Category Archives: State Government

Annual bald eagle event set for Flagstaff January 27

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF — Did you know that Arizona is visited by over 200 bald eagles during the winter?

To learn more about these amazing birds and to see live eagles, the public is invited to attend the Annual Bald Eagle Celebration on Saturday, Jan. 27, at the Willow Bend Environmental Educational Center at 703 E. Sawmill Road in Flagstaff.

Several programs will be offered during this year’s event, which is hosted by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Willow Bend Environmental Education Center, and the Arizona Watchable Wildlife Experience (AWWE).

The cost for the event is $10 per participant for each program or free for Willow Bend Members. All programs, except field trip, will be held at Willow Bend. The day will also include an opportunity to see live bald eagles up close and a chance to talk with dedicated individuals from Liberty Wildlife Rehabilitation Foundation.

  • 8-10 a.m. – “Early Birds” Field Trip: Join wildlife biologists for an early morning field trip searching for wild bald eagles and local waterfowl around Lower Lake Mary south of Flagstaff. The meeting location will be provided when you register. Personal transport is required and carpooling encouraged. In case of inclement weather field trip will be cancelled.
  • 10-11 a.m. – “Eaglets” Family Presentation: A family-focused interactive program especially designed for families with young children (ages 4-12 years old). Learn about and view live eagles.
  • 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – “First Flight” Community Presentation 1: Learn about the incredible bald eagle from an Arizona Game and Fish biologist and view live eagles up close. The presentation is open to all ages. Please note this is the same presentation as the 1 p.m. session. Please only sign up for one presentation.
  • 1-2 p.m. – “Fully Fledged” Community Presentation 2: Learn about the incredible bald eagle from an Arizona Game and Fish biologist and view live eagles up close. The presentation is open to all ages.

“Educating people about wildlife, conservation and management is a goal for Willow Bend and Arizona Game and Fish,” says Moran Henn, Willow Bend director. “We are very excited to be partnering with Game and Fish, AWWE, and Liberty Wildlife for this year’s event.”

To register for one of the programs offered or for more information, visit www.willowbendcenter.org.

Paving, revamped I-40/I-17 interchange highlight 2018 in northern Arizona

Posted on by

PHOENIX – Pavement improvement along Interstates 17 and 40 and a revamped I-17/I-40 interchange in Flagstaff highlight Arizona Department of Transportation projects planned for northern Arizona in 2018.

This spring, crews will return to lay the final layer of asphalt along a 12-mile stretch of Interstate 40 between Parks and Riordan, completing that project. Repaving on I-40 west of Flagstaff will then pick up in Parks at milepost 179 and head 17 miles west to Cataract Lake in Williams.

Northbound Interstate 17 will also receive a facelift this year as crews replace pavement from milepost 312 to milepost 340 near the I-40 interchange. The work will address winter damage the highway has suffered over the years.

In addition to the repaving work, a separate project will continue completely rebuilding 5 miles of I-40 west of Williams between mileposts 156 and 161 in the westbound direction. Crews rebuilt the eastbound lanes last summer.

I-40 will have 34 miles of new pavement in each direction west of Flagstaff when these projects are complete. This new pavement will provide a longer term fix to deterioration resulting from the many freeze-thaw cycles the area sees each winter, along with snow, snowplowing and commercial truck traffic.

Another major project coming to the Flagstaff area this year will improve the I-17/I-40 interchange in Flagstaff by replacing three bridge decks and replacing pavement on the ramps, among other work.

In the Verde Valley, crews are continuing to widen 9 miles of State Route 260 west of Interstate 17. The project, scheduled to finish before year’s end, is nearly halfway complete with the new eastbound lanes paved up to Coury Drive from I-17. Work is proceeding on seven roundabout intersections between I-17 and Thousand Trails Road.

The $62 million project will improve safety and traffic flow in the growing Verde Valley area.

Among other projects planned for northern Arizona in 2018, crews will return this summer to complete a project widening US 60 in Show Low between State Route 77 and 40th Street. In addition to laying the final layer of asphalt, the work includes completing sidewalks and landscaping.

Arizona Game and Fish Commission honors conservationists at awards banquet

Posted on by

PHOENIX — Nineteen individuals and organizations were honored at the annual Arizona Game and Fish Commission Awards Banquet on Saturday, January 13, at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort in Phoenix. The awards recognize Arizonans who have contributed significantly to the conservation of the state’s wildlife, its outdoor heritage, and the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Among those honored were Gov. Doug Ducey for State Advocate of the Year (the award was accepted on behalf of the governor by Natural Resources Policy Advisor Hunter Moore); Sen. Jeff Flake for Federal Advocate of the Year; 3TV Meteorologist Kim Quintero (one of two winners of Media of the Year); and Elizabeth (Beth) Woodin, who served on the Arizona Game and Fish Commission in the 1990’s and was president of the Arizona Heritage Alliance. Ms. Woodin sadly passed away last week and was awarded posthumously.

