Monthly Archives: September 2016

Closure order for Saddle Mountain Wilderness area reduced

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FREDONIA — Effective immediately, the closure order for the Saddle Mountain Wilderness area associated with the Fuller Fire on the North Kaibab Ranger District has been modified to reflect a smaller closure area due to increased moisture and decreased fire danger.

The boundary of this area closure starts east of Highway 67 at the South Canyon Trailhead off Forest Road 610, heading northeast along South Canyon Trail #6 to the junction with FR 211, then continuing northeast along FR 211 to the junction with FR 8910, then just south of the FR 8910 heading east, then along the Saddle Mountain Wilderness boundary, and back to the South Canyon Trailhead off FR 610. Closed roads include FR 211 and the portion of FR 8910 that runs north and south in the closure area.

Trails closed include those within Saddle Mountain Wilderness: South Canyon Trail #6, Nankoweap Trail #57 and Saddle Mountain Trail #31.

For more recreational information, visitors may call the Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center at (928) 643-7298 or the North Kaibab District Office at (928) 643-7395.

No state highway construction closures over Labor Day weekend

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PHOENIX – During Labor Day weekend, state and local agencies are focusing on keeping motorists safe, and placing equipment and resources along heavily traveled highways to help move traffic should incidents occur. Additionally, the Arizona Department of Transportation and its contractors won’t schedule construction closures along state highways from Friday through Monday evening.

While no closures are scheduled during the holiday weekend, travelers should be aware that existing work-zone restrictions with lane reductions will remain in place, including on eastbound Interstate 40 about 30 miles east of Kingman.

ADOT is emphasizing safety in three high-traffic zones that will receive extra enforcement and resources to minimize travel delays. Along Interstate 17 between north Phoenix and Flagstaff, Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson, and State Route 87 between Mesa and Payson, ADOT crews will strategically stage equipment, such as loaders and utility trucks, for faster response times to crashes and stalled vehicles to decrease travel delays.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety will have an enhanced state trooper presence on highways, targeting impairment and dangerous driving behaviors. The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is working with state troopers, police officers and deputy sheriffs on a holiday DUI enforcement campaign. The Labor Day Holiday DUI Task Force Campaign involves nine separate task forces statewide and 72 different law enforcement agencies. Last year, 10 people died in 10 fatal traffic collisions during the holiday weekend on Arizona’s state and local roadways.

To encourage smart driving decisions, ADOT’s overhead signs will display current traffic conditions, as well as safety messages.

Because unexpected delays can occur due to crashes and stalled vehicles, motorists traveling during the holiday weekend should:

  • Pack extra drinking water and snacks
  • Avoid the busiest travel times, if possible
  • Get plenty of rest before driving
  • Check vehicles, including tire pressure, belts and fluid levels

Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Travel Information Center at az511.gov, by calling 511 and through ADOT’s Twitter feed @ArizonaDOT.

Volunteers can help spotlight endangered black-footed ferrets

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Black-footed_FerretSELIGMAN — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking volunteers to assist with spotlighting efforts to help document the population of endangered black-footed ferrets in Aubrey Valley near Seligman.

As part of the recovery effort, the department has scheduled two fall spotlighting projects – Sept. 15-19 and Oct. 13-17. The spotlighting method involves using high-powered lights to locate and identify black-footed ferrets. Their eyeshine is reflected by the spotlight and helps surveyors with identifying and locating these elusive, nocturnal carnivores.

Volunteers must have the ability to stay attentive from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. while spotlighting for black-footed ferrets and use, or learn how to use, a Global Positioning System (GPS). Volunteers can sign up by e-mailing azferret@azgfd.gov – with “fall spotlighting” in the subject line – by Sept. 9 for next month’s project and by Oct. 7 for the later opportunity. Space is limited.

Volunteers are reminded to include their full name, a contact phone number, month(s) and night(s) available to spotlight, and full names of others who also will be attending (a parent or guardian must accompany any youth under 18). Volunteers also should note any equipment they can bring, such as GPS, clipboard, headlamp, pen, binoculars, walkie-talkies, compass, cordless rechargeable spotlight, backpack or 4X4 vehicle.

These events will be conducted to assess the black-footed ferret population before winter. The objectives include trapping those animals that were not caught in the spring, to trap older ones that need a canine distemper or plague booster, and to trap juveniles — called “kits” – to administer vaccinations. No black-footed ferrets were trapped during a spotlighting event in July, although there were 11 confirmed sightings and two litters documented.

For more information about the black-footed ferret recovery effort, visit the department’s website at www.azgfd.com/wildlife and click on “Nongame and Endangered Wildlife.”

Dove season outlook: Expect plenty of birds

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Dove_-_White-winged_2PHOENIX — So, how’s dove hunting going to be this season?

It’s a rhetorical question in Arizona. That’s because, in any given year, an estimated 20 million to 30 million mourning doves – and another 2 million to 3 million of the bigger white-winged doves – are residing here come opening day.

