LONG-TERM STAYS NOW AVAILABLE TO THE SHOOTING PUBLIC

Make your Reservation Online …or contact our Main Range Office at (623) 582.8313

**The monthly purchase of a BASF Main-Range (MR) 10-Day Shooting Pass for $70.00 is also required
(Allows 11-Daily Range Entry Fees = $77.00 VALUE at any BASF public firearm or archery range)

NEW BASF MAIN-RANGE SHOOTING OPPORTUNITIES:

• Your stay includes an introduction to the shooting sports of Archery or Air Gun in our newly renovated Indoor Range Facility – NEW SHOOTERS WELCOME!!

• Free Monthly Shooting Clinics Offered – Both Archery and Air Rifle & Pistol Shooting – Loaner Equipment Available for those attending the clinic and to use afterwards

• AZ Game and Fish Department OUTDOOR EXPO – Experience the Weekend March 27-28, 2010

NOTE: Weekly and Monthly Campground rates are offered year-round except during the following Major Events hosted at the BASF facility. During these events, Campsites must be vacated but displaced campers can be accommodated in other Dry-site camp locations throughout the facility. Shooters Campground Sites for these special events are booked 18-24 months in advance and take priority.

Major Events scheduled during 2010 are:

• National Muzzleloaders Association Match February 10 -15
• Winter Range – Cowboy Action Shooters Event February 20 – March 2
• CMP/Creedmoor National High Power Match  October 16 – 24

Make your Reservation Online …or contact our Main Range Office at (623) 582.8313

Step off the range and into the field and expand your archery skills in judging distances, terrain, and identifying the target zone on a variety of life-sized 3-D targets in a natural desert setting.

All ages and skill levels are welcome, so bring the entire family out to the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in north Phoenix to enjoy some cool fresh air and the Sonoran landscape. The 20-target course will add a new dimension to your archery skills.

“The course uses life-like animal targets (elk, turkey, bear, deer, etc.) set in the desert landscape and it makes for a fun and challenging shoot,” said Mike Raum, bowhunter education coordinator for Arizona Game and Fish. “On 3-D courses the distances are not marked. Targets could be on a hill or in a valley, and the scoring area varies on each target, much different from the target range. It’s a lot of fun.”

There are three shoots available this fall. No registration is required and the cost is minimal. For participants 17 and younger the course fee is only $3. The cost is $12 (includes $7 range fee) for shooters 18 and older. The scheduled shoots are:

• Saturday, Oct. 31, open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 14, open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Saturday, Dec 19, open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Additionally, the course is open to all Arizona Archery in the Schools shooters as part of the 3-D Regional Shoot. For Archery in the Schools 3-D information, please contact Tanja Washburn at (623) 236-7233 or twashburn@azgfd.gov

The Ben Avery Shooting Facility is located on the northwest corner of I-17 and Carefree Highway. Archers can enter the range at Archery Drive, which is the first light on Carefree Highway about 1.25 miles west of I-17. For a facility brochure and site map, visit www.azgfd.gov/basf.

To learn more about the outdoor programs like watchable wildlife, environmental education, fishing, shooting sports, hunting and others offered by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, visit www.azgfd.gov/getoutside.

Looking for a great activity the whole family can learn and enjoy?

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is offering a Family Archery Program at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix beginning Oct. 12. This introductory program is designed to give families a hands-on experience to learn more about archery and possibly start a new family tradition.

The program focuses on three specific archery disciplines: target, field, and 3D archery. Each participant is taught range rules, bow and arrow safety and handling, correct form and stance, and scoring for the different discipline venues.

The three-session program will be held:

• Oct. 31
• Nov. 7
• Nov. 14

Aall Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The first session is mandatory and pre-registration is required. Participants must be 8 years of age or older.

The cost for the entire program is $40 for individuals, $45 for teams (at least one child and one adult), and $50 for families (at least one child and two adults). Equipment will be provided, however archers may bring their own equipment.

The Ben Avery Shooting Facility is located along Carefree Highway just west of the I-17 in Phoenix.

To pre-register for this event, please contact Brett Moser at (623) 582-8313 or e-mail bmoser@azgfd.gov.

Recreational shooters are reminded that the Ben Avery Shooting Facility is operating on winter business hours as of Oct. 15.

In addition, shooters arriving near closing time are required to check-in 30 minutes before closing time to allow shooters and archers ample range time. Arriving with less than 30 minutes could leave customers in the middle of a cease-fire offering little to no opportunity to shoot.

