Tag Archives: Arizona Game and Fish

Game and Fish Commission to meet tomorrow in Flagstaff

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FLAGSTAFF — The next meeting of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission will be Friday, Aug. 5, at Little America Hotel, 2515 E. Butler Ave., in Flagstaff. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m.

The public can attend the meeting or view it on a webcast at www.azgfd.gov/commissioncam. The meeting also can be watched on streaming video at department headquarters in Phoenix, or any regional office statewide with the exception of the regional office in Flagstaff.

Those who wish to speak to the commission may submit “speaker cards” (blue cards) in person at the meeting, or from any Game and Fish office. The ability to speak to the commission is not available for those viewing the webcast.

Items on the agenda include:
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  • A briefing on the status of state and federal legislation related to the department’s mission.
  • An update on the department’s statewide outreach campaign to increase public awareness of the department, its mission and how it’s funded.
  • An update on the department’s efforts toward accomplishing commission priorities.
  • A request to approve a notice of exempt rulemaking amending Article 8, Wildlife Areas and Department Property.
  • Hearings on license revocations for violations of Game and Fish codes, and civil assessments for the illegal taking and/or possession of wildlife (time certain at 10 a.m. Friday).
  • A briefing on black-footed ferret recovery efforts.
  • A briefing on alternative elk harvest strategies in Game Management Units 12A, 12B, 13A and 13B.
  • A request to approve proposed commission orders to establish seasons and season dates, bag and possession limits, hunt permit-tag numbers and open areas for the 2017 seasons for spring turkey, spring javelina, spring bison and spring bear (time certain at 2 p.m. Friday).
  • A presentation on the proposed hunt-permit tag application schedule for the spring 2017 seasons.

To view a copy of the full meeting agenda, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission and click on the “commission agenda” link.

On Saturday, Aug. 6, the commission and department staff will be given a tour and informational briefing about bison management at the Raymond Wildlife Area east of Flagstaff.

Arizona Game and Fish accepting 2017 Heritage Fund Grants

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

The deadline to submit an application is Oct. 31, 2016 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). This year 501(c) non-profit organizations can apply for grant funds without the need of a sponsor

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 $14 million and supported more than 700 projects throughout the state.

Applicants for this year’s grants should refer to the documents on our Heritage Grant web page for guidance on applying. The documents include the Heritage Grant Application Manual, the Heritage 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.

Proposals/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) Monday, Oct. 31, 2016.

Upcoming Heritage Grant Workshops
To learn more about Heritage Fund grants and how to apply for the more than $400,000 in available funds, attend one of the department’s workshops being held at the following times and locations:

  • 2-4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17 at the Flagstaff regional Game and Fish office at 3500 S. Lake Mary Road.
  • 2-4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 22 at the Game and Fish Headquarters at 5000 W. Carefree Highway in Phoenix.
  • 2-4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23 at the Tucson regional Game and Fish office at 555 N. Greasewood Road.

Those planning to attend a workshop, and those wanting to learn more about eligibility for the grant money, should RSVP to Robyn Beck at (623) 236-7530. A minimum of three people must sign up for each workshop or the session will be cancelled 48 hours prior to the date.

Active duty military spouse now can purchase resident license

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department now offers a resident license for the taking of wildlife by the spouse of an active duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces who is permanently or temporarily stationed in Arizona.

The law becomes effective Saturday, Aug. 6.
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Licenses can be purchased at all department offices and more than 300 license dealers (PDF list) statewide, as well as online by visiting https://license.azgfd.gov/home.xhtml. If a license is purchased online, it must be printed from a home computer. The department will not mail any license purchased online.

The license also will allow the spouse of an active duty member to apply for big game hunt permit-tags as a resident. At this time, more than 300 leftover permit-tags for fall turkey in Game Management Unit 12A are available for purchase on a “first come, first served” basis at all department offices.

The current law states that a license is required by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission to take, handle or possess wildlife (A.R.S. § 17-101 and A.R.S. § 17-331). A.R.S. § 17-337 allows a member of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty or stationed in the state to purchase a resident license permitting the taking of wildlife.

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

Arizona Game and Fish to offer another bighorn sheep viewing tour on Canyon Lake

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bighorn sheepAPACHE JUNCTION — Due to the popularity of July’s Canyon Lake bighorn sheep tour, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, in partnership with the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, is offering an encore Canyon Lake cruise for the public to see magnificent desert bighorn sheep in their natural environment.

