Learn about the anti-gun bill SB 1625
Arizona Senate Democrat assault weapons bill SB 1625. I have learned so far that this anti-gun bill has not gotten anywhere — yet! Before it’s done, it may become necessary for each of us to get in the fight against it or any other anti-weapons bill. Even if we may not be interested politically, those of us who hunt would eventually lose our rights to hunt with any firearm (my bet it would include archery as well) and along with that, our method of protecting ourselves and our families if the need should come our way. Let me share this email I received from Gary Knight, a concerned citizen. This bill now in the Senate of our Arizona State Legislature is something we all need to know about when voting this November.
As Knight wrote, “For everyone in LD4, your state Senator Lisa Otondo is co-sponsor of this “take away your guns” bill SB 1625. You must get the word out, she has to be defeated in the upcoming election. She has to be kicked out of office.” Click on the YouTube link below and the entire bill will be painfully explained:
Bill language: azleg. gov/legtext/54leg/2R/ bills/SB1625P.pdf; overview: apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/7397 6?SessionId=122.
Knight finished with, “Even if you do not live in LD4, most of us know people who do, so get the word out. I’ve had a couple inquiries on this bill which was introduced by Senator Rios on Feb. 5, 2020.”
Do you live in a legislative district that these Senators represent? Democrat co-sponsors of SB 1625 are Rios, Prime, Alston, Bradley, Contreras, Dalessandro, Gonzales, Mendez, Navarrete and Otondo. LD4 co-sponsors are Peshlakai, Quezada and Steele. Remember, your vote counts this coming November — don’t fail to use it!
Hunt happenings
Have you ever thought to share your hard-earned knowledge of hunting, fishing or the shooting sports, as well as working with or for wildlife and all the many other outdoor activities we enjoy so much with a youngster? I’ve said this many times before, but feel the need to do it again as a reminder to each and everyone of us that the future of the outdoors will lie on the shoulders of our youngsters and they need (with our help) to be capable of doing the job — most of us may not be here to do it for them.
There are parents who either cannot or will not, for one reason or another, take their youngsters to outdoor stuff and this means those youngsters don’t stand a chance to get to enjoy what we take so much for granted because we’ve been at it so long. To me, that means if we want to ensure the future of our favorite outdoor pastime(s), we need to share that knowledge.
I am very fortunate in that I’ve seen first-hand how a youngster shines when learning to do something outdoors for the first time — to shoot that first bullseye, to bait a hook for the first time, catch that first, tiny fish and learn how to let it go the right way, to pitch a tent and go camping for the first time. Nothing is quite as bright as a kid enjoying something for the very first time. Just think about all there is to do outdoors, especially around Yuma, that a lot of youngsters won’t ever get to do unless you and I make it possible! If you don’t have a youngster or don’t know where to locate one, give a holler to the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the Boys and Girls Club, 4-H or other kids organizations in town. My bet is they have lots of kids wanting to get in on activities they’ve never done before. You can make a difference. Youngsters cannot benefit and learn from your knowledge from a book, only by your sharing — you’ll be surprised how worthwhile it’ll make you feel.
Fishing clubs
• Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club: Check next week’s column for results from the All Member Bass Derby held earlier this month. Keep practicing for the March 14 Jimmy Phipps Memorial Bass Derby launching out of Fisher’s Landing. I’ll have details next week or call Travis Hurley at 928-5020121.
One of the many great annual youth events coming up and held by the YVRGC club is the Youth Fishing and Outdoor Clinic on March 21 at Mittry Lake. It’s all free! It will begin with sign-up at 5 a.m. at the shade area by the boat dock where the youngsters will receive a free fishing pole. For safety and to assist the kids in having a good time, a parent or other responsible adult should accompany each child. Game and Fish personnel along with a bunch of adult volunteers will assist the kids with fishing as well as with a lot of other fun events going on, including free prizes until around 11 a.m. when the free lunch will be served. Questions? Call David Parrish, 928-941-6168, Brant Barksdale, 210-4275 or Pat Headington, 257- 8143.
• Yuma’s Desert Anglers: Practice to fish the March 7 Open Bass tournament launching out of Fisher’s Landing. Call Michael Obney at 928-750-7081 for information or answers to questions.
• ABA Yuma region: Latest results show Brenton Lute/Craig Johnson beat the field of anglers at the latest competition with their total weight of 23.74 as well as big fish honors with a 6.17 largemouth. Taking second place and bass bucks was Keith/Jacob Lute with 18.57 followed in third place by Greg Gilbert with 14.25 lbs. to his credit. Jim Waits/John Turner teamed once again to take fourth place with 14.21, followed by Ken Howden/Gary Understiller in fifth place with 12.94, 3.12 big fish. Other successful anglers were Bob/Chad Voss in sixth place with 12.67, Robert Murray/ Lynn Domby in seventh place with 12.06, Robert Wagner/Jarod Bray in eighth place with 11.36,
Blaine Ruddy/Chris Yates in ninth place with 9.94, Jeff Lenard/ Phil Trevellyan in 10th place with 8.99, Lanny Brock/David Brakefield in 11th place with 6.84. Also fishing was the team of Billy Clothier/ Charles Lechner 3.96. The tournament schedule left for this year is March 7 at Mittry Lake, April 18 at Fisher’s, May 16 fish-off at Fishers Landing. Give Billy Clothier a call at 928-919-0304 with questions. Ask about the club’s 8-pound pot.