Ben Avery Shooting Facility winter business hours are:

• Monday – CLOSED
• Tuesday – CLOSED
• Wednesday – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (7:30 p.m. last check-in time)
• Thursday – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (7:30 p.m. last check-in time)
• Friday – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (2:30 p.m. last check-in time)
• Saturday – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (7:30 p.m. last check-in time)
• Sunday – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (2:30 p.m. last check-in time)

Winter hours are in effect until May 14, 2010.

To learn more about the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, shooting programs offered, upcoming events and location, visit www.azgfd.gov/basf.

PHOENIX — If the recent NRA convention in Phoenix got your American spirits pumping, or you just recently bought a new firearm to replace that old hand-me-down, then now is the time to join one of the summer recreational shooting leagues at the renowned Ben Avery Shooting Facility.

Beginning in June and running for eight weeks, these three leagues are designed to introduce recreational shooters to organized shooting that will expand and improve your marksmanship skills. The disciplines are bull’s-eye pistol, international-style archery and off-hand air gun. Both the pistol and archery leagues will be outdoors under stadium lighting, with the air gun league housed under the recently renovated indoor air gun range.

“All three of our leagues offer participants a safe and recreational atmosphere to improve their shooting skills,” said Marty Herrera, manager of the Ben Avery Shooting Facility. “Our leagues are run by our certified Range Safety Officers who have experience and knowledge in a variety disciplines and organized shooting.”

Bull’s-eye pistol league:
The bull’s-eye pistol league is for shooters ages 14 or older. Each night consists of four components: a slow-fire, timed-fire, rapid-fire, and a national match component. The four components collectively make up a 900-point match in which participants may shoot one or more of the components. The league meets every Tuesday night from June 9 to July 28 at the Small Bore Range. Shooting begins promptly at 6:30 p.m. Participants are encouraged to use their own firearm and ammunition (rimfire or centerfire) and either revolvers or semi-automatics are permitted. The range has a limited supply of loaner .22 caliber firearms and ammunition available on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost is $24 for each single component or $80 for all four components. Pre-registration is required, contact Christopher Dean at cdean@azgfd.govor (623) 582-8313.

International-style archery leagues:
The international-style archery league offers brackets for youth ages 8-17, men and women. FITA style targets will consist of a 3-spot or single 40 cm target face at 20 yards or an 80 cm target at 10 yards for the youth. The league meets every Wednesday night from June 10 to July 29 at the FITA Range with an awards banquet on Aug. 5. Start time is at 7 p.m. Loaner bows (introductory style) are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Individual costs are $60 for adults and $30 for youth. Family shooters receive a discount. Pre-registration is required, contact Mike Raum at mraum@azgfd.govor (623) 582-8313.

Off-hand air gun leagues:
The off-hand air gun league is for shooters looking to have fun and learn about one of the fastest growing forms of shooting sports competition. Each match includes 300-points consisting of three relays of 10 shots from 10 meters in 20 minutes. The league meets every Thursday evening from June 11 to July 30 at the Air Gun Range. Shooting starting promptly at 6:30 p.m. The range is restricted to a velocity of 600 fps (feet per second) or less. Loaner air guns and pellets are available on a limited and first-come, first-served basis. Adaptive equipment may be available for disabled shooters, but please include any equipment needed during pre-registration. The cost is $60 for adults and $30 for youth 17 and under. Pre-registration is required, contact Matt Schwartzkopf at mschwartzkopf@azgfd.govor (623) 236-7076.

The Ben Avery Shooting Facility is on the northwest corner of I-17 and Carefree Highway in north Phoenix, approximately 10 minutes north of Loop 101. Located on 1,650 acres, it is one of the largest government-operated recreational shooting complexes in the world. It averages more than 120,000 shooters per year and is home to a number of regional- and national-class competitions and other major events. Offering a wide array of target-shooting opportunities, the facility has 67 covered stations at the main range (all handicap accessible), and more than 25 additional rifle, pistol, and archery ranges for recreational and competitive shooting. The Clay Target Center offers 18-lighted trap/skeet overlay fields and two sporting clays courses.

The summer hours are Wednesday and Thursday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., then 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. The range is closed Monday and Tuesday.

To learn more about shooting sports and the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, visit www.azgfd.gov/basf.

The Arizona Game and Fish Ben Avery Shooting Facility is located at Carefree Highway and Interstate 17 just north of Phoenix, Arizona. The first Cowboy Action Shooting competition featuring mounted-shooting was held on March 28. The Western Riders on Horseback organization used single-action revolvers with blanks while riding on horseback. Competitors are required to wear western attire.