The three-hour tour, accompanied by Game and Fish biologists and educators, leaves from Canyon Lake Marina at 7 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13. Cost is $40 for adults and $25 for children ages 5-12.

“This is a great opportunity for people to learn about bighorn sheep and conservation efforts in an area virtually inaccessible except by boat,” says Game and Fish Wildlife Manager John Dickson. “During the heat of summer, water is a scarce commodity in bighorn country. This makes summer the best time of year to view young lambs and family groups coming down to the lakeshore to drink.”

The Dolly Steamboat offers both open-air decks and air-conditioned viewing areas, is accessible, and has bathrooms. Light snacks and beverages are available for purchase. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable light clothing and bring a camera, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and binoculars.

Reservations required: You must reserve your spot by purchasing a ticket for the special Dolly Steamboat Cruise. Space is limited. To buy your ticket, call Dolly Steamboat at (480) 827-9144 or book online at www.dollysteamboat.com.

Dove, band-tailed pigeon regulations now online

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dovesPHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department has posted the 2016-2017 Arizona Dove and Band-tailed Pigeon Regulations online at https://www.azgfd.com/PortalImages/files/regs/doveregs.pdf.

The dove season begins Sept. 1 and runs through Sept. 15. The daily bag limit is 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate, of which no more than 10 may be white-winged. The possession limit is 45 mourning and white-winged in the aggregate after opening day, of which no more than 15 may be taken in any one day. Of the 45 dove possession limit, only 30 may be white-winged, of which no more than 10 may be taken in any one day. There is no bag or possession limit on the invasive Eurasian collared-dove.

The band-tailed pigeon season is Sept. 2-15. The daily bag limit is two band-tailed pigeons per day. Possession limit after opening day is six, of which no more than two may be taken in any one day.

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 2016-17 season (the stamp is included with the youth combo hunt/fish license). Both can be purchased online at https://license.azgfd.gov/home.xhtml, or any department office or license dealer.

Reminder: Nominations sought for Game and Fish Commission Awards

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The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is soliciting nominations for its 2016 Commission Awards. The deadline for submission is Aug. 12, 2016. 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 are for the categories listed below and may include individuals, organizations, clubs, foundations or government agencies. Arizona Game and Fish Department employees are not eligible for nomination.

Submit a Commission Awards nomination, or download a nomination form. Then submit the completed form and all supplemental materials to: Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn: 2016 Commission Awards – DOHQ, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086 or fax to: 623-236-7299 or email to: lroe@azgfd.gov. Submission deadline is 5 p.m. August 12, 2016.
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Spring hunt recommendations to be available for review

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department has scheduled a series of six “open houses” for its constituents to review and ask questions about proposed hunt recommendations for spring hunts for turkey, javelina, bison and bear.

The department annually makes recommendations to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission regarding the management of game species, which establish the seasons, dates, bag limits, open areas and permit-tag allocations based on the framework of the hunt guidelines set by the commission every two years.

The proposed recommendations are posted at www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines. The open houses will be conducted at the following Game and Fish regional offices:

  • Tues., July 26: 4-6:30 p.m. Mesa, 7200 E. University Drive.
  • Thurs., July 27: 3-5 p.m., Kingman, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road.
  • Tues., Aug. 2: 3-5 p.m., Pinetop, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.
  • Wed., Aug. 3: 6-8 p.m., Flagstaff, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road.
  • Wed., Aug. 3: 3-5 p.m., Yuma, 9140 E. 28th St.
  • Wed., Aug. 3: 3-5 p.m., Tucson, 555 N. Greasewood Road.

The proposed hunt recommendations will be presented to the commission for consideration during its Aug. 5 meeting in Flagstaff.

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

Sen. McCain assures sportsmen, AZGFD he’ll fight proposed Grand Canyon Watershed National Monument

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GRAND CANYON — Overlooking the Grand Canyon on Wednesday, multiple sportsmen’s groups met with Sen. John McCain to discuss their opposition to designating the Grand Canyon Watershed National Monument, which would greatly impact access to hunting and fishing, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s ability to properly manage wildlife.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is opposed to a proposal that would needlessly create a national monument north of the Grand Canyon. Such a designation would limit the public’s access to more than 1.7 million acres of the Kaibab Plateau and will greatly impact local residents, sportsmen and sportswomen, and AZGFD’s mission to properly manage the state’s wildlife.

