Industry-backed off-road vehicle users want more motorized routes in the Coconino National Forest. Or, depending upon your perspective, they want to ensure that they don't lose ground in a CNF plan to keep off-road vehicles (ORVs) on designated roads and trails.

Even though CNF officials propose prohibiting all cross-country motorized travel within the National Forest, their plan will also designate thousands of miles of roads and a large swath of land for ORV use – a plan opposed by a consortium of conservation groups that says it would fragment wildlife habitat, cause erosion, damage watershed and disrupt the natural quiet.

Prescott National Forest officials are closing the Thumb Butte parking and picnic area for reconstruction starting mid-August; the closure could last for up to four months. Improvements will include increased parking, repaving the road, new picnic tables, grills and a ramada at the existing group picnic site.     

“After considering all the factors in scheduling the work such as the peregrine falcon closure, monsoon weather, and winter conditions, we were left with August through November for reconstruction, which is unfortunately some of our busiest months at Thumb Butte,” said PNF Recreation Manager Bruce Fahrni. 

In order to complete the reconstruction in a safe and timely manner officials decided to completely close the entire developed site during reconstruction. They are asking local residents and visitors to avoid the Thumb Butte area until the work is completed. Trails will remain open, but there will be no parking near Thumb Butte; plan on walking, biking or getting dropped off. 

“Thumb Butte is one of our most popular hiking areas and we are sorry for the inconvenience, but hiking areas such as Granite Mountain, Pioneer Park, and Lynx Lake are great alternatives,” Fahrni said.

For more information stop by the Bradshaw Ranger District at 344 S. Cortez or call (928) 443-8000.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department has announced that the fall big game draw has been completed and the 117,421 applicants can find out if they have been drawn by visiting the department's Web site at www.azgfd.gov/draw.

Hunt-permit tags will be mailed to successful applicants no later than Aug. 10. Refunds will be mailed out no later than Aug. 24.

Those who submitted online applications and were successful will get a letter in the mail on how they can submit payment.

There are 1,192 hunt-permit tags for deer and javelina remaining for first-come, first-served, which will be conducted by mail only (not online) on Aug. 20.

Continued moisture and high humidity have sufficiently lowered fire danger levels throughout the Prescott National Forest allowing officials to lift current fire restrictions and area closures on Friday, July 20 at 8 a.m.

Forest officials would like to remind visitors to be safe when recreating on the Forest. Always use caution with all campfires; never leave your campfire unattended and ensure your fire is completely out before leaving.

For current information on fire restrictions, closures or wildfires on the Prescott National Forest, call 928-777-5799, or visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/prescott. For further information about fire restrictions on public lands in Arizona and New Mexico, call toll free 1-877-864-6985 or visit http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/.

On June 23, the Arizona Wilderness Coalition (AWC) and Back Country Horsemen of Central Arizona (BCHCAZ) teamed up for a day of volunteer work to establish a new trail in Granite Mountain Wilderness. The day was a huge success with approximately half the 2.3-mile trail being completed, thanks to the hard work of people and horses. Now AWC and BCHCAZ are teaming up again to finish the remaining trail work. As an added bonus, BCHCAZ will be holding a chapter meeting after the trail work that all volunteers are welcome to attend in order to help realize the similar goals and desires of the wilderness and horsemen groups. If that isn't enough to entice you to come, BCHCAZ will be following their chapter meeting with a BBQ with an open invitation to all volunteers ( RSVP required to plan appropriately).

WHEN: Sunday, July 22, 2007 9 am

WHERE: Granite Mountain Wilderness

WHO: Arizona Wilderness Coalition, Backcountry Horsemen of Central Arizona, U.S. Forest Service and YOU!

WHAT: Finishing a new wilderness trail (trail 320)

Want more information about where to meet and specifically and what we will be doing?

Contact Sam Frank at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or 928-717-6076

No Experience Necessary!

Due to the extreme fire danger, Prescott National Forest Officials implemented Stage II fire restrictions at 8am Wednesday, June 20, to reduce the possibility of human-caused wildfires. 

