Category Archives: News

Deadline to apply for 2023 fall hunts is June 6

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There’s not a better time than right now to apply for 2023 hunt permit-tags issued through the fall draw process for deer, turkey, javelina, bighorn sheep, bison, and sandhill crane.

To apply, visit www.azgfd.gov and click on “Apply for Big Game Draw.” For an overview of the application service, including license requirements, applying for bonus points and payment information, see Page 26 of the “2023-2024 Arizona Hunting Regulations” booklet. The booklet can be viewed at www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Regulations/.

The deadline for the department to receive all applications is 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

As a reminder, applicants must possess a valid Arizona hunting license (or combination hunt and fish license) to apply online for a hunt permit-tag. That license must be valid on the last day of the online application period (June 6). Licenses are available online and at license dealers statewide. 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.

In the meantime:

  • 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 license, or combination hunt and fish license, if it was purchased online; 3) A Customer ID number can be retrieved by visiting customerlookup.azgfd.com/. 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.
  • Download “Arizona E-Tag.” Download this mobile app from either the Apple or Google Play stores, and opt in to receive an electronic permit-tag in your AZGFD portal account (this is not an option selected through the draw). Be sure to update to the most recent version of the app, which is compatible with both Apple and android products. 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/etag.
  • Open an AZGFD portal account. Just visit accounts.azgfd.com/Account/Register and fill in the required information. AZGFD encourages all customers to have an AZGFD portal account; that’s the only place where draw results will be posted. Family account features are available with a portal account, so everyone — including youth — can view their draw results online as soon as they are available.
  • Check your AZGFD portal account. Click on “Account Login” at the bottom of the homepage to review personal data, including 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.
  • 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.
  • Sign up to receive a hunter questionnaire via text message. As part of the application process, a customer can now enter his or her phone number (ghost number format) to receive a hunter questionnaire via text message on their mobile device.

For more information, check out “What You Need to Know,” a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs), at www.azgfd.gov/draw.

Coconino County Provides Successful Test Platform for SpaceX Starlink Mobile Units

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County continues to lead the effort in connecting students with SpaceX’s Starlink high-speed internet across Northern Arizona, including multiple tribal communities within the region, and now on school buses.

With continued focus on education, Coconino County collaborated with Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD) and Page Unified School District (PUSD) to identify and select routes with an emphasis on connecting students who must ride the bus more than one hour to and from school. SpaceX provided Coconino County with two of their Flat High Performance Starlink kits that are installed on the buses, enabling students to stay connected and complete homework during their transit.

“The opportunity to deploy new technology to connect underserved rural communities is a tremendous achievement,” commented Supervisor Fowler. “The collaboration between SpaceX and Coconino County illustrates what can be achieved when the right people come together at the right time. We are incredibly thankful to our partners for the opportunities they have enabled by delivering enhanced connectivity throughout our most underserved communities.”

Coconino County began conversations with SpaceX when District 5 Supervisor Lena Fowler and Coconino County’s Chief Information Officer Matt Fowler both met with the company in 2019. This resulted in securing a private donation for the County to utilize Starlink and make high-speed internet accessible to rural areas of Northern Arizona. Coconino County successfully became an early customer, purchasing and launching Starlink internet in a 45-household trial on May 6, 2021. Shortly after, the County identified K-12 students living on the Navajo Nation without access to the internet or existing speeds less than 5 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. The County Information Technology Department engaged with the Board of Supervisors and the Flagstaff Unified School District, seeking collaboration opportunities to identify eligible students living on the reservation.

To date, Coconino County facilitated approximately 300+ implementations of Starlink internet services for a free 2-year period, which was made possible by private donations. This provides students the ability to connect with education providers and continue their studies remotely.

“This journey would not have been possible without the continuous teamwork from SpaceX, County Management, our Board of Supervisors, FUSD and PUSD. We rely heavily on our public and private partners to offer internet where it historically has been unavailable. This is truly an exciting moment,” commented CIO Matt Fowler. “We have amazing community partners, and this opportunity to embrace new technologies has greatly benefitted students in our region,” commented Deputy CIO Helen Costello.

I found a quilted heart

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WILLIAMS — I Found a Quilted Heart, or IFAQH, is a program of volunteers that makes and sets quilted hearts around the country. They have been found in Flagstaff, Sedona, Prescott, Yuma and, now, in Williams. One of these quilted hearts was found on the gate of the patio of Anna’s Restaurant on Railroad Avenue in Williams.