“The land is here for the people,” Mule Deer Foundation Regional Director Terry Herndon told McCain during a meeting at Grand Canyon National Park with sportsmen’s groups, community leaders and business owners. “It is absolutely critical to maintain our access for hunting and fishing, and for the Arizona Game and Fish Department to be able to continue to do their job to manage our wildlife.”

Those gathered also expressed concern the designation could impact access to water resources and could block further access to public lands, which will lead to degradation of wildlife populations and habitat on one of the most important hunting areas in the U.S.

Sen. McCain pledged to fight any designation of a Grand Canyon Watershed National Monument and vowed to ask Congress to overturn any such action, if created by President Barack Obama.

“If the president issues this executive order, I promise to make it my highest priority to have it overturned in January,” McCain said. “We must weigh the full impact and what we’re losing with this designation. This will eliminate a way of life and that isn’t fair to our residents or visitors. This will also greatly affect the heritage of our state and those who depend on multi-use areas such as this.”

Creation of the Grand Canyon Watershed National Monument could well transfer jurisdiction of the area watershed to the National Park Service, which already has an $11.6 billion maintenance backlog, and will hamper forest thinning projects designed to prevent catastrophic wildfires.

Visit the High Country Hummingbird Festival at Sipe Wildlife Area on Saturday, July 30

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The Arizona Game and Fish Department is hosting its 13th annual High Country Hummingbird Festival on Saturday, July 30 at Sipe Wildlife Area near Springerville/Eagar. This year’s event will help celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, a federal law that has had significant impact on conserving the nation’s migratory bird species. The High Country Hummingbird Festival will be one of the featured events in the state to celebrate this important milestone.

The free, family-friendly festival will include:

  • hummingbird banding by Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory (SABO)
  • plant displays for attracting hummingbirds
  • live wildlife from the department’s Wildlife Center
  • wildlife walk with a naturalist
  • activities and talks designed for children
  • informational talks about hummingbirds, and
  • a workshop on photographing hummingbirds.

While the festival is free to the public, the department is asking attendees to consider donating new, unopened bags of pure cane sugar to help feed all of these magnificent birds. Every year, Sipe uses up to 700 pounds of sugar to make the hummingbird food for the feeders around the property. A donation station will be set up in the Visitor’s Center.

The event starts at 8 a.m. and ends at noon. The Sipe Wildlife Area is located southeast of Eagar and Springerville. From Eagar, take Highway 191 toward Alpine for about two miles to the signed turnoff at the top of the first hill. Drive south five miles to the Sipe property on a gravel road suitable for passenger cars.

The Round Valley Chamber of Commerce will be providing breakfast items and lunch concessions for purchase.

Pets must be kept on leash and are not allowed near live wildlife.

For more information, visit www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/hummingbird.shtml, follow this event and other local wildlife recreation-related events and programs on the Arizona Game and Fish Pinetop Region Facebook page, or call the Game and Fish office in Pinetop at (928) 532-3680.

Save the date: “Respected Access in Arizona” event is Oct. 15

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department and Tread Lightly! will host their third annual “Respected Access in Arizona” fundraising event, presented by RideNow Powersports, on Oct. 15 to help raise awareness of the importance of protecting access and enhancing outdoor recreational opportunities, such as recreational shooting, off-highway vehicle (OHV) use and camping.

A fun-shoot, barbecue dinner, raffles and auctions are planned at the OneAZ  Credit Union Pavilion, located at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix. Proceeds will be used to help fund the long-term implementation strategies of the “Respected Access is Open Access in Arizona” campaign.

Tickets are available online at http://tinyurl.com/hchxtg8. The cost of the fun-shoot (which includes targets and two boxes of ammunition) and dinner, catered by Bobby Q restaurant, is $65. The cost of only the dinner, which includes beverages and a door-prize raffle ticket, is $40.  

The department and Tread Lightly!, a national organization that promotes responsible recreation through stewardship, communication and education, along with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service, are helping to keep Arizona’s public lands healthy and open through the successful “Respected Access is Open Access in Arizona” campaign.  

The objective is to implement education, outreach and engagement strategies that promote stewardship and foster site-stewards through volunteerism. It can’t be done alone, however. That’s why the support of outdoor recreationists, and industries that serve them, is important.

For more information about the fundraiser, call (800) 966-9900, Ext. 13, or e-mail respectedaccess@treadlightly.org. For more information about the “Respected Access is Open Access in Arizona” campaign, visit www.respectedaccessarizona.org.