Humane Society of U.S. wants to end hunting, fishing

Back in 2010, I wrote about Proposition 109 that was going on at the time in Arizona in defense of hunting and fishing. I was told by a couple of people that I should stay out of politics. I don’t agree that I’m political at all when I attempt to defend the rights to hunt and fish. I cherish my hunting and fishing opportunities as do many, many others in the Yuma area and would be heartbroken if I couldn’t take advantage of the opportunities to participate in them whenever I wish as long as it’s legal to do so.

The same year, it was interesting to read the NRA/ILA report about PETA asking Boy Scouts of America to eliminate its fishing merit badge. They must have been crazy to expect the kids to quit fishing! It’ll never happen! I know PETA, for one, feels fish are animals, so it’s their hope to end fishing along with the hunting.

These days, it’s the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) and their co-conspirators who want to see both hunting and fishing over for good even though they care less about what would happen to those animals and fish should they win their battle to end hunting and fishing as they are intent on doing now. I honestly don’t feel that will ever be allowed to happen, especially with all the millions of hunters and fishermen in our great country who value their opportunities to do what they love, as I do.

And that is merely a plus, because there is more to hunting and fishing than the harvesting of the animals and fish. We are deeply concerned, always, with the welfare of our wildlife, including the fish. We support the Arizona Game and Fish Department and Commission with it being their business to care for and manage properly through science the populations of wild animals and fish so they will benefit and prosper in all ways from their treatment along with protecting the traditions of hunting and fishing for our enjoyment now and for the enjoyment of future generations.

HSUS along with Animals First Arizona, Arizonans for Wildlife, Arizona Animal Defense League and now PayPal, which has joined forces to end hunting and fishing along with the rest, are all intent now to stop the hunting of mountain lions. As Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation stated, these cohorts of HSUS are “motivated by a guttural hatred of the pastimes many sportsmen and women enjoy. They don’t take time off from it either, it’s ingrained in them.”

“They also have an advantage — the majority of our Arizona population no longer spends time hunting and angling and has no idea how wildlife is managed and by whom. They aren’t necessarily opposed to hunting and angling, they just don’t partake in it. Many never have, many have no idea what it would involve, and many are just too darned busy with their urban lives.”

Last year’s battle with HSUS when they wanted to end hunting of wild cats in Arizona was just the end of round 1 and they lost. As ASWC put it, “We dodged a major bullet last year. We are in a fight that is going to involve many more rounds” and we need Jean Wilson all of our friends to nod their way off the sidelines to fight them tooth and nail to lose new battles as well through educating all the people in Arizona who do not hunt or fish or why it is so very important that these anti organizations don’t win this year either. The future of our hunting and fishing are at stake.

Do your homework and find out about the Arizona Game and Fish Department and why they do what they do. Talk to people who hunt and fish and learn why it’s important to them to keep everything like it is now with Game and Fish and their scientific management of the species. Ask questions and learn so you’ll know why the anti’s should lose round 2. I’ll have more on this as time moves forward — keep watch with eyes and ears wide open.

Hunt happenings

• Thank you, dove hunters: The first week of Yuma’s dove season was a complete success in all ways. My family and I have enjoyed good treats and tastes of the wonderful dove breasts wrapped in bacon, etc. and they were certainly delicious. If you missed out on the dove recipes I wrote about in the Yuma Sun Dove Special last month, give me a call and I’ll be glad to share. If you’ve never tasted dove breasts, you’ve really missed out on a special treat!

• Mark your calendar: The dove hunt clean-up is coming up the morning of Sept. 22 (a week earlier than was reported). We’ll meet at Sprague’s about 6 a.m., then leave to clean-up areas in need that were hunted this year to be sure there are no spent shells or other litter left in the farmer’s fields and other areas. We don’t want any damage done to tractors and other farm equipment should spent shells be left in the fields.

• Become a hunting mentor trivia, pint night 4-8:30 p.m. Sept. 29: You’ll still have time to assist with the dove hunt clean-up prior to heading out for Phoenix for the mentor event to learn first-hand from experienced mentors about why and how to get involved. It’s not as hard as you think. You’ll get to test your hunting knowledge, watch great videos and hunting stories, connect with local hunt organizations, pay it forward to the next generation and be a part of something great. Appetizers and dinner are free along with two free drinks and trivia prizes. Registration is required by Sept. 27 at register-ed.com/events/view/129251. This event is hosted by the National Wild Turkey Federation, partnered with the Hunting and Angling Heritage Work Group and the Outdoor Skills Network at a local brewery in central Phoenix (specific address available upon registration). For details, call Ryan Conat at (920) 250-2647.

• Yuma Friends of NRA banquet, auction is Sept. 29: Now you’ll really have to make a choice — stay in town or drive to Phoenix for the mentor event. The Yuma banquet hosted by Friends of NRA will be held at the Hilton Pivot Point Conference Center, 301 N. Madison Ave., with doors open for social hour, fun and games at 4:30 p.m., and a delicious dinner included with the $75 ticket. Get in on the live and silent auctions, special drawings, NRA limited edition firearms, custom knives, NRA commissioned and collectible framed art. To become an event sponsor or to donate merchandise, call chairman Tene Miller at (928) 941-1001 or email dr10a@outlook.com or visit Friendsofnra.org/az.