The mission of IFAQH is to, “Simply leave hearts in a public place for a random stranger to find to brighten their day…” If you find a heart, they say, it is meant for you to keep. The only string attached–aside from the one used to hang the heart–is they request that you go to their web site and tell them about finding the heart. The group is made of anonyomous volunteers who make and distribute the hearts. The group, in fact, explicitely asks that no one use their logo or information for any profit, including classes on sewing, heart kits and the like.

According to their web site, the program was sparked when they found a quilted heart at the Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada on Jaunuary 29, 2014. The heart had a simple tag that read, “I need a home.”

Quoting their web site, “Once we were home, we searched abandoned art projects, the web, geocaching coordinates, and anything we could think of to find out what this heart was and what it meant. After weeks of searching, we decided that this little heart brought us so much joy, that we should do the same for others.”

Williams does a good paint job

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WILLIAMS — For the past few days, Williams has been sprucing up the street lines around town. Northern Arizona Gazette commends the street department for their quick, professional job. Not only did they actually get the paint over the previous lines ( a problem in the past), they are doing it in a quick fashion that was of little annoyance to downtown businesses and residents.

It is unknown how much more they have to do, but please help them by not driving over the freshly painted white lines.

AZGFD’s life jacket exchange program celebrates 15 years

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PHOENIX — As the temperatures continue to rise and the school year ends, more people are expected to visit Arizona’s rivers and lakes, meaning the risk of water-related accidents will likely increase. To help prevent drownings, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) reminds the public of the importance of wearing a life jacket when boating or recreating on the water.

To promote the use of life jackets and kick off National Safe Boating Week (May 20-26), AZGFD and partner agencies will host several life jacket exchange events throughout the state. The life jacket exchange program allows people with old, worn out, and less-effective life jackets to swap them for a new one while supplies last.

“The exchange events are an amazing opportunity for Arizona’s boaters and paddlers to ensure they have a life jacket that fits correctly and is in good condition,” says AZGFD’s boating safety education coordinator, Josh Hoffman. “Before heading out on the water, it’s important that boaters ensure their life jackets are in good condition and that they are the right size and fit for passengers.”

State law requires all passengers 12 years old and younger to wear a life jacket while on board a boat, and each passenger on board must have a properly fitting, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket available. The life jacket requirements also apply to paddle crafts like kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards.

“A life jacket does exactly what it says — it saves your life when needed; however, it can only save your life if you’re wearing one,” says Danny Rodriguez, watercraft law enforcement program coordinator.

The life jacket exchange events will take place at the following locations and dates:

Saturday, May 20:
8 a.m. – noon
Bartlett Lake (Jojoba Ramp).
Canyon Lake (Main Ramp)
Lake Pleasant (10-Lane Ramp)
Saguaro Lake (Main Ramp) also, May 21, if additional life jackets are still available.

6-11 a.m.
Tempe Town Lake (Marina)

9-11 a.m.
Bullhead City Fire Department (Rotary Park, 2315 Balboa Drive, Bullhead City)

9 a.m. – noon
Eagle Motorsports (2106 AZ-Hwy 95, Bullhead City.) also, every third Saturday of each month through August.

9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Patagonia Lake State Park (Marina ramp)

Saturday, June 3:
9 a.m. – noon
La Paz County Sheriff’s Boating Safety Building, 8484 Riverside Drive, Parker, AZ.

Friday, June 9:
9-11 a.m.
Bullhead City Recreation Building (2285 Trane Road, Bullhead City, AZ)

Saturday, June 10:
10 a.m. – noon
Lake Havasu City (London Bridge Beach Stage). 1340 McCulloch Blvd. N., Lake Havasu City.

Please note: Type I and Type II life jackets will not be accepted; only ski vest-type life jackets are eligible for exchange.

Since 2016, AZGFD has exchanged more than seven thousand life jackets across the state.

For more information about boating in Arizona or to sign up for a free safety course, visit www.azgfd.gov/boating.

Ben Avery Shooting Facility switches to summer hours

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PHOENIX — The Ben Avery Shooting Facility’s (BASF) rifle and pistol ranges, archery ranges, and Clay Target Center have switched to summer hours of operation through August 28.

