Ideas on where to hunt for ducks, geese

Waterfowl hunts in Arizona are open now with more to come Nov. 2. A few tips might possibly help if you’re wanting to try your hand at duck or geese hunting in areas near Yuma. I received a call from one hunter who wanted to get my thoughts on where he might go to locate ducks. I suggested he call Game and Fish, region IV office at 342-0091, ask for the phone number for Courtney, the Game and Fish gal at Cibola for starters for information on hunting ducks and geese at Cibola areas along the Colorado River as well as the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge. Cibola is where the annual Youth Waterfowl Hunt is headquartered and with great success. It might do well to do some scouting in that area and talk with Courtney about her thoughts as well. The Havasu National Wildlife Refuge might be another location to try with areas open to duck hunting except where posted (areas posted within shall be closed to all hunting (you may have to pay a fee to hunt on National Wildlife Refuges).

One important fact is that all areas within Arizona are designated ‘nontoxic’ shot zones. The use or possession of lead shot while waterfowl hunting is prohibited. No person may take ducks, geese (including brant), or coots while possessing shot (either in shotshells or as loose shot for muzzleloading) other than approved nontoxic shot. Lead shot includes plated lead shot. For a list of approved nontoxic shot, see fws. gov/migratorybirds/currentbirdissues/nontoxic.htm. Steel, bismuth, tungsten-iron, tungsten-polymer, tungsten-nickel-iron, and tungsten matrix shot are approved as nontoxic shot.

Persons 16 years or older must have (in their possession) a valid federal migratory bird hunting stamp when taking ducks and geese, and a valid, signed Arizona waterfowl stamp attached to their hunting license or printed privileges on their license when taking ducks and geese. This stamp or privilege will automatically register the holder for the Federal Harvest Information Program for the taking of ducks and geese. Persons 18 and older must have (in their possession) a valid Arizona migratory bird stamp or privilege when taking coots and common moorhens pursuant to A.R.S. 17-333.03 and R12-4-203. For complete list of do’s and don’ts for waterfowling, get a copy of the waterfowl regulations at Game and Fish, local sports dealers or online.

Migratory birds that include ducks and geese, must only hunt during hours open for any hunting (one-half hour before sunrise until sunset) — and only during the waterfowl season. One fully feathered wing must be left attached to all migratory game birds until they reach their final destination. The bag limit is 7 per day not to include more than: two redheads; one pintail, 2 canvasback; three scaup; one black-bellied whistling duck; and 7 mallards, no more than two of which may be female or Mexican-like ducks. Coots and common moorehens: 25 per day, singly or in the aggregate. Geese: 20 white geese (snow, including blue and ross’ geese) per day and 4 dark geese (Canada, cackling and whitefronted) per day. No person may, during any one day, take more than one daily bag limit or possess more than one daily bag limit in the field, or while returning to the car, hunt camp or home. For more information, see the regulations under waterfowl, general, commission order 21 in the regulations where you’ll also find the possession limits. The regulations also has sunrise/sunset hours for 2019-2020 that is very helpful.

Hunt happenings

• Sprague’s Sports Shop in Yuma: In addition to having most any shooting and hunting equipment you might need to shop for, Sprague’s also holds firearms related classes to help shooters or hunters in their learning. To learn about classes being scheduled, call 918-726-0022.

• Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club: If you are interested in hunting this time of year as well as spring in 2020, consider attending the Nov. 6 meeting of the outdoors club (monthly meetings are always on the first Wednesday of the month at American Legion Post 19, 2575 S. Virginia Drive with a 6:30 p.m. reasonably priced dinner, the meeting at 7 p.m. A great place to start if you want to learn about what’s going on and get to talk with other hunters for some helpful tips as well as getting answers to fishing questions you might have. It’s always a friendly bunch so don’t be shy about asking whatever you have on your mind. You are always welcome.

• Myth busting encounters with venomous snakes: Would you be interested in an idea or two around myth busting on encounters with venomous snakes? If you run into venomous snakes this fall while hiking and running outdoors in states where the nighttime temperature hasn’t dipped too far below 60, Chris Gale of Gale Strategies (203-5704681) can put you in touch with medical toxicologists, including the division of Boston Scientific that makes snake antivenom for the U.S. market, the main things people do wrong when bitten by snakes in the autumn — Use snake bite kits they buy in outdoors stores. Medical toxicologists hate these things and don’t understand why they’re still sold. Instead, Gale says to “Cut, electrocute or use a tourniquet on the bite (most importantly, nothing helps as much as getting to a medical center more quickly). He goes on, “I can also put you in touch with a facility in Florida that collects venomous snakes that are found in peoples’ homes and milks the venom to develop antivenom so that if you’re bit by a venomous snake in the U.S., the antivenom you receive is as close a match to that snake as possible. They manage the mix of snakes that are gathered and milked to cover the various species in the wild. There is no synthetic antivenom available today.” He finishes with, “Many news outlets and public agencies attempt to notify the public of how to be outdoors where snakes are in spring and early summer, very little is said during the hiking season in October which is the other peak venomous snake season, basically right now.” In Arizona it could easily cover all weather like it is during what we call now through winter).

