Bring plenty of warm clothes for your hunt ... it’s cold out there!

This year has turned out to be the year we can learn from having to hunt in colder Arizona weather. We just think we are equipped with warm hunting clothing and ordinarily they are really sufficient, but best to think twice before you leave home for your hunt this year without the extra warmer stuff under your arm. You won’t be sorry!

Temperatures where we go after javelina (when we’re drawn), are way colder this year than ever expected and that cold bites right through you, way colder than we thought it would be. What was thought to be plenty warm enough did not cut it, so if you still have your hunt coming up, the suggestion is to make plans to pack more.

How about a weather report of 29 degrees and clear with a real-feel of 14 degrees? The wind coming from the north in the same report was only 16 mph with gusts at 21 and humidity at 77 percent. Having this kind of weather is definitely not what we’re used to, especially when we live in Yuma and are acclimated to 110 in the shade (and hotter) in the summer. Even thermals don’t cover it too well!

It’s a really good idea to take plenty of hot foods and drinks to warm the bones. This kind of hunt reminds me of when it had been suggested years ago to heat a rock on an open fire, wrap it and put it in your sleeping bag to keep warm during sleep times — you can do the same with a hot water bottle like we used to do (if they even make them any longer?) but you still need to have a way of heating the water. There now are hot packets at stores that you can shake that’ll turn your sleeping bags into pure comfort for a while (I couldn’t find any this year when I was doing the hunt shopping) so that idea didn’t do me any good at all, but it’s something to look into.

One thing about climbing the hills is it helps a bit to get warm, especially if the sun is out and doing it’s job with a bit of warmth. Javelina Jean Wilson are known to seek the sun because they hate the cold as we do, so don’t forget that when you’re out in the field trying your best to get a glimpse of the game.

Let’s hope you have the opportunity to successfully harvest your javelina. Say this is your first successful hunt. As with any other game animal, taking good care of the meat from the start is so very important to your later enjoyment and it begins when that animal is down for the count.

Once the animal is down and you’re sure it’s dead, attach your tag and take pictures, then get busy and get it field dressed, packed up and back to camp where you’ll get it hung, both to drain blood collected in the cavity and to skin it cutting away any of the meat contaminated by a shot — bloodshot meat ruins quickly and the rest of your meat can easily become tainted upon contact. Take care of any remaining bits of hair, then clean, clean, and clean it more. Once it’s clean, allow it to air dry and put your game bag to work (you can wrap it in a tarp that’ll let the air circulate but keep the insects and sun away) and leave it hanging in the shade until time to pack up and head home. Then your only concern is keeping it clean and cool until you arrive at your final destination.

When packing prior to your hunt, be sure to include at least a couple of sharp (both small and large) knives for the skinning job. Also be sure you pack freezer bags as well for the heart and liver if you keep those.

Hunt happenings

• Big javelina contest 2019: The Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club members who have been drawn for a javelina hunt this year should call James or Linda Florence at 581-0825 for a weight slip that you will turn in once your hunt is successful.

• Mentored javelina hunt camp Feb. 21-24 for hunters who are learning by practical experience under skilled workers of the trade or calling: Registration is required with space and mentors limited. Location is the Cordes Junction area, units 19A, 20A, 20B and 21 hosted by Christian Hunters of America, The AZ Elk Society and Phoenix Varmint Callers. For information, contact David at davidmyrick@ christianhuntersofamerica.org or call (602) 309-3430.

• If you are interested in learning more about hunting or participate in the wildlife conservation movement that has been led by hunters for more than a century, visit any Game and Fish Department office or visit azgfd. gov/hunting and check out about Arizona Core Concepts of the North American model of wildlife conservation, managing today for wildlife tomorrow, “The untold story.” It’s packed full of information about the sportmen’s role in wildlife conservation, and about “What if Hunting Ends?” It also shows how the economic stimulus of hunting and fishing equates to $3.8 million a day being pumped into the state’s economy. A very interested piece for those who may have wondered.

