Officials working to ensure wild animals have water

Our Yuma-area Region IV personnel of the Arizona Game and Fish Department are working hard at top speed hauling water and being sure water catchments are in good working order to provide that much-needed water to wildlife in our area. A tough job with our desert habitat (natural grown food for wildlife) also suffering and drying up from the heat leaving nothing for the benefit of the wildlife. Even the bighorn sheep lambs have stopped nursing. Ordinarily, the bushes, palo verdes and other desert trees along with other growing things are what the animals browse on with the water helping to digest their food. Because of the dry spell, most of everything edible has dried up with nothing green left.

We did have a trace of rain in a lot of places in and around Yuma recently, but mostly not enough to do any good — north of I-10 got more rain than we did to the south. We need the monsoon season to begin and with a vengeance, the sooner the better. Without the water, our wildlife will suffer and die.

It is up to man to keep that water available. We have pushed the animals onto the desert and now it’s up to us to keep the water there for them. As I said, Game and Fish is working hard to keep that going with the assistance of volunteers but man power is few and far between to cover it all so it’s a real struggle with determination top priority within those who are working to keep that water doing its job. It’s a very scary situation and we don’t have a true idea of just how bad Jean Wilson it actually is. The forecast looks good, so let’s hope and pray for the badly needed rain to come our way, the sooner the better.

In my last article about the water for wildlife, I mentioned the need for volunteers to assist with the hauling of the water, but I’ve learned they would also need to be trained and be certified to do the job successfully because of the hard terrain on the desert, the mountains and gullies they are dealing with. It’s no easy job and with some of the experienced personnel busy working with fire control in other areas (another necessity this time of year with it being so dry), the Yuma sector lacks the time for training at this time.

The wear and tear on equipment while hauling water to hard to reach places is common, a hard job at times just getting to the catchments, let alone keeping them filled as needed. A good example of how hard the terrain is to deal with is Cipriano Pass where 6,000 gallons of water were delivered by stretching long hoses up over the humps and washes from where the truck could go no farther. It took a joint effort of Game and Fish personnel, people from MCAS and Fish and Wildlife plus many volunteers to get the job done — a real joint effort. Another example was when water was hauled to YPG and Unit 41 to the many manmade water catchments in the area — no easy trick at most places and the joint effort is what makes it work out. Most times the joint effort is an absolute necessity to get the job done.

I’m told educating the public is another needed job to be done. It’s suggested for people who aren’t aware of what’s going on with our wildlife and the need for water, etc. to take a ride out Highway 95 or I-8 to see just how dry our desert has become. Realize that in Region IV — the Yuma area — there are 600 catchments to be kept filled. In Unit 41 alone there are 30 catchments. It takes that combined effort to keep water handy for the wildlife. When the terrain is really rough it’s necessary to rent a helicopter, brought to needed areas from the Grand Canyon, to be used to deliver the water and that costs thousands of dollars, all funded by hunters and fishermen. No state taxes or funds or Federal money pays for anything concerning our outdoors and wildlife needs — it’s the hunters and fishermen paying the excise taxes with their purchases of hunting and fishing equipment along with licenses to hunt and fish who pay for our wildlife needs. For those who do not hunt or fish, the general public can also be a huge help in supporting wildlife through joining the “I support wildlife” program with Game and Fish, paying $25 yearly and that money ALL goes to wildlife, no exceptions! It would be a wonderful gift to wildlife for those who have it to give. If you have any questions about water for wildlife or any other question on wildlife or fishing, give our Region IV office a call at 342-0091 — your questions will be most welcome.

Let me brag a bit about our Game and Fish Department and Commission. It’s not just an ordinary job, it’s extraordinary. These hard working, dedicated people ‘live’ their jobs and they love what they do. It’s phenomenal what they accomplish and this is not just part time, it’s ALL of the time. If you ever have questions about the outdoors or wildlife, they’ll be glad to take the time to give you the answers you’re looking for. They aim to please. Check them out, get to know them, they are very important people!

Fish findings

• AZ. Game and Fish letter in answer to the Alamo Dam Water Control Manual Update: Jim deVos, Assistant Director of the Wildlife Management Division of Game and Fish Department sent a letter with numerous reasons why the Los Angeles District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers should not release water from the dam as they have planned. Because it is a full 3-page letter with so much good information, It would take up too much room to include it in my column. However, if you have an interest in getting a copy of the letter I’ll be glad to email or send you a copy so you can see for yourself why the water should not be released as planned.