Fish tip for some cool fishing

If you like to fish for crappie, they can be found in schools in structure this time of year (check out trees and brush primarily in 15 to 20 feet of water). Having a boat with a fish finder is especially helpful. Crappie can congregate in coves or off points, but will normally keep to good structure. Big boulders can also attract crappie aggregations, which will look like a Christmas tree on the fish finder. Live minnows or small 1- to 2-inch jigs with 1/16 to 1/32-ounce jig heads are the ticket for catching these delectable treats. Crappie lights at night will often work until the water gets really cold. Locating possible crappie holding areas beforehand can make or break a night crappie expedition. In the winter, crappie will often orient to deeper submerged brush, or hold in schools in open water. That’s where a fish finder is critical to get your slowly-moved jig or minnow at the exact depth the non-aggressive crappie are holding. A few feet one way or the other can make a difference in whether or not you catch your fish.

For the walleye angler, be aware that as the shad disperse into the lakes, walleye will follow, providing some great opportunities to catch these deep water species. Live minnows or nightcrawlers always seem to be effective for a good catch. Get your bait or jig down about 20 feet and when you find one walleye, be prepared for others. Live crawdads and crankbaits that imitate crawdads can also be effective in shallower cove areas. Fishing clubs • Desert Anglers begin in January: In case you missed last week’s column, a reminder can help at times. With a format very similar to what Desert Bass Anglers had been, the club fishing tournaments will begin again in January as “Desert Anglers” with Michael Obney and his wife handling it — that will be very good for all anglers in Yuma, San Diego and Phoenix who enjoyed Desert Bass Anglers so much through so many years. The tournament schedule can be found at the Hideaway on east 16th Street (Highway 95) where Mitch’s Bait Shop used to be or give Michael an evening call at 928-750708 or Blake Hash at the Hideaway at 928-581-4725. I’ll report tournaments and dates here soon.

• Anyone interested in taking on Pro/Am tournaments so it can continue in Yuma? In order to take on Desert Anglers, Michael Obney had to close the Desert Pro/Am Draw Series he had worked so hard at so needs someone to continue the Pro/ Am in Yuma for anglers who prefer that type of fishing club. Rumor has it there are a share of fishermen who love Pro/Am and miss it. Give Michael a call in the evenings at 750-7081 to ask questions.

• Yuma High School Bass Fishing Club: A great way for any high schooler, both boys and girls, to learn about fishing for bass with members of the Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club and other volunteers assisting the kids in providing them with boats and equipment as well as guidance as they learn. It is an exciting year so far for our next generation of anglers at Fisher’s Landing/Martinez Lake. Keep check on this column for results of Bryce who is a member of the High School Bass Fishing Club once he fishes the national competition. Good luck, fishin’, to this hard working young man! Interested high schoolers can call Terry Hurt, school sponsor, at 580-6567 or visit StudentAnglerFoundation.com to get started.

• Question about kids fishing: Any youngsters with parents who might want to go fishing? Let me know and we’ll set a Saturday date to begin. I say “parents” because at least one adult is needed to come with their youngster to assist their attempts to fish and for safety — there are a few of us who would be there to assist you as well. There is no cost and if you don’t have a pole to use, I have a few to use for this fishing fun. Email me at jeanrenegade@gmail.com. For the youngsters, both boys and girls, fishing is a great sport to get into, then if you like it a lot, you could even get into the High School Bass Fishing Club when you get old enough and learn all about bass fishing with some great teachers.

Shooting sports

• 4-H Shooting Sports: The Yuma County 4-H shooting sports is open to any 4-H youth ages 9-19 with an end of the year competition in March. Call the Yuma 4-H office at 726-3904 or Stan Gourley at 3440740 with questions or if you have a youngster who wants to join a 4-H club in time for fall training to get in on the shooting sports at the Ware Farm in Gila Valley.

• The Yuma Trap and Skeet Club: Regular shooting matches are 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays and Sundays. Beginning in November along with Saturdays and Sundays 8 a.m. to noon, matches will also be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 4 p.m. at the Adair Park trap and skeet range with fees $1 to sign up with $6 non-member fee per round of 25 targets. Member’s fee $4 per round with 5 shooting fields available — field 1 & 2 skeet, field 3 wobble trap, field 4 & 5 trap. Eye and hearing protection required. Annual dues $30 per calendar year. Eye and hearing protection required for all shooting. 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 soon once our weather cools a bit with a team of Arizona Game and Fish Department certified instructors assisting. Call head coach H. McNutt at 928-580-4838 or John Gross at 580-1836 for answers to questions.

• Renegade Archers of Yuma: Keep check of this column for news of 3D animal shoots being held by Renegades at the Foothills Archery Range or call Kevin Wilson at 928726-0953.

• 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.

• Cholla Gun Club: Call Rick Kelley at 928-502-0736 for information about the club. NRA approved matches (NRA membership not required) will resume in November at Adair Park. The range will remain open to the public for safe shooting practice until the maintaining club returns.

• High Power Rifle and Pistol Club of Yuma: All shooters are always welcome to shoot with the club. Call Joseph Murek at 928-627-4556 with questions. Shooting activities are also available for club junior “Whipper Snipers” for all ages as well. Check club matches along with other club 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 fast draw matches have moved from Saturday to the 4th Sunday. Call Ronnie Gissendaner at 726-0022 to check summer and fall matches. Interested in cowboy action shooting? Call Irene Snyder at 920-613-4598 or Bob Wiles at 920-2158.

• Southwest Bowhunters Archery Club: Archery is offered Sundays with the practice range open all week at Adair Park. Call Keith Parsels at 782-1086.

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