Tag Archives: Arizona Game and Fish

Boat explosions at Lake Havasu highlight crucial role of proper ventilation systems

Posted on by

PHOENIX — The occurrence of two boat explosions two days in a row at Lake Havasu is an important reminder of the crucial role of ventilation systems, which work to remove flammable gases. Properly installed ventilation systems greatly reduce the chance of a life-threatening explosion.

A properly functioning ventilation system circulates air through the engine and fuel tank compartments to remove fuel vapors from the bilge. A best practice to follow is to always open an inboard engine compartment and let it air out before starting an engine — this allows you to smell for gasoline fumes.

Before going out on the water, check your ventilation hoses in the engine compartment. In a passive system the fresh air enters higher in the compartment to force gasoline vapor out through the lower hose. In a powered ventilation system the blower should be on the exhaust hose so any gasoline vapors are drawn away from the engine rather than introducing fresh air to the engine compartment if the blower was on the intake side.

“When considering repairs on your boat remember that marine-rated parts like starters, alternators or generators are designed to limit spark exposure, that’s why they are more expensive than standard automotive parts,” said Tim Baumgarten, boating law administrator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “Resist the urge to replace engine parts with automotive parts because they are cheaper.”

According to The Boater’s Guide of Arizona:

  • All gasoline-powered vessels constructed in a way that would entrap fumes must be properly and efficiently vented to remove the fumes. It is recommended that at least one intake duct extend from a point midway to the bilge or below the level of the carburetor air intake, and at least one exhaust duct extend from the open atmosphere to the lower bilge.
  • If your vessel is equipped with a power ventilation system, turn it on for at least four minutes in either of these situations: after fueling and/or before starting the engine.
  • If your vessel is not equipped with a power ventilation system (for example, a personal watercraft), open the engine compartment and sniff for gasoline fumes before starting the engine.
  • Regularly check the ventilation ducts for obstructions, such as birds’ nests. Make sure you can feel air coming out of the cowl when the ventilation system is turned on.

A great resource for information is the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Boating Safety Education program. The department’s free courses include instruction on the basic skills required to safely operate a boat or personal watercraft, trailering your vessel, navigational rules, buoys, anchoring, legal requirements and boating emergencies. Upcoming courses and information can be found online at www.azgfd.com/Education/Boating/.

Learn shooting sports and other outdoor skills at Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshop

Posted on by

— The Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) workshop on Sept. 8-10 is still accepting registrations. Take aim in rifle marksmanship, and learn the proper way to mount and fire a shotgun. How about handguns? There’s a class on the range, one to learn proper maintenance, and you can get help figuring out what firearm is best for you. You also can earn your field day requirements for the Arizona hunter education certificate.

The workshop introduces women 18 and older to outdoors skills in an enjoyable, non-threatening environment with expert instructors. Classes are held during the day, and the evenings are filled with fun and entertainment like night hikes, fly tying and motivational speakers. Other classes offered include horsemanship, geocaching, wilderness medicine, birding and hiking. There are more than 30 classes for participants to choose from.

To earn the Arizona hunter education certificate, participants need to complete the online course in advance, and the field day requirements and written exam will be completed at the BOW workshop.

Participants stay in rustic cabins, but there are showers and bathrooms in each cabin. One great thing about this camp is that a woman can try a new sport without buying all of the equipment. The only thing the participant needs to bring is her personal stuff, a good attitude and a willingness to learn.

The venue is Friendly Pines Camp located just south of Prescott in the Bradshaw Mountains. The program is sponsored by the Arizona Wildlife Federation with support from the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Class materials, food and lodging are included in the $250 registration fee. For more information, a schedule of classes and a registration form visit azwildlife.org. The Arizona Wildlife Federation can be reached at (480) 644-0077 or awf@azwildlife.org.

Arizona Game and Fish accepting applications for 2017 Heritage Fund grants

Posted on by

PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is accepting applications for more than $400,000 in Heritage Fund grants.

