It’s time to scout desert hunting areas

Now that our weather has cooled a bit, it’s a good time to get out to local desert areas or wherever you have applied and scout for the right place to be during December and January deer hunts.

You need to learn as much as possible about the land you’ll be hunting, making a topographical map, binoculars and GPS very good things to have along. Check with the Game and Fish Yuma Region at 342-0091 and ask about the Kofa refuge, the Wellton-Mohawk Valley and Unit 41 near Dateland as well as other areas along Interstate 8 heading toward Gila Bend that are all worth a try. Ask questions. This can be a good way to learn what you need to know to be successful on your hunt.

If you are new at hunting deer in our area, it’s a good idea to do most of your scouting during the middle of the day when bucks are often bedded down — you’ll be less likely to spook them. Monitor their movements from a distance.

When hunting for mule deer, it’s best to poke along washes rather than climbing mountains. Small patches of cover in open areas are one of the favorite hideouts for muleys, possibly because these areas are so ordinary no one thinks to hunt there.

Hunters have found that mule deer tend to hang down low where the terrain is not so tough — brushy, shallow draws are favorite spots because of the vegetation. There are deer in the hills, but hunting the draws that cut across the flats are usually the most successful routes. Mule deer also know where man doesn’t like to go, so it’s worthwhile to deliberately search out the tough and hard-to-reach areas — they can hide out in regions with steep ledges, living on twigs and small buckbrush, and bed down in the most unlikely places.

Along with learning how, when and where to best hunt the mule deer comes getting in some good practice and plenty of it. Now is also a good time to go over your take-along list of things you’ll need to have with you from equipment and clothing to food and water needs, as well as camping needs — get everything Jean Wilson packed so you’re ready and raring to hit the road when your hunt time arrives.

Fishing clubs

• Desert Bass Anglers, “The Fun Way to Fish”: Results from the Nov. 4th Colorado River Team Bass tournament will be reported next week or call Mac or Bobbi McDermott at 726-1984. The Annual “President’s Choice” tournament for paid club members paying only for options will follow on Dec. 2nd with a great dinner at Fisher’s when fishing is done.

• ABA American Bass — Yuma Division: • The Directors will be hosting a barbecue for Yuma qualifying teams at the Havasu Regional ABA Southern Regional Championships being held November 9-10. Anderson Toyota is also hosting a BBQ on the night of registration. For any teams that qualified and are planning to be in Havasu on that Wednesday (1st day of official pre-fish), join us Wednesday evening at Jeff’s condo pool for a get-together over refreshments and some red rock crabs (lobsters) — Call Jeff at (952) 824-0553 so he’ll have a count of how many lobsters will be needed.

• The “Desert Draw Series Bass Fishing Club: Hope you got together for the “Meet & Greet” recently with Mike Obney — if not, give Mike a call at (928) 750-7081 to learn about the Fishing Club being formed where you’ll be more than welcome.

• Yuma’s High School Bass Fishing Club: A great way for any youngster to learn all about fishing for bass. Members of both the Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club and Desert Bass Anglers assist the kids in providing boats and equipment as well as guide the youngsters, both guys and gals, in gaining a good share of fishing know-hows. Call Terry Hurt, school sponsor, at 580-6567 or visit StudentAnglerFoundation.com to get started.

Shooting sports

• Yuma 4-H Shooting Sports: A reminder that the 2017-2018 training season for 4-H youngsters ages 9-19 has begun . If you have a youngster who is interested in being a part of a 4-H club in order to get into their shooting sports program, call the 4H office in Yuma at 7263904 or Stanley Gourley at 3440740 to learn what they offer — a truly great organization to consider if your children enjoy learning with a wish to become responsible and successful as they grow.

• Yuma’s Scholastic Clay Target Program: The program, in progress now through May 2018 is recruiting young men and women interested in the shotgun shooting sports at the Adair Park trap and skeet range with instruction by Arizona Game & Fish certified coaches. Interested men and women, ages 9 through 25 enrolled in elementary, middle, junior, high school or college are most welcome. For information, call head coach H. McNutt at (928) 580-0918 or coach John Gross at 580-4836.

