Category Archives: Arizona

AZGFD accepting applications for 2023 spring hunts

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The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is accepting applications for 2023 hunt permit-tags issued through the draw process for spring turkey, javelina, bison and  raptor capture.   

To apply, visit www.azgfd.gov and click on “Apply for a Draw.” For an overview of the application service, including license requirements, applying for bonus points and payment information, see Page 8 of the “2023 Spring Turkey, Javelina, Bison, Bear and Raptor Capture Hunt Draw Information” booklet.
The booklet is posted online at www.azgfd.gov/hunting/draw. Printed versions soon will be available at all license dealers statewide (call in advance for availability).

The deadline for the department to receive all applications is 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. 

In the meantime:
  • Check your AZGFD portal account. Take this time before the opening of the spring draw to review your personal data, including your application history and total bonus points (bonus, loyalty, hunter education). If something seems amiss, call AZGFD at 602-942-3000 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • Open an AZGFD portal account. Just visit accounts.azgfd.com/Account/Register and fill in the required information. Note: AZGFD no longer provides draw results through its automated phone service. The department encourages all customers to have an AZGFD portal account; that’s the only place where draw results will be posted. Family account features are now available with a portal account, so everyone — including youth — can view their draw results online as soon as they are available.
  • Applicants must possess a valid Arizona hunting license (or combination hunt and fish license) to apply for a hunt permit-tag. That license must be valid on the last day of the application period (Oct. 11). Licenses are available online and at any AZGFD office or license dealers statewide. Note: When purchasing an Arizona hunting (or combination hunt and fish) license online, the license number will appear at the bottom of the customer’s receipt. Don’t throw it away! That license number will be required as part of the draw application process.
  • Know your Customer ID. This is a must to submit an application. There are four ways to locate a Customer ID: 1) Log into your AZGFD portal account, and click on “View Details” under “My AZGFD Dashboard; 2) Check your hunting or combination hunt and fish license, if it was purchased online; 3) A Customer ID number can be retrieved by visiting www.azgfd.com/hunting/draw/. If the account is located, AZGFD will send the Customer ID number to that email address; 4) Call AZGFD at 602-942-3000 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • “Arizona E-Tag” is now available. Hunters can download this mobile app from either the Apple or Google Play stores, and opt-in to receive an electronic tag in their AZGFD portal account (this is not an option selected through the draw). The Arizona E-Tag app provides real-time delivery of licenses and big game tags purchased or drawn after the app has been downloaded. The app also provides the ability to electronically tag a harvested animal and complete the hunter questionnaire. For more information, visit www.azgfd.gov/hunting.
  • Plan to purchase a PointGuard product. Choosing PointGuard Plus, or the standard PointGuard, ensures that applicants can surrender their hunt permit-tag for any reason, and the accumulated bonus points that were expended to draw that hunt permit-tag will be reinstated. A portal account is no longer required to purchase a PointGuard product. Information: www.azgfd.gov/pointguard.
  • No more applying for bear through the draw. All bear hunt permit-tags have moved to nonpermit-tags (over the counter). 
  • View “What You Need to Know,” a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs), at https://www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Draw/. 

Governor Ducey appoints Marsha Petrie Sue to Arizona Game and Fish Commission

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department was informed today that Governor Doug Ducey has appointed Marsha Petrie Sue, an Arizona business woman and avid outdoorswoman, to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. Marsha will replace Kurt Davis on the Commission.

Marsha is a longtime hunter and angler, dedicating nearly 25 years to wildlife conservation. She is an Arizona Antelope Foundation Life Member, Arizona Deer Association volunteer, Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society conservationist, and past Women’s Outdoor Media Association Chair. She also serves on the NRA Women’s Leadership Forum Executive Committee. InBusiness Magazine recognized Marsha as a 2022 Woman of Achievement. She has received the Margie Herndon Conservation Award and the Daughters of the American Revolution Community Service Award.

“Thank you to Governor Ducey for this honor and opportunity. As a conservationist, my goal is to continue hands-on work for our beautiful state and its wildlife. Bringing all groups and entities together through open communication and helping continue the amazing work being done by the Game and Fish Commission and department will be the focus I have. I look forward to working with my fellow commissioners,” said Marsha.

Marsha has called Arizona home for more than 32 years. She is a retired Corporate Executive who founded Communicating Results. She is currently a professional speaker, author, and executive coach. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University at Long Beach and her Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She and her husband, Al Sue, reside in Scottsdale.

