Honor your fellow conservationists at the Commission Awards Banquet

There are still tickets available for the Arizona Game and Fish Commission’s Annual Awards Banquet on Saturday, Jan. 17 at the Four Points by Sheraton Phoenix North, 10220 N. Metro Parkway East in Phoenix.

The banquet recognizes individuals and organizations that have contributed to Arizona’s wildlife resources and the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The event begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and presentation of the commission awards.

This year’s award recipients include:

Award of Excellence – Senator Linda Gray, Clyde Halstead, John Wintersteen, Chandler Rod and Gun Club, Off-Highway Vehicle Legislative Work Group, United Arizona Anglers Foundation.

Youth Environmentalist of the Year – Arizona Envirothon State Champions (Clint Hales, Zach Hare, Natalie Lucas, Michelle Scmoker and Rachel Stringer, all at Sinagua High School).

Outdoor Writer of the Year – J.C. Amberlyn.

Media of the Year – Arizona Boating and Watersports.

Conservation Organization of the Year – Phoenix Zoo.

Conservationist of the Year – Marty Underwood.

Environmentalist of the Year – Warner Glenn.

Volunteers of the Year – Steve Hopkins, Dave Hoyle.

Educator of the Year – Debi Molina-Walters.

License Dealer of the Year – Sportsman’s Warehouse.

Outdoor Woman of the Year – Betty Mason.

Wildlife Habitat Stewardship Award – Peggy Ingham

Individual tickets are $50. Tables of 10 are $470 - a discount of $30. To obtain a reservation form, contact Marty Fabritz at (623) 236-7281 or visit www.azgfd.gov/inside_azgfd/commission_awards.shtml

From AZGFD:

Meet the Arizona Game and Fish Commission at January meeting

You’ll have a chance to meet the members of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission and provide your input on the department’s activities and priorities when the commission holds its annual “Meet the Commission” event on Saturday, Jan. 17. The public is highly encouraged to attend.

The meeting will be held at the department’s headquarters at 5000 W. Carefree Highway in Phoenix. The chairman’s welcome and commissioner introductions start at 1:30 p.m., followed by a presentation of the “Year in Review” video and then a question-and-answer session.

“Every year, we hold this event to give our customers a chance to get to know the Arizona Game and Fish commissioners who make the decisions that affect them,” says department Ombudsman Marty Fabritz. “Each commissioner will make a statement, and then, the public can ask questions and give comments about what’s important to them.”

Later that evening, the Commission Awards Banquet will be held Saturday evening at the Four Points by Sheraton Phoenix North, 10220 N. Metro Parkway East in Phoenix. Reservation and ticket price information is included in the Commission Award Banquet article in this issue.

On Friday, Jan. 16, the commission will hold its regularly scheduled meeting at the department headquarters, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix. The meeting starts at 8 a.m. with an executive session, followed by the public session. Items on the agenda include:

A presentation to the commission on the status and recent activities associated with the department’s “Areas of Conservation Priority” and future geographic information system (GIS) mapping efforts.

A presentation to the commission on potential future mechanisms for incorporating wildlife habitat protection measures into local and state land use planning processes.

A presentation to the commission on the process required to legally name the hills on the Ben Avery Shooting Facility as a topographical feature.

Hearings on license revocations for violation of Game and Fish codes and civil assessments for the illegal taking and/or possession of wildlife.

A vote to elect a commission chair, vice-chair, and chairs of various standing committees for 2009.
For a complete agenda, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission and click on the commission agenda link.

My mom sent me this e-mail. It was a Fwd/fwd/fwd/fwd so I can’t verify the authenticity of either the story or the photos. Don’t know who the guy is, don’t know where he or his moose are…

HERE’S A GREAT MOOSE STORY—AND A GOOD START 4 CHRISTMAS!

When this little guy was young; he lost his mother too soon.

So the Fish and Game brought him to Wendall and Debbie They asked them to get him raised to a safe age to turn him loose again. So they bottle fed and took care of him; after a while they fed him with their cows.

So last Spring he was a year old .. And it was time to turn him back into the wild. They opened the gate and off he went.

Stayed gone all summer; then this fall he was back with the cows. He really thinks he is a cow for now all was happy to see him as he is pretty friendly.

He loves honey buns and will eat them right out of your mouth. Wendall and Debbie live right up in the mountains so it came time to bring the cows down.

Well the moose was lonely all by himself so he headed down to find another herd of cows to hang with.

The neighbors called about a week later and asked Wendall to please come and get his Moose. So he headed out with a honey bun, bucket of grain and the horse trailer and brought him back home.

The moose is free to go anytime he wants but is choosing to stay put for now. Surely, come spring he will start to feel a bit like a male Moose and take off ; but, for now he is happy.

