Monthly Archives: November 2016

Hunters get second shot at doves beginning Friday

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PHOENIX – Arizona dove hunters will be able to double their wing-shooting pleasure when the state’s “second” season begins Friday, Nov. 25.
Unlike the 15-day season that begins Sept. 1, the late season lasts 45 days and runs through Jan. 8, 2017. There still is a 15-bird daily bag limit, all of which must be mourning doves. The possession limit remains 45 mourning doves after opening day, of which no more than 15 may be taken in any one day. As always, there is an unlimited daily bag and possession limit for the invasive Eurasian collared-dove.
Here are a few things to remember to make the most of the upcoming season:
  • A special license sale Wednesday through Sunday (Nov. 23-27) will allow dove hunters to purchase a short-term (one day) combination hunting and fishing license online for half-price — $7.50 for Arizona residents, $10 for non-residents. A license for youth hunters ages 10 to 17 is only $5. Children 9 and under do not need a license when accompanied by a licensed adult (two children per adult). Licenses can be purchased from any license dealer, regional department office or online at https://license.azgfd.gov/home.xhtml. NOTE: All department offices will be closed Thursday, Nov. 24, in observance of Thanksgiving. All offices will reopen 8 a.m. Friday, Nov. 25.   
  • Hunters 18 and older must purchase an Arizona Migratory Bird Stamp for $5 from any license dealer, regional department office or online at https://license.azgfd.gov/home.xhtml.
  • Shooting hours are 30 minutes before legal sunrise until legal sunset. On opening day in central Arizona, legal sunrise will be 7:10 a.m. Figure up to nine minutes earlier for eastern areas and nine minutes later for western areas.
  • One fully feathered wing must remain attached to each harvested dove until it reaches the hunter’s home.
  • Keep in mind that dove hunters are responsible for cleaning up after themselves. Shell casings (shotgun hulls) and associated debris constitute litter and must be picked up and packed out. Littering while hunting or fishing are revocable violations, and a conviction can result in the loss of hunting privileges for up to five years.
  • For everything “dove,” visit https://www.azgfd.com/hunting/species/smallgame/mourningdove.

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.

Enjoy winter in Arizona’s amazing high country, but travel prepared

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PHOENIX — One of the great things about Arizona winters is being able to savor a refreshingly mild morning in our desert communities and then play in the snow that same afternoon.

Just don’t let being able to wear shorts and flip-flops in Tucson, Bullhead City or Mesa leave you thinking that winter driving is any less challenging in Arizona’s high country than in other parts of the country. In fact, snow that makes Flagstaff, the Mogollon Rim, the White Mountains, Prescott and Mount Lemmon popular in the winter can be even more challenging because so much of it can fall in such a brief period.

“Arizona is blessed with an awesome diversity of winter weather, and we all have a chance to get out and enjoy it,” said Governor Doug Ducey. “Taking some easy steps to prepare for driving in areas with snow and ice can make the trip more enjoyable and safe for everyone.”

For starters, leave the shorts and flip-flops at home. Winter is the real deal in higher elevations, yet it’s not unheard of for motorists and passengers to be found shivering in stranded vehicles or rest areas without warm clothing, not to mention an emergency kit that includes blankets.

The average snowfall across the country is 25 inches per year. The Flagstaff area can see 90 inches or more annually, while the White Mountains region averages 30 inches per year.

Snow can fall in virtually every part of Arizona. That’s why the Arizona Department of Transportation has nearly 200 snowplows and 400 trained snowplow operators stationed all around the state to keep highways open when storms hit.

Even so, drivers should leave prepared for the possibility that snow and ice will make for a longer trip and could lead to a highway closure until snowplows can do their work. That comes down to what you take in your vehicle; how you prepare yourself, your passengers and your vehicle; and how you approach driving in potentially adverse conditions.

