Full story
OLYMPIA – The state's new recreational license sales system became operational this week, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) officials say the switch from the old system went as smoothly as possible. The new system began selling hunting and fishing licenses and the Discover Pass on the evening of Dec. 18, several hours earlier than expected, said Peter Vernie, WDFW's licensing division manager. "This secure, next-generation system will improve service to our customers and t... Full story
PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Commission will recognize 17 people during the 2016 Commission Awards event, which will commend national/state/local leaders, wildlife advocates, and volunteers for their work to support the state’s wildlife. The event will be held on Saturday, Jan. 14, at the Arizona Grand Resort at 8000 S. Arizona Grand Parkway in Phoenix. Reservations are being accepted for $65 per person to attend the event, which begins with a social hour and live music at 5 p.m., and wil... Full story
PHOENIX - In response to President Obama designating two national monuments this week in Utah and Nevada, Governor Doug Ducey issued the following statement requesting that the president respect Arizona by not designating the proposed Grand Canyon Watershed National Monument: "Western public land agreements have established a legacy of multi-use that have provided a recreational, environmental, conservation and economic balance that has served our state and nation well. "In the early 1990s... Full story
Whether it's dipping the canoe or kayak into one of Arizona's lakes for a quiet day of fishing or it's just to enjoy some time on the water, studies show the number of people reaching for a paddle and heading outdoors is increasing. Paddlesport activities, including canoeing, kayaking, inflatable rafting and standup paddleboards, are gaining in popularity nationally. In 2014, about 21.7 million people enjoyed the sport nationally – an increase of more than 3 million people since 2010, a... Full story
Arizona's endangered black-footed ferret population celebrated the 20th anniversary of its reintroduction to Arizona with the release of more animals into a new privately owned reintroduction area. Through a new Safe Harbor Agreement, the Double O Ranch outside of Seligman yesterday became the third reintroduction site in Arizona. Safe Harbor Agreement 'This release was made possible by a Safe Harbor Agreement, a newer conservation option that aims to enlist the help of non-federal landowners to... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) partnered this summer with Northern Arizona University (NAU) to release two male and one female narrow-headed gartersnakes into a newly created wetland adjacent to the AZGFD Pinetop regional office. Narrow-headed gartersnakes are listed as a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The enclosed wetland was created, along with two new fish ponds, on the site of the original Pinetop Fish Hatchery that was built in the 1930s. Before the... Full story
People who live in or visit Arizona can expect to see many species of wildlife. More and more often though, wild animals are venturing into areas where people live. Sometimes the wildlife becomes a problem, either by hammering on the side of the house, digging a den under the front porch, or eating all of your brand new landscaping plants. You can usually enjoy wildlife watching from a distance, but sometimes wildlife encounters involve conflict. Preventing Problems Preventing problems with... Full story
(Morristown) – As the manager of more than 120,000 acres of pristine Sonoran Desert, the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department takes pride in having the resources to connect people with nature. Each year, more than 2.1 million people visit the County's regional park system and enjoy the many miles of trails, educational programs, and wide variety of park activities. Popular Park With more than 750,000 outdoor enthusiasts flocking to Lake Pleasant Regional Park annually, the lake is e... Full story
Whether you are an angler, a hunter, or an outdoors enthusiast, one of the treasures we share is the abundance of wildlife in the Southwest. From rainbow trout in the high country to majestic elk in the forest lands to the antelope on our open plains, to the perky Gambel quail, to the endearing little black-footed ferrets, these beings who share our world can certainly be considered precious residents of our outdoors. At Thanksgiving time, when many concentrate on expressing gratitude for the... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has transferred two bear cubs to Out of Africa Wildlife Park following an incident that resulted in an adult female bear's being killed. On an early September Sunday, Game and Fish received a call that an adult bear, unprovoked, charged an archery deer hunter from a distance of about 20 feet. The hunter shot the bear with a handgun at close range in self-defense. Department officers responded to the area where they discovered the bear's two cubs that were... Full story
Arizona's bald eagles continue to impress biologists with their upward growth trends and year-after-year breeding records. Key productivity records that were broken in 2016 include number of: breeding areas, occupied breeding areas, eggs laid, active breeding areas, successful breeding attempts and young hatched. All of these measures are important indicators of the species' health. The most notable: a record minimum of 93 bald eagle eggs were laid by a record 65 pairs of adult eagles with 78...