The following restrictions are in effect for the entire Prescott National Forest:

·Campfires, charcoal grills, and stove fires are prohibited.   An exception will be to continue to allow these fires in developed recreation sites where grills and campfire rings are provided.

·Pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns and heaters meeting safety specifications are allowed.

·Smoking is prohibited.  Except within enclosed vehicles, buildings, or developed recreation sites where the area is cleared of all flammable material.

·Campfires at the designated dispersed sites within the Prescott Basin are prohibited.  Metal posts identify the designated dispersed sites with a number.

·Welding or operating of acetylene or other torches and blasting are prohibited.

·Operating a chainsaw, or other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine is prohibited. 

·Possessing, discharging or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device is prohibited.

·Use of explosives is prohibited.

·Possessing or using any motorized vehicle in Forest Service designated OHV areas and on trails; including Hayfield Draw, Sheridan Mountain/Smith Mesa, and Alto Pit OHV areas are prohibited. 

The following additional restrictions are in effect for Horsethief Basin and Castle Creek Wilderness developed recreations sites only:

·Campfires, open fires, charcoal grills, coal, and stove fires are prohibited.

·Smoking is prohibited except within enclosed vehicles or buildings. 

PNF officials remind the public that they always prohibit off-road vehicle and cross country travel, except on designated roads, trails, and OHV areas.

The restrictions will remain in effect until forest officials determine that conditions have changed sufficiently to reduce the risk of a human-caused wildfire. Violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000, imprisonment of not more than six months, or both.  

For current information on fire restrictions, closures or wildfires on the Prescott National Forest, call 928-777-5799.  For more information about fire restrictions on public lands in Arizona and New Mexico, call toll free 1-877-864-6985 or visit http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/.

Two bald eagle closure areas along the Verde River within the Verde Valley will re-open to the public on Monday, June 18. The closure areas are closed annually to the public from December through June in order to protect bald eagles, a threatened species, from disturbance during their breeding and nesting periods.

Two young eagles successfully fledged from both the Towers and Ladders breeding areas in 2007. The sites are monitored annually by eagle watchers from the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Nestwatch program.  Eagle watchers monitored these sites from the beginning of incubation in early February to the time the young eagles fledged their nests in early June. 

The Towers closure area lies north of Clarkdale.  It is the two-mile section of the Verde River and adjacent National Forest lands in the vicinity of Sycamore Creek downstream to the rapids/powerline crossing. The Ladders closure area is located south of Camp Verde along a two mile section of the Verde River and adjacent National Forest lands in the vicinity of the "Verde Falls" downstream to below Sycamore Canyon.  Roads now open to public use include Forest Road 9709R from its junction with FR 574 and parts of FR 500 and 9244 south of Cottonwood Basin.

The closures and the bald eagle Nestwatch Program are two of many management actions that the Forest Service and Arizona Game & Fish Department use to ensure that Arizona will always have bald eagles.

Here is an excellent opportunity to get outdoors, meet some great people, sleep under the pines, and make a positive influence on Arizona’s public lands. Arizona Wilderness Coalition is proud to host our fourth National Trails Day event, this year at Granite Mountain Wilderness in Prescott, Arizona, on Saturday, June 2.

The Wilderness

Granite Mountain Wilderness was designated under the Arizona Wilderness Act of 1984 in order to “be administered for the use and enjoyment of the American people in such manner as will leave them (public lands) unimpaired for future use and enjoyment as wilderness” (Wilderness Act, 1964).  This wilderness contains more than 9,799 acres of rugged granite cliffs and boulders with vegetation ranging from chaparral at the lower elevations to Douglas fir and pockets of aspen near the summit at 7,626 feet. Trail 261, the focus of our National Trails Day work, stretches just over 3.5 miles to the top of the mountain where views extend to the Chino and Lonesome Valleys, Prescott, and the Bradshaw Mountains.

The reason

The basic importance of restoration work is that we all either directly use public lands and/or benefit from keeping them as healthy as possible. Everyone has a right to enjoy public lands, and Trail 261 on Granite Mountain has no shortage of people doing just that. Your volunteer efforts will help restore the wear and tear of trail use as well as be proactive in mitigating future impacts, which creates a better landscape for people and wildlife. Just as important as the restoration work we do are the friendships and relationships we build with federal land agencies, businesses, organizations, and fellow outdoor enthusiasts.   

