Volunteer opportunities for hunters
By Sandy Reith, volunteer coordinator, Arizona Game and Fish Department

The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s volunteer program provides opportunities for volunteers to participate firsthand in managing Arizona’s wildlife resources. Our goal is to provide you with a congenial and cooperative atmosphere where you can build relationships with staff and other volunteers, as well as gain knowledge about Arizona wildlife and wildlife management. We recognize that your time is important and strive to provide rewarding and educational volunteer experiences.

We’ve listed some opportunities in which you may have an interest. To learn about other opportunities or to submit information about a project that would benefit from our volunteers, check our volunteer page at azgfd.gov/volunteer.

Perry Mesa Fence Modification, Oct. 20
This project will be held at Horseshoe Ranch north of Phoenix. Volunteers will be modifying a fence on the north end of Perry Mesa (movement corridor to the Cornstalk Flat area). The fence is currently a six-wire barbed fence with a bottom wire about 8 to 10 inches above the ground. The Bureau of Land Management and the Arizona Game and Fish Department will be supplying the materials. We will try to get a couple of miles done if we have enough volunteers. The Arizona Antelope Foundation is coordinating this project. The AAF will provide a free steak dinner to all volunteers on Saturday night. For more information, please visit www.azantelope.org or contact Scott Anderson at (480) 213-1611.

Volunteer Shotgun Instructors or Range Officers for Women’s Shooting Program
Volunteers will instruct women of all ages in the shotgun shooting sports as prescribed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Coaches will assist beginners in shotgun shooting form and skill. Range Safety Officers will watch over the range and ensure safety among all participants. Instructors will teach, and assist in teaching, or proctor the hour-long introductory class. Applicants must be at least 21 years old and participate in a free-of-charge Shotgun Instructor Certification process (2-day class). It is desirable, but not necessary, that instructors have shooting experience, basic knowledge of firearms and firearms safety, and some teaching/public speaking experience. Benefits to volunteers include free shooting at the main range and discounts at local sporting goods locations. The women’s shotgun shooting program will be held the first and third Thursday of each month from approximately 6:30-9 p.m. (exact times are yet to be determined and will be posted on the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Web site). The program will be held at the Ben Avery Clay Target Center; entrance is about 1/2 mile west of I-17 (Exit 223) on Carefree Highway. For more information, contact (623) 582-8313.

Range safety officers needed at Ben Avery Shooting Facility
Responsibilities include checking the safe condition of customer firearms, observing participants while they are shooting on the range, maintaining safe operation of the shooting line, and providing superior customer service by answering customer questions about firearms. Volunteers shoot for free at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, located just west of I-17 and Carefree Highway in north Phoenix. Contact Arizona Game and Fish Department Volunteer Coordinator at (623) 236-7680.