• 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, Game and Fish Region IV personnel 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. Interested high schoolers can call Terry Hurt, school sponsor, at 580-6567 or visit StudentAnglerFoundation.com to get started.
• Fish released by Game and Fish: Fish were released Feb. 17 at Yuma West Wetlands pond as well as the Somerton Council Park pond. I should have the next fish release schedule for local ponds to report sometime in March.
• Catfish bait tips: Here’s my promise to include how to make up your own catfish bait with what they like best and why they bite.
Shooting sports
• Yuma 4-H shooting sports: For information on the 4-H Shooting Sports for youth ages 9-19, call the 4-H office at 726-3904 or Stan Gourley at 344-0740. Ask about getting together with a 4-H club in town now in order to be able to sign up for 4-H Shooting Sports program in September.
• Kofa High School Shooting Sports program: The shooting club at Kofa High School is actually the Kofa Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) instructed by Major Todd Birney. The team successfully completed their third major rifle meet in state competition in Phoenix. The Kofa JROTC is recognized as a Naval honors program, which will allow Major Birney and Sgt. Major Collen Laarman to nominate cadets for U.S. military service academics.
• Yuma Territorial Longrifles Club: Regular open black powder matches on the 1st and 3rd Saturday
will be 8:30 a.m. at the Adair Park range. Call Roger Bickel at 726-7453 with questions or to ask about .22 matches.
• The Yuma Trap and Skeet Club: New schedule — Regular shooting matches are 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays and Sundays, and noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Adair Park trap and skeet range. 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. Call Bob Avila at 928-919-0622.
• The Yuma Young Guns Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP): The program is open to ages 9-25 still in school with a team of Arizona Game and Fish Department certified instructors assisting. SCTP practice at the range is 6 p.m. Wednesdays. Call head coach H. McNutt at 928-580-0918 or John Gross at 580-1836 for answers to questions.
• Cholla Gun Club: Club NRA approved matches will resume shooting now at Adair Park. 2020 silhouette match schedule at Adair Park with $5 shooting fee per gun: 4th Saturday 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 Saturday in 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 and 500 meters. Other shooting schedules for the week: every Tuesday 8 a.m. — Schutzen .22 rifle match on the black powder range, 20 shots bench rest at 100 yards and 20 shots standing at 100 yards, bench rest match 50 shots at 50 yards. These are shot on alternating Tuesdays. Every Wednesday 8 a.m. — 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. Every Wednesday 9 a.m. until finished — BPCR .22 silhouette, .22 long range silhouette match. Every Friday 8 a.m. — .22 and pistol cartridge caliber rifle and pistol silhouette fun matches. Informal get-together for .22 rimfire rifle or pistol and pistol caliber lever rifles or pistols. In addition, there will be some monthly NRL (National Rifle League) on the 3rd Saturday of the month throughout the year. Everyone is welcome. Club business meeting is 7 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday November through March at Villa Alameda RV Park, Avenue 5E. Qualifications: Open to the general public. Instructions will be provided as necessary. Firearm limitations: All firearms must comply with NRA guidelines for each event. Cartridge limitations: Cartridges must not result in damage to the targets (i.e., no belted magnums). Small bore is defined as .22 long rifle ammunition (no .22 magnums). Start times: Sign-up at 8 a.m., shooting starts promptly at 8:30 a.m. Call president Rick Kelley at 928-502-0736 or visit rickinyuma@gmail.com.
• High Power Rifle and Pistol Club of Yuma: All shooters are always welcome to shoot with the club. Call Joseph Murek at 928627-4556 with questions. Shooting activities are also available for club junior “Whipper Snipers” for all ages. Check club matches along with other club news listed on the club website at hprifleyuma.com.
• 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, and the cowboy fast draw the 3rd Saturday. Cowboy matches have moved to the 4th Sunday. Call Ronnie Gissendaner at 7260022 with questions. Interested in cowboy action shooting? Call Irene Snyder at 920-613-4598 or Bob Wiles at 920-2158.
• Southwest Bowhunters Archery Club: I hope to have results for next week’s column of the latest “Walk the Trail” invitational archery shoot at Adair Park. The club shoots archery at the Adair Park range. Call Keith Parsels at 782-1086 or visit southwestbowhunters.net for details.