ADOT’s Know Snow campaign (azdot.gov/KnowSnow), which kicks off Tuesday, November 15, offers tips such as these:

  • Slow Down and Leave Extra Room: Adjust your speed to conditions. Driving slower and leaving space between your vehicle and others when snow and ice are present can improve your ability to brake and prevent skids.
  • Leave Prepared: Dress for cold weather, bring extra clothes and gloves, be sure your cellphone is charged, and pack food, water and necessary medications. Make sure your vehicle is in good working condition, starting with the battery, heater/defroster, wiper blades, wiper fluid and brakes.
  • Pack an Emergency Kit: For starters, take blankets, a flashlight, an ice scraper, a small shovel, a container of sand for traction and hazard lights or reflectors in case your vehicle becomes disabled.
  • Beware of Black Ice: Black ice tends to form at night when melting snow freezes and is especially common on bridges.
  • Stay Up to Date: Visit ADOT’s Travel Information site at az511.gov or call 511 to get the latest highway conditions, and pay attention to messages on overhead boards. ADOT’s Twitter feed (@ArizonaDOT) is an excellent source of information and answers about highway conditions.

It’s essential to know how to drive near a snowplow, starting with staying at least four vehicle lengths behind a plow and not passing until the operator pulls over. Remember: The safest place to be when snow and ice are on a highway is behind a snowplow.

For safety, be sure to exit highways completely before playing in the snow. Highway shoulders are for stranded vehicles and emergency vehicles, not for throwing snowballs. Note that a plow can throw a lot of snow and ice well off the roadway.

And travel with the knowledge that popular snow-play areas, including those along US 180 northwest of Flagstaff, can get a lot of visitors after snow falls and especially around holiday weekends. Heavy traffic can mean a slow trip back at day’s end, so be prepared to spend more time on the road than you may expect in winter weather.

“It’s thrilling to see Arizona’s high country in its winter glory,” said Governor Ducey. “We just want you to Know Snow before leaving so your trip can be safe as well as memorable.”

Wet weather in Williams

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weather16-11-21-01Winter is starting to hit Williams with an overnight heavy rain and hail this morning. The weather cleared about 12:30 with scattered clouds still rolling overhead as of 1 p.m.weather16-11-21-02There is a 100% chance of snow this afternoon with less than an inch accumulation expected. There is a 50% chance of snow overnight with less than 1/2-inch accumulation expected.weather16-11-21-03The weather is expected to clear through the Thanksgiving weekend. The days should hover around 50-degrees with the nights dropping down to the lower 20s. The winds are expected to be relatively calm so it should be a beautiful Thanksgiving. The weather will continue to be nice through the weekend for the tree lighting event and parade.

2017 pronghorn, elk hunt recommendations to be available for review

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elk-hunt-reviewPHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department has scheduled a series of six “open houses” for constituents to review and ask questions about the proposed pronghorn, elk and population management hunt recommendations.

The department annually makes hunt recommendations to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission regarding the management of game species, which establish the seasons, dates, bag limits, open areas and hunt permit-tag allocations based on the framework of the hunt guidelines set by the commission every two years.

The proposed hunt recommendations will be posted Monday, Nov. 21, at www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines. The open houses will be conducted at the following Game and Fish regional offices:

  1. Wednesday, Nov. 23: 6-8 p.m., Flagstaff, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road.
  2. Wednesday, Nov. 23: 3-5 p.m., Yuma, 9140 E. 28th St.
  3. Monday, Nov. 28: 3-5 p.m., Tucson, 555 N. Greasewood Road.
  4. Monday, Nov. 28: 3-5 p.m., Pinetop, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.
  5. Tuesday, Nov. 29: 3-5 p.m., Kingman, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road.
  6. Wednesday, Nov. 30: 4:30-6:30 p.m., Mesa, 7200 E. University Road.​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​Constituents who are interested in particular game management units within those regions will be able to review the hunt recommendations and ask questions. No formal presentations are planned.

The proposed hunt recommendations will be presented to the commission for consideration during its Dec. 3 meeting at department headquarters in Phoenix. The agenda will be posted at www.azgfd.gov/commission.

To learn more about the hunt recommendations and hunt guidelines processes, visit www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines.