Missouri man shot after threatening officers with a screwdriver

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FLAGSTAFF — At 0530 on September 7th, there was an Officer involved shooting at the intersection of North Highway 89 and Cummings Street. The shooting resulted in the death of one adult male who was identified as 51-year-old Donald Wayne Henry of Missouri.

The Flagstaff Police responded to a call of a male subject breaking a gas station window and entering the business taking items from the store. At the same time the Sheriff’s Office received a call for a subject threatening to stab people with a knife in the same area at a nearby business.

When the FPD Officer arrived, he contacted the man in the middle of the intersection. The male subject produced a screwdriver and advanced towards the officer in a threatening manner. The officer drew his Taser and the male then fled on foot.

CCSO Deputies arrived and assisted the Officer. The man refused multiple commands to stop and to drop the screwdriver. He fled from the officers and ran across the road. The Officer and Deputies followed him and surrounded him. More verbal commands were given, which the man refused to comply with.

The male once again brandished the screwdriver and threatened the Deputy by charging towards him. The Deputy ultimately had to resort to deadly force to stop the threat as he was being charged. The FPD Officer fired his Taser at the same time the shots were fired by the Deputy.

Body camera footage and still photos have been uploaded to the FPD Transparency webpage at: https://fpdtransparency.com.

Flagstaff Police investigate suspicious death

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FLAGSTAFF –- The Flagstaff Police Department Criminal Investigations Division is investigating an incident involving a suspicious death. On Thursday September 1, 2022, at approximately 11:00 PM, Flagstaff Police officers on patrol located a male lying on the sidewalk in front of a restaurant located in the 3600 block of E Route 66. When they stopped to check on the male, he was found to have significant facial injuries and head trauma. The male was breathing; however, he was not responsive to officers as they attempted to determine how the male sustained his injuries.

Medics were called to the location and provided emergency medical care for the man, subsequently transporting him to the Flagstaff Medical Center for further emergency medical care. Despite the efforts of medical staff, the male succumbed to his wounds and was pronounced deceased. The deceased male has been identified as 35 year old Donovan Young of Chinle, AZ. The manner of death is still pending further investigation.

If anyone in the community has information that may assist with this investigation, please contact the Flagstaff Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at (928) 774-1414, or Detective Hansen at (928) 679-4021 mhansen@flagstaffaz.gov. You can also call Silent Witness at (928) 774-6111.

Flagstaff police seek help in hit and run collision

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FLAGSTAFF – On the 23rd of August, 2022, at approximately 8:30 PM, a truck was involved in a hit and run collision with a motorcycle, near the intersection of S Milton Rd and Mikes Pike Street in Flagstaff. The motorcyclist sustained injuries from the collision and was transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center for treatment.

The truck is described as a white in color, 2 door Toyota Tacoma with a camper shell on the back. The vehicle was last scene turning West onto Tucson Avenue and into the Plaza Vieja neighborhood of Flagstaff.

Please contact Detective Joseph Gilbert by phone at (928) 679-4120 or by email at jdgilbert@flagstaffaz.gov with any information related to the truck or this collision.

Tom O’Hallern comments on Drake Cement

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WILLIAMS — On Tuesday, August 23, Tom O’Halleran from the 1st District of Arizona held a town hall meeting at the American Legion Cordova Post #13 on Grant Street. He spoke unfavorably of the location of the pozzolan mining operation by the Peruvian-owned company Drake Cement.

Local residents are concerned that mining operations in the Bill Williams Mountain watershed area could pose problems for the limited water resources of Williams. There are also concerns over why the foreign-owned Drake Cement has claimed over 800-acres of area used by a variety of wild life. The area is also a hunting area and a popular hiking and camping area.


The Forest Service’s Role in Minerals Management
According to the Kaibab Forest web site, the Forest Service’s role in minerals management is twofold: 1) to make minerals from National Forest lands available to the national economy and, at the same time, 2) to minimize the adverse impacts of mining activities on National Forest System surface resources.

  • United States mining laws, principally the Mining Law of 1872, confer a statutory right to search for minerals on public lands. The law provides US citizens the right to explore for and discover valuable mineral deposits on federal lands that are open to mineral entry.
  • Unless an area is withdrawn by the Secretary of Interior or excluded by an act of Congress, National Forest System lands are open to mining claims. The FS does not have the authority to withdraw lands from mining.
  • The Forest Service must consider all reasonable proposals for mineral operations on areas that are open to entry and complete the environmental review within a reasonable timeframe.
  • The Code of Federal Regulations (36 CFR 228(a) – Locatable Minerals) sets forth rules and procedures for operating on National Forest System lands so as to minimize adverse environmental impacts on surface resources.

