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.

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 and Nov. 14 (all 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.

Students, are you looking for fun, competition, and the chance to meet new friends and be part of a team?

The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s 2009-10 Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) season is ready to get underway, and students interested in learning about and competing in skeet, trap and sporting clays shotgun shooting are encouraged to find a club in their community.

The program is open to boys and girls from age 9 through 12th grades.

“Our SCTP is one of the best in the nation and we continue to see students become great athletes of clay target shooting through this team-based youth development program,” said Statewide Shooting Sports Coordinator, Ashley Lynch. “The mentoring, instruction, safety, and teamwork instilled by our certified coaches are second to none.”

The program is run similar to other youth-based athletics. The season runs from Oct 1, 2009 – May 1, 2010. Athletes can join at anytime depending on club availability. All of the SCTP clubs in Arizona are run 100 percent by volunteers. These dedicated volunteers are committed to teaching today’s youth to carry on the American tradition of shooting sports recreation.

“Shooting sports are an activity that any person with the desire can participate in. The structure of this program allows kids to have fun, compete, and learn safety and discipline skills,” said Lynch.

Currently, there were 20 active clubs across the state; below is a list by region with contact information to get you started.

Central region:
• Chandler area – Arizona Dust Devils (480) 628-9977
• North Phoenix – Ben Avery Clay Crushers (602) 920-5465
• Buckeye – Buckeye Buckshots (623) 869-9050
• Phantom / West Valley – Phantom Sure Shots (623) 925-9549
• East Valley – Rio Salado Target Terminators (480) 510-5604

Northern region:
• Cottonwood / Verde Valley – American Heritage Academy (enrollment to AHA students only)
• Prescott – Prescott (928) 636-4709
• Williams/Flagstaff – Williams Bird Busters (928) 635-4330
• Wickenburg – Wickenburg (928) 231-7644

Northeastern region:
• St. Johns – Leading Edge Shooters (928) 337-4955
• Springerville / Round Valley – White Mountain Rod & Gun Club (928) 333-5692
• Show Low – White Mountain Clay Busters (928) 369-1155

Northwestern region:
• Kingman – Mohave Top Guns (928) 753-5274
• Lake Havasu – Havasu SCTP (928) 486-8607

Southern region:
• Casa Grande – Central Arizona Target Shooters (CATS) (520) 251-2024
• Tucson – Tucson Shooting Stars (520) 780-0715
• Globe –  Globe SCTP (602) 542-2785

Southeastern region:
• Double Adobe / McNeal – Double Adobe Young Guns (520) 364-4000
• Sierra Vista – Huachuca Hot Shots (520) 266-1078

Southwestern region:
• Yuma – Yuma Young Guns (928) 246-7157

To learn more about the department’s SCTP program, maps of participating teams, or how to get involved, visit www.azgfd.gov/sctp.

SCTP is a youth development program that teaches trap, skeet and sporting clays to students in grades 12 and under. The program uses a competitive, team-based format and has been called the “Little League” of shooting sports. More than 600 kids compete in Arizona’s SCTP. Nationally, about 10,000 youngsters compete in 40 states.

To learn more about the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation national SCTP program, visit www.sssfonline.org.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Archery Trade Association have teamed up to increase archery and bowhunting programs for youngsters throughout Arizona and enhance facilities in the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas.

Through the agreement, the ATA will provide funding to the Game and Fish Department to double their current archery recruitment staff to include an archery coordinator and a bowhunting coordinator.

“This exciting new partnership with the Game and Fish Department will help grow archery and bowhunting in Arizona and specifically in the Phoenix and Tucson areas,” said Mitch King, Archery Trade Association’s director of government relations. “The ATA and its Arizona members, archery manufacturers, and archery shops from across the state are anxious to help the department reach out to the youth of the state to provide them with a safe and fulfilling recreational outlet.”

The additional staffing combined with the concerted effort between all parties will provide a focused campaign for continuing and growing community-based archery programs like National Archery in the Schools, After School Archery, and Junior Olympic Archery Development.

In addition, the expanded effort will allow the implementation of programs highlighting 3-D archery, bow-fishing, crossbows, the National Bowhunter Education Foundation’s courses, and outdoor skills workshops.

“We now have more than 122 schools participating in the Archery in the Schools Program,” said Game and Fish Assistant Director Ty Gray. “This partnership with the Archery Trade Association will help expand these programs and new ones further into the communities of Arizona to recruit and retain new archery shooters and bowhunters.”

