Category Archives: Amusement

Spring hunt recommendations available for review

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s proposed recommendations for the 2019 spring javelina, bison and bear hunts, and 2019 and 2020 spring turkey hunts are available for review at www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines.

The hunt structures and recommendations were formulated based on the hunt guidelines approved by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission in September 2017.

All questions or comments about a particular game management unit or hunt are welcome by emailing at AZHuntGuidelines@azgfd.gov, or by calling any of the department’s statewide regional offices and asking to speak to a game management biologist. No formal presentations are planned.

The proposed hunt recommendations will be presented to the Commission for its consideration during a public meeting Aug. 3 at Little America Hotel, 2515 E. Butler Ave., Flagstaff, 86004.

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

Arizona Game and Fish Department proposes new fishing regulations

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is proposing fishing regulation changes and inviting the public to review and comment.

AZGFD will host and webcast a public forum on proposed fishing regulations changes 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. on Monday, July 30 at department headquarters (Quail Room), 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix. The webcast can be viewed at www.azgfd.gov/webcast.

The topic of discussion will focus exclusively on proposed fishing regulation changes by AZGFD. Recommendations can be submitted in-person at the public forum, by email to fishregscomments@azgfd.gov or by mail to: Arizona Game and Fish Department, Aquatic Wildlife Branch, c/o Andy Clark, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ, 85086.

Please include your first and last name to ensure a response during the forum. AZGFD will be accepting comments through August 31.

The changes are also scheduled to be presented to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission at its Sept. 21-22 meeting. The public is welcome to attend and address the commission on these proposals.

The proposed changes are:

  • Open Fish Creek in Greenlee County, and tributaries Corduroy Creek and Double Cienega Creek, to fishing.
  • Close Chase Creek (Gila County) to fishing.
  • Designate new Community Fishing Program waters/regulations: Fain Lake, Yavapai Lakes in Urban Forest Park (Prescott Valley), Mansel Carter Oasis Lake (Queen Creek), Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex Pond in Yuma.
  • Change bag limits for bass at Arivaca Lake and Pena Blanca Lake to a statewide daily bag.
  • Change bag limits at Maricopa Lake (Youngtown) to a statewide daily bag.

See the PDF of the rationale behind each regulation.

AZGFD to address water quality issues at Luna Lake​​​​​​​

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is collaborating with the White Mountain Lakes Foundation and the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest to address chronic and long-term water-quality issues at Luna Lake near Alpine.

The ongoing project could eventually include other lakes located on the national forest: Carnero Lake, Lee Valley Lake and Crescent Lake.

– AZGF Photo

AZGFD plans to install the first aeration system at Luna Lake during the spring of 2019. If the concept and approach prove successful at Luna, funding for installation of aerators at the other three lakes will be pursued.

“Once started, installation of the aeration system at Luna should be finished in only a few months,” said Dave Weedman, AZGFD Aquatic Habitat Program Manager. “Luna Lake is the most cost-effective option because it is more easily accessible during the winter for maintenance than the other three lakes, and we have numerous partners in the area that will assist in the maintenance and upkeep of the facility.”

Successful project implementation will require collaboration between the AZGFD and Alpine Ranger District on the environmental compliance (NEPA) for beginning construction on the infrastructure. Both agencies have committed to begin the NEPA process immediately.

AZGFD biologists are monitoring water quality at all four lakes in an attempt to identify the causes for the water quality problems. Each of these lakes has periodically suffered from winter or summer fish die-offs as a result of poor water quality, low dissolved oxygen (DO) in the winter or excessively high pH in the summer. AZGFD has already solicited plans for installation of aerators to address low oxygen during the winters, and is pursuing the needed environmental clearances to pave the way for installation and operation of the equipment.

Each of these lakes is different and will require a multi-faceted approach to address the water quality causes for the fish die-offs.

For example:

  • Crescent Lake receives an elevated level of nutrients from the watershed that contributes to excessive plant and algae growth. During the winter, as the lake ices over, transfer of oxygen from the air to the water is cut off, as is production of oxygen through photosynthesis by the plants and algae, while decomposing plant matter under the ice burns up all the oxygen, leaving none to keep fish alive. Aeration, in combination with nutrient control, may prove to resolve this issue.
  • Luna Lake suffers from a similar condition during the winter, as well as an elevated pH and low oxygen problem during the summer as excessive plant growth and blue-green algae absorb carbon dioxide, causing the pH to rise during the day. At night, when photosynthesis shuts down, the production of oxygen also shuts down. Respiration by zooplankton and decomposition by bacteria consume oxygen, causing a daily low DO condition that may stress and/or kill fish.

AZGFD thanks numerous partners for their local and vocal support: Sportsmen for Wildlife, Alpine Alliance, Trout Unlimited, Arizona Flycasters Club, The Desert Fly Casters of Chandler, White Mountain Fly Fishing Club, Friends of Luna Lake and the White Mountain Lakes Foundation.

