We ended up gettingup early and going out with our friends at Wind Walker Expeditions 4-wheelin above Lake Pleasant with a couple of Patti’s friends from San Francisco. What a great time. I hope that we never forget that the 4th is celebrayed because of a few traitors that thought this country should no longer be under British rule and the the words from the Declaration of Independence was put forth for a reason.

That being said,,, we really have a great show for you today. Our first guest  has been a long time friend and Tice Supplee with the Arizona Antelope Foundation will be joining me to talk about their upcoming fund raising banquet.

In the second segment I will be talking elk with Kevin Rector from the Arizona Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will join me as we get you excited for elk season at the Elk Hunting Seminar to be held August 8th, from 1-5pm.

The to wrap up the hour I will be talking to Sharon Birk from Cordura Brand. She will be talking about the Baselayer Fresh FX products that Cordura Brand offers. As a matter of fact Cordura Brand sent the kids from Team Kili some of those very shirts for their trip to Mt. Kilimanjaro. We will be having them on at a later date to talk about their trip.

Kicking off the second hour,,, Marcus Tork from Watermill Express will be joining me to discuss the ease of preparing for an urban survival situation and knowing where to get goo clean water for your hunting or fishing trips, or if you just want to go camping.

In the second segment of the second hour Linda Dightman from Becoming an Outdoors Woman will be with me to talk about the August BOW camp and all the classes that are offered for all you lady outdoor enthusiasts.

Then in the last segment I have a lot of great news for you as we cover what’s going on around the state and what we are up to. We also wish to thank Arizona Boating and Watersports Magazine for the great article about the new “Xplor’r” Emergency Shelter.

We hope you enjoyed the show as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. We want to thank you all for making “Xplor the Outdoors”, the number one outdoor radio show in the state.

We also want to thank our men and women in uniform for making this the safest place on earth.

Until next week, be safe, God Bless and make it a point to take someone out and XPLORTHEOUTDOORS!!!

We’re Jim and Patti Solomon and

“We’re Makin a Difference in Your Outdoor World”

“The poll results confirm what we’ve been saying,” noted Alan Gottlieb, chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. “American citizens are fearful that the Obama administration and a Democrat-controlled Congress will pass new laws to further erode the individual right to own firearms. This concern was further enhanced by yesterday’s ruling in Minnesota that far left anti-gunner Al Franken should be seated as a U.S. Senator representing that state, giving Democrats a 60-member majority.”

The Rasmussen telephone survey found that only 23 percent of the respondents believe gun sales have risen due to concerns about rising crime. Twenty-one percent are not sure. The poll also revealed that 63 percent of male Americans and 51 percent of women believe gun sales are linked to concerns about new gun control schemes. Another finding is that 65 percent of Republicans and 66 percent of those not affiliated with either major political party think booming gun sales are connected to fears about increased government restrictions.

“Americans realize that despite all of the campaign rhetoric, Barack Obama and Congressional Democrats led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are waiting for the right moment to spring new gun control measures,” Gottlieb stated. “There is little doubt they would like to renew the ban on semiautomatic sport-utility rifles, place limits on the number of firearms someone may purchase, and maybe institute some kind of licensing and registration scheme, as Pelosi hinted during an appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America. Wherever these measures have been tried on the local level, they have invariably failed to prevent or reduce violent crime. The Clinton gun ban failed. One-gun-a-month schemes have failed.

“How many times do you have to fail at something before you reach the inescapable conclusion that your plan isn’t going to work,” he questioned. “The Rasmussen poll affirms that Americans are waking up to the Obama-Pelosi agenda, and they are stocking up for what they think is an inevitable attack on gun rights.”

Tred Barta has been stricken with a paralyzing disease. He currently is in a facility in Denver, Colorado paralyzed from the waist down and they are concerned it is spreading to his upper torso.

Tred has been a driving force in our industry for many years. He has worked tirelessly with the next generation of anglers for the IGFA’s Junior Anglers Program instilling the love for our sport in these children ensuring a future for our industry.
For the past month Tred and his lovely wife Anni have suffered immensely. There medical bills are mounting and it is only the beginning. The family will be financially destroyed if we don’t step up to the plate and help one of our own.

