It’s time to decide when, where you want to hunt this fall

If you have plans to get into a share of hunting for deer, fall turkey, fall javelina, bighorn sheep, fall bison or pheasant, get busy deciding when and where you would like to do your hunting so you get paperwork attended to in time for the draw deadline. Best check the application and draw dates with Game and Fish — changes could have taken place.

Such is the case for applying for fall deer statewide. After a hunter told me about a May application deadline date for fall deer that I had thought was 6/12 (one of the hunts we don’t want to miss out on), I checked with Game and Fish and the hunter was right. The fall deer application deadline for turning in paper applications has been changed from June 12th to May 8th. However, the deadline is still June 12th for applying online. I’m really glad I checked. I bet I don’t take anything else for granted because things DO change, and this is one of those times. I am so glad I learned something new today! I will definitely look into other changes that may have taken place and report further. If you might have questions about any regulations, do as I did and call Game and Fish Region IV office at (928) 342-0091 — they are always glad to assist.

In the Yuma area, know that for entry onto the Barry M. Goldwater Range (BMGR) for hunting deer, portions of Units 40A, 40B or 46 A or B, the area is subject to military closure and requires coordination with the appropriate land management agency for hunting access to the BMGR and applicable adjacent areas. The BMGR is closed to hunting except open public recreational use areas, as allowed via an authorized entry permit. Hunters wishing to access or cross additional areas in BMGR East must coordinate with the 56th Fighter Wing Range Management Office. To access the BMGR or Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, hunters must sign a hold harmless agreement and obtain an entry permit. More information can be obtained by calling Luke Air Force Base, 56th Fighter Wing RMO at (623) 856-7216; the Marine Corps Air Station Yuma at (928) 269-7150; the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) at (602) 417-9200; the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlfie Refuge at (520) 387-6483 or by emailing 56RMO. Public.Affairs@us.af.mil. I’ll follow next week with information on hunting on Yuma Proving Grounds for anyone interested.

eishing clubs

• American Bass (ABA) — Yuma Division: Next up — The June 2nd ABA YUMA FISH OFF CHAMPIONSHIP. Get your team entered, you won’t want to miss it, it’s going to be epic! A big Thank you to all our sponsors, especially FTS Franklin Tire & Service Center!

Note: The championships coming up June 2nd launching out of Fisher’s Landing has added new interest this year. While in the past, this event has been a qualifying, invitation only event, this year’s event is open to anyone who has fished at least ONE event with ABA since 2012, when Jeff Woods and Ray Mayo took over as directors. Ray & Jeff are retiring as directors and are hoping to see everyone one last time before passing the reins on in this division to a new director.

Mark your calendar and get your entry in as this will be one of the most epic year end championship events ever. Also, note that as long as one member has fished with us, the boat is qualified and the second person can fish regardless of participation with ABA in the past. Entry fee per boat is $140 plus $20 Option (winner take all), all for $160.

All participants receive a chance to win a 3 day fishing trip to EL Salto courtesy of Ron Speeds Adventures. Watch for entry form and complete information in my 4/26 column or call Jeff Woods at 951 824-0553. You can also enter (check only, don’t send cash) with Director Jeff Woods 2520 Tara Lane, Riverside, CA 92506 by no later than May 25th.

• Desert Bass Anglers “The Fun Way to Fish:” keep up the practice on the water to be ready for the May 5th open team bass tournament launching out of Fisher’s Landing — details forthcoming or call Mac or Bobbi McDermott at 726-1984. (check out the latest results from the Desert Draw Series below to hear about Bobbi’s latest fishing success — good fish’n Bobbi!

• Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club: Time to get your catfish gear ready and waiting for the next fishing competition coming up — the May

Derby, for members of YVRGC only, with fishing at any water fed by the Colorado River OK. All Game and Fish rules apply. It begins at noon Sat., May 5th with weigh in 6-7 a.m. Sunday at Fisher’s Landing. Entry is $1 with sign up at Sportsman’s Hideaway. Over $1,000 worth of prizes, definately worth getting into the fun. Call Mathew Phillips at 919-9907 or Mark Loghry at 920-0233 for details.

The Big Bass Board Qualifying Derby will follow on May 19 as well as the Big Bass Dinner and Derby on June 15-16. Call Clint Fraser at 5803231 or Danny Woods at 448-8476 for details or feel free to attend the May 2nd meeting to learn about all the club hunting and fishing activities coming up, at American Legion Post 19 Hall, 2575 Virginia Dr. with a reasonably priced and delicious dinner at 6:30 p.m. the business at 7 p.m. Everyone is most welcome.

