Some things the AES has done this year.

[rthrbhntng]

One of the problems we as organizations have is that we forget to tell sportsmen and the public the good things that we do. I thought I would post a few of the recent projects here for you guy to see.

The AES has been hauling water up north in Units 9-7E-7W and 6B since April. It is dry. We are getting many calls from other areas and we are trying to get more volunteers lined up. One of the problems is that since we partner with AZGFD and the USFS we must coordinate and follow rules that take time and energy. We can't just hook up a trailer and go. Sometimes public volunteers can help and get things done quicker than we can.

Last year the AES bought a truck, put a 400 gallon tank in the bed and hooked up our 850 gallon tank to it. Also in the truck is all the tools and supplies to maintain water drinkers. We hired a contractor to work with G&F and the USFS hauling water and fixing tanks. In 2012 we hauled over 60,000 gallons and fixed numerous tanks. We spent $88,000 total on the program. This year we are on the same track and branching out into other units. Here are some links to articles about 2013 and a short report on an old concrete tank we reconditioned a couple of weeks ago.

I know many of you are members and thought you might like to see some of the things we are doing this year. Thanks for your support. If you are not a member please consider joining to help us continue our mission.

www.arizonaelksociety.org

 

http://tempekyrene.azcentral.com/news/environment/116131-water-wonderful-thing-and-arizona-elk-society-making-it-happen

 

http://tempekyrene.azcentral.com/news/environment/109371-together-green-arizona-elk-society-and-audubon-society-form-conservation-alliance

 

http://www.fishcamphunthike.com/elk-society-seeks-volunteers-for-habitat-projects/blog-153/

 

http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2013/may/24/volunteers-cut-trees-save-meadows-elk/

 

Trip report for repair at Catchment 666

June 24, 2013

Staff and volunteers from the Arizona Elk Society (AES) have made great strides in improving water availability for wildlife. During a field trip to Game Management Unit 7, we went to concrete catchment 666 and found it was essentially nonfunctional due to cracks in the concrete that made waterflow to the storage tank difficult. In order for water to be available for wildlife, water had to be hauled to the unit. The importance of this drinker was noted during the field trip as there was a trail used primarily by elk to reach the drinker.

This picture shows the state of the catchment before the project began. The extensive growth of grass impeded the flow of water into the storage tank. The first step in restoration of this catchment was to remove all of the vegetation so the cracks could be repaired with a concrete patch material. A generator provided the power for a line-trimmer to remove the vegetation down to the concrete.

After the vegetation was removed, the next step was to remove all of the tar used previously to patch the concrete.

Following the removal of the tar, all of the cracks had to be filled with concrete patch. Here, AES volunteers trowel the patch to ensure that the voids are filled and to prepare the apron for the final step which is rolling on the final topcoat.

In the final step of the project, volunteers finish up rolling the final topcoat. This catchment style is common in the Flagstaff area and this is the third apron that AES has repaired. Without a doubt, the catchment is now ready to catch water and provide a more reliable drinker for wildlife to meet their needs in the hot, dry period before monsoons make water more available.

It took the crew of four a total of three days to complete project. Thanks to the crew for helping wildlife.

[wildwoody]

this is awsome . iwas not aware of it. kodo's to th e AES. where do you sign up

[rthrbhntng]

Best way to Join if online HERE.

Just an FYI we will have a new Membership Benefits program with great discounts and member Weekly Give-a-ways coming soon. Lots of new things will be announced soon.

This is a great time to join and get in on the action. Plus your membership helps us expand our Water for Wildlife and Youth Outdoors Programs.

Steve

[CouesWhitetail]

Thanks for the update Steve! I agree that our wildlife conservation groups need to let people know more about the good work that is being done every year.

[rthrbhntng]

How about a picture of the USFS certified Arizona Elk Society volunteer sawyers. This is 10 of the 14 certified sawyers that went through 4 days of training with the USFS. The goal is to be able to improve wildlife habitat and because of our partnership with the USFS we had to get them certified. In April they cut a 200 yard wide 60 acre corridor between to large meadows in Unit 7W to make a travel corridor for elk and antelope. They will be cutting trees this weekend at our Buck Springs project.

[CouesFanatic]

nice work, that might be filling up with this rain now.

[rthrbhntng]

Thought I would post a shout out to all the volunteers last weekend at our Buck Springs work project.

THANK YOU to all of the 170 hard working VOLUNTEERS that came out to the Arizona Elk Society Buck Springs wildlife habitat work project over the weekend. We finished a great amount of work with all their help. We had Boy Scouts and volunteers working in the riparian stream beds, sawyers cutting trees with teams of volunteers stacking the cut trees to be burned later, a team working on a wildlife enclosure to protect sensitive plants and trees, teams removing miles of old barbed wire fences, and more AES volunteer sawyers cutting trees and teams stacking them to clear pines out of another riparian draw.
This was one of the largest volunteer work weekends in our history and every volunteer did a fantastic job.

[CouesWhitetail]

Wow!! 170 volunteers! that's awesome!! Thanks to everyone for getting out there and working for wildlife!! Excellent!

[Devil Diver Down]

There's not a better wildlife organization in the state - even the national ones, IMHO - to support financially. I have memberships to 4 or 5 because those dollars are critical in preserving habitat and fighting for sportmens' rights. My oldest son and I have joined AES for work projects, youth hunts and seminars. The AES dues are probably about the best $40 I spend all year for myself, $20 for my son. We have to take care of our own interests because the huge amount of dollars pushing against hunting. Good folks taking time out of their own busy lives to put their boots on the ground instead of just talking a good game while digging into your pocket - or worse, into the tag pool to profit a bunch of guys who want to privatize wildlife. Best of all, the money stays local and helps in our state and the AES folks are not the quiet types when standing up and making Arizona hunters' voices heard.

 

Plus, I had a great time and won a .300 Weatherby at the 2012 banquet - even if I am too chicken to shoot it.

 

p.s. Anybody looking for a good, brand new never-fired elk rifle?