The Big Game Fishing Journal is coordinating five benefit fund raising dinners located in Connecticut, Long Island, the Jersey Shore, North Carolina, and Florida. We call it “An Evening For Tred Barta.” It will take place all in one day near the end of October 2009. We need the industry to help with pledges of cash, donated product, or anything we can convert into cash to pass on to the Tred Barta Medical Fund.

Cash donations can also be made to the Anni D. Barta Medical Fund at Wells Fargo Bank, PO Box 567, Eagle, CO 81631, 970-328-6361 or a tax deductible contribution can be made for Tred Barta at the Vail Valley Charitable Fund, PO Box 1275, Avon, CO, 81620, 970-845-6339 or donations can be made by credit card at www.vvcf.org. Please mention for the Tred Barta Medical Fund.

Any products that can be raffled off at the five benefit dinners will be deeply appreciated. The Big Game Fishing Journal will maintain a list of the names of companies that donate cash or product to the fund. The list will be called “Companies With Heart,” and it will be published in up and coming issues of the JOURNAL.

Please contact Len Belcaro at 800 827 4468 and open your heart and your wallet and make a pledge of cash or product to the Tred Barta Medical Fund. We will notify everyone with the name of the dinner facility in your area and the date of the benefit affair.

Thank you for your kindness.
Capt. Len Belcaro
Publisher Big Game Fishing Journal

Max Ashton is the youngest blind person to climb Mt Kilimanjaro.

We can’t wait until they return home with the complete story and as soon as we get pictures we will post them.

Patti and I are very proud to be among the sponsors that will always support The Foundation for the Blind and Team Kili.

What’s next guys???

We have another great show for you this week;

We’re going to start off the show with a swap meet that will be put on by the folks at the Phoenix Varmint Callers  on July 7th. Dick Snell will be with me to talk about that and the Arizona State Calling Championships that will be coming soon.

Then we’re talking to Brian Reece from Zack Tack, . “What is Zack Tack you ask”? Well your just going to have to stay tuned in to find out, but Brian has a few ingenius products like the Quikslide, the Cool Caddy and the Hood Pak  that he has come up with so you really don’t want to miss this segment.

Then we’re talking about clothing made from Bamboo. Yep, that’s what I said, Bamboo. It’s is totally amazing what, with the technology thses days what they can make clothing out of. Plastic water bottles, bamboo, you name it and there is probably something made out of it. Well, Debbie wright from Seed-Sucker will be joining Patti and I to reveal just what this clothing is.

To wrap up the first hour and head into the next, Mike Wallace from the Superstition Search and Rescue will finish up with some outdoor tips that could save your life.

Then in the second hour, it’s time to join  John Crossman alias the “Blue Bird” from Wind Walker Expeditions some wilderness tips. What’s dynamic about the Blue Bird is: this guy knows everything about wilderness survival, native american weapons design and how to even weave you own clothing from bark.

In the second segment, we’re going to meet a young man whose goal is to climb to the top of the tallest peaks in the world. Jordon Romero will be joining Patti and I to talk about this incredible goal.

Then, Buddy Mike Kimery from the Arizona Shell Factory will be with me to finish up the show. The factory has moved, with, as always, the quality equipment you demand for the outdoors. Mike will join me give you some tips for not only enjoying summertime camping but the hunting season as well.

We hope you enjoyed the show as much as we enjpoyed bringing it to you.

Until next week, Be Safe, God Bless and make it a point to take someone out to XPLORTHEOUTDOORS!!!

We’re Jim and Patti Solomon and,

“WE’RE MAKIN A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR OUTDOOR WORLD”

http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/fishing_report.cfm?storeNum=117

This we we have a great show for you and right out of the starting gate we will be talking to Glenn Fickett, from Sure Track to talk about the Bash Tri-Pod. This is something no hunter, bowhunters included should be without when you go out into the field. If your an archer, bowhunter, hunter or even a photographer. You will not want to miss this segment.

In the second segment, we’re traveling to Ohio with the President of Dude Girl Apparel, Kim McElhinney, after she completes the Dirty Dude Girl run. There is a great story behind this clothing line and as Patti is finding out more women that ride, horses, that is, are going crazy over this. 