• Fun Bass Tournament for Forum Members: Hope to have results from the Forem Member Fun Tournament for next week’s column or contact Bob La Londe of CNC MOlds N Stuff at 222.CNCMolds.com. Visit La Londe at Yumabassman.com/forum for details or to get in as a forum member to fish the fun competitions.

• Desert Draw Series Pro/Am Bass Fishing Club: The April tournament just held was very successful with the Robert Murray/Bob La Londe team not only taking 1st place with a bag weighing 11.46 pounds but 2nd place Big Fish as well with a 4.05 pound bass. Lanny Brock followed in 2nd place overall while Bobbi McDermott took 1st place Big Fish honors with a bass weighing in at 4.10. Be sure to take advantage of what Obney offers in his fishing endeavors with this new club with the next tournament May 19th launching out of Fisher’s Landing. Call Michael Obney at (928) 750-7081.

• Yuma High School Bass Fishing Club: A great way for any High Schooler 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 them with boats and equipment as well as guiding 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.

• Pictures needed: Peggy Stankovich at Fisher’s Landing is looking for photo’s taken with Jess Fisher, Donnie Fisher or Swede Ferguson. She’d like to borrow them, then return them in pristine condition or you could email them to fisherslandingevents@gmail.com or bring them to Fisher’s office to be scanned. Peggy will appreciate a call at (619) 838-8020.

rhoo•ing spor•s

• 4-H shooting sports: For information on a great organization for youngsters with their training season beginning again in September, call the Yuma 4-H office at 726-3904 or Stan Gourley at 344-0740. Keep watch for dates for the new year of training in their shooting sports program. It promises to be one worth attending.

• Renegade Archers of Yuma: Please give us a call — Kevin at 726-0953 or Jean at 247-4450 — if you’d like to shoot the trail of 3D animals at 8 a.m. Sundays at the Foothills Archery Range. Bring your youngsters for “Free” archery shooting instructions — we’ll be glad to assist in their learning (call ahead so we can bring along extra bows and arrows). The practice area at the Range is open (also free use) daylight hours all week for archers practice and enjoyment.

• Yuma Trap and Skeet Club: Anyone interested in trap and skeet? Shoot 8 a.m. to 12-noon Saturdays and Sundays. Tuesdays and Thursdays noon to 4 p.m. at Adair Park. Call Bob Avila at (928) 919-0622. The Yuma Young Guns with the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) is still working hard. Call Head Coach H. McNutt at (928) 580-0918 if you are interested. The Board meeting is Monday 4-30 at 6 p.m.

• Yuma Territorial Longrifles Club: Regular “open” black powder matches are 1st and 3rd Saturdays at the Adair Park range at 8:30 a.m. Call Roger Bickel at 726-7453 —

• Cholla Gun Club: Shooting is ongoing at the Adair Park metallic silhouette range — get your firearms in order and join in the shooting. All shooters welcome. Sign-up at 8:30 a.m. for shooting at 9 a.m. sharp. Matches open to the public with instructions when necessary. All firearms must comply with NRA guidelines. Membership in NRA is not required. No belted magnums — cartridges must not result in damage to targets. Small bore defined as .22 long rifle. Ammunition (no .22mags). The club business meeting is 7 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday now through March at Villa Alameda RV Park. Pistol and rifle matches including a share of black powder, silhouette and vintage rifle matches held the 4th Saturdays and/or Sundays, alternating Tuesdays as well as Wednesdays and Fridays: Call Glenda Graves at (928) 580-0915 for shooting times. Watch for their shooting schedule changes coming soon.

• High Power Rifle and Pistol Club of Yuma: The club will hold the “Across the Course High Power Rifle” Match (NRA approved) at 7 a.m. May 12th, that will include 200 yards offhand slow fire, 200 yards sitting rapid fire, 300 yards prone rapid fire and 600 yards prone slow fire. Check with joseph Murek at umpire1@q.com or Gerald Brooker at brookergerald@att.net or call 1-858-349-1311 or Paul Lerma at 580-7456. Club junior “Whipper Snipers” shooters still busy with their shooting activities for all ages. Check club matches as well as Whipper Snipers news listed on the club web site at hprifleyuma.net.

• Yuma Matchmasters: A variety of matches are offered each month at the 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. Interested in Cowboy Action shooting? Call Irene Snyder at (209) 613-4598 or Bob Wiles at 920-2158 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.

Contact Jean Wilson at jeanrenegade@ gmail.com or call 247-4450.