Mineral mining has direct effect on hunting, fishing

Mineral dependency in the United States can have a direct and dire lasting effect on our cherished opportunities in Arizona to hunt, fish and enjoy outdoors recreation in the wonderful natural surroundings we benefit from with the fruits of our labor and don’t want to lose.

According to a letter sent to President Trump and others by Rep. Paul Gosar and 23 other members of Congress, “The mineral withdrawals began in the late 1970s following the discovery of highly valuable uranium deposits in the Arizona Strip when job creators and energy advocates approached Congress to encourage a legislative solution that would allow new exploration and production in the area by releasing some of the 44 different Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) on Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands. After that, thousands upon thousands of acres more were added to the wilderness preservation system as well as to the multiple-use that included mining. In 1984 the historic Arizona Strip Wilderness Act was signed into law. Unfortunately, many of the same organizations involved in passing the groundbreaking Arizona Strip Wilderness Act went back on their word. The Obama Administration unilaterally acted to upend the bipartisan and bicameral bill passed by Congress. As the American Clean Energy and Resources Trust points out, ‘Using inaccurate, outdated, unrelated, often down right fabricated ‘arguments’ as well as more than a little ‘in your face’ chutzpah, Jean Wilson environmental groups pressured the then new Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, to withdraw almost one million acres of land in northern Arizona from any and all mining activities.’”

The letter continues, “As a result of this mineral withdrawal, tens of millions of dollars spent by companies on exploration were wasted, more than 2,000 mining claims became essentially worthless overnight and hundreds of high-paying jobs in an extremely rural area were killed. The Mohave County Board of Supervisors claim this withdrawal will cost local economics $29 billion over a 42-year period. The board also pointed out that uranium is used by our military in tanks, bullets and missiles as well as to power Navy ships. The reality is that domestic utilities now import 95% of the uranium to power America’s 100 reactors whereas 40 years ago 100% of U.S. nuclear electricity was generated solely with U.S.-mined uranium.”

To make a long story short, the letter, written with complete information on the mining industry in Arizona, did not mention one word about how the northern areas in Arizona, directly effected by wilderness and mining, might suffer should the president decide to stick with the plan to leave this withdrawal in place.

I join other hunters in Arizona who might want to take advantage of hunting opportunities at areas along the Arizona Strip and the Grand Canyon. We hope that access will always be open to us as long as we are licensed, have the proper permits, practice good sportsmanship and take extra good care of the land. As Brant Barksdale of Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club wrote, “Asking that they reopen vast swaths of land around the Grand Canyon to uranium mining (as was stated in the letter) is a terrible idea that puts the water, air and wildlife of the Grand Canyon in serious danger of irreversible damage, not to mention Arizona’s economy. And for what? As an outdoorsman, I can tell you there’s no real community benefit to mining near the canyon — unless you want to make it harder for people to safely hunt, fish and explore in one of America’s greatest landscapes. I hope the rest of the Arizona Congressional delegation stand with hunters, anglers, and the multi-million dollar economic drive that is the Grand Canyon.”

If anyone might like a copy of the complete letter that I’ve reported on, I’d be happy to send or email a copy to you. Just email me at jeanrenegade@gmail. com or call 247-4450.

Hunt happenings

• Learning Outdoor Skills: If you’d like to learn to hunt, tap, fish, shoot or enjoy wildlife recreation, June 23 will be J.A.K.E.S. Day on June 23 for kids 17 and under to learn basic outdoors skills with all equipment provided along with lunch and a 1-year NWTF JAKES membership included free. Location: Sierra Vista; Hosted by: Huachuca Gould’s Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation. Register by June 18 at www.nwtfhuagoulds.org. For information: John Milican (520) 5084272, j2dbmill@msn.com or Wayne Kaiser (520) 678-9827, lmkwak@ cox.net.