• CCW concealed carry class: Call Sprague’s Sports at 726-0022 to sign-up for the next CCW class.

• Youth Quail and Small Game Camp hosted by Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club. Check with chairman Thom at CMCustomsigns@gmail. com for information and directions to the camp. Get signed up beforehand by visiting Facebook at YVRGC/quail and small game camp or sign-up at the Yuma Region IV Arizona Game and Fish office. Come to the Oct. 3 YVRGC meeting at 7 p.m., with dinner at 6:30 p.m. at American Legion Post 19, 2575 S. Virginia Drive, to learn all about it. If your youngsters would like to learn about camping and hunting in the outdoors, plan to camp out that weekend for a great time with safety always first.

There are also camps and hunting experiences in the planning for youngsters, promoted by HAHWG and all the hard working outdoorsmen and women that do it for the kids. On Sept. 22-23, the free Southwest Fur Harvesters annual Fall Rendezvous will be held north of Strawberry, east of Camp Verde, to learn about the history of trapping, trapping demos and supplies. Trappers Education Course is offered that Sunday morning hosted by the Southwest Fur Harvesters. For information, contact Ralph Bosse at venerer@aol.com or southwestfurharvesters.com.

Then get ready for the Dec. 7-9 Cibola Youth Waterfowl Camp hosted by the Arizona Outdoor Sports, Friends of Cibola NWR, USFWS and AZGFD to have your youngsters learn how to hunt waterfowl with an experienced mentor. Activities for the whole family include trap shooting, 3D archery, decoys and calling clinic, Dutch oven cooking and wildlife watching at the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge in the Cibola/Blythe area. Call the Yuma office of Game and Fish at (928) 342-0091 or getoutsideaz@gmail. com for details.

Fish findings

• Sportsmen’s Hideaway: The Hideaway has moved from behind Barons Fuel to just around the corner. The store with everything fishing plus is now located a bit further east at the old Mitch’s Bait Shop location to the next block east.

• Fish planted: During the week of Sept. 24-29, the Arizona Game and Fish Department will plant a good supply of catfish at Fortuna Lake, PAAC pond (new Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex), Redondo Lake, West Wetlands Pond and at the Somerton Council Avenue Pond. Get those fishing poles ready along with some stink bait and chicken livers for some fishing fun!

Fishing clubs

• Desert Bass Anglers “The Fun Way to Fish”: Hot or not, there were a decent amount of competition on the go for this tournament with Robby Bellow fishing alone to take the top spot with 19.53 followed by Cody Benton/Josh Hodges with 17.32 to their credit. Matt Yates/Todd Lindstrom took third place with 16.36 while father and son team, Ed and Stewart Reeder placing fourth with 16.19. One out of the money was James Gerber with 15.94. The No. 1 big fish was won by Bill Clothier, fishing alone with his bass weighing 6.99 pounds while the No. 2 big fish honors went to Jim Waits with his bass weighing 5.39. No junk fish. Keep practicing for the Oct. 6 open bass team tournament on the river. Call Mac or Bobbi McDermott at 726-1984 with questions or details.

Note: In the September newsletter, a report about a new invasive snail was included. They look like kernels on a corn cob on the tulies but are bright pink in color and above the water line. Knock them into the water!

The club reminds each of us to keep our live-well in good condition — check it often so those fish will be kept in good shape after weigh-in to be returned to the water for catching another time. Keeping you cool as well is also a necessity when fishing so you can come back another time. Note from Mac & Bobbi: Because of the early summer hours of tournaments this time of year, 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.

• Desert Draw Series Pro/Am Bass Fishing Club: Get in on the next Bass Tournament with the club Sept. 22 with the launch out of Fisher’s Landing. Call Michael Obney at (928) 750-7081 with questions and suggestions. Important note: Michael Obney is encouraging non-boaters to sign up for tournaments as well as boaters. In essence, that is what the idea behind the draw is: pair non-boaters with boaters to exchange ideas — a win, win situation. Note: There have been date changes to tournaments coming up — Oct. 27 as well as Nov. 10 — they’ll still launch out of Fisher’s Landing.

• Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club: All of this year’s bass competitions are done as are all the scheduled catfish derby’s but something good to look forward to are not only the many bass derby’s in 2019 but several catfish tournaments as well. I’ll keep you posted when the new schedule is put together or come to a meeting at 7 p.m. on the 1st Wednesday of each month at American Legion Post 19, 2575 S. Virginia Drive, with a reasonably priced dinner beforehand at 6:30 p.m. Anyone interested in hunting and fishing is welcome.

• 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-how’s. Call Terry Hurt, school sponsor, at 580-6567 or visit StudentAnglerFoundation.com to get started. Any interested high school student will be a part of an 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.

Contact Jean Wilson at jeanrenegade@ gmail.com or call (928) 247-4450.