Fishing clubs

• Desert Bass Anglers “The Fun Way to Fish”: Mittry Lake proved surprisingly successful for a share of the 22 boats that participated, led by the team of John Borghoff/ Ed Reeder who caught nothing under 5 pounds and weighed in a 29.89 lb. bag of bass beauties to take the top spot while Deacon Matthews/ Federico Salas placed second with their 21.56 as well as taking the No. 1 big fish weighing 7.56. Third place was enjoyed by the brother/sister team of Joseph and Nicole Williams also with 21.56 (but they only had 6.70 kicker). The husband/wife team of James and Krista Gerber placed fourth with 17.94 while Billy Clothier/Robert Murray joined forces to take fifth place with 15.39. The second place big dish honors was well earned by Joe Kling/ Grant Smith with their 7.45 lb. bass. The junk fish option was won by Manuel Santa Cruz/Bobby Ticen with a 4-lb. carp. All together there were 14 fish weighed in, 5 lbs or better — definitely, pre-spawn at Mittry, as Mac said! Get together to fish with the club on March 2 on the river at Fisher’s Landing — I’ll do my best to let you know sign up and weigh in information prior to that date.

Club dues are still $15 with additional members of immediate family $10 each. New members are always welcome. Call Mac or Bobbi McDermott at 726-1984.

• Desert Draw Pro/Am Fishing Club: Check with Michael Obney at (928) 750-7081 for details about the Feb. 23 launching out of Fisher’s Landing. Member dues are $20, fees: $30 each boat, $10 big fish, $5 8-lb. pot, $1 junk fish. Points awarded to each participant the same for both boater and non-boater according to their ranking in each tournament. Michael Obney encourages non-boaters to sign up for tournaments as well as boaters. In essence, that is what the idea behind the draw is to pair non-boaters with boaters to exchange ideas. A win, win situation.

• ABA — Yuma region: Results from Feb. 16 will be reported after the competition is completed. Call Billy Clothier at 919-0304 with questions. Many thanks to sponsors FTS Automotive & Diesel Service, A Touch of Glass, The Hideaway, Transmissions Plus, Adobe Eyecare, Village Inn Pizza, Rock Pile Fishing Co., DB Ranch and Bad Influence Marine.

• Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club: The Big Bass Qualifying began Jan. 1, ending May 19 so keep your lines in the water and weigh in your bass at The Hideaway. Check this column next week for results of the Feb. 9 All Members Bass Derby or call Robby Ballew at 919-2453.

The next fishing tournament will be the March 9 Jimmy Phipps Memorial Bass Derby launching out of Fisher’s Landing. Call Robby or Edgar at (928) 257-2604 with questions.

• The free youth fishing clinic will be held at Mittry Lake on March 23. Hope to see you there with your parents to join in the fun with bunches of activities to enjoy along with the fishing fun.

• 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 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 — always ready to assist — watch for them at the Mittry Lake Youth Fishing Clinic March 23 when they’ll be hard at work helping the kids.

• New owners of The Hideaway (previously Sportsmen’s Hideaway): Danny Woods and Blake Hash are the new owners of the Hideaway with Edgar still on site to help with tips along with helping with your fishing needs. Visit them at their new shop where Mitch’s Bait Shop used to be, a bit east on 16th Street from where they’ve been behind Baron’s Fuel.

• Fishing Arizona and the Colorado River: Bob LaLonde, Yuma Bassman, is putting plans together for this year’s tournament — visit yumabassman.com/forums-new/index. php/topic,9542.0.html. Let LaLonde know about food preferences for the dinner following the fishing competition. Complete information will be forthcoming.

Shooting sports

• Yuma Territorial Longrifles Club: Get in on the open black powder matches at the Adair Park range, 1st and 3rd Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. Call Roger Bickel at 726-7453 with questions or to ask about .22 matches.

