Update 11-19-2009:
Elk and antelope hunt recommendations will not post until Monday, Nov. 23
Due to Thursday’s special meeting of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, the 2010 hunt recommendations for elk, antelope, and population management hunts will not be posted online until Monday, Nov. 23.
Public meetings, open houses set for elk and antelope hunt recommendations
PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is hosting four public meetings followed by six open houses across the state to meet with constituents about developing the 2010 hunt recommendations for pronghorn antelope, elk and population management hunts.
Four regions will be providing details about the populations within their jurisdiction. Constituents interested in a particular game management unit can attend the public meeting in that region to discuss management direction.
“This is a great chance to see how the hunt guidelines shape the hunt recommendation packages,” said Brian Wakeling, chief of game management for the department. “The public forums allow us to meet with sportsmen and discuss the direction for the recommendations based on survey data, harvest rates and the hunt guidelines. Regional personnel will be discussing whether we are considering changing harvest prescriptions and why. It’s a great way to get informed and to have your concerns addressed as hunt recommendations are developed.”
The public forums are hosted at four of the six Game and Fish Department regional offices by wildlife biologists that are involved in the hunt recommendation process.
The public forum dates, times and locations are:
- Monday, Oct. 12, 6-8 p.m. – Pinetop regional office, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.
- Tuesday, Oct. 20, 6-8 p.m. – Kingman regional office, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road
- Monday, Oct. 26, 6-8 p.m. – Flagstaff regional office, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road
- Tuesday, Oct. 27, 6-8 p.m. – Mesa regional office, 7200 E. University Drive
After the public forums, the final proposed draft of the hunt recommendations that will be presented to the Game and Fish Commission will be made available for public review at six regional open houses. No formal presentation will be made. However, a knowledgeable staff person will be available to discuss regional hunt recommendations.
Open house dates, times and locations are:
- Monday, Nov. 23, 3-5 p.m. – Pinetop regional office, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.
- Tuesday, Nov. 24, 3-5 p.m. – Kingman regional office, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road
- Tuesday, Nov. 24, 3-5 p.m. – Yuma regional office, 9140 E. 28th St.
- Friday, Nov. 27, 3-5 p.m. – Tucson regional office, 555 N. Greasewood Road
- Tuesday, Dec. 1, 3-5 p.m. – Flagstaff regional office, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road
- Wednesday, Dec. 2, 3-5 p.m. – Mesa regional office, 7200 E. University Drive
A PDF version of the 2010 hunt recommendations for elk, pronghorn antelope, and population management hunts will be available for review at the Game and Fish Department's Web site beginning Saturday, Nov. 21 at www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines.
Each year, the department makes recommendations to the commission regarding the management of game species for the annual hunting and trapping regulations, which establish the seasons, dates, bag limits, open areas, and hunt permit-tag allocations based on the framework of the hunt guidelines set by the commission every two years. These recommendations are in accordance with the recently revised hunt guideline package, which is effective for hunts starting in the fall of 2010 through the spring 2012.
The final recommendations are scheduled to be presented to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission for consideration during its Dec. 4-5 meeting in Phoenix at the Game and Fish headquarters at 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix (1.5 miles west of I-17). The agenda will be posted at www.azgfd.gov/commissionunder commission agenda.
To learn more about the hunt recommendation and hunt guidelines process, visit www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines.