David French from HandWarmers.net had contacted me and asked if I would mind reviewing his handwarmers, to which I agreed. I was a bit at a loss though; I received the handwarmers in late February, and all my cold-weather hunts were over for the year. I asked David what he thought and he said he [...]
Go to HotHands HandwarmersAuthor Archive
March 17th, 2010
World Record Trout Caught in Labrador
Boy I miss fishing brook trout. I received this as a fwd/fwd/fwd from my mom. I cannot speak for its validity.
Related Articles:
Fishing Report – February
And along comes a spider – The Spider Bull, that is
Best Trout Season in Years!
Fishing Reports
Trout Fishermen Get Bonus
March 16th, 2010
A Word About Mad Cow Cutlery
I need to throw a big shout out to Daniel Clay of Mad Cow Cutlery. In getting my other blog, The Dry-Rubbed Rat going, I had contacted a bunch of companies when my blog went live, offering to post press releases, company profiles, reviews, etc.
Daniel replied and offered to send me a bunch of knives [...]
March 15th, 2010
Shooting Accident Not Connected to Ben Avery Range
NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release, March 15, 2010
Media Reports Erroneously Tie Accidental Shooting to Ben Avery Shooting Facility
Various media outlets on Saturday, March 13 reported the accidental shooting of an 12-year-old-boy near the Ben Avery Shooting Facility. While most reports of the incident were accurate, the Arizona Game and Fish Department wants to make [...]
March 15th, 2010
Be Comfortable with a Vero Vellini Sling
Life’s Too Short Not To Be Comfortable
MOORESTOWN, NJ (March 9, 2010) — Whether you’re walking 200 yards to your blind or making your way through several miles of challenging terrain, carrying a firearm can be cumbersome and even uncomfortable. A narrow leather sling that digs into your shoulder can be annoying, and a sling [...]
March 15th, 2010
Don’t miss the largest hands-on Outdoor Expo in Arizona on March 27-28
Well done to Game and Fish for another awesome outreach effort ~DesertRat
Want to see live wildlife, watch your kids catch a fish, refine your archery skills, try out all types of firearms, navigate a field course, view exciting rock crawler and ATV demonstrations, see boating exhibits, or witness exciting mounted cowboy action shooters?
Then get ready [...]
Go to Don’t miss the largest hands-on Outdoor Expo in Arizona on March 27-28March 14th, 2010
Hunters Shooting Cats?
Now, this story is funny. First off, there’s lots of data suggesting just how much damage feral cats do to local wildlife populations. If the animal rights groups are so concerned, then they should offer to control the cats, and pay reparation to the state, for the damage these things have caused. Of course, animal [...]
Go to Hunters Shooting Cats?March 14th, 2010
Check Out The Trophy Room
I was recently contacted by the Trophy Room and asked to have a look at their site, and maybe mention it to my readers. Trophy Room is a free site that enables you to share videos with other outdoor enthusiasts.
From their “About Us” section:
Founded in December 2007, Trophy Room is an online video destination and [...]
March 11th, 2010
Interview With Doug at Cameraland
Doug Paymer of Camera Land has become a great friend of the Desert Rat Blog. Doug is well-known through his participation on a bunch of hunting message boards across the internet, including our own AHT Forums. If you are interested in purchasing cameras or optics, please contact Doug. I guarantee his knowledge will impress you. [...]
Go to Interview With Doug at CameralandMarch 11th, 2010
2010 Banquet & Major Event Schedule
2010 Banquet & Major Event Schedule
March 27-28 Arizona Game and Fish Department Outdoor Expo
April 10-11 Arizona Bowhunter’s Association’s 2nd leg (Rumble in the Rocks) of the 2010 Triple Crown. Click on the link above for more information or contact Stony Amerine at 623-204-8659 or at amerines7@aol.com.
May [...]
March 10th, 2010
Ben Pearson’s Predator
I own two Ben Pearson bows now and love them. I wish they’d get more of a presence here in Arizona. ~DesertRat
Ben Pearson’s Predator
The world’s top predators attack with deadly stealth and speed. Few escape these silent hunters and all fear their presence. The same can be said for Ben Pearson’s Predator. New for 2010, [...]
March 10th, 2010
Game and Fish places employee on administrative leave
Well, this doesn’t sound good… ~DesertRat
Game and Fish places employee on administrative leave
March 9, 2010
PHOENIX – The Arizona Game and Fish Department yesterday formally placed one of its employees on administrative leave with pay as a result of an interim finding in the department’s ongoing internal administrative investigation into the events surrounding last year’s [...]
March 9th, 2010
M2D Snow Camo is Here
This just in from Sparky over at M2D Camo ~DesertRat
“I just received the new M2D CAMO Snow pattern. I have very limited supplies, like only 55 sets.
I am selling as a set only to the first come first serve. Pants are Med, Large, or XL [...]
March 9th, 2010
Upcoming Sportsmen’s Events
Upcoming Sportsmen’s Events
Angler’s United
www.anglersunited.org
-March 27 “Just for Kids Fishing Day” at Kiwanis Park in Tempe from 7:00am to 10:00pm for more information call 480-350-5650
Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society
www.adbss.org
-March 27 Opal Sohler Catchment in Unit 13B, Grand Wash Cliffs. Contact 480-854-8950 or assnmgmt1@cox.net
Arizona Elk Society
www.arizonaelksociety.org
- March 20, Annual Banquet at Mesa Centennial Hall, for more [...]
March 8th, 2010
Real Time Flow Data For Arizona Rivers
Wow – what a useful site this is! Real time flow data for Arizona streams and rivers. Thanks to Rory Aikens over at AZGFD for posting the link on Facebook.