• 4-H Shooting Sports: The Yuma County 4-H shooting sports is open to any 4-H youth ages 9-19 with end of the year competition in March. Call the Yuma 4-H office at 726-3904 or Stan Gourley at 344-0740 with questions.

• Renegade Archers of Yuma: Archers interested in shooting the 3D animal trail shoots set up to shoot at the Foothills Archery Range, can call Kevin Wilson at 726-0953 so we’ll know. We are glad to assist in your learning as well with free archery instructions — call ahead so we can bring extra equipment. The practice area at the range is open (use is free) daylight hours all week for archers practice and enjoyment. You might be best satisfied to bring your own target — People are intent on tearing down the expensive cotton bales — 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 noon Saturdays and Sundays as well as noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Adair Park, located off Highway 95, 15 miles east of Yuma, turning west onto Adair Range Road, 1st range on the right. The board meeting will be Feb. 25. Call Bob Avila at (928) 919-0622.

• The Yuma Young Guns with the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP): The program, open to ages 9-25 still in school, will continue through May of next year with a team of Arizona Game and Fish Department certified instructors assisting. They will hold SCTP practice at Adair Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon Tuesdays at 6 pm. Call head coach H. McNutt at (928) 580-0918 or John Gross at 580-1836 if interested.

• Cholla Gun Club: Silhouette match schedule at Adair Park with $5 shooting fee per gun: 4th Saturdays in February, March, November and December — big bore long range pistol; cowboy lever action rifle; pistol cartridge lever action rifle; .22 lever action rifle. These are NRA approved matches, however, NRA membership is not required to participate. 2nd Saturdays February, March, November and December — black powder cartridge, vintage military rifle silhouette or fun match. Vintage military rifle is any military rifle built up to 1952. No M14’s allowed. Chickens shot standing, pigs, turkeys, rams shot off of a ground rest. Replicating military positions while shooting. Bench rest 1/2 size targets will also be shot. This is all center fire calibers shot at 200, 300, 385, 500 meters. Other shooting schedules: Tuesdays 8 a.m. Schutzen .22 rifle match on the black powder range. 20 shots bench rest at 100 yards, 20 shots standing at 100 yards. Bench rest match 50 shots at 50 yards. Shot on alternating Tuesdays. Wednesdays — Informal get-together for fun and plinking off the bench or standing. Practice your shooting skills, test your ammo for the gun you want to shoot it in. Everyone is welcome. Wednesdays 9 a.m. BPCR .22 Silhouette, .22 Long Range Silhouette match. Fridays .22 and pistol cartridge caliber rifle and pistol silhouette fun matches. Informal gettogether for .22 rimfire rifle or pistol and pistol caliber lever rifles or pistols. Everyone welcome. Club meeting 2nd Tuesday 7 p.m. at Villa Alameda RV Park, Avenue 5E. Open to the general public. Instructions provided as necessary. All firearms must comply with NRA guidelines for each event. Cartridges must not result in damage to the targets (i.e., no belted magnums). Small bore is .22 long rifle ammunition (no .22 magnums). Sign-up at 8 a.m.; shooting promptly at 8:30 a.m.. Call Rick Kelley (928) 502-0736.

• High Power Rifle and Pistol Club of Yuma: Shooters are welcome to get in on the Saturday matches at 7:30 a.m. at the Adair Park R&P range. Feb. 23 — open shooting matches for across the course at 200, 300 and 600 yards. Call Joseph Murek at (928) 627-4556 with questions. Shooting activities with the club’s junior club junior “Whipper Snipers” for all ages on Saturdays as well, also at 7:30 a.m. Check club matches as well as Whipper Snipers news listed on the club website 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 the 2nd Sunday with the cowboy fast draw the 3rd Saturday. SASS cowboy matches moved from Saturday to the 4th Sunday. Interested in cowboy action shooting? Call Irene Snyder at (209) 613-4598 or Bob Wiles at 920-2158 with questions.

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