Ongoing utility work on SR 260 in Camp Verde for the next five months

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CAMP VERDE — In preparation for widening State Route 260 in Camp Verde between Interstate 17 and Thousand Trails Road (mileposts 209 to 218), utility work will be ongoing for the next five months. Crews are relocating utility lines to make room for the four-lane divided roadway that is set to begin construction next spring.

Utility relocation requires intermittent work along shoulders and trucks entering and exiting the roadway. Drivers are encouraged to use extra caution when traveling through work zones between 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

Drivers should proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction equipment and personnel.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but it’s possible that unscheduled closures or restrictions might occur because of weather or other factors. For the latest highway conditions around the state, visit the ADOT Traveler Information Center at www.az511.gov or call 511, except while driving.

Leftover permit-tags available for 2016 sandhill crane hunts

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sandhillcrane-huntPHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is accepting applications for leftover hunt permit-tags for the 2016 sandhill crane season.

A list of the 96 leftover hunt permit-tags, including 13 for youth hunters, is available online (PDF) at https://www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Draw. Applications are being accepted — by mail only – on a first-come, first-served basis – at the following address: Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn.: Draw/First Come, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086.

The hunt permit-tag fee is $43 for Arizona residents, $45 for non-residents (each successful applicant will receive three hunt permit-tags). A valid Arizona hunting license is needed to apply. If an applicant is not licensed at the time of application, he or she must purchase a license by completing the license form section and include payment with the application.

The 2016 Arizona Sandhill Crane Regulations are posted online at https://portal.azgfd.stagingaz.gov/PortalImages/files/regs/craneregs.pdf. For more information, call (602) 942-3000.

What to do after a non-injury, fender bender collision

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quick-clear7af4ca78c8006c57b531ff0000a35efc_cropPHOENIX — If you’re involved in a freeway fender bender, the misconception that it’s best to stay put can leave you in danger, create hazardous slowing and lane changes for all drivers, and increase risks for emergency responders.

That’s why the Arizona Department of Transportation and Arizona Department of Public Safety need you to know about the practice of Quick Clearance, in which drivers involved in minor crashes that don’t involve injuries get their vehicles out of travel lanes as soon as it’s safe to do so.

No one wants to be in this situation, but with a vehicle crash occurring almost every five minutes in Arizona, everyone should know how best to stay safe following a minor, non-injury collision.

Reasons for practicing Quick Clearance begin with a state law that requires a driver involved in a minor crash without injuries to remove a vehicle from the roadway if it is operable and can be moved safely. Doing this is safer for drivers involved in the crash, fellow motorists and emergency responders.

“Many drivers have been taught not to move their vehicles until law enforcement arrives on scene, but that is not correct,” said DPS Sgt. John Paul Cartier. “Every traffic incident management principle confirms drivers can greatly impact safety, reduce congestion and reduce secondary collisions. Drivers who comply with Quick Clearance state law make a positive difference in many lives.”

Quickly moving your vehicle out of travel lanes provides a safer environment to inspect your car for damage. Moving your vehicle to the emergency shoulder, median or exiting the highway also provides a safer environment for first responders and keeps travel lanes clear for other vehicles, reducing the chance of a secondary collision. Of the 29 DPS troopers killed in the line of duty, 11 were struck and killed in secondary crashes on state highways.

ADOT and DPS are promoting Quick Clearance as part of a nationwide effort among transportation, law enforcement and other first responder agencies and organizations as part of National Traffic Incident Management Week (Nov. 13-19). On Wednesday and Thursday, many overhead highway signs statewide will display the following message:

FENDER BENDER?
SAVE YOUR REAR
AND QUICKLY CLEAR

If you are involved in a crash, the first action to take is to make sure you and occupants in your vehicle are OK. Then, if your vehicle is operable, move to the emergency shoulder, median or exit the highway and call 911. Stay out of travel lanes, be alert and watch approaching traffic. Remember: Never leave the scene of a crash.