Fishing clubs

• Desert Bass Anglers “The Fun Way to Fish”: Get in on the next tournament July 7 launching out of Fisher’s Landing. Questions? Call Mac or Bobbi McDermott at 726-1984. Sign-in 4:30 to 5 a.m. with weigh-in at 1 p.m. Early sign up 5-6 p.m. July 6 at Sportsman’s Hideaway.

Anglers of the Year Top 5: Lynn Domby 238 points, Tim Price 238, Curtis Cernik 224, Jeremy Lovejoy 212 and Ed Reeder with 205. Congratulations!

Reminder: Keep your live-well in good condition — check it often so those fish will be kept in good shape to be returned to the water for catching a next time. Keeping “you” cool as well is also a necessity when fishing so you can come back a next time. Note from Mac & Bobbi: Because of the early summer hours of tournaments, Lights are now required at launch to prevent close calls at the boat ramp. Don’t violate the light rule — we’d like to maintain our no accidents or injuries record. Thanks!

• Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club: Big Bass Derby 2018 was a huge success with Travis Hurley catching the biggest bass weighing 6.83 and 60 points, followed in 2nd place and 59 points by Tim Skellett with a bass weighing 6.42. Tommy Ray caught the 3rd biggest bass and 58 points with his bass weighing 6.31. Winners of Angling awards were Hurley, Skellett and Ray. Calcutta awards were presented to Bobby Pope, Tim Skillett, Rick Bielke, Ben Jackson and Buddy Roberts. Receiving Boatman awards were Dakota, Rick Bielke and Joe Phelps. Good fish’n one and all! Congratulations.

Be sure to get in oon the July 14-15 Bob Hefner Memorial Bass/ Season Finali 2 Day Derby with fishing out of Fisher’s Landing on Saturday, Mittry Lake on Sunday, 7-15. Details will be forthcoming or call Clint Fraser at 580-3231 or Danny Woods at 448-8476. Get ready too for the Catfish Derby July 21 with chairs Glenda and Donny Hazlett — call Glenda at 580-0440, Donny at 581-2063. Also attend the July 11 meeting at American Legion Hall 2575 Virginia Dr. with a great and reasonably priced dinner at 6:30 p.m., the meeting at 7 p.m. to get all the particulars on the fishing front.

• Desert Draw Series Pro/Am Bass Fishing Club: I’ll have results from the yesterday’s tournament in the next column or call Michael Obney at (928) 750-7081 to sign up or for information on the July 21st tournament launching out of Fisher’s Landing.

• 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. Any interested H.S. student will be a part of a exciting year for our next generation of anglers at Fisher’s Landing/Martinez Lake. This bunch of super young people also help others with their fishing along the way by assisting at local youth events — always ready to assist.

I’ll have a complete report soon of the Arizona State High School Bass Fishing with results from these great youngsters who competed in the Nationals. Huge thanks to all the adult fishermen in Yuma who have coached these youngsters along the way. A winning combination for sure!

Shooting sports

• 4-H Shooting Sports: Call the Yuma 4-H office at 726-3904 or Stan Gourley at 344-0740. Keep watch for dates in September when the new year of training in their shooting sports program will begin. A great program for kids — 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 with us at the Foothills Archery Range. Archery instruction for anyone interested is “Free”! 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. You might be better satisfied bringing along your own target. People seem to be intent on tearing down the expensive cotton bales — PLEASE do what you can to prevent vandalism while at the range so we can all enjoy.

• Yuma Trap and Skeet Club: Anyone interested in trap and skeet? Shoot 8 a.m. to 12-noon Saturdays and Sundays at Adair Park. Call Bob Avila at (928) 919-0622. The Yuma Young Guns with the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) will begin again when weather cools a bit. Call Head Coach H. McNutt at 928 5800918 if you are interested.

• Yuma Territorial Longrifles Club: Regular “open” black powder matches are 1st and 3rd Saturday’s at the Adair Park range at 8:30 a.m. Call Roger Bickel at 726-7453 — ask about .22 matches.

• Cholla Gun Club at Adair Park: Call Glenda Graves at (928) 5800915 for shooting times. Watch for their shooting schedule beginning again this fall.

• High Power Rifle and Pistol Club of Yuma: 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 to learn about shooting at the Adair Park big bore range. Club junior “Whipper Snipers” will begin their shooting activities for all ages again in September. 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.