Photo at left: Sen. Jeff Flake (left) accepts Federal Advocate of the Year award from Commission member Kurt Davis; Middle photo: 3TV Meteorologist Kim Quintero accepts Media of the Year award from Commission member Jim Zieler; Right photo: Wildlife Manager Field Supervisor Luke Thompson (fourth from left) accepts North American Model Commissioners Award from AZ Game & Fish Commissioners (left to right) Pat Madden, Chairman Jim Ammons, Kurt Davis, Jim Zieler, and Eric Sparks. (AZGF Photo)

The complete list of award winners is:

  • Award of Excellence: Lake Havasu Marine Association
  • Award of Excellence: Elizabeth Woodin
  • Youth Environmentalist of the Year: Chase Godbehere
  • Media of the Year: Kim Quintero
  • Media of the Year: National Veterans Magazine
  • Conservation Organization of the Year: Phoenix Varmint Callers, Inc.
  • Conservationist of the Year: Clyde Weakley
  • Natural Resource Professional of the Year: Erica Stewart
  • Volunteer of the Year: Ron Adams
  • Educator of the Year: Michael Eilertsen
  • Mentor of the Year: Justin Stewart
  • Advocate of the Year – State: Gov. Doug Ducey;
  • Advocate of the Year – Federal: Sen. Jeff Flake
  • Business Partner of the Year: OneAZ Credit Union
  • Buck Appleby Hunter Education Instructor of the Year: John and Linda Vedo
  • Wildlife Habitat Steward of the Year: Double O Ranch
  • North American Model Commissioners Award: Luke Thompson
  • Chairman’s Award: Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club​​​​​​​

For more information about the Arizona Game and Fish Commission and the Commission Awards, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission.

March 1 is deadline to update credit card information for elk, pronghorn draw

Posted on by

PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds hunters who apply, or have applied, online for 2018 elk and pronghorn hunt permit-tags that 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) Thursday, March 1, is the deadline to update credit card or debit card account information.

The same deadline applies for purchasing PointGuard, which ensures that if a successful 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. The cost is $5 for each species.

In an ongoing effort to improve customer service by announcing all draw results sooner, the deadline was moved forward to March 1 from the original March 15 date that appears in the “2018 Pronghorn Antelope and Elk Hunt Draw Information” printed booklets and online.

Online applicants are encouraged to keep their credit card and debit card account information current. If payment is declined at the time of the draw, the application will not be drawn. The department no longer calls applicants to obtain payment on drawn applications where credit cards or debit cards have failed.

Online applicants who have been issued a new credit card or debit card, a new expiration date, or had a change to their card’s number should visit https://draw.azgfd.gov/. Scroll down the page, select “Update My Payment Information” and follow the prompts. Note: It is important to update payment information for each species for which an online application has been submitted.

Meanwhile, applicants can purchase PointGuard as part of their online application through 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) Thursday, March 1, provided they have created a free AZGFD portal account. It’s quick and easy. Visit https://accounts.azgfd.com/Account/Register and complete the required fields. Draw results will be posted to portal accounts.

As a reminder, applicants should note separate deadlines for paper and online applications:

Paper applications must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) Tuesday, Jan. 30. Postmarks do not count.
Online applications must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) Tuesday, Feb. 13.

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

Volunteers needed for wildlife habitat project

Posted on by

AJO — The Arizona Antelope Foundation (AAF), in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management and Arizona Game and Fish Department, is seeking volunteers for a fence construction project on Saturday, January 27, on BLM land in southern Arizona, about 18 miles northeast of Ajo.

The project involves building a new fence around a seasonally filled earthen livestock water tank. Presently, when the tank is full it attracts feral cattle and horses from nearby reservation lands onto the western edge of the Sonoran pronghorn habitat. The fence project will permit access to the water by all wildlife but prevent access by trespass feral livestock.

This project, located on the eastern boundary of historic endangered pronghorn habitat, is part of BLM’s long-term plan of removing up to 54 miles of unneeded livestock fence in this zone to make it more attractive to Sonoran pronghorn.

Volunteers should plan to meet at 7 a.m. on January 27 at the AAF campsite, located on BLM lands about 9 miles east of the Pipeline Road and SR85 intersection. Directions: From Gila Bend, drive 43 miles south on SR85 to Ajo. Once you reach the plaza in the middle of Ajo, continue on SR85 for 1.85 miles to Pipeline Road. Turn left onto Pipeline Road and travel approximately 9 miles east to the campsite. The project site is approximately another 9 miles northeast on the Pipeline Road. Access to the site is along a maintained travel corridor route. There will be some wash crossings, but the road should be trailer friendly.