Then to wrap up the last segment we’re “Cookin with Camp Chef” as Marketing Director, Steve McGrath joins me to talk outdoor cookin and tempt you with some ideas about what’s new for 2009.

To literally kick start the second hour, The owner of Action Motor Sports, Dennis Alesandro will be joining me to get you hunters ready for the season and Dennis has some great ideas to fight the high gas prices.

In the second segment, well, have you ever left the dock, in your boat, only to find out that you forgot to replace your drain plug? For that dilemma we have just the remedy. George Wize, the inventor of Boatwizedrain plug will be joining us to help you with that little problem as he has the plug that, if you forget the plug, the boatwize plugs itself.

Then in the last segment we will be talking to Jeff Basford, the President ofPaha Que Wilderness Tents. Jeff is joining me because about a month ago I designed an emergency  shelter that is so versatile that it sets up in minutes as a lean-to or converts into a low profile tent in case you are lost or get caught  in unstable weather. We called them the Xplor’r Series,,, after the radio show.The sweet thing about them is the Xplor’r Double only weighs 3.3 lbs and the Xplor’r Single weighs in at 1.8 lbs. They are made in the USA and come in assorted colors as well as: camouflage and Flo. Orange with a huge SOS printed on the top. The other exclusive design of these shelters is that they are attached to their own stuff bag so it will never be lost, and they stuff easily into a backpack, hunting pack or even a fanny pack. You can now order them online at www.pahaque.com.

We hope that you enjoyed the show and until next week: be safe, God bless and make it a point to take someone out to XPLORTHEOUTDOORS.

We’re Jim and Patti Solomon and

We are,” Makin a Difference in Your Outdoor World“

My first guest is the Vice-President and General Manager-of the Evinrude Outboard EngineDivision. Roch Lambert will be joining me to talk about the history of Evinrude and what has lead them into their 100th Anniversary.

In the second segment,,,Levi Bowman, the CEO of King’s Outdoor World, and one of the Poacher ChroniclesSponsors, will be with me talking hunting, camo and and the world of King’s.

Then to wrap up the first hour I will be joined by Chet Sagaser, with the Gold Prospectors Association.

Kicking off the second hour,,  Jay Collins from the YMCA’s High Desert Hunt Club will be on hand to talk about the  the Chauncey ranch next weekend. A great place to spend the day shooting Pheasants and Chukar.

In the second segment, Paul Robinette from Paul’s Roofing will be joining me to talk about what you should look for when your roof begins to leak and how he can take care of that for you.

 Then the fun begins. Check this out ladies. Is this not awesome??? Oh Yea, My next guest is the Marketing Director for Daisy Air Guns,  Joe Murfin. We’re not only going to talk history with Daisy but we’ll be talking about these cute guns for the ladies of all ages.

We hope you enjoyed the show this week.

Patti and I want to wish you a great week, be safe,  God Bless and always make the time to take someone out and xplortheoutdoors.

We’re Jim and Patti Solomon and

“We’re Makin a Difference in Your Outdoor World”