Arizona River Data
Related Articles:
Don’t miss the largest hands-on Outdoor Expo in Arizona on March 27-28
Game Population Surveys in Arizona
Unit 37B – North 96 Hills Water Development [...]
March 7th, 2010
Game Population Surveys in Arizona
I found this description of how they (AZGFD) do game population estimates over on my friend Amanda’s great message board at CouesWhitetail.com. This was graciously posted by Jim Hinkle from AZGFD and I found it very informative! ~DesertRat
Jim Hinkle, Big Game Management Supervisor for AGFD asked me to post this since he has seen questions [...]
March 6th, 2010
Get ready for family fun at the free Game and Fish Outdoor Expo
Get ready for family fun at the free Game and Fish Outdoor Expo
You and your family will want to mark your calendars now and make plans to attend one of Arizona’s largest outdoor expos.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department Outdoor Expo will be held Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28 at the Ben Avery [...]
March 6th, 2010
Unit 37B – North 96 Hills Water Development Project – Volunteers Needed
Unit 37B – North 96 Hills Water Development Project – Volunteers Needed
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is requesting your assistance to help build a wildlife water catchment on the weekend of March 12-14th. We will be constructing a new water development in the 96 Hills in Game Management Unit 37B for wildlife, and [...]
March 6th, 2010
New Smoking Blog
No, not cigars or pipes. Not hookahs. Meat. Pork. Beef. Chicken. Yum.
I am picking up a new smoker next week. Like a lot of folks I have spent years barbecuing over a backyard grill with average success. That’s not what I am talking about. I’m talking low and slow, baby. I’m talking different woods – [...]
March 5th, 2010
Lend a hand at the Alamo Lake cleanup on March 6
Lend a hand at the Alamo Lake cleanup on March 6
A fishing hot spot needs your help – the Alamo Lake clean up is set for Saturday, March 6 starting at 8 a.m.
Arizona Game and Fish Department experts predict that this 2,500-surface-acre desert lake west of Wickenburg will be one of the state’s hottest fishing [...]
March 4th, 2010
Williams Ranger District seeks public comment on Travel Management Project Environmental Assessment
Williams Ranger District seeks public comment on Travel Management Project Environmental Assessment
The Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest has released its Travel Management Project Environmental Assessment for public review and comment. The document and accompanying maps are available on the Kaibab National Forest Web site at http://fs.usda.gov/kaibab.
Forest managers are seeking input on the [...]
March 4th, 2010
Protect wildlife habitat when collecting shed antlers
Protect wildlife habitat when collecting shed antlers
This is the time of year when many people take to the field, scouring the countryside on foot or by vehicle, in hopes of finding freshly shed wildlife antlers or perhaps a carcass with antlers still intact. The competitive rush to be the first to find these antlers, and [...]
March 3rd, 2010
Public forums, open houses scheduled for 2010 fall hunting regulations
Public forums, open houses scheduled for 2010 fall hunting regulations
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is hosting a series of public forums followed by open houses across the state to allow constituents an opportunity to provide their input, learn about the process, and then see the preliminary hunt recommendation package before it is set by [...]
March 3rd, 2010
Arizona hunting and fishing licenses now available online
Arizona hunting and fishing licenses now available online
They’re back: Arizona hunting and fishing licenses are available online once again.
It’s simple and easy: just visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov to decide what license or license package suits you or your family best, and make the online purchase using your [...]
March 2nd, 2010
Tres Rios nature festival to be held at Estrella Mountain Regional Park
Tres Rios nature festival to be held at Estrella Mountain Regional Park
The Tres Rios Nature and Earth Festival will be held March 6-7 this year at Estrella Mountain Regional Park. Heavy runoff from this winter’s rainstorms have made the usual site near Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) temporarily unusable.
“We regret having to move the festival at [...]
March 2nd, 2010
Recent condor mortalities used to expand conservation efforts
Recent condor mortalities used to expand conservation efforts
After three years without a confirmed mortality from lead poisoning, three California condors have recently died from the biggest challenge to the species’ recovery. The condors, including a female and her chick from the previous year, were recovered by The Peregrine Fund.
Necropsies to determine the cause of [...]
March 2nd, 2010
So, what’s going on at Camp Patriot?
A couple of years ago, Camp Patriot was a fairly new organization and I made some efforts to help promote their awesome group. I have reconnected with the Clarks, and friend Bill was kind enough to provide an update. We promised to stay in better touch, so that I can help spread the word about [...]
Go to So, what’s going on at Camp Patriot?March 1st, 2010
Cabela’s Targeted by National Animal Rights Group
Cabela’s Targeted by National Animal Rights Group
(Columbus) – One of the nation’s largest anti-hunting groups, Defenders of Wildlife, have taken aim at Cabela’s Inc. with a misguided and misleading public relations campaign designed to raise money to fund its efforts against outdoor sports.
According to an action alert posted by Defenders, the group accused Cabela’s [...]
March 1st, 2010
From Field To Table
You may recall reading about my daughter’s first successful javelina hunt – “The Tale of the Sunset Sow”. As it turns out, my daughter is a better hunter than I am – so far! Anyway, with her javelina down, I asked Miky what she wanted to do with the meat. We had heard/read a lot [...]
Go to From Field To TableFebruary 28th, 2010
Right-to-Carry Takes Effect In National Parks
Right-to-Carry Takes Effect In National Parks
On February 22, a new law took effect that applied state firearms laws to national parks and wildlife refuges across America.
The implementation of the new law, which the National Park Service (NPS) has planned for since passage of H.R. 627 last May, has so far been without major problems. [...]