  • Monday: CLOSED
  • Tuesday: 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • Wednesday: 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • Thursday: 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • Friday: 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
  • Saturday: 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • Sunday: 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

Note: Archery ranges open at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

“These summer hours of operation provide for the facility to be open during the coolest parts of the day, while still offering recreational shooters the most quality shooting times on weekends,” said Jonathan McCraw, operations manager.

BASF is one of the largest publicly operated shooting facilities in the country. Located on 1,650 acres in north Phoenix, the facility averages more than 120,000 shooters per year. It’s also the first government facility to receive a Five Star rating from the National Association of Shooting Ranges, meaning it’s the best of the best at providing a quality recreation experience.

Visit www.azgfd.com/shooting-sports/ben-avery-shooting-facility/ for more information, or call 623-582-8313.

Run For The Wall runs through Williams

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WILLIAMS — The motorcycle riders of Run For The Wall arrived in Williams May 17 which is their traditional first stop of their ten-day trek to the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. Their goal is meet up with the riders of Rolling Thunder and participate in Memorial Day events. The goal of the groups is to bring awareness of those who gave their lives for their country and those still missing in action.

The riders were threatened with rain, but the rain held off until about 7 p.m. The group started arriving at about 5:00 p.m. with the main group arriving about twenty-minutes later. They stopped at the American Legion Cordova Post #13 for sustenance and rest provided by the Legion, local citizens and the Route 66 Young Marines.

While many people tend to take extra pains to thank Veterans for their service during the Memorial Day weekend, Northern Arizona Gazette would like to remind everyone that Memorial Day is a solemn day of respect for those who were killed during the many conflicts the United States has been involved in. We would prefer that you go to the local cemetery, find a Veteran’s grave and lay flowers. Veteran Service groups, such as the American Legion and Veterans Of Foreign Wars hold ceremonies that you can attend.


Northern Arizona Gazette has been following Run For The Wall since 2005. It is sad to note that over the years, less of our Vietnam Veteran brothers have been able to make the ride and many have passed. We are happy to report that younger Veterans from recent conflicts, such as Desert Storm and Afghanistan, have taken up the ride. About a hundred motorcycles participated in this leg of Run For The Wall. There are three routes that riders take.

After an overnight stay, the riders left promptly at 8 a.m. May 18. The weather was perfect for their send off.

Wear a life jacket, practice safe and sober boating

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is urging all who recreate on Arizona’s waters to wear a life jacket, follow safety regulations and laws, as well as designate a sober operator.

So far in 2023, three people have lost their lives boating in Arizona. In 2022, boating accidents claimed the lives of 13 people, injured 60 more, and caused $1 million in damages.

“A life jacket does exactly what it says — it saves your life when you need it,” said Danny Rodriguez, watercraft law enforcement programs coordinator. “However, it can only save your life if you’re wearing one, and often it’s too late to put one on once you realize you need it.”

According to U.S. Coast Guard statistics, in cases where the cause of death has been determined, 86% of drowning victims in recreational boating accidents were not wearing a life jacket. AZGFD once again is stressing the importance of wearing a life jacket and focusing on safe boating practices as another busy boating season gets underway.

To promote the use of life jackets, as well as kick off National Safe Boating Week (May 20-26),  AZGFD and partner agencies will begin a series of summer life jacket exchange events. Those who have an old, worn out, or improperly fitting life jacket will be able to exchange it for a new one, free of charge (while supplies last).

“Like anything else, life jackets wear out with time, and these exchange events are a great opportunity for Arizona’s boaters and paddlers to ensure they have a life jacket that not only fits correctly, but is in great condition and ready should they need it,” said Josh Hoffman, boating safety education coordinator.

Northern Arizona Gazette would like to add considering the four-legged members of your family that you might take onboard, i.e., cats and dogs. Local pet and sports stores usually carry life preservers for them. You can find them on the Internet, as well, but if you can take your animal in to the store you can fit them properly. Remember that even though most dogs can swim, the Colorado river has areas of swift rapids and undertows that could drag your animal under water.

Exchange locations Saturday, May 20:

  • Bartlett Lake: Jojoba Ramp, 8 a.m.-noon.
  • Canyon Lake: Main Ramp, 8 a.m.-noon.
  • Lake Pleasant: 10-Lane Ramp, 8 a.m.-noon.
  • Saguaro Lake: Main Ramp, 8 a.m.-noon (also May 21, if additional life jackets are still available).
  • Tempe Town Lake: Marina, 6-11 a.m.
  • Patagonia Lake State Park: Marina ramp, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
  • Bullhead City Fire Department: Rotary Park, 2315 Balboa Drive, Bullhead City, 9-11 a.m.
  • Eagle Motorsports: 2106 AZ-Hwy 95, Bullhead City, 9 a.m.-noon (also every third Saturday each month through August).