In a multifaceted grassroots system, the Archery Trade Association’s (ATA) Community Archery Program works with state wildlife agencies, local parks and recreation departments, communities, archery shops, clubs, and organizations to expand on the success of the National Archery in the Schools program, a physical education curriculum designed to teach international-style target archery in grades 4-12.

“These are exciting times to see the Game and Fish Department working hand-in-hand with private industry to achieve the same goal,” said Randy Philips, owner of Archery Headquarters in Chandler and an ATA board member.

There are many benefits from shooting a bow and arrow. Although shooting a bow is a physical activity, physical condition is not a limiting factor and allows equal participation. Additionally, shooting sports develop concentration and mental focus, improve self-confidence, teach respect and accountability, and provide a low-impact healthy activity.

To learn more about shooting sports and the Arizona Game and Fish Department, visit www.azgfd.gov/shootingsports.

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.gov or (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.gov or (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.gov or (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.

This unique shooting complex 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.

Intense wind, pouring rain, hail, a touch of sun and a perfect 100 score in skeet from intermediate shooter Tanner Bissell of the Ben Avery Clay Crushers, were some of the highlights from this year’s SCTP Commissioners’ Cup championships.

Another success story was the top score in the trap competition by varsity shooter Garret Cobbs of the Red Mountain Target Terminators, with 199 hits out of 200 targets. Clearly, Arizona’s Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) continues to foster incredible talents from young shooters from across the state.

“These kids and this program continue to set a higher bar each year, “said Ashley Lynch, shooting sports coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “I’m completely amazed by the perfect score – that’s a first since we started the program.”

A trio of competitions was hosted for each clay target shooting discipline this spring – sporting clays, skeet and trap. Competitions began March 28 with the sporting clays event hosted in Phoenix at the Ben Avery Clay Target Center. The competition was held during the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Outdoor Expo and drew more than 150 athletes. The skeet competition took place April 11 at the Tucson Trap and Skeet Club and drew more than 130 athletes. The competition finished up with trap on April 18 at the Ben Avery Clay Target Center, with over 155 athletes in attendance.

Each discipline is broken into five divisions: varsity, grades 9-12; junior varsity, grades 9-12; intermediate advanced, grades 6-8; intermediate entry, grades 6-8; and rookie, grades 5 and under.

Top results for all three events are:

Sporting clays:

• Varsity: Red Mountain Target Terminators, scored 238, by Van Sickle Chris, Kyle Sutter, and Quinton Moore.
• Junior varsity: Red Mountain Target Terminators, scored 210, by Kent Thomas, Fuller Stephen, and Eric Fleming.
• Intermediate advanced: Ben Avery Clay Crushers, scored 225, by Holden Huff, Perry Miller, and Tanner Bissell.
• Intermediate: White Mountain Clay Busters, scored 168, by Roman Ashcraft, Austin Moore, and Barton Logan.
• Rookie: Ben Avery Clay Crushers, scored 175, by Casey Coleman, Tim Lehmann, and Tyler Sims.

Skeet:

• Varsity: Ben Avery Clay Crushers, scored 282, by Shelby Shank, Kyle Johnson, and Lane Shank.
• Junior varsity: Red Mountain Target Terminators, scored 264, by Thomas Kent Everett, Stephen Fuller, and Eric Fleming.
• Intermediate advanced: Ben Avery Clay Crushers, scored 288, by Tanner Bissell, Holden Huff, and Perry Miller.
• Intermediate: Ben Avery Clay Crushers, scored 229, by Mitchell Jones, Cody Kime, and Zachery Clark.
• Rookie: Phantom Sure Shot, scored 216, by Hayden Hilderbrand, Nathan Moss, and Jacob Rayner.

Trap:

• Varsity: Red Mountain Target Terminators, scored 948, by Garret Cobbs, Justin Williams, Zachary Kelly, Kyle Hagberg, and Kyle Wandelear.
• Junior varsity: Ben Avery Clay Crushers, scored 875, by Andrew Witte, John Heim, Andrew Tougas, Michael Brooks, and Brandon Medina.
• Intermediate advanced: Ben Avery Clay Crushers, scored 879, by Holden Huff, Paysen Unger, Perry Miller, Trent Jordan, and McCally Gibson.
• Intermediate: Mohave Top Guns, scored 773, by Colorado Parr, Christopher Franklin, Forrest Keller, Kirsten Shaw, and Benjamin Smith.
• Rookie: Ben Avery Clay Crushers, scored 370, by Tyler Sims, Casey Coleman, Tim Lehmann, Brett Miller, and Garrett Rand.

For a complete list of all the results, visit www.azgfd.gov/sctp and click on the link for the Commissioners’ Cup results.

In addition to the awards and titles received from the Commissioners’ Cup, top performing teams qualify to represent Arizona at the 2009 SCTP National Championships held at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Illinois from July 23-26. Winners from the national competition could be selected to attend an Olympic development camp in Colorado Springs, and some will go on to compete at the collegiate level.

Arizona’s SCTP continues to grow each year. There are now 17 clubs across the state dedicated to teaching boys and girls about character development, sportsmanship, responsibility, commitment, and a passion for shooting sports.

Lynch added, “I have to thank all the clubs, parents, kids and volunteers for all their dedication and hard work – without them, the program would never be this successful.”

The clubs in alphabetical order are: Arizona Dust Devils (southeast Phoenix area), Buckeye Buckshots (Buckeye area), Ben Avery Clay Crushers (Phoenix area), Central Arizona Target Shooters (Casa Grande area), Cottonwood / Verde Valley Sportsmen’s Club (Cottonwood area), Huachuca Hot Shots (Sierra Vista), Leading Edge Shooters (St. Johns area), Prescott Trap and Skeet (Prescott area), Phantom Sure Shots (west Phoenix area), Red Mountain Target Terminators (East Valley), Mohave Top Guns (Kingman area), Tucson Shooting Stars (Tucson area), Williams Busters (Williams / Flagstaff area), White Mountain Rod and Gun (Springerville / Round Valley area), Wickenburg Sportsmen’s Club (Wickenburg area), White Mountain Clay Busters (Show Low / White Mountain area), and the Yuma Young Guns (Yuma area).

Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) is a youth development program using shooting sports as a learning platform for youths in grades 12 and under. It is considered the Little League of shooting sports. The program instills many life-skills like personal values or character traits for fair play, compassionate understanding, individual responsibility, sportsmanship, self-discipline and personal commitment. SCTP is a national program administered by the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation and facilitated locally by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. To learn more about SCTP, visit www.azgfd.gov/sctp or http://www.sssfonline.org/.

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. (For information about inexpensive family camping vacations, visit http://camping.about.com/b/2008/12/30/camping-outlook-2009.htm).

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 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 participate in the department’s upcoming outdoor expo in late March. Visit www.azgfd.gov/expo for more information, or see the article in this newsletter.

Winter Range is an exciting “Old West” style, five-day event that provides the backdrop for the Single Action Shooting Society’s National Championship of Cowboy Action Shooting. This annual event traditionally draws thousands of spectators and Old West enthusiasts.

Cowboy Action Shooting™ is the fastest growing shooting sport in America, and requires contestants to compete with firearms typical of those used in the taming of the Old West:  single-action revolvers, lever-action rifles, and old-time shotguns. Participants must also adopt a “shooting alias” appropriate to a character or profession of the late 19th century, a Hollywood Western star, or an appropriate fictional character, and then costume themselves accordingly.

In addition to the competitive events, Winter Range will also feature displays of period militaria, exhibitions of western skills and crafts, and vendors purveying everything from period clothing to antiques and reproductions. Entertainment will be readily available in the form of a number of singers, cowboy bands, and the authentic history of gaming and masterful sleight of hand by the amazing Lafitte, Knight of the Green Cloth. A variety of food services are also available – from authentic chuck wagon cooking to hot dogs. This is an exciting event for the whole family.

The Ben Avery Shooting Facility is located in north Phoenix on Carefree Highway just west of I-17 (Exit 223). Daily event times are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. from Wednesday, Feb. 25 through Saturday, Feb. 28, and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Sunday, March 1. Admission is free, but parking is $5. While in the shooting areas, spectators will be required to wear eye protection (sunglasses and corrective glasses are acceptable) and ear protection is strongly suggested, especially for children.

For more information about Winter Range, visit www.winterrange.com.

On Friday, Jan. 16, the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department hosted the grand opening of the Joe Foss Shooting Complex, formerly known as the Buckeye Hills Shooting Range, located in Buckeye, Ariz. The facility is a self-sufficient “green” complex operated by on-site solar power with battery backup for lighting, cooling and heating, and running on its own well water for restrooms and potable drinking water.