Deer, turkey, youth-only javelina hunt permit-tags available

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PHOENIX — Arizona hunters will have an opportunity to receive a hunt permit-tag for select 2018 deer, fall turkey and fall youth-only javelina hunts.

As of Wednesday, there were 1,614 leftover hunt permit-tags available for general deer hunts, with most of those hunts being for antlered white-tailed deer only in Game Management Units (GMUs) in the southeastern portion of the state.

There also were leftover hunt permit-tags for muzzleloader deer (288), youth-only deer (26), turkey (408) and youth-only javelina (72) hunts. A single youth-only pheasant hunt permit-tag was available in GMU 40B.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department will accept applications for leftover hunt permit-tags — by mail only — beginning July 23. All completed paper applications must be addressed to: Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn.: Draw/First Come, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086. There is no “mini” draw. Allow 10 to 15 business days to receive a hunt permit-tag by mail.

All remaining leftover hunt permit-tags will be available for purchase on a “first come, first served” basis at all department offices beginning July 30.

For a complete list of leftover hunt permit-tags, visit https://www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Draw/.

For more information, including license and hunt permit-tag requirements, view the “2018-19 Arizona Hunting Regulations” booklet online, or call (602) 942-3000.

Reminder: Deadline to update credit cards, protect bonus points is Tomorrow

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) reminds those who applied online for a 2018 fall hunt permit-tag that 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) Thursday, June 28, is the deadline to update credit card or debit card information.

If payment is declined at the time of the draw, the application will not be drawn. AZGFD no longer calls customers to obtain payment on drawn applications where credit cards or debit cards have failed.

Meanwhile, online applicants still can protect their bonus points by purchasing “PointGuard” through 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) Thursday, June 28. PointGuard ensures if a successful online applicant is unable to participate in a hunt — for any reason — the accumulated bonus points that were expended to draw that hunt permit-tag will be reinstated.

A free AZGFD portal account is needed to purchase PointGuard (visit www.azgfd.gov, click on the “My Account” button in the upper right-hand corner of the home page, then select “Register”). PointGuard is $5 per species, per applicant. For more information, visit https://www.azgfd.com/hunting/pointguard, or call (602) 942-3000.

A portal account allows customers to create a secure account where they can view and manage their contact information, as well as their licenses, draw results history and bonus points in their personal “My AZGFD Dashboard” section. That’s also where draw results will be posted once the process is completed.

The department will announce on its website and Facebook page when results officially are released. All hunt permit-tags are expected to be mailed by July 31 (refunds by July 20).

World record ahead?

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PHOENIX — David Worsham wasn’t at Prescott’s Goldwater Lake on Saturday, June 2 for the family fishing event or even the stocked rainbow trout. He was there to catch big bass. Yet the Avondale, Arizona resident left with a potential state and world record Gila trout.

Worsham caught a 23-inch, 5.12-pound Gila trout that is in the process of certification as an Arizona state record.

“It kind of fought like a catfish at first,” Worsham said. “Once it started getting closer to shore it started peeling drag. I loosened the drag so she could run a little bit. I didn’t want to horse it to shore and chance it breaking off.” Worsham said he kept the fish.

He caught the behemoth Gila on a lipless crankbait. The rest of his rig consisted of a Megabass Levante Diablo Spec-R rod, a Daiwa Tatula 100 baitcasting reel and 15-pound fluorocarbon line. He said he was fishing one of Goldwater’s coves for big bass when he noticed a lunker cruising from deep water to the shallows and back. He switched from a swimbait to the lipless crankbait and hooked the Gila.

The previous inland waters, hook-and-line Arizona state record Gila trout was 3 pounds, 5.6 ounces and 19 1/4 inches caught by Roberts Woods of Flagstaff from Frye Mesa Reservoir in 2011.

This unique fish species is one of two native trout species to Arizona. Gila trout are found only in Arizona and New Mexico. The New Mexico state record Gila trout is 4 pounds, 8 ounces. The International Game Fish Association All-Tackle World Record Gila trout stands at 3 pounds, 7 ounces and was caught by Bo Nelson in 2011 from Arizona’s Frye Mesa Reservoir. Of course, Worsham’s fish is heavier than both. His catch has not yet been certified by the IGFA.

Ironically, Worsham’s record fish came from brood stock in New Mexico’s Mora National Fish Hatchery. AZGFD believes the fish likely came from a 2016 batch of 2- to 3-pound stocked Gila trout.

AZGFD is stocking more Gila trout this month into Goldwater Lake and the West Fork of Oak Creek.

Only days remain to apply online for 2018 fall hunts

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PHOENIX – The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) reminds hunters that only a few days remain to apply online for 2018 hunt permit-tags issued through the draw process for deer, fall turkey, fall javelina, bighorn sheep, fall bison and pheasant.

All online applications must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) Tuesday, June 12.