The Arizona Antelope Foundation will provide volunteers with dinners Friday and Saturday nights, as well as continental breakfasts Saturday and Sunday mornings. Bring your own lunch to eat in the field Saturday.

Volunteers also should bring work gloves (AAF will have a limited supply), snacks, water, and personal gear.

If you are planning to attend, please RSVP by January 22 by e-mail to info@azantelope.org so AAF can plan on having enough food and tools on hand. If you have questions or would like more information about the project, contact Glen Dickens at (520) 247-4907. For a printer-friendly map to the campsite, visit www.azantelope.org.

Mexican wolf population survey flight operations begin January 22

Posted on by

PINETOP — Residents of Alpine, Arizona, Reserve, NM and surrounding areas may notice a low-flying helicopter in the region between January 22 and February 3, as biologists conduct their annual Mexican wolf population survey and capture.

The flights are part of the Mexican wolf Reintroduction Project, a multi-agency cooperative effort among the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Service Inspection Service – Wildlife Services and the White Mountain Apache Tribe.

The aerial operation is scheduled to run January 22 to February 3, weather permitting. Survey flights will occur on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation; the Apache-Sitgreaves, Gila and Cibola National Forests in eastern Arizona and western New Mexico; and possibly some locations immediately outside forest boundaries.

“Data collected during this annual survey and capture operation is critical to help us to determine and evaluate the overall population status of Mexican wolves,” said Paul Greer, AZGFD Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team leader. “The survey helps to chart progress in documenting the Mexican wolf population in the Southwest, and it helps us know how these animals are using local habitat.”

As part of the operation, biologists will attempt to capture selected wolves born in 2017 that have not yet been fitted with a radio telemetry collar, in addition to those with collars that need a battery replacement or any wolf appearing to be sick or injured. Wolves are captured after being darted with an anesthetizing drug from a helicopter containing trained personnel.

After being immobilized, the wolf is then brought by air to a staging area for processing and any necessary veterinary care. The wolf is then returned to the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area (MWEPA) and released on public land.

The field team is contacting private landowners to gain permission to property to capture a wolf, if necessary, and will be coordinating with land management agencies and county sheriff offices on survey operation details.

There were a minimum of 113 wolves in the wild in Arizona and New Mexico at the end of 2016, according to a survey by the Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team. The survey found that there were 63 wolves in Arizona and 50 in New Mexico.

The 2016 total represented a more than doubling of the population since 2009.
Results of the survey will be made available to the public in March. For more information on the Mexican wolf reintroduction program, visit http://www.azgfd.gov/wolf or https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf/.

Becoming an Outdoors Woman deluxe workshop is back again

Posted on by

PHOENIX — With the new year comes new experiences and the opportunity to get a fresh start and enjoy a fun filled weekend with like-minded women. The Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) deluxe program will be held Jan. 26-28. Sponsored by the Arizona Wildlife Federation with support from the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the workshop will feature lots of outdoor fun without the inconveniences of camping!

Nestled on the banks of the Salt River at the Saguaro Lake Ranch, women will develop outdoors skills while enjoying the beauty that Arizona has to offer.

This year, BOW will offer sessions on hunting, fly fishing, kayaking, desert survival, birding, archery and more. Women also have the opportunity to relax on a trail ride and enjoy views of the picturesque Bulldog Cliffs.

Along with outdoors skills development, award winning photographer Lisa Langell will be teaching landscape photography.

BOW offers something for every kind of woman and every kind of interest. The $380 registration fee (add $95 for the trail ride) includes instruction, program materials, use of equipment, deluxe lodging, and meals. There will also be evening entertainment and a wine and cheese tasting for women to enjoy.

Create new connections, learn, laugh, and enjoy. To get a taste of everything BOW has to offer, check out this video produced by AZGFD in 2016.

Details of class descriptions and a registration form can be found at http://www.azwildlife.org/ht/d/sp/i/60573/pid/60573 or by calling 480-644-0077

Arizona winter visitors: prepare to clean, drain and dry

Posted on by

PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds boaters to “clean, drain and dry” – and especially decontaminate — their watercraft and equipment before exiting waters designated as having aquatic invasive species (AIS).

This reminder is especially important for out-of-town visitors who moor their boats at AIS-infected waters and are preparing to head out of state.

Afraid you might be transporting aquatic hitchhikers?

AZGFD has contracted with a local business to provide free decontaminations for those with boats that have been on a quagga mussel-infected water for six or more consecutive days.

Call the Arizona Game and Fish AIS Program two to three weeks in advance of departure to schedule a free inspection and decontamination at (623) 236-7608 or Woods to Water LLC. at (602) 920-4891.

“As outdoor enthusiasts, it is our responsibility to be stewards of the places that we love,” AZGFD Aquatic Invasive Species Program Coordinator Erin Raney said. “Stopping the spread of AIS is a big job, but with everyone pitching in, we can all do our part to protect our waters. All it takes is a few minutes.”

