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, and 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 below that we think you might find interesting. To learn about other opportunities or to submit information about a project that would benefit from our volunteers, check our volunteer page.

June 24-25
Boquillas Ranch cleanup, northwestern Arizona
Help clean up trash and other debris in an area that hosts some premier wildlife habitat. This project is part of the department’s Adopt-A-Ranch program. Meet at Pica Ranch headquarters at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 24. Trash drop-off is at ranch headquarters at 5 p.m. Saturday, followed by a free dinner and campout at Pine Canyon (10 miles north of Pica Camp on Roades Canyon Road). There will be a sausage and biscuit breakfast Sunday morning. Dinner and breakfast are sponsored by the Mohave Sportsman Club and the Arizona Deer Association. This is a good outing for kids and offers great wildlife viewing opportunities. RSVP to Don Martin at awoguide@ctaz.com or (928) 681-4867, or Arizona Game and Fish Department Volunteer Coordinator Sandy Reith at (623) 236-7680.

Ongoing project: habitat restoration for pronghorn and grassland birds
Volunteers will be using loppers and hand saws to thin juniper south of Mormon Lake at Mud Lake, on Forest Road 82 (Kinnikinick Lake Road). Dates are June 17, July 22, Aug. 19, Sept. 23, Oct. 14, all at 8:30 a.m. Contact Arizona Game and Fish Department Volunteer Coordinator Sandy Reith at (623) 236-7680.

Ongoing project: 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. Contact Arizona Game and Fish Department Volunteer Coordinator Sandy Reith at (623) 236-7680.