To apply online, visit https://draw.azgfd.gov/ and scroll down to “Apply for a Draw.” As a reminder, applicants must possess a valid Arizona hunting license to apply online for a hunt permit-tag. That license must be valid on the last day of the online application period (June 12). Licenses are available online, at department offices and license dealers statewide.

Customer service representatives will be available at all statewide offices until 5 p.m. for those who need assistance filling out an online application. Online application assistance only will be offered until 6 p.m. Tuesday by calling (623) 236-7424.

Meanwhile, the department encourages all online applicants to sign up for a free AZGFD portal account. A portal account allows customers to create a secure account where they can view and manage their contact information, as well as their licenses, draw results history and bonus points in their personal “My AZGFD Dashboard” section. That’s also where draw results will be posted once the process is completed.

Another benefit to having a portal account is being able to purchase PointGuard when applying online for a hunt permit-tag. PointGuard ensures that if a successful online applicant is unable to participate in a hunt for any reason, the accumulated bonus points that were expended to draw that hunt permit-tag will be reinstated. PointGuard is $5 per species, per applicant, purchased at the time of completing the online application, or prior to the online application period deadline.

For questions about creating a portal account, call the department at (602) 942-3000 and press “7.”

Arizona Game and Fish offers grant money to improve public boating facilities

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department anticipates offering up to $500,000 in federal grant money to enhance and improve public boating facilities at Arizona lakes and waterways over the next two years.

“If you enjoy boating on Arizona waters, this money is specifically for improving that kind of recreation,” said Ron Christofferson, the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s boating facilities program manager. “The department makes grant funds available to applicants who wish to complete boating facility projects that otherwise might not receive funding. This is the opportunity to apply for these grants.”

The funds are anticipated to be available during the next two state fiscal years both through the Clean Vessel Act and the Boating Infrastructure Grant. These federal programs focus on pumpout facilities for onboard restrooms, as well as public boating facilities specifically intended to accommodate watercraft over 26 feet in length. Funding for the grants is provided by federal taxes on the sale of equipment related to fishing and boating, and on motorboat fuel.

Many such projects have been completed in Arizona over the past decade, including new courtesy docks, pumpout stations, pumpout boats and marine fueling stations. Such improvements have previously been funded at Canyon and Bartlett lakes, as well as Lake Pleasant, Lake Havasu and Lake Powell.

“This is an outstanding example of a program where the people who pay fees and taxes directly benefit from the grant funding,” Christofferson said. “In this case, anglers and boaters pay federal taxes on fishing tackle, equipment and motorboat fuel. Then this money is allocated annually back to each state to support projects anglers and boaters can enjoy.”

Agencies, marinas and individuals eligible for the grant money are those with legal ownership or control of public boating facilities on any Arizona public waterway where boats are allowed to operate gas motors without horsepower restrictions.

Grant funds are awarded through a competitive application process, and applications are reviewed and judged on the basis of priorities, project feasibility and overall merit as they relate to the current needs of the boating public. No state funding is currently available through these programs.

Grant applications must be received at the department’s Phoenix headquarters no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, July 2, 2018.

For more information on how to apply for the grants, visit the department’s boating facilities webpage at www.azgfd.gov/boatingfacilities.

Trail camera rule change subject of webcast May 29

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PHOENIX –– The Arizona Game and Fish Department will host and webcast a public forum on a proposed rule change within Article 3, “Taking and Handling of Wildlife,” at 6 p.m. May 29 at department headquarters (Quail Room), 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix.
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The webcast can be viewed at www.azgfd.gov/webcast. The topic of discussion will focus exclusively on a proposed rule change by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission pertaining to the use of a trail camera within one-fourth mile of a developed water source.Questions can be asked in-person in the department’s Quail Room, or submitted by e-mail during the forum at questions@azgfd.gov. The final rule will be presented to the five-member commission at its June 8-9 meeting at the Mazatzal Hotel and Casino, Highway 87, Mile Marker 251, in Payson.

To track the progress of this rule, view the regulatory agenda and all previous Five-year Review Reports, and to learn about any other agency rulemaking matters, visit https://www.azgfd.com/agency/rulemaking/.

What to do if you’re in a boating accident

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PHOENIX – While no one anticipates that their day on the water will be cut short by an accident, all boaters should prepare for the unexpected and know what to do in the event of an incident.

If you are in a collision or accident while on one of the state’s waterways, Arizona law requires you to:

  • stop and render aid at the scene of the accident;
  • help those that have been injured and provide any assistance necessary unless doing so would endanger additional passengers or boats; and
  • exchange names, addresses, contact information and the boats’ identifying numbers with anyone injured in the accident and/or the owner of any property that was damaged.

If it’s an emergency, call 911 if cellphone service is available. When preparing for an outing, boaters should take note of which law enforcement agency has jurisdiction on the waterway in order to call for assistance if needed. In addition, the National Safe Boating Council recommends that boaters carry at least two communication devices that will work when wet. For example, an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) and personal locator beacon (PLB) both transmit a coded message to the nearest rescue coordination center.
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