The deadline to submit an application is Tuesday, October 31, 2017 to be eligible for grant funding, which will be available through a competitive application process in the following categories: environmental education, outdoor education, schoolyard habitat, urban wildlife/habitat, public access; and Identification, Inventory, Acquisition, Protection and Management (IIAPM).

In addition to government agencies, the department welcomes non-profit organizations to apply for a Heritage Grant as eligible applicants. This eligibility applies to any non-profit group which meets the internal revenue service definition of a 501(c) organization.

The Heritage Fund was created after voters approved an initiative in 1990 and is funded through Arizona Lottery ticket sales. Heritage funding goes toward conservation efforts such as protecting endangered species, educating students and the general public about wildlife and the outdoors, and creating new opportunities for outdoor recreation.

The grant program was established by AZGFD in 1992 as part of the overall Heritage Fund program. The grants were initially developed as a way to promote outreach to enhance important partnerships and generate fresh approaches in support of the department’s mission.

Since the grant program’s inception, the department has awarded more than $16 million and supported more than 800 projects throughout the state.

Applicants for this year’s grants should refer to the documents on our Heritage Grant webpage for guidance on applying. The documents include the Heritage Grant application manual, the grant application form and the various “Heritage Grant Funding Window” documents, which describe eligibility information and provide specific eligibility criteria listed within each grant sub-category.

Potential grant recipients must have a project that is either located in Arizona or involves research in which the wildlife or its habitat is located in the state and meets the requirements in the funding windows.

Proposals and applications for these grants can be submitted either by e-mail to rbeck@azgfd.gov or mailed to Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn: Wildlife Grant Administrator, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086. No faxed applications will be accepted.

Applicants can submit grant applications up until the application deadline of 5 p.m. (MST)Tuesday, October 31, 2017.

Sandhill crane regulations now available online

Posted on by

PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department has posted the 2017 Arizona Sandhill Crane Regulations online at https://www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Regulations/. [Sandhill Crane regulations PDF]

The deadline for the department to receive applications for sandhill crane hunt permit-tags is Aug. 25, 2017. No applications will be accepted after this date, regardless of postmark. All applicants must use hunt permit-tag application forms.

Applications will be accepted — by mail only — at the following addresses: P.O. Box 74020, Phoenix, AZ, 85087-1052; or 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ, 85086-5000. These applications cannot be hand-delivered to any department office. All hunt permit-tags will be mailed by Sept. 11, 2017.

The hunt permit-tag fee is $43 for Arizona residents, $45 for non-residents (each successful applicant will receive three hunt permit-tags). In order to participate in the random draw, an applicant must have or apply for a valid hunting license. 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 first of 10 three-day seasons begins Nov. 17, the latest starts Dec. 11. A three-day, youth-only season begins Dec. 8. The bag and possession limit is three sandhill cranes per calendar year.

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

Registration open for Mormon Lake elk viewing workshop August 19

Posted on by

FLAGSTAFF — Ever wonder what it would be like to see hundreds of elk in one place at one time? That opportunity is possible during the elk viewing workshop hosted by the Arizona Watchable Wildlife Experience (AWWE) with support from the Game and Fish Department’s WOW (World of Wonder) program and Mormon Lake Lodge.

Workshop presentations are scheduled for 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 19. The workshop includes a presentation and a field trip to watch elk in their natural habitat near Mormon Lake.

Mormon Lake is unique as it is only one of two natural lakes found in Arizona. During the early fall, hundreds of elk can be observed at the site and along Lake Mary Road.

“The AWWE is a collaborative group represented by dedicated individuals from the City of Flagstaff, Coconino County, U.S. Forest Service, the Arizona Wildlife Federation and the Game and Fish Department providing 30 watchable wildlife sites within 30 miles of Flagstaff,” said Betsy Emery with the City of Flagstaff. “This workshop is a great way for people to learn about AWWE and the watchable wildlife opportunities in Northern Arizona.”