South Mountain Freeway will have Frank Lloyd Wright influences

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frank-wright-cropPHOENIX — In the late 1920s, modern architect Frank Lloyd Wright arrived in Arizona to design a desert resort planned for the foothills of South Mountain, in what is now Ahwatukee.

To produce drawings for the project, Wright and his colleagues built a temporary settlement, called “Ocatillo,” near what is now 32nd Street and two-thirds of a mile north of what will be the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway. The name intentionally misspelled ocotillo, the desert plant that grew in abundance there.

While the stock market crash of 1929 ended Wright’s project, nearly a century later his connection to the area will influence how drivers experience the South Mountain Freeway.

Working with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, the Arizona Department of Transportation and its project team are honoring Wright as they design aesthetics for bridges, sound walls and other freeway elements.

“Frank Lloyd Wright had a strong presence at the base of South Mountain before Ahwatukee was even built,” said Joe Salazar, ADOT’s roadside development, project landscape and architecture coordinator. “Frank Lloyd Wright was inspired by Arizona’s desert surroundings, and the South Mountain Freeway will tell that story.”

One of the freeway’s five distinctive aesthetic character areas, between Ahwatukee Foothills and the Interstate 10/Loop 202 Santan Freeway interchange, is named for and influenced by Wright’s Ocatillo settlement. Simple materials in the patterns on architectural features in that freeway segment will celebrate that area’s desert landscape and vegetation.

And preliminary plans for the entire freeway call for using horizontal lines, featured in many of Wright’s designs, in different ways. The wood walls of Wright’s Ocatillo settlement featured bold horizontal lines to echo the desert floor and the area’s long horizons.

The South Mountain Freeway’s sound walls and retaining walls will have horizontal lines, in contrast with the vertical lines used along other Valley freeways.

“These horizontal lines evoke a sense of motion, a perfect complement to the energy of a freeway,” said architect Victor Sidy, who is working with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation on the project. “As one travels through the length of the freeway, these lines will serve as a connective thread that will narrate a story of transition from the city to the natural desert and back to the city.”

Aesthetics are an essential part of any ADOT design project, creating looks that complement the surroundings, help tell an area’s story and create a more appealing environment for drivers.

In addition to Ocatillo Settlement, the South Mountain Freeway’s distinctive aesthetic character areas will be: Cholla Ocotillo between Elliott Road and east of Desert Foothills Parkway; River Bank between the Salt River Bridge and Elliot Road; Leaf Portal between Roosevelt Avenue and the Salt River Bridge; and Mountain Urban Link between the I-10 (Papago Freeway)/Loop 202 interchange and Roosevelt Avenue.

There will be five associated landscape character areas – Ahwatukee Neighborhood, Ahwatukee Foothills, Laveen Village, Estrella Village and Interstate 10 Traffic Interchange – with specific plants, color accents, ground treatments and other elements.

Together, these character areas will tell stories by highlighting land use, land forms and history. The Ahwatukee Foothills/Cholla Ocotillo segment, for example, will feature desert plants and simple shapes based on the forms of native cholla and ocotillo cactuses, while aesthetics and landscaping in the Laveen Village/River Bank segment will speak to that area’s agricultural heritage.

In early November, plans to incorporate Wright’s influences brought ADOT’s landscape and aesthetics team, along with representatives of Connect 202 Partners, the development group designing and building the South Mountain Freeway, to Taliesin West in Scottsdale. The national historic landmark, Wright’s winter home until his death in 1959, is home to the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture.

With representatives of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, participants refined design plans for sound walls, bridges and other structures and drew further inspiration from Wright’s work. The refinements will be reflected in a landscape architecture and aesthetics design concept report developed with input from ADOT, Federal Highway Administration, city of Phoenix and Maricopa Association of Governments, the regional transportation planning agency.

Wright’s influence will be evident in other ways. In the Mountain Urban Link character area, for example, interlocking L-shapes planned for design elements are inspired by the work of both Wright and Paolo Soleri, the renowned modern architect behind Arcosanti and Cosanti in Arizona.