Drake Cement is owned by Peruvian company Cementos Lima through a company called Skanon Investment, Inc. Enrique Rozas is the CEO for Drake Cement and has been the agent for Skanon Investments, inc. since July 21, 2016, according to Internet sources.

Hunters can apply for limited-entry permit-tag seasons beginning at 8 a.m. (Arizona time) Monday, August 8

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PHOENIX – The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) will accept applications for limited-entry permit-tag seasons beginning at 8 a.m. (Arizona time) Monday, Aug. 8.

These new big game hunting opportunities give hunters a chance to draw an additional elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and Gould’s turkey permit-tag, while generating revenue to help support wildlife conservation efforts across the state.

To apply, visit https://limitedhuntentry.azgfd.com/. The deadline is 4:59 p.m. (Arizona time) Friday, Aug. 12.

These opportunities should not be confused with the annual draws that are conducted by the department in February, June and October. A limited-entry permit-tag application does not preclude a hunter from applying for any other hunts throughout the year or impact bonus points. Animals harvested during limited-entry permit-tag seasons are excluded from annual bag limits.

Applicants must have a Customer ID to submit an application. There are four ways to locate a Customer ID: 1) Log into your AZGFD portal account, and click on “View Details” under “My AZGFD Dashboard;” 2) Check your hunting or combination hunt and fish license, if it was purchased online; 3) A Customer ID number can be retrieved by visiting https://www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Draw/. If the account is located, AZGFD will send the Customer ID number to that email address; 4) Call AZGFD at 602-942-3000 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Don’t have a Customer ID? Visit https://accounts.azgfd.com/Account/Register to sign up for a free AZGFD portal account. For those applicants who believe they have a portal account but are unable to locate their Customer ID by using the Customer ID Retrieval Tool, call the department at 602-942-3000 to avoid creating a duplicate account.

Applicants who draw a limited-entry permit-tag will be contacted by the department during the week of Aug. 15, at which time payment will be required before the permit-tag can be mailed. It is the responsibility of each applicant to provide accurate contact information to avoid missing an opportunity to receive the permit-tag for which they were drawn.

In addition:

  • This is discretionary. The objective is to generate revenue in order to maintain current operations and limit or eliminate the need to increase license and hunt permit-tag fees.
  • The issuance of a specific number of limited-entry permit-tags will not adversely affect management objectives for a species or area. These hunts will not impact the number of permit-tags made available for the annual draws. The related harvest will have an insignificant impact on wildlife populations.
  • A valid Arizona hunting (or combination hunt and fish) license is not needed at the time of application; it is required if a customer has been drawn for a limited-entry permit-tag.
  • Applicants can select up to 12 limited-entry permit-tag hunts on one application. Multiple applications will not be accepted.
  • At the time of application, a customer shall submit the required nonrefundable application fee ($13 for Arizona residents, $15 for nonresidents) for each selected hunt number.
  • Each customer must apply individually. Applicants cannot apply as a group, unlike the annual draws.
  • If a customer enters inaccurate information during the application process, or attempts to enter the draw for a hunt more than once, all applications will be deemed invalid.
  • After an application has been saved, a customer cannot begin a new one. A customer may return to their application to make changes as long as the draw is open, however. When an application is completed and final payment is accepted, a customer can no longer make changes or apply for additional hunts.

A total of 12 limited-entry permit-tags will be available for the following hunting opportunities:

  • Elk (any elk): Dec. 15, 2022-Feb. 15, 2023. Open areas: Units 1 and 27.
  • Elk (any elk): Dec. 15, 2022-Feb. 15, 2023. Open areas: Units 9 and 10.
  • Elk (any elk): Dec. 15, 2022-Feb. 15, 2023. Open areas: Units 21, 22 and 23.

 

  • Mule deer (antlered): Dec. 15, 2022-Feb. 15, 2023. Open areas: Units 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D, 16A, 17A, 17B, 18A, 18B, 19A, 19B, and 20A.
  • Mule deer (antlered): Dec. 15, 2022-Feb. 15, 2023. Open areas: Units 39, 40A, 40B, 41, 42, 43A, 43B, 44A, 44B, 45A, 45B, and 45C.
  • Mule deer (antlered): Dec. 15, 2022-Feb. 15, 2023. Open areas: Units 28, 31, 32, 37A, and 37B.
  • Mule deer (antlered): Dec. 15, 2022-Feb. 15, 2023. Open areas: Units 20B, 20C, 21, 22, and 23.