The new facility consists of a 200-yard main range and a 50-yard pistol range, both with 40 stations and covered awnings. The range is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays. The winter hours are 8 a.m. – 4.30 p.m. The daily range fee is $7 and youth shooters under the age of 18 are free. The Buckeye Sportsman’s Club is in charge of range operations.

“We are very excited to see this new range in this key growth corridor of the state,” said Anthony Chavez, shooting sports coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “The facility is incredible and we are looking forward to continuing our relationship with the Buckeye Sportsman’s Club and the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department to make it a big success.”

Experienced personnel from the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Ben Avery Shooting Facility provided the Buckeye Sportsman’s Club with consultation, training and guidance on range safety, operations, management, and the many other elements required to run a successful and safe shooting facility. Clubs or organizations operate most of the shooting ranges owned by the department, and this has proven to be a successful model.

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

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.

Every Wednesday night under stadium lights on the FITA Range, shooters can safely shoot 3-spot or single targets at 20 yards. Archery classifications for men and women include compound unlimited, compound bow hunter and recurve/longbow. A junior class is also available for shooters ages 8-17 to encourage family participation.

Leagues run from Jan. 7 – Feb. 25, 2009. There will be a cookout and an awards banquet on March 11. The cost is $60 per adult and $30 for junior shooters. Registration fees are reduced for families. If one parent participates, each junior is only $20, and if both parents participate, each junior is only $10. Some introductory loaner bows (compound and recurve) are available.

Preregistration is required. To register or for more information, contact Mike Raum at (623) 582-8313 or mraum@azgfd.gov.

Grants are available through a competitive application process each year. The Arizona Game and Fish Commission determines how much money is available, but generally, the total is about $100,000. The maximum grant award is $50,000 per project. Privately owned and for-profit ranges are not eligible for this program.

“The program offers a number of benefits,” says Anthony Chavez, the department’s statewide shooting ranges administrator. “It helps provide shooting enthusiasts with safe public shooting areas, supports the department’s hunter education and youth programs, and supports law enforcement training.”

Examples of projects that could be eligible for funds include shooting range development and redevelopment, construction of noise abatement structures and safety berms, installation of shooting pads and stations, and construction or improvement of access roads and parking lots.

Grant funds are to reimburse eligible project expenditures up to 50 percent of the total cost. Grants can be matched with cash, with donated labor and materials, or with land. The range must have a history of operation of at least five years to be eligible for a grant, unless owned or managed by a government agency.

Applications will be judged by a panel of department employees based on various criteria, including how the project will increase public usefulness, improve range safety, and support firearms safety, the shooting sports, hunter education and law enforcement training. The Arizona Game and Fish Commission will determine final awards at its June 2009 meeting in Phoenix.

To download an application packet, visit www.azgfd.gov/shootingsports and click on the “range development grants” link on the left side of the page, or request a packet by contacting Anthony Chavez, statewide shooting ranges administrator, at (623) 236-7395 or aechavez@azgfd.gov.

This year, make it affordable and rewarding by considering one of the many unique gift ideas the Arizona Game and Fish Department has to offer.

“If you’re looking for an outdoors-oriented gift for family and friends, we have a number of reasonably priced items that they’ll enjoy,” said Information Branch Chief Bob Miles. “Purchase of these gifts will benefit wildlife as well.”

Buyers are sure to find something for everyone with a variety of gift ideas and prices, including:

• Arizona Wildlife Viewing Guide – Arizona provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in the nation, with more than 900 animal species and 50 million public acres of natural land to explore. This guide takes you on a magnificent journey through 128 unique sites and the wildlife found at them, accompanied by beautiful photographs of the sites and animals. Readers will enjoy tips for wildlife watching, a tiered rating system that highlights “can’t miss” locations, site features and driving directions. The book can be purchased for $14.95 at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s seven offices statewide and through the department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/publications.
• Arizona Wildlife Views magazine – Published bimonthly by the Game and Fish Department, the magazine offers a variety of articles on hunting, fishing, boating, wildlife viewing and conservation in Arizona, as well as “Focus Wild” children’s articles. Subscriptions are $8.50 per year. Order at www.azgfd.gov/magazine.
• 2009 Arizona Wildlife Calendar – With spectacular photos of Arizona’s wildlife, the calendar will provide daily enjoyment, as well as note key wildlife events and approved hunting and fishing season dates. The photos this year were chosen from more than 1,200 images submitted by customers to the Game and Fish Department’s calendar contest. Calendars make perfect stocking stuffers at only $3 each. Purchase at any Game and Fish office or at www.azgfd.gov/artman/publish/article_978.shtml.
• Fishing licenses – Get outdoors and enjoy time off at the holidays with a half-price fishing license that will last you through the end of the year. 2008 general state fishing licenses may be purchased at any Arizona Game and Fish Department office for only $11.75. Or, get a jump on the 2009 season by buying a 2009 license now. Individual licenses cost $23.50 for Arizona residents or $70.25 for nonresidents. Trout stamps are $15.75 for residents or $57.75 for nonresidents. Urban fishing licenses are $18.50 for residents and nonresidents. There are many other license products available; visit http://www.azgfd.gov/eservices/licenses.shtml.
• Discount pass at Ben Avery Shooting Facility and gift certificates at Ben Avery Clay Target Center – The Ben Avery Shooting Facility offers an 11-visit “shooter’s pass” for $70 (normal fee for an all-day visit to the range is $7, so you get one day for free). The Ben Avery Clay Target Center offers gift certificates in any amount for trap, skeet and sporting clays shooting. Remember, an excise tax on the purchase of firearms, ammunition and archery equipment helps fund federal assistance to state wildlife agencies for wildlife conservation.
• Donation to Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center – The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s rehabilitation center treats more than 1,000 sick and injured animals annually and provides wildlife education to local schools. For more information on making tax-deductible donations to support wildlife rehabilitation, visit www.azwildlifecenter.org or call (623) 587-0139.

Game Management Units 17A, 20A, 22, 23, 37A, and 42 are not included in the December 2008 archery-only season. These units will not be open until the Jan. 1-31, 2009 season.

Archery-only deer hunters are reminded to thoroughly review the 2008 Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations before taking to the field for their deer hunt. A 2009 general hunting license is also required to hunt beginning Jan. 1, 2009.

Harvest percentages are the reason for the structure change. In units where the archery harvest exceeded 20 percent of the overall take, the seasons have been shortened, or in some cases, they have become part of the draw system.

The reason for this change is to allocate the harvest among deer hunters in proportion to the demand for that weapon choice. In some management units, the harvest proportion for certain weapon types exceeded the demand.

The same system applies for units where the harvest is less than 10 percent of the total harvest. In those cases, the season was extended. Game Management Units 4A, 4B, 8, 9 and 19A benefitted from this and will see a new season from Jan. 1-16, 2009 for over-the-counter archery-only deer hunters.

The 2008-09 Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations can be viewed or downloaded from www.azgfd.gov/rules.

MANDATORY: Over-the-counter nonpermit-tag archery deer hunters must report their harvest by calling 1-866-903-3337.

Also, successful hunters are encouraged to participate in the monitoring for chronic wasting disease (CWD). Hunters can assist the monitoring effort by bringing in the head of their recently harvested deer or elk to any Game and Fish Department office between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Place the head in a heavy plastic garbage bag for delivery, and keep it cool and out of the sun. If the weather is warm, it is best to either bring in the head within a day of harvest or keep it on ice in a cooler before delivery.

For more information about CWD, visit www.azgfd.gov/cwd or www.cwd-info.org.

In the aftermath of a recent human-mountain lion encounter in southern Arizona’s Santa Rita Mountains, the Arizona Game and Fish Department offers tips for people who recreate or live in mountain lion country.

An unusual-acting mountain lion that had been stalking a hiker and his dog in the Madera Canyon area was located and killed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department on Oct. 26. The mountain lion had continued to act aggressively toward the hiker even when the person tried to scare it away.

“This strange-acting mountain lion posed a clear public safety threat,” said Leonard Ordway, the Tucson regional supervisor for the Game and Fish Department.

Ordway said that the hiker did the things he was supposed to – he shouted and tried to make himself look bigger by waving his arms, he picked his dog up off the ground, but the mountain lion continued to approach. The hiker then used his pistol to fire two warning shots, and the mountain lion continued to approach, at which time the hiker shot directly at the lion and the animal finally ran away.

Because of the animal’s aggressive actions toward a human, and in accordance with the department’s lion-human interaction management protocol that was developed in 2004 through extensive public process, immediate action was required to prevent any further public incident involving this animal.

The mountain lion was sent to a laboratory for examination and tests in an effort to find clues that might explain its abnormal behavior. The tests showed the mountain lion did not have rabies.