The workshop will include a minimal fee of $10 per person and kids 12 years and under are free. Presentations are starting at 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 19. Participants will attend a presentation, located in the Town Hall at Mormon Lake Lodge and also go on a field trip. The field trip location will be determined that day based on where the elk are observed.

Spotting scopes will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring binoculars, water, snacks and appropriate clothing.

Anyone interested in registering for the workshop will need to go to the Game and Fish portal.

Mormon Lake Lodge is located about 25 miles south of Flagstaff (take Lake Mary Road and turn off on Mormon Lake Road). For directions, visit www.mormonlakelodge.com.

2 weeks left to submit nominations for Arizona Game and Fish Commission Awards

Posted on by

PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is soliciting nominations for its 2017 Commission Awards. The deadline for submission is August 24, 2017. The purpose of these awards is to 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.

Nominations may include individuals, organizations, clubs, foundations or government agencies. Arizona Game and Fish Department employees are not eligible for nomination.

To submit a Commission Awards nomination, download a nomination form and submit the completed form and all supplemental materials to:

Arizona Game and Fish Department
Attn: 2017 Commission Awards
5000 W. Carefree Highway
Phoenix, AZ 85086

Nominations also can be submitted via email to lroe@azgfd.gov or faxed to 623-236-7299.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission will select the 2017 Commission Award recipients at its September 8-9, 2017, meeting. The awards will be presented at the annual Arizona Game and Fish Commission Awards Banquet to be held on Saturday, January 13, 2018, at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort in Phoenix at 11111 N. 7th Street.

Flotilla of kayakers, AZGFD biologists to float down Lower Salt River to battle invasive apple snail

Posted on by

MESA — Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists and the local kayaking community are joining forces to battle an invasive snail that, left unchallenged, could negatively impact native snail populations, vegetation and fishing along the Lower Salt River.

Last month a flotilla of more than 20 kayakers donned life jackets, grabbed their paddles and set off down the Lower Salt River northeast of Mesa looking for apple snail egg masses.

A group of citizen scientists from Sea Life Arizona Aquarium will again join AZGFD and Tonto National Forest biologists on Friday, Aug. 11 to help count, smash and drown the bright pink egg sacks into the depths of the Lower Salt River.

“Apple snails were originally introduced to Arizona through the pet trade,” said Jeff Sorensen, AZGFD Invertebrate Wildlife program manager, who is leading the project. “Unfortunately, when owners get tired of caring for them, some of these snails are released into our waterways, where they outcompete native species for food and territory. That has a ripple effect on aquatic species, vegetation and consequently our fish.”

Adult apple snails can grow as large as golf balls. Females produce large egg sacks, which resemble pink bubble gum stuck to cattail stalks lining waterways, such as the Lower Salt River.

Apple snails can lay a clutch of 25-500 eggs every 12 to 15 days.

“Just one female apple snail can produce up to 15,000 offspring per year. That is why it’s important for us to engage the public, and our local kayaking and tubing communities to help battle this invasive species,” Sorensen said.

Those wishing to join the battle against the invasive snail can simply smack the egg sacks into the water with a paddle or stick and the eggs will drown. However, use care when coming into contact with the snails as they are an intermediate host for the rat lungworm, which is a nematode that can cause meningitis in humans.​​​​​​​

Ben Avery Clay Target Center offers deal for dove hunters

Posted on by

PHOENIX — While practice might not make perfect when it comes to dove hunting, it sure could put more of the fast-flying, acrobatic birds in the game vest. As part of the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s “Getting Ready for Dove” campaign, the Ben Avery Clay Target Center is offering dove hunters an opportunity to sharpen their wing-shooting skills in advance of the season opener September 1.

