Gift ideas for the outdoorsy-type person on your list

Christmas is coming our way fast and furious, and with it the question of what to get those who are on Santa’s list. Pretty easy when it comes to items we can purchase for sportsmen and women in our lives who enjoy the outdoors and all it has to offer. The possibilities are endless.

For the hunter or angler, how about a 2017 license – single or combo. By getting the combo license for both hunting and fishing, it would be a gift greatly appreciated by any of us. If you plan to get a license for a youngster, how about taking him or her to the next hunter safety education class as well, being held at the Yuma Regional office of Game and Fish or at Sprague’s Sports? There is endless information to learn and for those who have already taken the course, the second time around is a great refresher. Be sure to check out all the books and the Arizona Wildlife Views magazine at Game and Fish while you’re there.

Visit local sports dealers and do some window shopping. There are so many ideas for gifts of value to any of us who venture outdoors even if it’s just a campout. For stocking stuffers, check with Game and Fish about a free copy of the 2017 Urban Fishing Program Guidebook as well as a copy of new fishing regulations for your fisherman or woman. Jean Wilson Something new this year is the fishing license for Arizona military families, active and retired, available at Game and Fish as well as license dealers. There is also an endless variety of tents, extra warm sleeping bags, clothing (don’t forget thermal underwear or wool socks to keep the feet from freezing) and boots for the cold country, sleeping cots, lanterns, cook stoves and utensils, dutch ovens, cast iron skillets, fishing equipment, hunting rifles and pistols, as well as archery equipment. The list goes on and on. If your sportsman enjoys a good, hot cup of coffee, Coleman has a 12cup coffee pot that sits on your camp stove top that makes an excellent cup of coffee.

A nifty gift for any youngster is giving of your time by accompanying him to an outdoor camp. Another gift of your time can include taking your youngster to get in on some fishing fun - a world of fun for any child to learn some of the tricks of the trade (add that fishing pole and/ or tackle box to a Christmas list of things youngsters enjoy).

Arizona Wildlife Federation: A perfect gift for the special gal (18 and older) in your life would be the next BOW “Becoming an Outdoor Woman” camp held by Arizona Wildlife Federation at Saguaro Lake Ranch in Mesa. The Jan. 20-22 camp is filled, but you can call and get on the waiting list at (480) 644-0077. The next BOW camp is April 7-9 at Friendly Pines Camp, Prescott, with one Sept. 8-10 also at Friendly Pines. Registration covers meals, lodging and most miscellaneous expenses related to the workshops – all your lady needs is bedding/ sleeping bags and personal items. Ask about various workshops at the camp. Scholarship applications for the 2017 events can be submitted between Feb. 8-22 for April and May 10-24 for September.

Another wonderful Christmas gift for the whole family would be a winter wonderland weekend in the Flagstaff area to play in the snow.

Hunt happenings

• Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club: This year’s annual club banquet was a very special event to award members for their hard work volunteering to assist the club in so many ways through the year. Top awards were sportsmen of the year presented to Vern Winter and Ron Klumb, life members awards presented to Phil Townsend and Mike Morgan while the president’s award went to John Kulberg. Other awards presented were to all the many volunteers who mentored youngsters and their parents at youth hunting and fishing camps or chaired different events during the year, a lot of them put together for our youth working hand in hand with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. There are photos on the internet – Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club selecting the YVR&GC Facebook page.

• Outdoor skills camps for youth: 5 to 11 p.m. Jan. 13 - archery javelina, deer, small game hunt camp, No. 88695, Lake Pleasant Regional Park, Morristown, Ariz.; 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 15 - BACB Upland bird hunting for women and youth, No. 91577, YMCA High Desert Hunt Club, Mayer, Ariz.; 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 17 - javelina hunting seminar, No. 88696, Calvary Community Church, Phoenix; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 21 - Wickenburg youth target shooting event, No. 88700, Wickenburg Sportsmen’s Club; 5 to 11 p.m. Jan. 26 - 20C/18B/16A youth javelina, small game and predator hunt camp, No. 88708, Baghdad, Ariz., plus 3 additional days; 5 to 11 p.m. Jan. 26 - 37B beginners small game and youth javelina camp, No. 88709, Willow Springs Hunt Camp, Oracle, Ariz.