The Zoo Class will offer new moms a chance to workout in a one-of-a-kind outdoor setting. Moms new to the Stroller Strides program (and their babies!) are invited to attend, as well as those already enrolled in ongoing classes.

"Any fitness program can benefit from a little variety!" said Kammy Amberg, franchisee of Stroller Strides of Prescott/Prescott Valley. "This is a fun way to introduce that variety without compromising Stroller Strides’ overall goal of offering a great way to get fit while enjoying the support of other parents experiencing the newness, joys and challenges of having a baby.”

“ We are so lucky to have this amazing animal sanctuary in our area,” stated Amberg. “Stroller Strides is excited about the opportunity to use the zoo facilities for a special class. The kids AND moms are going to have a blast!"

Stroller Strides is a unique fitness program for new moms incorporating both the baby and a stroller.  In 60 minutes, participants will get a total body workout, improving cardiovascular endurance, strength and flexibility. Along with walking, Stroller Strides uses the environment as a gym by doing intervals of body toning using exercise tubing and the stroller.

For more information on Stroller Strides of Prescott/Prescott Valley or to register for the Zoo Class, contact Kammy Amberg at 928-830-9717 or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or visit the Stroller Strides of Prescott/Prescott Valley Web site at www.strollerstrides.com.

For more information about the Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary, please visit the website www.heritageparkzoo.org. The zoo will be hosting Stroller Strides once a month and also offers early childhood programs and zoo camps for kids of all ages.

The combination of rising temperatures, spring winds and dry vegetation has prompted Prescott National Forest officials to announce the start of Stage 1 fire restrictions beginning 8am on Wednesday, May 23.

The following fire restrictions are in effect for the entire Prescott National Forest:

· Campfires, charcoal grills, and stove fires are prohibited on all National Forest lands, roads, and trails except within developed recreation sites where grills and campfire rings are provided.

· Pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns and heaters meeting safety specifications are allowed.

· Smoking is prohibited except within enclosed vehicles, buildings, or developed recreation sites where the area is cleared of all flammable material.

· Possessing, discharging or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device is prohibited.

· Campfires are not allowed at the designated dispersed sites within the Prescott Basin.  Metal posts identify designated dispersed sites with a number.

The restrictions remain in effect until forest officials determine that conditions have changed sufficiently to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfire. Violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000, imprisonment of not more than 6 months, or both.

For current information on fire restrictions, closures or wildfires on the Prescott National Forest, call 928-777-5799.

For more information about fire restrictions on public lands in Arizona and New Mexico, call toll free 1-877-864-6985 or visit http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department, following a rise in public concern regarding mountain lions around Prescott and Prescott Valley, will host a two-hour presentation about the animal.

The meeting will be held 6-8 p.m., May 22, at the Prescott Valley Courtroom at the Civic Center, 7501 E. Civic Circle on the first floor.

"A number of sightings in several communities has raised public awareness that lions live in the area," said Zen Mocarski, public information officer for the department's Kingman office. "We feel it's important to help people understand mountain lion behavior, the department's protocol, and how people can live with these animals."

Local wildlife managers Scott Poppenberger and Darren Tucker, and lion researcher Ted McKinney will conduct a presentation and allow for time to answer questions.

"This is to provide information and education to the public about lions in their area," Poppenberger said. "Hopefully we'll dispel some myths about lions."

The presentation will focus on central Arizona and include the biology of lions, what they eat, Game and Fish protocol regarding predators, and provide information about a new, on-going study about lion behavior in an urban setting.

The presentation is free and open to people of all ages.

MAY 26th 2007, 8am —4.0 pm

Horizon Tracking Service LLC

IT’S A MATTER of PERSPECTIVE!

OUTLINE OF PROGRAM
Introductions
Why tracking works,
Rudimentary skill areas,
Terrain issues,
Geography Issues,
Cultural Issues,
Exercises
Location for work shop Information at sign up.