The arena was build with $50,000 raised by the Ben Avery Mounted Shooting Development group and volunteer labor.

Video of Cowboy Mounted Shooting:

Check out the below 2 links for additional information:

• Article about mounted-shooting from AZCentral
• Ben Avery Shooting Facility including classes and events info.

PHOENIX — After hearing this news, Ralphie, the 8-year-old boy from the movie A Christmas Story, would be grabbing his trusty Red Rider BB gun and fixing his sights on the Ben Avery Shooting Facility’s Air Gun Range – and he won’t have to worry about shooting his eye out.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Ben Avery Shooting Facility has made extensive improvements to its Air Gun Range. Now fully paved and well lighted, the 42-position indoor range offers temperature control for yearlong shooting. All shooting lanes are freshly painted and identified, as are both the yellow and red firing lines. There is a raised platform booth for the range master with a full PA system for conducting safe shoots. There are plans for stadium seating in the near future.

Air gun shooting is one of the fastest-growing shooting sports in America, and competitive shooting can lead to college scholarships or even a chance at Olympic competition. While these accomplishments may be the cream of the crop, other lessons learned from target shooting include humility, accountability, honor, integrity, commitment, teamwork, self-confidence, problem-solving skills, and many other positive personal character developments important to becoming a good citizen.

To celebrate, the Arizona Game and Fish Department is hosting a Grand Opening Fun 3-Position Cup Match for both sporter-class and precision-class shooters. The event will take place at 8 a.m on Friday, March 27, the day before the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Outdoor Expo. Although there will be experienced 3-position shooters participating, this is a great opportunity to see what this safe and fun shooting sport is all about. And, if you don’t have an air gun to shoot, don’t worry, the range has loaner guns available. There is no cost to enter, but preregistration is recommended.

In addition, if you find you have the “shooters bug” like Ralphie, with no plans this summer, look no further. There is an evening summer league starting in June for shooters ages 8 and over with skill levels of beginner to veteran. Registration is $30 for junior shooters and $40 for adults, and loaner guns are available for newcomers. Families receive a discount and will benefit in sharing a common interest. A single adult with one or more junior shooters pays only $20 per junior shooter. Two adults with one or more junior shooters pay only $15 per junior shooter. The adult pays the regular $40 fee.

To register for either event, call the Ben Avery Shooting Facility at (623) 582-8313.

The range is restricted to air guns shooting 600 feet per second or less only. All shoots, leagues and instruction will follow the National 3-Positions Air Rifle Council rules and regulations. To learn more about 3-position air gun rules, visit www.odcmp.com/3P/Rules.pdf.

The Air Gun Range is located at the east end of the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, located on Carefree Highway, ¼ mile west of Interstate 17 in Phoenix. For more information, visit www.azgfd.gov/basf.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Outdoor Expo offers an extensive amount of hands-on shooting activities, including old west style cowboy action shooting, youth .22 and air gun shooting, to black powder muzzle loaders, and the opportunity to try out the latest in firearms from well known manufacturers like Smith and Wesson, GLOCK, Ruger and more. Open March 28-29 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, the free event caters to families of all ages interested in the outdoors. For more information, visit www.azgfd.gov/expo.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission (Commission) will be provided a presentation on the Northern Arizona Regional Shooting Facility (NARSF) including the current issues, planning efforts and pending decisions on the proposed Willard Springs land exchange at its March 2009 meeting. If you are interested in providing public input on the proposed NARSF, you are encouraged to attend the upcoming Commission meeting on Saturday, March 7 at the Department’s Phoenix headquarters. Live video-conferencing will also be made available at all Game and Fish Regional Offices, including Flagstaff, to provide additional public participation opportunities for those that can’t travel to Phoenix.

During the presentation, the Arizona Game and Fish Department will brief the Commission on past significant events, Commission objectives and direction relating to the NARSF, how it has evolved, and the latest developments relating to the proposed Willard Springs Land Exchange. The presentation will also include an overview of how the National Environmental Policy Act process functions. The public will have the opportunity to comment on this item. The Commission may vote to take action on or provide the Department direction on items covered in the update. The complete March 6 and 7, 2009 Commission Agenda is available at http://www.azgfd.gov/inside_azgfd/meeting_agenda.shtml .

Meeting location information:

According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, firearms sales in the nation jumped 28.8 percent in January, for a variety of reasons.