There is a full moon on Sunday, June 7 and it looks like there is a low pressure system moving into the state — the barometer is dropping and it is expected to get cooler. These are good conditions for a late spring bite. either day or night, high country or desert impoundment. For night fishing, use dark lures in the warmwater lakes, or escape to the cool high country for some moonlight trout. Or maybe hit Upper Lake Mary or Ashurst for some voracious pike at night slow-trolling small swim baits.I heard from an old buddy, Don Martin in Kingman, that the night striper bite at Mead is rockin’. From past experience, submersible lights may not work to attract stripers at night when it is moon bright, but using a graph and chumming to hold schools of fish can also fill your livewells — whether it’s Mead, Mohave, Havasu, Powell or Pleasant.It also sounds like the bite is really great at Lake Havasu for stripers, with some nice largemouth and smallmouth thrown in for good measure.As usual, Roosevelt is also on fire — night or day, and for crappie, bass or catfish. No matter what your angling persuassion, it’s tough to beat Rosey right now. It’s going through what we call the “New Lake Syndrome,” so it is providing some of the best fishing in the Western United States. Don’t miss out.As a side note, I had at a handful of anglers call the past couple of weeks to complain because I put in small updates on our online fising report periodically as I get information from folks, hatcheries or wherever (sometimes up to a dozen times a week). The complaints were from those who get the e-mailed version of the report. They were unhappy because they miss out on the latest info. Not exactly sure the best way to solve this issue, but Game and Fish is about to enter the Twitter world, so maybe that venue might work for updates. Let me know what you think (raikens@azgfd.gov). Nicely please, I have a fragile soul after way too many years of unfettered public input. Plus I haven’t had my self-prescribed dosage of fishing therapy recently (this weekend hopefully).Back to the good stuff — crayfish. Craws, mud bugs or whatever you want to call them, it’s that time. Especially in the high country lakes. Crayfish aren’t native to Arizona, so help out our environment by catching and eating all the crayfish you can. I still remember doing a radio interview with a station in Baton Rouge a few years ago. They were incredulous that we ask people to catch and eat all the crayfish they can and that we have no bag limits. The Cajun DJ just couldn’t fathom such a society; down there crayfish are raised commercially because they are over harvested in the wild for this like Etouffe.It’s June, so typically this is the tail end of the best spring fishing in the high country. That might not be the case this year thanks to the strange weather patterns with a couple of weeks with monsoon-like weather. But regardless, the fishing is still great so make a mad dash to the pines as soon as you can before the Southwest solar cooker is turned up a few notches and the verdant high country green plants evolve to their mature crispy colors.By the way, I chatted with a longtime forester who said the pine cone production this year after back-to-back years of good snowpack is unbelievable — he hasn’t seen anything like this since the early ’80s (the acorn reproduction will likely be phenomenal too). With the recent rains, some of the riparian areas of the forest already have mushrooms popping up here and there. This might be a superb year for tree squirrel reproduction. Nice for the kids and camping, even better for the fall with .22 rifles in hand. Squirrel and black bean burritoes in camp along with fresh caught lemon and cilantro trout can pop up taste buds you didn’t even know you have. Might as well add some crayfish for a gourmet camp treat.I know this is a little off the fishing path, but when visiting places like Roosevelt and Bartlett, keep your eyes peeled for the coveys of quail. The Tonto Basin received some of its best winter rainfall in almost 30 years, and with the recent rainfall to help solidify things, it could be the Gambel’s quail capital of the known universe this fall. Start stocking up on those shotgun shells now and get ready for some excellent cast-n-blast trips this fall (espcially those of us who weren’t drawn for elk).Well, let’s go farther off the fishing path — this is a superb time for watching high country wildlife. When hiking, stop, rest and listen (don’t talk). Carry binoculars and scan the forest for moving legs, flicking ears, or swishing tails. You’ll be surprised what you see. Or slowly partrol the back country dirt roads. You’ll pick up most wildlife through the corner of your eyes.One last fishing tip — you won’t need a fishing license the next two Saturdays. Read the article below.Enjoy. Maybe I’ll see you out there.Fishing NewsKids can take their parents fishing for free on June 6 and 13Hey kids, if your parents didn’t get a fishing license yet this year, you can still take them fishing for free during the first two Saturdays of June, advise Arizona Game and Fish Department officials.Arizona’s Free Fishing Days celebrating National Fishing and Boating Week are on two consecutive Saturdays, June 6 and 13.“With most of our lakes full for a second year in a row thanks to excellent winter rains and snow pack, this is a phenomenal time to get your parents out fishing,” said Rory Aikens, the fishing report editor for Game and Fish. “It’s up to you kids to make sure your parents don’t suffer from an outdoor recreation deficiency.”Check the Game and Fish Department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov for the latest fishing report so you can best plan your fishing outing. The Web site also lists the latest fishing clinics in case your parents need some basic tutelage on the fine art of angling.“Remember kids, at any time of year you can sign your parents up for any of our fishing clinics even if they don’t have a fishing license. Those who are registered for a fishing clinic don’t need a license during the hours and location of the clinic,” Aikens advised.For more tips on how to take your parents fishing, see the accompanying article (condensed) that appeared in the May-June 2008 edition of Arizona Wildlife Views magazine.