Ordway offered these safety tips for anyone who encounters a mountain lion or other large predator:

• Do not hike, jog or ride your bicycle alone in mountain lion country: Go in groups, with adults supervising children.
  
  
• Keep children close to you. Observations of captured wild mountain lions reveal that the animals seem especially drawn to children. Keep children in your sight at all times. 
  
  
• Do not approach a mountain lion. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape. 
  
  
• Do not run from a mountain lion. Running may stimulate a mountain lion’s instinct to chase. Instead, stand and face the animal. Make eye contact. If there are small children there, pick them up if possible so they don’t panic and run. Although it may be awkward, pick them up without bending over or turning away from the mountain lion. 
  
  
• Do not crouch or bend over: A person squatting or bending over looks a lot like a four-legged prey animal. When in mountain lion country, avoid squatting, crouching or bending over, even when picking up children.
  
  
• Appear larger: Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you are wearing one. Again, pick up small children. Throw stones, branches, or whatever you can reach without crouching or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud voice. The idea is to convince the mountain lion that you are not prey and that you may be a danger to it.|
  
  
• Fight back if attacked: Many potential victims have fought back successfully with rocks, sticks, caps, jackets, garden tools and their bare hands. Since a mountain lion usually tries to bite the head or neck, try to remain standing and face the attacking animal.

Ordway also offered these tips for living in mountain lion country:

• Don’t feed wildlife. By feeding deer, javelina or other wildlife in your yard, you may inadvertently attract mountain lions, which prey upon them.
  
  
• Deer and rabbit proof your landscape. Avoid using plants that deer prefer to eat; if landscaping attracts deer, mountain lions may be close by. 
  
  
• Landscape for safety: Remove dense and/or low-lying vegetation that provides good hiding places for mountain lions and coyotes, especially around children’s play areas. Make it difficult for wild predators to approach a yard unseen. 
  
  
• Closely supervise children. Keep a close watch on children whenever they play outdoors. Make sure children are inside before dusk and not outside before dawn. Talk with children about mountain lions and teach them what to do if they encounter one. 
  
  
• Install outdoor lighting. Keep the house perimeter well lit at night – especially along walkways – to keep any approaching mountain lions visible. 
  
  
• Keep pets secure. Roaming pets are easy prey for hungry mountain lions and coyotes. Either bring pets inside or keep them in a kennel with a secure top. Don’t feed pets outside – this can attract javelina, skunks and other mountain lion prey.

Mountain lions in Arizona are classified as a big game species and the department manages them as a renewable natural resource. Since 2000, the department has distributed an average of 8,100 hunting permits per year with an average annual harvest of 321 lions. Arizona’s mountain lion population is estimated at around 2,500 to 3,000 animals. Mountain lions are efficient predators capable of killing or seriously injuring humans, although attacks rarely occur. The department is committed to public education to help people learn how to behave responsibly and live safely in proximity to lions.

The 2008 Western Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) Games and Creedmoor Cup Matches will take place at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in north Phoenix on Oct. 11-19.

The CMP Games begin on Saturday and continue through Tuesday, Oct. 14. A “new shooters” clinic will start off Saturday’s events. On Sunday, another new event is the Rimfire Sporter Match, which is designed to give recreational shooters in the Southwest a chance to try this growing shooting sport.

The Creedmoor Cup Matches begin with a high-power rifle clinic on Wednesday, Oct. 15, followed by four days of matches for service rifles and match rifles from Oct. 16-19. Members of the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps Service Rifle Teams and Team Bushmaster will be on hand to assist with the clinic and subsequently compete in the matches.

To register online or for more event information, visit http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/matchInfo.cgi?matchID=3773.

• Monday – Closed
• Tuesday – Closed
• Wednesday – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Thursday – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Friday – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Saturday – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Sunday – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“This is a great time of the year to get out to the range and sharpen your skills for hunting season,” said Marty Hererra range manager for the facility. “Whether you’re sighting in your .22 for small game season or making sure you’re on target for that late season elk hunt, the main range offers the accommodations to set your sights.”

For shotgun shooters, Hererra adds, “Upland hunters can hone their wingshooting skills at the Clay Target Center on the sporting clays course or try our newest game: 5-stand. It’s fantastic.”

For more information on the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, visit www.azgfd.gov/basf or contact (623) 582-8313. For more information on the Ben Avery Clay Target Center, visit www.azgfd.gov/ctc or contact (623) 434-8119.