In addition, Winchester previously announced that ammunition sales were up 18 percent in the last quarter of 2008 compared to the previous year.

According to CNNMoney.com recently, there was an 11-percent increase during January of single-day campground reservations over last year, indicating outdoor recreation remains hugely popular even in this economy.

At the recent SHOT Show in Florida, which is the annual retail trade show for those in the outdoor industry, attendance increased 3 percent this year.

“Yes, economic times are tough and it’s obvious that lots of people are facing financial hardships. But lots of folks also respond to such challenging times by realizing the things that matter most to them – family, friends and the outdoors – can be enjoyed without a big hit on the family budget,” said Gary Hovatter, deputy director for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Hovatter said the department remains optimistic about the public’s participation in upcoming national shooting events and regional outdoor shows on the immediate horizon in Arizona.

“These are all fun and exciting outdoor events for families and individuals that don’t challenge the wallet or purse,” Hovatter said. “Plus, with the fact that we are experiencing back-to-back years of excellent winter precipitation, the prognosis couldn’t be better for enhanced wildlife-related recreation opportunities in Arizona this year from hunting and fishing to wildlife watching and camping.”

The upcoming parade of popular shooting events, outdoor shows include and nature festivals include:

• Winter Range, the crowd-pleasing national championship for cowboy action shooting, is unfolding Feb. 25-March 1 at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility;
• The ever-popular International Sportsmen’s Exposition (ISE) is Feb. 27-March 1 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.
• The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Outdoor Expo that abounds with hands-on activities at the 1,700-acre Ben Avery Shooting Facility is set for March 28 and 29 (with a youth day for schools on March 27).
• Tres Rios Nature and Earth Festival, which is a wildlife-watchers delight, is March 7-8 at the Game and Fish Department’s Base and Meridian Wildlife Area where Avondale Boulevard meets the Gila River.
• The Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival has become an annual spring celebration and is scheduled for April 23-26.

“Are most people willing to spend more during these challenging economic times? Probably not, but reconnecting with family outdoor traditions remains a great value, especially this year with the lakes filling and our diverse habitats greening up nicely,” Hovatter said.

Hovatter added that for most families, finding fishing tackle, binoculars, shootin’ irons, wildlife calls and camping equipment is mostly a matter of digging through garages and closets or calling friends and relatives.

Game and Fish officials added that there are opportunities for outdoor-related businesses and organizations to get on the bandwagon of these improved habitat times in the state and participate in the department’s upcoming outdoor expo in late March. Visit www.azgfd.gov/expo for more information.

PHOENIX – Get your coonskin caps, flintlock rifles, powder flasks and tomahawks ready for action or just come as you are to witness an historic bygone era when stalwart frontiersmen hunted with smoke-belching muzzleloaders or hand-carved bows and arrows.

The Western National Shoot for the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association is Feb. 11-16 at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Ben Avery Shooting Facility on Carefree Highway just off I-17.

But this is not just a national competition. It is also an historical, cultural and educational exchange the whole family can enjoy at the largest public firing range in the United States. Many of the contestants will be dressed in period clothing; so can you.

Competitors from around the country will engage in such crowd-pleasing events as pistol, hawk and knife, X-sticks, chunk guns, running boar, primitive matches, black power cartridge, and primitive archery. Tomahawk throwing skills will be put to the test.

There will also be a Traders Row where you can buy everything from fringed leather jackets and authentic Hawken rifles to mountain man stew and Navajo fry bread. You might even find some cannons for sale or possibly hand-carved Indian flutes.

And guess what, the event is free. But you can bring some trading wampum anyway for this winter rendezvous in the warm desert sunshine on the outskirts of Phoenix.

Contestants can even load their tepees or vintage cavalry tents into the old wagon and come camp out.

For those who would like more information, visit www.nmlra.org.

Hey Shooters,

A 3-D archery fun shoot will be held at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility’s archery range Saturday, Jan. 17 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This fun shoot is a 20-target course designed to be fun, exciting and challenging. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Additionally, the course is open to all Arizona Archery in the Schools shooters as part of the 3-D Regional Shoot.

No registration is required. The cost is $12 for shooters 18 and older and only $5 for those 17 and younger. For Archery in the Schools 3-D information, please contact Denise Raum at 623-236-7567 or draum@azgfd.gov

The Ben Avery Shooting Facility is located on the northwest corner of I-17 and Carefree Highway. Archers can enter the range at Archery Drive, which is the first light on Carefree Highway about 1.25 miles west of I-17. For hours and location, visit www.azgfd.gov/basf.