Aquatic Invasive Species are non-native species that are often unintentionally introduced by human movement. They do not have predators outside of their native range, and are able to outcompete native species. They can be animals, plants and even pathogens that cause disease in native fish or other aquatic animals. They can often be invisible to the naked eye, making them even more difficult to control. Once introduced, they can alter ecosystems by interrupting food chains, cause damage to boats and other recreational gear, clog up water and power infrastructure and pose safety hazards.

Stop the spread of AIS and keep our waters clean and beautiful for ourselves and future generations.

Remember to:

  • Clean boats, waders, anchors, equipment and gear by removing mud, plants, attached animals such as snails or quagga mussels. Freeze waders overnight to eliminate fish pathogens and other hitchhikers.
  • Drain all residual water from engines and motors, ballast tanks, live wells and bait wells. Pull your bilge plug and leave out during transport. Store in a location where you will remember before launch; for example, next to boat keys in glove box.
  • Dry all equipment that comes in contact with water, such as life jackets, ropes, buoys, tubes, etc.

Under Arizona law, boaters and all recreationists who take watercraft and other equipment out of waters designated as having aquatic invasive species must use the above steps when leaving a listed water.

There are additional steps to complete for watercraft that have been on AIS-listed waters for six or more consecutive days.

Arizona’s Operation Game Thief program issued 76 citations for wildlife violations in 2017

Posted on by

PHOENIX — “Poachers are criminals.” If you talk to any of the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s wildlife managers, you’re likely to hear that phrase repeated as they go about their work as part biologist, part law enforcement officer. As part of their duties, the department’s 97 wildlife managers work to investigate potential poaching cases to ensure that the state’s most precious natural resource — its wildlife — is effectively managed so that future generations can enjoy the more than 800 species found in Arizona.

At the heart of the effort to eliminate and investigate poaching is the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Operation Game Thief program, a silent witness initiative that encourages the public to report information or suspicious activity. Last year, more than 1,000 calls came into the Operation Game Thief hotline (1-800-352-0700) as well as 75 submissions via the online form. Those reports contributed to 76 citations being issued statewide for wildlife issues including the illegal take of big game, fishing violations and the unlawful killing of raptors.

“Poachers are thieves. They do not represent the hunting community, and the majority of the reports come from hunters and anglers who are out in the field and witness suspicious activity,” said Scott Fischer, program manager for Operation Game Thief. “The hunting community does a great job of policing itself. If you see something, say something. Together we can make a difference for Arizona’s wildlife.”

2017’s top five reported violations were:

  1. 356 for the illegal take of big game (resulting in 55 of the 76 citations)
  2. 63 for fishing violations
  3. 59 for feeding wildlife
  4. 52 for the illegal take of raptors
  5. 52 for possession of restricted live wildlife

Individuals who make a report to Operation Game Thief will remain confidential and can report anonymously if needed. The program pays rewards for information that leads to an arrest.

In 2017, wildlife violators were assessed $74,500 in civil fines, and that money goes directly into the department’s Wildlife Theft Prevention Fund, which pays for the rewards as well as promotion of Operation Game Thief. In addition, 51 individuals had their hunting and/or fishing license revoked by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission as part of their penalty, one of which was a lifetime revocation. The department receives no general fund money from the state of Arizona.

It’s also important to note that mistakes and accidents happen, and the department will work with hunters and anglers who immediately self-report their actions to the Operation Game Thief hotline.

“Mistakes happen in any endeavor, and the amazing thing about hunters is they frequently report themselves,” Fischer said. “Hunters respect wildlife and because of that respect they’re willing to risk penalties in order to ensure meat from the wildlife they take is not wasted.”

Meat from seized wildlife is inspected by department wildlife managers and typically donated to charities for human consumption.

Arizona’s Operation Game Thief program began in 1979, making it the second oldest initiative of its type in the U.S. The hotline (1-800-352-0700) was implemented at the time and takes reports of wildlife violations 24×7. Wildlife is the property of the state, meaning that every Arizonan has a vested interest in protecting it. Anyone who witnesses a violation — whether it’s related to hunting, fishing, feeding wildlife or illegally possessing wildlife — is encouraged to report that information to Operation Game Thief and act on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves, the wildlife.

Three new specialty plates available at ServiceArizona.com

Posted on by

PHOENIX – The sound of freedom over the West Valley, classic cars and the wonders of science and technology are celebrated in the newest batch of Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division specialty license plates.

Plates commemorating Luke Air Force Base, the Arizona Science Center and the Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction are now available at ServiceArizona.com.

Specialty plates typically cost $25 annually. Of that, $17 is committed to the organization being supported. In the most recent fiscal year, sales of the plates generated nearly $10 million for charitable causes statewide.
Continue reading →