A $5 coupon has been posted online, good for one round (25 targets) of trap, skeet or sporting clays. The coupon is valid for one visit between August 19 and September 2. Visit https://www.azgfd.com/Shooting/BACTC/ or https://www.azgfd.com/hunting/species/smallgame/dove/ to print the coupon. Or just show the coupon on your mobile device when checking in.

“We want Arizona’s dove hunters to have a successful and enjoyable season,” said Jonathan McCraw, range manager. “We’re pleased to be able to offer them an opportunity to come out and break some targets, while saving a few dollars when they bring in a printout of the online coupon or show it on their mobile device.”

“This is a great way to dust off the shotgun and squeeze in a little preseason practice.”

The Ben Avery Clay Target Center is a professionally managed public shotgun-shooting facility, located at 5060 W. Skeet St. (about 1.5 miles west of Interstate 17 on West Carefree Highway) in north Phoenix. Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday (closed Mondays through September). For more information, call (623) 434-8119, or visit https://www.azgfd.com/Shooting/BACTC/.

As a reminder, dove hunters can purchase their Arizona hunting license and Arizona migratory bird stamp online at https://license.azgfd.gov/home.xhtml. Both documents must be in a dove hunter’s possession in the field when the season opens September 1. Save time, buy online!

For more information about dove hunting, visit www.azgfd.gov/dove.

AZGFD receives grant to battle bat-killing fungus

Posted on by

PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) was awarded $12,440 in grant funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to help protect the state’s 28 species of bats from white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungal disease.

Funds issued by the FWS were part of $1 million in grants to 37 states to help combat the disease that has killed millions of bats in recent years nationwide. In Arizona, the funding will be used to research whether the fungus is impacting our own bat populations.

“Very little information is available on Arizona’s wintering bat populations as few bats have been found hibernating in caves,” said Angie McIntire, an AZGFD biologist and bat specialist. “The detection of the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome on cave-dwelling bats in Texas is a cause for concern for Arizona populations. These funds will help us to gather as much data as possible to better understand the winter ecology of cave myotis in Arizona.”

First discovered in New York in the winter of 2006-2007, white-nose syndrome received its name from the white fungus that was found on a bat’s muzzle and wings. White-nose syndrome has killed more than 5.7 million bats in eastern North America.

The syndrome has now spread to 33 states and five Canadian provinces and infects eight of the top 10 agricultural producing states. While the syndrome hasn’t yet been detected in Arizona, it’s critical to monitor for the disease and research its impact to better protect our 28 species of bats, which include 13 that migrate or that are active in winter, and 15 presumed to hibernate.

“In addition to wintering locations, two important summer bat roosts would be surveyed with this funding,” McIntire said. “Additional information will be obtained on two roosts used as migratory stop-overs, which will help us to better understand when cave myotis arrive and depart from these roosts under normal conditions.

For more information on Arizona’s bats, visit https://www.azgfd.com/ and search for “living with bats.”

Dove, band-tailed pigeon regulations now available online

Posted on by

PHOENIX – The Arizona Game and Fish Department has posted the 2017-2018 Arizona Dove and Band-tailed Pigeon Regulations online at https://www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Regulations/.

What hunters will notice right away is the new format. The color brochure is easier to read and features important hunting information, such as season dates, daily bag and possession limits, and legal requirements, at a glance. The printed version should be available at all department offices and more than 200 license dealers by mid-August.

A youth combination hunt/fish license is only $5 and includes an Arizona Migratory Bird Stamp. Hunters 18 and older who want to hunt doves and band-tailed pigeons (as well as ducks, geese, coots, snipe and common moorhens) must possess a valid Arizona hunting license, as well as an Arizona Migratory Bird Stamp for the 2017-18 season. Both can be purchased online at https://license.azgfd.gov/home.xhtml, or any department office or license dealer.

The dove season begins September 1 and runs through September 15. The late season is November 24 through January 7, 2018. The band-tailed pigeon season is Oct. 7-20. For more information about hunting doves or band-tailed pigeons, visit https://www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Species/.