Do you love cooking and want to make a real impact for wildlife, veterans, and youth? Join AES’s Chuck Wagon Team! We provide the food, a full camp kitchen, and everything you need—just bring your passion for feeding hungry volunteers, families, and heroes in the field. Whether it’s at youth camps, HRO hunts, or big work projects, your skills help fuel our mission. Interested? Email Lindsay at lindsayl@arizonaelksociety.org today!
Project Schedule is wrapping up fast.
Let's finish strong! Come on out, support wildlife, and
Houston Draw (34.47723, -111.2002) 1 Rock Dam & Continuous Fence Build
October 10th-12th - Looking for 2 teams this weekend, many hands make light work
October 24th-26th - Finish the fence build
November 8th - Fence repair at water catchment near Heber/ Overgaard
We are looking for volunteers in the White Mountain area for November 8th.
We will be repairing a fence and gate around a water catchment. This water catchment is located halfway between Show Low and Payson, near Heber. Please let us know if you can make it. Below are the details. Feel free to email Lindsay at lindsayl@arizonaelksociety.org or call Wayne at 480-215-2833. Having fully functional water catchments is vital to the local wildlife. Come out and make a difference in your community!
Project name: Sponsellar Catchment Maintenance
When: November 8, 2025
Where: GPS Coordinates 34.4704, - 110.63295
If you have questions, please email Russ
Russj@arizonaelksociety.org or click below to sign up
Your donation dollars at work! This picture is from August 19th in Northern Arizona. AES volunteers are the boots on the ground delivering water throughout Arizona. Please consider volunteering or donating today. We live in the desert. It's all about the water!
Water during the birthing season keep the mothers healthy and helps the mothers produce better quality milk and more of it for the newborns.
Water helps distribute the Elk herds and other wildlife for better utilization of the available forage. Insufficient water distribution causes wildlife to gather in specific areas, leading to excessive habitat use. This overutilization results in habitat degradation and a depletion of available food resources.
There are many areas with great habitat for wildlife but no water to sustain them. If we could increase water in areas of quality wildlife habitat and forage we can sustain more wildlife. Higher herd numbers equals more tags for hunters.
It doesn't get much prettier than this! Our water haulers have been busy keeping the catchments filled. OVER 225,000 gallons so far this year. How can you help?
Western National Parks (wnpa.org) is now accepting applications for our 2025 programs in support of public lands advocates of today and tomorrow! Whether you're a researcher,educator, student, or community leader, explore opportunities to support your work and passion for public lands, unlock park experiences for your students, or pursue your future career.
If so you'll want to sign up for our youth hunt camp. The hunt number was 3067.
Below is the link to register for the learn to hunt camp
Do you know of a youth that got drawn for Unit 6A & 5BS? Come join us for our youth camp. We are also looking for volunteers to mentor or help in the kitchen to keep our hunterswell fed. Please click below for more info.
On Thursday, September 25 the Heroes Rising Outdoors held its 4th Summer Hiking Series event. We started at the trailhead around 9 in the morning with beautiful weather. This hike was to the top of Bill Williams Mountain and was a little over 8.5 miles with 2,240’ elevation gain. The trail was steep most of the way up, and our veterans did very good with the elevation gain. This was the most challenging hike that we had done all year. Once we arrived at the top, we ate lunch and took in the views. The leaves were starting to change colors up top. With a chance of rain and storm clouds starting to gather, we packed up and started back down the trail. Most of the way down, we were caught in heavy rain and thunderstorms complete with hail. Made for adventurous hiking on the way down, but the rain was a welcome relief from the desert heat of Phoenix. We have one more hike scheduled this year at South Mountain in December.
If you are a veteran or know of a veteran who you think may be interested in joining us, please email russj@arizonaelksociety.org
On Tuesday, September 2nd, our Heroes Rising Outdoors Fall Fly Fishing Class kicked off!
We’re honored to have 8 veterans participating this season. To start the day, each veteran introduced themselves, shared their branch of service, and a little about their background.Our incredible instructors, Don T. and Earlene S., led the session by covering the basics of fly fishing. From the essential equipment and safety gear, to reading a 
creek,understanding hatches, and identifying the best spots to find trout. Each participant had the opportunity to ask questions and deepen their knowledge. Next Tuesday, the class will continue as our veterans learn important fishing knots and get hands-on practice tying them!
Tuesday, September 16 our veterans met at Pioneer Park to learn the different types of casts for fly fishing. Each person received their gear, and were taught the proper way to assemble the fly rod and thread the line. We then took each veteran to the grassy area and had them start with the pick up and lay down cast. Once we felt they were getting that cast well enough, we taught them the roll cast, which is what we will be using most at Christopher Creek because of overhanging limbs, etc. After casting on the grass, we had them move to the pond to practice casting on water. The resistance of the water makes it easier. Each veteran had a piece of yarn tied to the end of the line to simulate a fly. By the end of the day, the casts were looking really good, and next week we will have one more casting session before hitting the creek for our trip.
On Friday, September 26-28 the Heroes Rising Outdoors held its fly fishing camp at the R Bar C Scout Ranch outside of Payson. Friday the rain was falling heavy most of the afternoon and evening, so we all stayed in the cabin until our steak supper was done.
Saturday the weather was perfect for fishing, but the muddy creeks made it a challenge. We tried several different creeks and were able to catch a few fish but not as many as usual. Each veteran had a great time being out on the creeks, even if the fish weren’t biting as much. The great food prepared by our camp cooks made us forget the days struggle on the streams, especially the fish fry for supper and the card games at night.
One of the greatest things that we took away from the weekend was when everyone was sitting around the table during meals. No matter how young or old each person was, no matter what background we came from, we were all there for one purpose. You become a family and enjoy the company of other like-minded individuals. The conversations were heartfelt, and the laughter rang throughout the cabin during the stories that were told. We walked away from the weekend with lifelong friends, and that is why we have these programs. For the fellowship, for the fun, for the adventure, and for the fact that nature itself is more therapeutic than any other thing.
If you are a veteran interested in any of our programs, please email russj@arizonaelksociety.org
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