 

  • White-tailed deer (antlered): Jan. 1-Feb. 28, 2023. Open areas: Units 27 and 28.
    White-tailed deer (antlered): Jan. 1-Feb. 28, 2023. Open areas: Units 4A, 5A, 6A, 6B, and 8.
  • White-tailed deer (antlered): Jan. 1-Feb. 28, 2023. Open areas: Units 29, 30A, 30B, 31, 32, 33, 34A, 34B, 35A, 35B, 36A, 36B, and 36C.
  • White-tailed deer (antlered): Jan. 1-Feb. 28, 2023. Open areas: Units 21, 22, 23, 24A, and 24B.

 

  • Gould’s turkey (bearded): Apr. 1, 2023-May 31, 2023. Open areas: Units 29, 30A, 31, 32, 33 (north and west of Redington Road), 34A, 35A, and 35B.

The elk and deer hunts are general season hunts. Legal methods of take: any firearm, pre-charged pneumatic weapon, crossbow, or bow and arrow as prescribed in R12-4-304.

The turkey hunt is a limited weapon-shotgun shooting shot season hunt. Legal methods of take: Any shotgun shooting shot as prescribed in R12-4-318, or crossbow or bow and arrow as prescribed in R12-4-304.

Plan for westbound I-40 lane restrictions near Williams August 9-12

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WILLIAMS – The Arizona Department of Transportation advises motorists to plan for daytime lane restrictions on westbound Interstate 40 near Williams from Tuesday, August 9, through Friday, August 12, as work begins on a pavement life extension project.
Drivers should slow down, proceed through the work zone with caution and watch for construction personnel while the following restrictions are in place daily from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.:

  • Westbound I-40 will be narrowed to one lane of traffic between mileposts 157 – 155.
  • The speed limit will be reduced to 45 mph in the work zone.

The project will improve the condition of an 11-mile stretch of I-40 between the East Ash Fork interchange and Devil Dog Road. Final completion is anticipated in late fall of 2022.

Arguments Sought “For” and “Against” Coconino County Jail District Tax Extension

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County’s jail system is administered and operated through a Jail District (District) by the Coconino County Sheriff, who is delegated by Arizona Revised Statutes as keeper of the jail. The District is currently funded by a half-cent excise tax, which expires in 2027. The Coconino County Board of Supervisors serves as the Jail District Board of Directors.

On the upcoming General Election ballot, the District Board of Directors will ask Coconino County voters to extend the existing Jail District tax for maintaining and operating Coconino County jails for 25 years until 2052.

Pursuant to Arizona Revised Statues, Title 19, Section 124, Coconino County will prepare an informational pamphlet that will be mailed to all registered voters in the county prior to the General Election on November 8.

Coconino County requests arguments “For” and “Against” the ballot question for inclusion in the pamphlet. Each argument may not exceed 300 words and must include the original signature of the submitting party. If an argument is sponsored by an organization, it must be signed by two of the organization’s executive officers. If the argument is submitted by a political action committee (PAC), it must be signed by the committee’s chairman or treasurer. The person(s) signing the argument must provide their mailing address and phone number. This information will not be printed in the pamphlet.

Arguments may be submitted in writing and delivered by mail or in person to the Clerk of the Board’s Office, or digitally on a compact disc or USB drive. To meet the requirement for an original signature, digital submissions must be accompanied by a paper copy. Arguments may not be submitted via email or file transfer program. There is no fee to submit an argument.

To be considered for inclusion in the informational pamphlet, all arguments must be received by 5 p.m. (MST), Wednesday, August 10, 2022, in the Coconino County Clerk of the Board’s Office at 219 E Cherry Avenue, Flagstaff, AZ 86001. Interested parties with questions may call (928) 679-2145.

AZGFD’s countdown to dove season

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If you’re a dove hunter who’s counting down the days (28) until the Sept. 1 opener, the Arizona Game and Fish Department will be rolling out a different video each week that is sure to whet your wing-shooting appetite.

Just keep checking your email each week, and enjoy what our professionals in the audio-visual department have produced about hunting doves, Arizona-style.
This week: Yuma: A Dove Hunter’s Paradise