Merry Christmoose!

Wildlife Pro Network To Host Live Podcast: Night Predator Hunting & Calling

Nick Pallo was involved in a tragic accidental shooting while conducting a night fox hunt on Dec 17, 2008. In short he needs extensive surgeries and most of all a chance to regain eyesight in his left eye.

The Wildlife Pro Network is doing a benefit Auction Online. Any vendors who want visibility for their products are encouraged to make a donation and allow us to auction off your item, presently we have 17 items for sale that may interest anyone here. The auction will start Sunday at 12 Pm and run through Jan 11, 2009. You can view what we already have on hand now at the auction site at http://www.wildlifepro.net/group/wpnauctiontobenefitnickpallo

On Sunday, January 4th, at 8pm EST, The Wildlife Pro Network will again host its Live PodCast called Night Predator Hunting & Calling.

The PodCast can be heard at http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/16456/ and you can join in by calling 386-454-7474 and entering the pin “1 #”.

Nick Pallo, will have a chance to explain his story in his own words and talk about how the accident affected him, surgeries he expects to have in the next few months, and get an update on the efforts made and amounts raised to date.Nick will also take part in the main show.

Brent Saxton of Kees Productions and Ron Jones of Redneck Pride, Calls & Scents. are two well spoken speakers in the trapping & game calling industry and always put on a well informative show. They will join in on Nick on Night Hunting safety and cover all topics related to Hunter Safety,the proper use of calling techniques and the use of scents.The show will last from 8 PM-10:00 PM and is definitely a show not want to be missed. Sponsors: Kees Productions , Rednecks Pride Call and Scents, & Skinny Moose Media.

[So far I have raised $803.33 for Nick pallo and have a goal of $5000 by 12 PM, Jan 11, 2009]

Robb Russell
www.wildlifepro.net

Early last summer, Vince Kite over at Alpine Archery was generous enough to send me a whole bunch of product to review and use in my bow project. As mentioned, I got the OK from Vince to have a friend review the rest that they sent. Dan Clark was kind enough to do so. Dan is a great writer anyway and coincidentally - in need of a rest. Great job, Dan - thanks!

Product Review - Alpine Whisperflite Match Grade Fall Away Rest

Back in mid-May, my good friend Marshall (aka Desert Rat) offered me an Alpine Whisperflite Match Grade Fall Away Rest. He told me Vince Kite over at Alpine Archery had given it to him. Marshall offered to give it to me, providing one small detail. I had to write a review about it!

After about 2-1/2 seconds to think it over, I agreed, and promised Marshall I’d have it to him by mid-August. Well, yeah, I’m a bit tardy, but I’ll spare the excuses why and get on with the review.

Being a relative new-comer to archery hunting (3 years this month), I was a bit apprehensive to write any product review on archery equipment. After all, I’m just your average Joe archer and not Randy Ulmer. My apprehensions went out the window after the rest arrived, and before I finished opening the packaging, I could tell the Alpine Whisperflite was a “real deal” rest. The class III hard coat copper brown finish of the mounting bracket immediately drew me to its stylishly handsome appearance. Good looks don’t always mean much and I was eager to get it mounted and put it to the field test, so I took my bow and the new Alpine Whisperflite to John Decker, down at Bull Basin Archery in Flagstaff, Arizona.

When I explained why I was there, John was more than eager to mount the new rest for me. I wanted it perfect and knew he could do that for me. While there, I also had him install a new string and loop, but - that’s another story for another day. In no time at all, John had me out the door and on my way home. (With treatment like that, I should offer to do reviews more often! )

I spent most of the day today (12/31/08) shooting the new Whisperflite rest. I juggled with the “newness” at first, but after a few 5-shot groups, I quickly became accustomed to it. I only had to make one micro-adjustment to the windage of my sights, but after that, it was smooth sailing.

I found the rest to be impeccably quiet, extremely responsive, and very reliable. It didn’t take me long to realize just how packed with quality features it really is, and with features typically found on more expensive fall away rests. The Whisperflite utilizes sealed ball-bearings, offers buss or cable slide pull capabilities, sports a built in arrow holder on the launcher, independent windage / vertical adjustments, and universal mounting holes for a perfect fitment on any of today’s modern compound risers.

After spending the better part of today shooting, I must give the Whisperflite rest a “two thumbs up”. For a quality fall away rest under $55, I doubt you’ll find one that exceeds the Alpine Whisperflite in performance and features. While I’ve only owned one bow in my 3 years of archery hunting, the Whisperflite is my third rest. I have to say, if Alpine’s bows are half as great as their Whisperflite rest is, I may just go down and shoot a few. Never know, I just might be an Alpine Pro Staffer someday. LOL…

Good luck - and Happy Trails!