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking volunteers to assist with spotlighting efforts to help document the population of endangered black-footed ferrets in Aubrey Valley near Seligman. As part of the recovery effort, the department has scheduled one more fall spotlighting project - Oct. 13-17. The spotlighting method involves using high-powered lights to locate and identify black-footed ferrets. Their eyeshine is reflected by the spotlight and helps surveyors with identifying and... Full story
Whale entanglement is a growing problem. It's hard to assess the full extent, but a recent report estimated that 308,000 whales and dolphins die annually due to entanglement in fishing gear, and more still in marine debris. Entanglement can lead to drowning, laceration, infection and starvation. It also presents serious safety issues for those involved in disentangling the whales. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is working with a group of international experts to build a global... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department now is accepting online applications for 2017 hunt permit-tags issued through the draw process for spring turkey, javelina, bison and bear. To apply online, visit https://draw.azgfd.gov and scroll down to "Apply for a Draw." The deadline by which the department must receive all applications - online or paper - is 11:59 p.m. (MST) Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. Postmarks do not count. Paper applications can be mailed to: Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn.:... Full story
OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has lifted restrictions on most department-managed lands in eastern Washington, where cooler temperatures have reduced fire danger. Clay Sprague, WDFW land manager, said the department's action is consistent with changes in fire rules approved recently by the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which provides fire protection for many state wildlife areas. “These changes reflect an easing of fire danger in eastern W... Full story
OLYMPIA – The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission today took action to further protect redband rainbow trout at Lake Roosevelt, a Columbia River reservoir in northeast Washington. The commission voted to change the daily catch limit on trout at Lake Roosevelt and extend a closure in a section of the Sanpoil River during a trout spawning period. Redband trout are a subspecies of rainbow trout found in the Columbia River and its tributaries. The modifications were approved during a c... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has awarded $75,000 in grant funding for local sportsmen's organizations to provide public, hands-on, mentored projects focused on the retention of new hunters and anglers. Of 22 proposals submitted in this latest grant cycle, 16 were approved by a three-member panel that rated and scored the proposals. The grants were awarded through a competitive application process that closed July 14. "The Local Sportsmen's Group grant program is an investment in local... Full story
Congratulations to the recent inductees to the Outdoor Hall of Fame by Wildlife for Tomorrow, including some folks we know from Hunting And Angling Heritage Workshop Group (HAHWG) and other ventures. It’s great to see you recognized, and thank you for all you do. http://azgfd.net/artman/publish/NewsMedia/Conservationists-inducted-into-Arizona-Outdoor-Hall-of-Fame.shtml Richard Sprague, owner Sprague’s Sports in Yuma Jim Unmacht, president of the Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation htt... Full story
Contact Koleszar at elkhabitat@gmail.com to share your thoughts on this subject. For the past 20 years now, the conservation groups have been screaming about the land grabs and Endangered Species Act use by Envirolitigants that have curtailed activities in many areas of Arizona. The frivolous lawsuits and inundation of the United States Fish & Wildlife Service with new endangered species listings have effectively made groups like the Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of... Full story
Sometimes statistics are just too vast or vague to understand; however, here is some information from the ASPCA that we found that may put you in a tail spin. Why are there so many abandoned, neglected or relinquished pets in the United States? The American Humane Association estimates approximately 8 million animals enter shelters each year. Here are some other statistics: • Each year, about 3.7 million animals are euthanized (American Humane Association). • 5 in 10 dogs and 7 in 10 cats in... Full story
Lost Our Home Pet Foundation, Inc. was founded in 2008 as a grassroots response to the thousands of pets in need as a result of the economic downturn in general, and the Phoenix-area foreclosure crisis in particular. The economic crisis has consequences for the state's homeowners and workers, but it also has consequences-sometimes fatal-for the thousands of dogs and cats that are so often abandoned, relinquished to area shelters, or underfed. LOH is the only organization in the Valley dedicated... Full story
Tip Of The Week For our desert lakes, predatory fish activity will be building toward a fall-time frenzy. Bass in particular will feed heavily to prepare for winter conditions. For anglers, that means now is the best time to hook into actively feeding bass. The Reel Deal The first hints of fall means fishing is about to bust loose. Nights are getting noticeably cooler, putting bass in the mood to chase reaction baits and trigger some of the best high-country trout fishing of the year. Remember:... Full story
