California Fish and Wildlife Offering Archery Clinics

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will offer two beginning archery clinics this spring for young archers between the ages of 8 and 17.

The first clinic, the Youth Archery Spring Fling, will be held Saturday, April 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Maya Archery Range, 750 Galleria Blvd. in Roseville (Placer County).

The second clinic, the Mojave Youth Archery Blast, will be held Saturday, June 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mojave Archers Range, 10500 Eaby Road in Phelan (San Bernardino County).

“Archery is a sport that motivates youth to spend time outdoors, and California has some of the best and most scenic outdoor ranges available to the public,” said Lesa Johnston, CDFW’s coordinator for the California National Archery in the Schools Program. “We hope that by offering archery opportunities, youth will be encouraged to explore the possibilities and participate in this lifelong sport.”

Each clinic includes a safety orientation, fundamental archery instruction, an introduction to various types of equipment and plenty of actual target practice. Clinic participants will be supervised by adults as they practice shooting at the outdoor stationary bull’s-eye targets.

Separate instruction will be provided for youth (8-12 years old) and teens (13-17). Participants of both age groups must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The cost is $15 for all ages, and includes the use of the equipment, snacks and lunch. Parents and guardians will also receive a lunch at no additional charge.

CDFW will co-sponsor the clinic with the California Bowmen Hunters and the State Archery Association. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Online registration is available on the CDFW website at www.dfg.ca.gov/yo. For additional information, please call the program coordinator at (916) 322-8933.

Exciting New Program for Louisiana Bass Anglers

"Where’s the best place to fish for bass?" It’s a common question inquiring minds of Louisiana anglers want to know. And the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will soon be able to provide that information through the launch of their new Louisiana Bass Tournament Program, an organized, mutually beneficial method of collecting bass tournament data.

The program compiles input from clubs and tournament trails, and the data is made available to anyone interested in the status of selected bass fisheries in Louisiana.

An annual report will be generated at the end of each year and made available online. Our 2013 report will be available in early 2014. Results will give anglers a good idea of what they can expect when fishing different lakes and a way to see how they stacked up against other anglers.

Anyone who hosts a bass tournament on Louisiana’s waters can participate, and completing the report card takes just a few minutes. Please contact Chase Chatelain at cchatelain@wlf.la.gov or (318) 748-6914 to request a report card or visit http://www.wlf.la.gov/louisiana-bass-tournament-program for more information.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana’s abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb or follow us on Twitter @LDWF.

For press inquires, contact Ashley Wethey at awethey@wlf.la.gov or (225) 765-2396.

Big Props For My Big Brother

Arvada Fire Department began a new era with the first day of patient transport last week. The celebration included the wetting down of the ambulances, bagpipes, and flag salutes. The history of the fire department came shining through.

About ten years ago, my brother (man hugging his son) decided to follow his dream and go to the fire academy. He was becoming an old man in a sales career and had always talked about being a fireman. Well, my brother not only went, but has proven his worth going above and beyond that of a fireman. Without going over the top, I'm just really proud and love my big brother.

NWTF Convention and Sports Show Sets Record

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — More than 46,000 turkey hunters flocked to Nashville recently for the annual NWTF Convention and Sport Show.

A wave of camouflage and a barrage of turkey calls were seen and heard throughout the weekend as turkey hunters came out in force to celebrate the NWTF's 40th anniversary and support its mission of wildlife conservation and the preservation of our hunting tradition.

Wayne LaPierre, CEO and vice president of the NRA, attended and spoke to a standing-room-only crowd of 600 to respond to President Obama's proposals for new restrictions on lawful gun owners.

The Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center received a big boost, filling more than 6,200 rooms — 200 more than the previous year. New NWTF memberships nearly doubled from the past convention.

The sport show featured a record 721 vendors and included the best and newest hunting gear, home decor, Chevy vehicles, boots, turkey calls, artwork and other products.

This was the NWTF's 37th convention, one of the most heavily attended hunting shows in the country.

The NWTF first visited the Music City in 1986 and has returned 10 times since. The 2014 convention will be Feb. 13 to Feb. 16 at the Gaylord Opryland.