ADOT’s Salazar called the South Mountain Freeway a rare opportunity to create aesthetics and landscaping for an entire freeway corridor at once rather than in stages. That opportunity also creates a challenge that requires additional thought and consideration, Salazar added.

“We are thankful for the collaboration with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and others, including the Cosanti Foundation, to develop a freeway corridor that will tell stories as it enhances the quality of life in this region,” Salazar said.

The 22-mile freeway, expected to open by late 2019, will provide a long-planned direct link between the East Valley and West Valley and a much-needed alternative to I-10 through downtown Phoenix. Approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985 and again in 2004 as part of a comprehensive regional transportation plan, the South Mountain Freeway will complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system in the Valley.

AZ Livestock Loss Board approves compensation for Mexican wolf depredation

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mexican-wolfPHOENIX — The Arizona Livestock Loss Board recently approved an interim policy that allows ranchers to receive compensation for cattle taken by a Mexican wolf.

While conservation efforts are helping to re-establish the Mexican wolf population within their historical range in Arizona, this program has resulted in the loss of some commercial cattle.

The board’s unanimous vote Nov. 3 allows ranchers to be compensated for a wolf depredation incident after it is investigated and confirmed by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services field representative.

“The Mexican wolf reintroduction program has been a significant burden to ranchers in Mexican wolf range,” said Arizona Livestock Loss Board Chairman and Arizona Game and Fish Department Director Larry Voyles. “We had one rancher testify that he had suffered 13 depredations just this year alone. Few family owned businesses can survive losses at this level.”

Under the interim policy, a commercial producer/operator can apply for reimbursement for damages incurred up to $2,500.

The board will consider claims for incidents that occurred after Sept. 1, 2015, until available funds are exhausted. Claims approved after funds have been exhausted will be paid when and if additional funding becomes available.

The policy is meant to serve as an interim remedy until the board develops and adopts permanent rules outlining eligibility requirements and compensation for the loss of livestock due to wolf depredations.

“In voting unanimously, the board is trying to compensate the ranchers who are directly impacted by the Mexican wolf re-introduction program and who earn their living off the land,” Voyles said. “The success of any conservation effort requires the tolerance and support of the people that are closest to the effort. Bottom line: Mexican wolf conservation ultimately has to occur on a variety of landscapes.”

Also during the meeting the board unanimously passed:

  • A letter to the Arizona Congressional Delegation requesting funding to address the issues associated with the Mexican wolf re-introduction program;
  • Draft legislation asking the Arizona Legislature for funding to meet its statutory obligations;
  • A letter to the Arizona Attorney General asking for a formal opinion on the applicability of the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to wolf depredation of livestock;
  • A letter to Gov. Doug Ducey to request a rule-making moratorium exception to authorizing rule-making;
  • A letter of agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation;
  • Elected Ken Van De Graaff as the new chairman, replacing Director Voyles.

The board was established by law in 2015 to address depredation by Mexican wolves on livestock operations within Arizona. The program is designed to provide compensation to livestock producers who incur costs to their operations from Mexican wolves with the goal of increased tolerance for the presence of this subspecies on working landscapes.

For more information about the program, visit https://www.azgfd.com/Agency/LiveStockBoard.

2017 spring draw results available for Portal account holders

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PHOENIX — Hunters who have an AZGFD Customer Portal account now can view their draw results for the 2017 spring turkey, javelina, bison and bear seasons. Simply log into your account, and you will be taken to your personal ‘My AZ Outdoors” page.

Portal account holders have the benefit of being able to view their draw results a day or two before the results officially are released. It’s quick, easy and free to create a Portal account. Just click on the “Sign in to Account” button in the upper right-hand corner of the www.azgfd.gov home page and then select the “Create an Account” option, filling in the requested information.

Portal accounts are mobile-friendly, so customers can view their information on their smartphones.

Meanwhile, the department will post an announcement on its website when results officially are released. All permit-tags are anticipated to be mailed by Dec. 14; all refund warrants by Nov. 30.

For more information, call the department at (602) 942-3000.