“It’s going to be a good year,” said Johnathan O’Dell, a small game biologist for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “A ‘down’ year for us is 20 million. An ‘up’ year is 30 million. I’ve never worried about doves not being here on opening day. There’s a lot of them.”

The 15-day “early” season gets underway 30 minutes before legal sunrise Thursday. The daily bag limit is 15 mourning and white-winged, of which no more than 10 may be white-winged. The possession limit is 45 mourning and white-winged in the aggregate after opening day, of which no more than 15 may be taken in any one day. Of the 45-dove possession limit, only 30 may be white-winged, of which no more than 10 may be taken in any one day. There is no daily bag limit or possession limit on the invasive Eurasian collared-dove.

O’Dell said he hopes hunters see a few more of the preferred white-winged making up their bag limit this season.

“We’re seeing big increases in white-winged doves,” O’Dell said. “They’re expanding their range, and I think that’s partially due to a lot of agricultural practices across the country. I think we have 22 states harvesting them now, compared to when there were only four or five states back in the day.

“Agriculture plays a huge part in where white-winged doves are located. They’re always looking for small grains. If we have a lot of sorghum, millet, milo, sunflowers, that kind of stuff, it really brings them in.”

The Yuma area continues to be the premier destination for what some hunters consider to be the best wing-shooting action north of Argentina. Banners welcome hunters. Yuma’s motels, restaurants and sporting goods stores look forward to doing a brisk business over the next two weeks. It has been estimated that dove hunters pump up to $5 million into the city’s economy.

A new attraction this year: The inaugural World Championship Dove Cook-off, which takes place from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Yuma Civic and Convention Center. For more information, visit www.yumadovehunting.com.

For everything else “dove,” visit www.azgfd.gov/dove. Also, check out O’Dell’s video demonstrating two techniques for field-dressing doves.

Dove hunters play an important role in conservation. Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR) funds are comprised of excise taxes collected on the sale of hunting and fishing equipment (including 11 percent on ammunition), the benefit of which comes right back to Arizona for habitat improvements, shooting ranges, boating access and more.

10 Tips for safe, responsible OHV riding during Labor Day weekend

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DSC_4103_-_reduced_flippedPHOENIX — With the Labor Day weekend days away, the Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds residents and visitors looking to head outdoors on their off-highway vehicle (OHV) to do so safely and responsibly.

AZGFD officers and partner agencies will be seeking unsafe and reckless OHV operators this holiday weekend to ensure the safety of those riding responsibly.

Between July 1, 2015 and June 30, AZGFD officers issued 404 citations and issued 283 warnings statewide for multiple offences, including failing to have a current OHV decal sticker, allowing children under the age of 18 to ride without a helmet and made arrests for operating/driving while under the influence.

Before hitting the trail, the AZGFD asks all operators and passengers to pledge to ride safely by following these 10 tips:

Always wear a helmet. Whether riding in a side-by-side, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or dirt bike, all riders younger than 18 years old are legally required to wear a Department of Transportation-approved helmet. Helmets are strongly recommended for all riders older than 18.
Eye protection is legally required for all riders if the OHV is not equipped with a windshield.
Wear proper clothing, including riding gloves, a long-sleeve shirt, pants and over-the-ankle boots.
Supervise children under 16 years old. Be sure young riders use an age-appropriate vehicle. Adult-sized machines may be too large and powerful for a child to safely operate. Adults are responsible for a child’s safety when it comes to OHV use.
Only ride with the number of passengers for which the machine is designed. One of the biggest causes of OHV-related injuries is riding with more than the recommended number of passengers. ProperTV riding techniques require operators to shift their weight and change position to keep control of the machine. Carrying a more passengers than recommended by the manufacturer greatly changes how the vehicle responds.
Stay on designated trails. One of the biggest threats to sustainable OHV recreation in Arizona is the closure of riding areas due to irresponsible use. Protect the state’s fragile natural resources, and your ability to visit such spots, by staying on designated trails and avoiding sensitive habitat areas.
Be prepared and equipped. Take area maps and guides, and have a compass, first aid kit, whistle, tire repair kit, tow rope or chain and other basic tools on hand. Also make sure to bring sunscreen, water and food.
Avoid drinking alcohol and/or drugs. Operating any vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is always illegal, regardless of what type of vehicle you’re operating. Alcohol and drugs drastically impair a person’s judgement, responsiveness and ability to operate the machine safely.
Register your OHV and purchase an OHV decal. All vehicles designed primarily for travel on unimproved terrain and weighing less than 1,800 pounds are required to have an OHV Decal to operate on public and state land. License plates and decals are available at any Arizona Motor Vehicle Division location or at www.servicearizona.com.
Maintain your machine properly, especially the spark arrester and muffler. Arresters help to protect against sparking a wildfire and mufflers help to reduce the noise emitted by OHVs.

For more information about OHV riding in Arizona, including a list of locations to ride statewide, visit www.azgfd.gov/OHV.