• Renegade Archers of Yuma: For archery enthusiasts — You are most welcome to come shoot the trail of 3D animals at 8:30 a.m. today at the Foothills Archery Range located east of Foothills Blvd., south side of I-8 — and If you are interested in shooting at the range another time, call Kevin at 726-0953 or Jean at 247-4450 more information and directions to the range. If you would like to learn to shoot archery, give us a call so we can bring bows and arrows along for you to use with instructions always free. We’ll assist in your learning. • The practice range at the Foothills Archery Range is open (use is free) daylight hours all week for archers much needed practice and enjoyment. PLEASE do what you can to prevent vandelism while at the range so all can enjoy.

• Yuma Trap and Skeet Club: Anyone interested in trap and skeet can now shoot 8 a.m. to 12-noon Saturdays and Sundays. Tuesdays and Thursdays noon to 4 p.m. matches. Call Bob Avila at (928) 919-0622.

• Yuma Territorial Longrifles Club: “Open” black powder matches at the Adair Park range, 1st and 3rd Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. Call Roger Bickel at 726-7453. Ask about .22 matches.

• Cholla Gun Club: Scheduled shooting is ongoing at the Adair Park metallic silhouette range, so get your firearms in order and join in the shooting. Sign-up is at 8:30 a.m. with shooting at 9 a.m. sharp. Matches are open to the public with instructions when necessary. All firearms must comply with NRA guidelines for each event. NRA approved matches do not require membership in NRA. Cartridges must not result in damage to targets (no belted magnums). Small bore is defined as .22 long rifle. Ammunition (no .22 mags). The club business meeting is 7 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday now through March at Villa Alameda RV Park on Ave. 5E. Questions? Call Glenda Graves at (928) 580-0915. Matches are: • Fourth Saturday with shoot fee $5 per gun: Big bore long range pistol; Cowboy lever action rifle, small bore hunter pistol; hunter pistol. Pistol cartridge lever action rifle; .22 lever action rifle.

• Fourth Sunday with shoot fee $5 per gun: Black powder cartridge and Vintage Military rifle silhouette or fun match. Vintage military rifle is any military built up to 1952. No M-14’s. Chickens shot standing. Pigs, turkeys, rams shot off ground rest — replicating military positions while standing.

• Alternating Tuesdays 9 a.m. — Schutzen .22 rifle match on the black powder range with 20 shots bench rest at 100 yards, 20 shots standing at 100 yards. Bench rest match 50 shots @ 50 yards.

• Wednesdays 9 a.m. — Informal get-togethers for fun and plinking off the bench or standing. Practice shooting skills, test ammo for the gun you want to shoot. Everyone welcome.

• Wednesdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — BPCR silhouette, vintage Military rifle and cowboy lever action rifle and .22 long range silhouette practice and/or match.

• Fridays 9 a.m. — .22 rifle and pistol silhouette fun matches. Informal get-together for .22 rimfire rifle and pistol only. Everyone welcome.

• High Power Rifle and Pistol Club of Yuma: Matches coming up are: Nov. 11 are Vintage Service Rifle Matches followed on Nov. 12 with a Across the Course match. Pistol matches scheduled for 2017 are cancelled as of now but we may resume them in 2018. Call Joseph Murek at 627-4556, Paul Lerma at 580-7456 or Gerald Brooker at (858) 349-1311. Visit the club website at hprifleyuma.com. or email Joe at umpire1@q.com or brookergerald@ att.net.

• Yuma Matchmasters: A variety of matches are offered each month at the Adair Park small bore range, all open to shooters at 7 a.m. with the steel challenge the 1st Saturday, Multi-gun matches the 1st Sunday. IPSC combat matches held the 2nd Sunday with the Cowboy Fast Draw the 3rd Saturday and SASS cowboy matches the 4th Saturday. Call Irene Snyder at (209) 613-4598 or George Wagner at (719) 660-9466 with questions.

• Southwest Bowhunters Archery Club: Archery is offered to archers on Sundays with their practice range also open all week. Call Keith Parsels at 782-1097.