Fishing clubs

• Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club: A busy time of year for all fishermen, ladies and families belonging to this great hunting and fishing club with the Big Bass Dinner June 15 Big Bass Derby launching out of Fisher’s Landing June 16th for all the anglers who qualified yesterday. The following fishermen and ladies all qualified to fish the Big Bass Derby on June 16th. Qualifying Tournament results are: 1. Robert Murray/Mike Edwards 21.01, 2. Chris Walker/Simon Apodaca 16.03, 3. Logan Walker/Bruce Drake 14.95, 4. Tyler Shaddy/Steven Laurel 13.54, 5. Ben Smeenge/Jay Bathrick 12.80, 6. Scott Nigh/Ryan Turpin 12.01, 7. Billy Butler/Joey Delgadillo 11.56, 8. Clint Fraser/ Clinton Fraser 11.51, 9. Tim Skellett/ Tom Johnson 10.63, 10. Craig Johnson 10.58, 11. George Morriso/ Mike Gunnerson 9.74, 12. Jamers Gerber/Christa Gerber9.46, 13. Billy Clothie/Charles Lechner 9.31, 14, Cole Schaffner/Grant Schaffner 9.30, 15. Brian Shadd/Tommy Ray 9.24, 16. Andrew Cain/Daniel Harlin 8.57, 17. Richard Gill/Justin Lewis 8.19, 18. Tom Kinder/Mike Arivzu 7.50, 19. Jeramie Pawloski 7.49, 20. Walter Clayton/Craig Clayton 6.91, 21. Trevor Reis 6.57, 22. Octovio Ruiz/ Louie Sotto 4.56, 23. Billy Morgan 2.20. Big Fish Honors: 1. Walker/ Apodoca 5.40, 2. Nigh/Turpin, 5.36, 3. Murray/Edwareds 5.27, 4. Fraser/ Fraser 5.27, 5. Smeenge/Bathrick 3.61, Morrison/Gunnerson 3.26, 7. Kinder/Arvizu 2.89. 2-pound pot winner: Walker/Apodoca with 2.48104 fish weighed in with all but 2 returned to the water. Good Fish’n everyone!

Coming up on June 23 is the Military Appreciation Float Tube Derby, 5 am. at Mittry Lake — Call Jared or Kelly Young at 276-5243. Details forthcoming.

• American Bass (ABA) – Yuma Division: Next up — The June 2nd ABA YUMA FISH OFF CHAMPIONSHIP. Get your team entered, you won’t want to miss it, it’s going to be epic! A big Thank you to all our sponsors, especially FTS Franklin Tire & Service Center!

The championships coming up June 2nd launching out of Fisher’s Landing has added new interest this year. While in the past, this event has been a qualifying, invitation only event, this years event is open to anyone who has fished at least ONE event with ABA since 2012, when Jeff Woods and Ray Mayo took over as Directors. Ray & Jeff are retiring as directors and are hoping to see everyone one last time before passing the reigns on in this division to a new Director. • Mark your calendar and get your entry in as this will be one of the most epic year end championship events ever. Also, note that as long as one member has fished with us, the boat is qualified and the second person can fish regardless of participation with ABA in the past. Entry fee per boat is $140 plus $20 Option (winner take all), all for $160. • All participants receive a chance to win a 3 day fishing trip to EL Salto curtesy of Ron Speeds Adventures. Watch for entry form and complete information in my 4/26 column or call Jeff Woods at 951 824-0553. You can also enter (check only, don’t send cash) with Director Jeff Woods 2520 Tara Lane, Riverside, CA 92506 by no later than May 25th.

• Desert Bass Anglers “The Fun Way to Fish”: The club will accomodate the June 2nd final ABA Yuma Division Tournament by getting up early for their next competition on June 9th rather then the usualy first Saturday. Call Mac or Bobbi McDermott at 726-1984 for details.

• Desert Draw Series Pro/Am Bass Fishing Club: call Michael Obney at 928 750-7081. The June 16th tournament will launch out of Fisher’s Landing. Call Michael Obney at 928 750-7081 for sign up information.

• 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 and that is so great! They will travel to Lake Pleasant for the Arizona State High School Bass Fishing Championships shortly. Some great results from the championships at Lake Pleasant leading these great youngsters to the Nationals will be reports in next week’s column.

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 at the Foothills Archery Range. Free archery instuction for your youngsters (adults as well) and it’s “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 best satisfied bringing along your own target. PLEASE do what you can to prevent vandalism while at the range so all can enjoy.

• Yuma Trap and Skeet Club: Anyone interested in trap and skeet? Shoot 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays and Sundays. Tuesdays and Thursdays noon to 4 p.m. at Adair Park. Call Bob Avila at (928) 919-0622. The Yuma Young Guns with the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) is still working hard. Call Head Coach H. McNutt at (928) 580-0918 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.

• 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” shooters still busy with their shooting activities for all ages. 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.