Dan Clark

I think this is a great idea. I’m curious as to how many people take advantage of this. Any tool that enables us to expose more people to hunting is to be applauded. Well done to AZGFD.

New Apprentice Hunting License offers a “test drive” at no cost

License encourages sportsmen to mentor others, assist hunter recruitment effort in Arizona

Effective Jan. 1, the Arizona Game and Fish Department is offering a new “Apprentice Hunting License,” at no charge, to encourage existing hunters to become mentors and introduce a friend, neighbor, relative, or co-worker to the traditions and importance of hunting.

The Apprentice License allows an already licensed hunter to take a beginner on an actual hunt—without the beginner having to buy a hunting license. The Apprentice License is free for residents and nonresidents and is valid for two consecutive days for the take of small game, fur-bearing, predatory and nongame mammals, nongame birds, and upland game birds. (To take migratory birds or waterfowl, the appropriate stamps are required at normal costs). The license is not valid for the take of big game.

Many people express an interest in hunting but are deterred either because of not knowing how to get started or the initial expense. The Apprentice Hunting License removes the initial cost barrier of having to buy a license (which costs between $26.50 and $151.25, depending on age and residency), so that newcomers can “try before they buy.”

“This will allow a seasoned hunter to take someone new under their wing and teach them the basics about hunting, firearm safety, and wildlife conservation without cost prohibitive burdens,” said Chairman Bill McLean of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. “There are many states with this type of license, and it has become a model for removing barriers in the national effort to increase hunter participation.”

The Apprentice Hunting License is only available at Arizona Game and Fish Department offices. The mentor must be at least 18 years old and possess a valid hunting license and is limited to two Apprentice Hunting Licenses per calendar year. The license must be made out to the name of the apprentice, with the mentor’s name associated with the license. The apprentice can only receive one license per calendar year. The mentor is required to be with the apprentice at all times while in the field, providing instruction and supervision on safe and ethical hunting.

“This is a great opportunity to help preserve and expand Arizona’s hunting heritage and wildlife management through the next generation,” said Craig McMullen, Hunter Heritage Work Group team leader for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “Not only will this allow someone new to experience the thrill of the hunt, this also allows mentors to teach others about wildlife conservation and the important role that hunters, as conservationists play, in the management of all wildlife.”

“Outside of getting new hunters in the field, safety is our number one concern. Hunting in Arizona is very safe, and we have one of the lowest accident rates in the United States,” said Dave Williams, hunter education coordinator of the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “A good mentor will instill the basics of wearing hunter orange and how to safely handle a firearm through T.A.B.+1: Treat every firearm as if it were loaded; Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction; Be sure of your target and beyond; and keep your finger outside of the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot. Nearly every hunting-related accident can be avoided by following these simple principles”

However, with the added flexibility comes added responsibility. Mentors need to set a good example to these impressionable new comers. Mentors should consider the following guidelines:

Focus on the experience not the harvest
Obey all laws
Keep your apprentices physical limits in mind
Be informative
Teach field dressing and cooking
Take pictures

Plan a follow-up outing

Seasoned hunters can start the New Year giving. By introducing someone new to hunting, you are giving the gift of the American hunting heritage. Quail season runs until Feb. 8, 2009, cottontail rabbit season runs all year long and the both make excellent quarry (as well as, great table fare) for new hunters. A 2009 hunting license is required beginning Jan. 1, 2009.

Visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department self-paced online hunter education course to learn more about hunting safely, hunting ethically, the history of hunting, wildlife management success stories, firearm safety, and more at: www.hunter-ed.com/az.

Well, anybody who knows me knows that I’m not a very good hunter. Out of all the critters though, I think I’m best at not being good at hunting javelina. I think this is season number 4 or 5. Thus far, no success. Now granted, I have limited myself to archery, and units close to home.

Don’t get me wrong - I can show you where to hunt them, and chances are you’ll be successful. I can tell other people about their traits and habits, and am pretty good at spotting and reading sign. I can find them when it isn’t pig season. When I head afield with bow and tag in hand, though - *poof* - they are gone.

Doesn’t decrease my enjoyment any, though. I love getting out there. I’m always learning, always finding something new, always enjoying the sights,smells and sounds of the desert. Friends say “Don’t worry - this will be your year!” Know what though? I don’t really care. If I get one good, if I don’t - oh well. My daughter has her first tag this year - it would be awesome if she got one though!

So, here I sit, on January 1st - swilling coffee, blogging, catching up on honey-do’s. My tag is good from today until the 22nd. Normally I would be out today, but as they say - life happens. I’m in between bows - I want to use my new one, but I’m not done sighting it in. That is my plan for this afternoon. If I run into problems, I’ll have to utilize my old bow. It’s good to go.

