Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 4753
BOATING SEASON BEGINS - SAFETY STRESSED FOR ALL WATERCRAFT Whether you're on the water in a cabin cruiser, a luxury yacht, a houseboat, a fishing boat, a kayak, a canoe, or on a paddleboard, safety should and must be your prime concern. We've all heard it many times, "Just wear it", but don't let that advice become just a cliché for you. Here's why:U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that drowning was the reported cause of death in three out of every four recreational boating fatalities, and that... Full story
Over the years I've done many camp-outs and I'm always looking for easier ways to pack gear. The Camping Chuck Wagon Box is a great idea for those who do stop & drop camping as it is easy to make, transport and move around. It keeps your gear in one place and can be a real-life saver when camping. As usual I am a big fan of Inventory Lists which I suggest you keep on the inside of the door of the box in a plastic document sleeve with an extra blank paper for restocking, additions or updates. Her... Full story
Backpacking is always a great experience in one way or another. There are those times when it can get a little wet or dry, cold or hot or just downright “bug-annoying”. But for the most part it’s ALWAYS an adventure. How comfortable you are is about your gear and how well you pack, but over the years I have found that two things make for a really GOOD backpacking trip. Those two items are a good pillow to sleep on and good food. When I backpack, I don’t bring a lot of clothing. I prefer to fill... Full story
With the arrival of warmer spring weather, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) once again is advising the public to leave baby wildlife alone. While it might be difficult to resist the urge to help seemingly abandoned animals, including newly hatched birds and baby rabbits, a parent is likely nearby and will return once humans have left the area. Sadly, once young animals have been removed from the wild, some species -like elk calves and deer fawns - may have to be euthanized because... Full story
________________________________________ 'Buy Often, Win Big' Program Offers Incentives Conservation First USA is not only offering $10 raffle tickets for a chance to hunt big game in Arizona, but the group also is entering you into monthly drawings to win BONUS PRIZES. Yes, you read that right! One person will win April's bonus prize: a $500 gift card to SCHEELS. Do not miss this opportunity. Visit https://conservationfirstusa.org/product/arizona-special-big-game-tags to buy your raffle... Full story
Once again, hunters have stepped up in a big way in their financial support of wildlife conservation efforts across the state. The newly named "Copper State Draw" (formerly the "limited-entry permit-tag draw") offered hunters a chance to draw an additional elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and pronghorn permit-tag, while generating revenue that will bolster a variety of conservation programs funded through the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD). The monitoring and maintenance of wildlife... Full story
The North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will open on Thursday, May 15 at 6 a.m. to mark the official start of the 2025 season. Grand Canyon Lodge and Grand Canyon Trail Rides will also commence their 2025 seasonal operations on this date. Visitor services, including the campground, Grand Canyon Conservancy bookstore and the Backcountry Information Center will open at 8 a.m. Rangers will be available daily from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m. to provide information, trip planning assistance, and Park... Full story
What: Join us to build and place mossback safe haven fish habitat structures into Peña Blanca Lake on Saturday, May 10, 2025. We will meet at the boat ramp at 8:30 a.m. and will work until all the habitat is in place, or about 4 p.m. Why: This habitat project will add some much-needed structure to Pena Blanca Lake. Diverse bottom structure is a key component of a thriving warm water fishery. This structure will have numerous benefits for fish species in the lake, helping to improve sizes of... Full story
It's been a long time since the last Pirate Press -too long. However, I'm sure that you are as familiar with "senior issues" as I am: a plethora of doctors' appointments, an occasional fall and/or a broken hip, some kind of cancer or other health challenge. Yep. These "Golden Years" can be tough (and time-consuming). However, here we are sailing along in our mid-eighties and remembering so many good times during our own version of "Happy Days". I have been thinking of you and am anxious to hear... 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
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
9 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
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
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
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. I... 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
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 waterbody.... 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 check out... 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
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
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 f... 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
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
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 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
