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Press Release NFWF - Arizona Elk Society was awarded our first, of many, landscape scale grants from NFWF, Western Big Game Seasonal Habitat and Migration Corridors Fund. This grant with our matching funds will allow us to masticate 650 acres of juniper on the Perrin Ranch in Unit 10 for Elk and Pronghorn. The Perrin Ranch is home to herds of elk and pronghorn and Mike McCauley is a great steward of our wildlife. The Arizona Elk Society is proud to receive this grant. Large scale habitat projects like this one will benefit elk and all the wildlife in the area. Watch our Facebook and website for more projects. We will be making a difference for wildlife in Arizona.

The grants were awarded through the Western Big Game Seasonal Habitat and Migration Corridors Fund, a partnership between NFWF, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service and ConocoPhillips.

arizona elk society

September 2024 Newsletter

AES is dedicated to benefiting elk, advancing wildlife conservation, and preserving outdoor recreation traditions for present and future generations.

Buck Springs

Habitat Project Update by Russ Johnson

Finished Buck Springs!

Friday, September 6 we returned to Buck Springs for our final weekend of the fence build. After setting up camp, we loaded up some supplies and materials to head up to the job site. One of our workers decided to walk up and was greeted by the sight of a bear. We knew there were bear in the area due to fresh scat we had seen, but this was the first sighting we had seen of one. We continued up to the jobsite and started where we had left off 2 weeks ago. By the time we ended we had finished the top rails on the 3rd side of the fence and had a good 454050684 888502986646134 4241546255702892083 n start on the last side. Friday night a few of us decided to hike back up to the meadow and were treated with watching a big bull elk and his small harem he had gathered. It was a fun time watching him bugling and keeping the cows in order and herded up.

Saturday morning after breakfast we headed back up to the fence and started working. We broke into 2 teams and the installation of the top rails went really quick. By the time lunch had arrived we only had around 100 yards of rails left to complete. After lunch we heard a little thunder but didn’t think it looked too menacing, so we went back to finish up. We figured we had roughly an hour left to finish. As soon as we got to the site, it started raining, then the rain starting to get harder, then it turned to hail which kept increasing in size. We thought it may be a quick shower so we took shelter under the fir trees. And we did learn that fir trees do not stop marble sized hail very efficiently. We waited as long as we could, and we were all soaked to the bone, so we decided to hike back to camp. The ground had gotten covered by hail at this time and we were walking back through slush. We put on some coffee and water, because the temp had dropped to the low 50’s if not cooler. It rained the rest of the evening so we couldn’t finish the fence. Let’s just say we had a huge campfire Saturday night to dry out.

Sunday, we headed back out to the fence and within an hour had finished up the entire fence build. We are so thankful for all the volunteers who came out and helped us over this 7-weekend period. We also would like to thank the Coconino National Forest and the AZGFD who brought this project to our attention. It feels great to get another big project finished!

If you are interested in helping out at one of our projects, please email me russj@arizonaelksociety.org

Check out more Images on our Facebook page

Our Heroes Rising Outdoors Program is experiencing remarkable growth! In August we had 4 archery hunts donated and hunts we completed. There were 2 archery mule deer tags in the Kaibab and 2 archery antelope tags in units 9 & 6A. We are coming into our busy hunting season so stay tuned! We are also exploring additional events for veterans, including hiking, kayaking, wilderness survival, hunting classes, and nature/wildlife photography.

If you or someone you know cannot utilize a big game tag, please consider donating it to a disabled veteran through our Heroes Rising Outdoor program. If you or someone you know are disabled due to a service-related injury, please considering applying to the Heroes Rising Outdoors program. Please contact Jessie at 623-444-7174 or jessieg@arizonaelksociety.org

If you are interested in any of the fishing or above events, please feel free to contact russj@arizonaelksociety.org for more information.

Eagle Scout Projects

Eagle Scout 29 Mile Tank Project

Eagle Scout 29 Mile Tank Project Friday, September 27 the Arizona Elk Society started and finished a...

Youth Program Updates

PVCI Beginner Predator Boot Camp Recap

The Arizona Elk Society (AES) recently teamed up with the Phoenix Varmint Callers Inc. (PVCI) to host an exciting and educational event for beginner hunters. This year's event, known as the Predator Boot Camp, was open to participants of all ages, providing a unique opportunity for families and individuals to learn the ins and outs of predator hunting in a supportive environment.

Set in the rustic, primitive camping area near Vincent Ranch, the weekend was all about immersing participants in the outdoors while teaching them valuable skills. With over 100 campers, volunteers, and mentors attending, the AES team had a big task ahead, especially when it came to preparing and serving meals for the entire group. But our dedicated AES volunteers were more than up to the challenge. They arrived at the campsite around noon on Friday and immediately began setting up with the help of many eager hands. The teamwork and camaraderie among volunteers and participants were heartwarming, demonstrating the spirit of community that AES events are known for.

Throughout the weekend, participants learned the basics of predator hunting from PVCI experts. From understanding the behavior of various predator species to learning thetechniques and tools needed for a successful hunt, campers were engaged and eager to learn. The hands-on demonstrations and guided hunting sessions provided invaluable experience, especially for those new to the sport.

The weather couldn’t have been more perfect, creating an ideal backdrop for the weekend’s activities. As always, the meals prepared by the AES team were a highlight, with many attendees commenting on the quality and taste of the food. It's no small feat to cater to such a large group in a remote setting, but our volunteers pulled it off with flair and enthusiasm.

The weekend was filled with stories of first-time experiences and successful hunts, adding to the excitement and joy of all involved. Below, we are pleased to share two testimonials from participants who walked away with not just new skills, but also cherished memories.