I get asked a lot about the meat. I can’t say if I like it, as - I have never gotten one (see above). If/when I do - chorizo or summer sausage seems to be the way to go. I’ll keep you posted.

I posted recently about the OHV decal requirement which goes into effect today (January 1st).

By reading the message boards, there seems to be some confusion about how to get your decal. Turns out you can order it online by going HERE.

It is my understanding that if you print your receipt, that should suffice until your decal arrives.

From the Leupold website:

Counterfeit Leupold Riflescope Warning

Leupold® is issuing a customer alert to purchasers of products, particularly via Internet sales, in regards to bogus Leupold products that are apparently being illegally imported from the People’s Republic of China. These products bear many of the marks and trade dress of current Leupold & Stevens riflescopes making them very hard to distinguish externally from authentic Leupold products.

In recent months, counterfeited Leupold Mark 4® riflescopes have begun to arrive with increasing regularity at the firm’s Beaverton, Oregon, headquarters for service. These products are not manufactured by Leupold and are not covered by the Leupold Full Lifetime Guarantee.

Leupold employs serial number tracking for all its riflescopes, so if a customer finds a scope that is suspect, he or she can simply write down the serial number and call 1-800-LEUPOLD to confirm if it is indeed authentic.

In general, most of the scopes appear to originate from Hong Kong (People’s Republic of China), and have “Leupold Mark 4” laser engraved on the bottom of the turret in a silver etch, while the black ring on the objective is etched in white and does not include the name “Leupold.” The scopes also do not bear the Leupold medallion, a mark all Leupold scopes will always possess. An authentic Mark 4 riflescope will always be engraved black on black and have the name “Leupold” engraved on the black ring.

Identifying Marks

* Adjustments
* Objective
* Bottom of Turret

For more info visit the site.

I found this interesting article on a new camo pattern that is being developed by W.L. Gore and Associates. This pattern, known as Optifade, utilizes military technology, along with the science associated with deer’s vision. Very interesting indeed. Some snippets:

The Optifade camouflage pattern, created by W.L. Gore & Associates (the makers of Gore-Tex fabric), represents a break from the colored leaf patterns you see on stereotypical camo clothing. In fact, it looks a lot like the mostly monochromatic blocks-and-dots now used on military duds. That’s no mistake: One of the advisers on the Optifade project was retired Lt. Col. Tim O’Neill, whom some regard as the father of modern-day military camouflage.

The design includes a big, blocky “macro pattern” that is meant to make the human form hard to spot when it’s on the move (just as a tiger’s stripes break up its outline). There’s also a smaller-scale “micro pattern” that helps hunters blend into their environment when they’re waiting to ambush a deer (similar to the function served by a leopard’s spots).

But that’s not all: The fabric’s colors and patterns were fine-tuned to take advantage of the particular way deer and other hoofed animals (known as ungulates) process visual information. Jay Neitz, an animal vision scientist at the Medical College of Wisconsin, was called in to lend his expertise.

The Optifade pattern is specifically designed to fool a deer’s lower-resolution eye, Neitz said. And the color scheme does away with the usual forest green and brown. Instead, it emphasizes blue, black, white and gray - because those colors, plus yellow, are the only ones that a deer sees.

The eyes of a deer have the receptors for blue and yellow, but not for red, Neitz explained. As far as they’re concerned, red is just another shade of gray.

Visit the links above for videos and photos of the products, along with more information.

You may recall me writing that my daughter and I took a Hunter’s Ed class in September. You may also have seen the fantastic blog article that my daughter wrote about a trip afield we had together. That was in October.

November found my daughter grinning like a Cheshire cat when we purchased her first hunting license. We had managed to miss the spring draw; we then put in for leftover tags which were returned because we sent them in too early. We re-sent them and subsequently, we both drew tags. Early December had my daughter squealing with delight as she opened her mail and held her first official big game tag in her hand! Christmas was a big deal too - she received some camo, some targets, a shooting monopod, and a .223 rifle that fit her much better than Dad’s rifles.

Her javelina hunt is in late January, so she’s psyched for sure. Now I’m a terrible hunter; I know lots about hunting, I love to write about hunting. The proof is in the pudding though, and that’s where I falter. This is good in a way though. Most great hunters that I know agree that game on the ground is not the measure of a successful hunt. Rather, spending time with friends and/or family, enjoying the great outdoors, and the tremendous variety of sights, sounds and smells that this state has to offer. Every time I hit the field I learn something. I see something interesting. I discover something new. That’s what it is about for me.

That all being said, I really hope the kid gets a big ol pig - then she’ll be hooked for life! We’ll see…