Exchange locations Saturday, June 3:

  • Parker, AZ: La Paz County Sheriff’s Boating Safety Building, 8484 Riverside Drive, Parker, AZ, 9 a.m.-noon.

Exchange locations Friday, June, 9:

  • Bullhead City Recreation Building, 2285 Trane Road, Bullhead City, AZ 9-11 a.m.

Exchange locations Saturday, June 10:

  • Lake Havasu City: London Bridge Beach Stage, 1340 McCulloch Blvd. N., Lake Havasu City, 10 a.m.-noon.

AZGFD extends field day deferral for Hunter Education students

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PHOENIX — A policy implemented by the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) in 2020 that allowed students to defer from scheduling the field day requirement of the Hunter Education program has been extended to June 30, 2024.

To ensure the safety of all students, volunteers and staff during the pandemic, the department had postponed Hunter Education classroom courses, field days, and bonus-point field tests for youth ages 10 through 13.

Any individual 9 or older may complete a Hunter Education course offered through AZGFD. To hunt big game, youth under 14 must complete Hunter Education.

Youth may take Hunter Education through two different formats: a traditional classroom setting or online. Both formats require a hands-on field day and exam. Classroom courses are typically offered during weekends and weeknights across the state. Classroom courses average 16 hours of in-person instruction, and field days average four hours.

All courses and field days are administered by volunteer instructors. The volunteers typically schedule classes and field days based on their availability, and courses are posted two to four weeks prior to the event start date. Field days are conducted at a local shooting range. At this time, a limited number of field days and bonus-point field tests are available for youth.

All classes and field days are posted at www.azgfd.gov/HunterEd, and registration must be completed online. The website is updated on Tuesdays with new course and field day opportunities.

The purpose of Hunter Education is about more than safety. It’s also about developing responsible, knowledgeable and involved hunters who understand the importance of complying with hunting laws and behaving ethically.

Bear activity increases as hibernation period ends

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PHOENIX – The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has started to receive its first confirmed reports of the year of bear sightings in Arizona. As temperatures rise, bears will come out of their dens searching for food.

Black bears are typically shy and avoid humans; however, they have an excellent sense of smell, which can be problematic for the bears themselves and people.

AZGFD officials advise those living in or visiting bear country not to feed wildlife or leave trash or other attractants, such as pet food or bird seed, accessible because it could lead to a situation where “a fed bear is a dead bear.”

“If a bear becomes habituated to getting food from trash cans and other human sources, it’s only a matter of time before it loses its fear of humans and begins to actively search other human food sources,” says Lt. Shawn Wagner, AZGFD law enforcement program manager. “At that point, the bear becomes a threat to public safety.”

Safety tips to avoid attracting bears:

Keep them away from your home.

  • Keep all trash inside a secured area until collection day. If that’s not possible, keep food waste in a bag in the freezer and place those in the trash as close to collection time as possible.
  • Take bird feeders down at night.
  • Keep pet and livestock food inside or remove all uneaten food.

Camping

  • Keep your food and attractants secured and inaccessible to bears. Do not keep food in your tent.
  • Don’t burn leftover food or trash at the grill or campfire.
  • Set your campsite away from places where bears might forage for food, such as creeks, rivers, and other bodies of water.

Hiking

  • Don’t wear scented lotions, deodorant, or perfumes.
  • Make noise or hike in groups.
  • If you take your pet hiking, always keep it on a leash.

In case of a bear encounter

  • Do NOT run, that could trigger the bear to chase.
  • If attacked, Do NOT play dead, fight back.
  • Attempt to deter, then back away slowly facing forward if the bear keeps approaching
  • Make yourself look bigger by raising your arms or pulling your shirt/jacket higher than your head.
  • Throw items such as rocks and yell at the bear.

Bear sightings in areas with human activity should be reported to AZGFD’s 24/7 dispatch center at 623-236-7201. In an emergency, call 911. For additional information, click here or visit the Living with Wildlife page at www.azgfd.gov