Graham Kelly (12 years old)

A couple weeks ago, I went to the Predator Bootcamp, and I had a great time! When we arrived, we already knew people from other AES events. After setting up camp, we went down to meet everyone. We saw other kids our age and made new friends quickly.

PVCI Kelly The next morning, AES made us breakfast. Then, we were taught about hunting stuff. Then, we had lunch. Then, it was time for my very first hunt. We gathered our gear and set out with our friends. We went to lots of areas, but we got nothing. Then, it was nearing dinner. We were heading back, but we wanted to go to one more stop.

We all got out of the truck. We set up. We waited, but nothing came. Then, when we were all about to leave, I saw a coyote standing about 75 yards away. I showed it to my partner. Soon, everyone saw it. I raised my gun and then I shot. My friend also shot at the same time. It fell and we jumped up so excited and ran over to the coyote. It was dead. I had done it. My first kill. We loaded it up and headed back to camp so excited. We rolled into camp yelling “we got a coyote.” We hopped out. People came over and admired the kill.

We were the only group to get a coyote. That night, we talked about that memorable hunt. The next day, we had breakfast, then we sadly departed from camp. All thanks to Arizona Elks Society, it was a successful hunt.

Megan Garrison (adult beginner hunter)

My time over the weekend with Elk Society was absolutely amazing. They had signs showing you how to camp. Right off the bat, I could see where the main campsite and restrooms were located. I found my way over to my mentor, who had introduced me to the group that welcomed me with open arms. Everyone pitched in to help setup each others camping grounds. The next morning, breakfast was served by friendly volunteers, followed by many speakers who shared their knowledge on covering scent, picking the right camouflage and how to make certain calls to have predators come around. How to be safe, care for game you have caught and how to hunt with buddies and keep everyone safe. Soon after AZGFD came down to help set out maps of where we would be hunting, and the novice were split up with mentors.

Once we were in our groups and had introduced each other, we quickly hurried to our spots and made a game plan on how to spread everyone out, using new resources given to us by the speakers. Shortly after walking out, I cam across two foxes and my mentor gave me the approval nod to take a shot. After the day of hunting, we came back to the campgrounds where everyone spoke about their hunt and how to care for the game we retrieved. Before I knew it, the weekend had come to an end. All in all, I can’t wait to come back for another trip and bring a new beginner hunter as eager as me to gain passion and love for this sport. I couldn’t have learned this new skill without this amazing experience, Thank you.

We have several youth events coming up that you will want to mark your calendar for. The next event is the Junior Elk Hunt Camp October 10 - 13, 2024. Registration is through the AZGFD website. This will be held at the St. Joseph's Youth Camp - Mormon Lake. 4860 Mormon Lake Rd, Mormon Lake, AZ 86038. Directions available on our website and the AZGFD website.

Welcome to Wild in the City®, the Arizona Elk Society's exciting Outdoor Skills Day Camp designed for youth aged 6-16. Priced at only $20 per participant, this program offers exceptional value for parents. This unique program is crafted to introduce young minds to the wonders of the outdoors, providing an immersive experience in outdoor skills, wildlife conservation, and volunteerism. Winter event will be November 17th, 2024. Signup on our website will be live September 1, 2024

Save the Date!!

Wild in the City November 17th, 2024

Wild in the City March 1st, 2025

Wapiti Weekend May 23rd-25th, 2025

New Volunteer Incentive Program

Don't forget about our Volunteer Incentive Program! This is how it will work. For every hour of volunteer time that you put in, you will receive 1 volunteer token (these will not be physical tokens, but virtual tokens). Each token received will allow you one entry into a monthly raffle.

The drawings for these raffles will be held on the 1st of every month. (Example: You volunteered 20 hours in December, so you have 20 tokens that will give you 20 entries into January 1st volunteer raffle) The goal will be to have the drawing on the 1st of the month or the closest business day following the 1st. The prizes will vary and the winner will be notified by email and/or phone.

Upcoming Events & Volunteer Needs

September 6-8 Buck Springs
September 27-29    Beaverhead Tank (Unit 6A)
October 4-6 Leonard Canyon (Unit 5A)
October 1, 8, 15, 22   HRO Bass Fishing Class
October 10-13    Jr. Elk Camp
October 18-20 Leonard Canyon
October 25-27 HRO Bass Fishing Trip Bartlett Lake
November 1-3 Leonard Canyon
November 17 Wild in the City
December 14       Volunteer Lunch
December 9, 16, 23, 30, Jan 6   HRO Survival Skills Class

(Project dates are subject to change depending on weather, forest closures, etc.)

Arizona Elk Society offers a variety of volunteer opportunities! Sign-up as a volunteer and make a direct impact on wildlife conservation in Arizona.

Volunteer

Would you like to help conserve Arizona's elk population and protect their habitats?

Do you believe in leaving a long-lasting outdoor legacy for future generations?

If yes, then you can make a difference by joining the Arizona Elk Society today!

As a member, you will be supporting AES's four core initiatives: Habitat Projects, Youth Education, Water for Arizona's Wildlife and Heroes Rising Outdoors.

Our youth programs aim to educate and inspire the next generation to become conservationists. We also work towards improving and safeguarding elk habitats across Arizona through our habitat restoration projects. Our Heroes Rising Outdoors initiative provides outdoor experiences to Arizona's wounded veterans and our "Water for Arizona's Wildlife" initiative ensures that elk and other wildlife have access to dependable water sources.

Your membership helps us in implementing these vital initiatives! Join