Shooting sports

• Yuma area 4-H Shooting Sports: The 4-H kids are having fun and learning so much from the experiences they get in the shooting sports. If your youngster might be interested in learning more about the various programs, call Stanley Gourley at 344-0740 or the Yuma 4-H office at 726-3904.

• Renegade Archers of Yuma: Come shoot the trail of 3D javelinas at 9 a.m. each Sunday at the Foothills Archery Range. Call Kevin at 726-0953 or Jean at 247-4450. All archers welcome. Great practice for hunt seasons coming up soon and fun recreation for the whole family. Instructions available free of charge for anyone wanting to learn to shoot the bow and arrow, upon request. Regular adult shoot fees are $3 ($5 couples) with youngsters of all ages always free. Give a call for directions to the range or other archery information. Archers also welcome to make good use of the practice range at the Foothills Archery Range, located off Avenue 15E south of the south Frontage Road, east of Foothills Blvd.

• Yuma Trap and Skeet Club: Open trap and skeet 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Adair Park range. Call Bob Avila at 910-0622 with questions. For information on the Young Guns shooters (ages 9-25 enrolled in school or college) call head coach H. McNutt at 580-0918.

• Yuma Territorial Longrifles Club: Regular black powder matches at 8:30 a.m. the first and third Saturdays at the Adair Park black powder range are in full swing. Mark your calendar to include the 2017 YTLR Rendezvous Jan. 12-15 at the Adair Park range. Check for complete information next week or call Roger Bickel at 726-7453.

• Cholla Gun Club: Regular Friday .22 rifle and pistol matches are up and running at the Adair Park metallic silhouette range with sign-up 8 a.m, shooting at 8:30 a.m. Matches are open to the public with instructions provided when necessary. Questions? Call president Rick Kelley at (928) 502-0736.

• High Power Rifle and Pistol Club of Yuma: Pistol matches are on the last Saturday each month. The club will be at the Territorial Gun Show Sunday where they will promote their Junior Shooting Program offering items for donations for the program with information on the junior program as well. Call Joe Murek at 627-4556, Paul Lerma at 783-6766 or Gerald Brooker at (858) 349-1311.

• Yuma Matchmasters: Come shoot with the club at the Adair Park small bore range with sign-up at 7 a.m., shooting at 7:30 a.m. to include the steel challenge the first Saturday, multi-gun matches the first Sunday, IPSC combat matches the second Sunday and the SASS cowboy matches the fourth Sunday. Call Larry Wiles at 920-2157 or Irene Snyder at (209) 613-4598. Jan. 13-15 at Adair range with warm up Friday prior, one in the morning, one in the afternoon. Shooting 10 stages in all with awards Sunday afternoon. Also a cowboy fast draw event with vendors onsite with food available. Visitors welcome — be sure to have your eye and ear protection.

• Southwest Bowhunters Archery Club: Archery at 9 am. Sundays at the Adair Park archery range with the practice range open all week. Call Keith Parsels at 782-1097.

Fishing clubs

• Desert Bass Anglers — the fun way to fish: Begin the new year right by fishing with the club Jan. 7. Details will be forthcoming or call Mac or Bobbi McDermott at 726-1984.

• American Bass – Yuma division: The next Yuma ABA tournament will be Jan. 14. Monthly tournaments will be ongoing through the Yuma fish-off on May 13. Call Jeff Woods at (952) 824-0553 to sign-up for more information.

• Desert Draw Series Club: The club is a draw team/pro-am bass club with $15 membership and tournament entry of $25 per angler ($50 per boat) is a good chance for non-boaters to get out on the water with boaters for a day of fishing with a 100 percent payout. Membership is waived for members of the Yuma area High School Fishing Club. Call Manual Garcia at (928) 210-0043 with questions or for results of their latest tournament.

• Yuma’s High School bass fishing club: High school students, both boys and girls, who are interested in bass fishing are welcome to call Terry Hurt, school sponsor, at 580-6567 or visit StudentAnglerFoundation.com to get started with the club. A bunch of brand new high schoolers just getting started this year so we’ll look forward to hearing how they do. The students are assisted at all times by members of the Desert Bass Anglers and Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club who join forces to provide boats and fishing equipment, guiding the youngsters with fishing tips and techniques, all at no cost to the young fishermen and ladies — should be an exciting year for our next generation of anglers at Fisher’s Landing/Martinez Lake.

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