- Deadline to apply for fall hunting permits is June 9
- Special hunt tags raise funds for wildlife conservation
- Great American Deer Raffle to raise $$$ for conservation
- Five men arrested in alleged poaching incident
- Free Fishing Days in Arizona are on June 6 and 13
- Dudes – want to take your parents fishing?
- Summer evening shooting leagues offered at Ben Avery
- Game and Fish HQ gets top environmental rating
- Public input requested to help shape hunt guidelines
- Wanted: Your best wildlife photograph
- Some archery areas require a permit via the draw
- Glimpse the lives of the Valley’s most secretive residents
- Deadline for sheep workshops quickly approaching
- Know the legalities of picking up wildlife parts
Deadline to apply for fall hunting permits is June 9
Applications are due on or before deadline - postmarks do not count
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Applications for deer (including some archery-only), fall turkey, juniors-only javelina, bighorn sheep, buffalo, and pheasant are due to the Arizona Game and Fish Department on or before Tuesday, June 9 by 7 p.m. MST (postmarks do not count).
There is no online application process available – it is a manual paper-permit process only. Applications may be submitted by mail or hand delivered to any department office. For a list of office locations, visit www.azgfd.gov/offices.
Both the 2009-10 Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations and the Hunt Permit-tag/License Application form are available at more than 300 license dealers throughout the state and have all the details needed to apply. Electronic copies of the regulations and application are also available at the department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/draw.
To assist customers and reduce errors, a PDF application form can be filled out using a computer and keyboard, but must be printed, signed and submitted (along with the correct fees by check or money order) by mail, or by delivery to any department office. The form can also be printed and filled out using an ink pen.
Applicants should note, there is a new P.O. Box for submitting hunt permit applications by mail, and the address should be reflected on the new envelopes. The new address is Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn.: Drawing Section, PO Box 74020, Phoenix, AZ 85087-1052. However, applications mailed to the old address will be automatically forwarded to the new address.
Special hunt tags raise funds for wildlife conservation
The Arizona Big Game Super Raffle now has 10 special big game tags up for raffle.
The tags up for raffle include one each for pronghorn antelope, black bear, buffalo, Coues whitetail, desert bighorn sheep, elk, javelina, mule deer, turkey (Gould’s or Merriam’s), and now mountain lion.
In addition, there will be a Swarovski optics package raffled, which will pay for the administration costs of the Super Raffle.
The deadline to purchase tickets by mail is July 3 (postmarks don’t count). The deadline to purchase tickets online is July 12. For as little as five dollars, you can get a chance at a great hunt. For $25, that highly sought-after tag for desert bighorn sheep or a bull elk may be yours.
All ticket proceeds from hunt tags will go to the Arizona Game and Fish Department where every dollar raised for each species will go directly toward the management of that particular species. Last year’s raffle raised $478,860.
The public drawing is Saturday, July 18. The time and location will be announced soon.
For more information, visit www.arizonabiggamesuperraffle.com or find a mail order form in the 2009-10 Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations on page 34.
Great American Deer Raffle to raise $$$ for conservation
The Arizona Deer Association is sponsoring the Great American Deer Raffle to benefit Arizona's mule deer and Coues deer herds.
The raffle features six unique items; five of them hunts, including one for an Arizona Commissioner’s Coues deer tag.
The deadline to purchase tickets by mail is June 15 (postmarks don’t count). The deadline to purchase tickets online is June 22. Each raffle entry is only $10, and for $50, you’ll be entered into all six drawings.
The drawing will be at the Arizona Deer Association’s annual fundraising banquet on June 27 at the Chaparral Suites Resort, 5001 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale.
For more information, visit www.azdeer.org.
Five men arrested in alleged poaching incident
Arizona Game and Fish Department officers have arrested five men in connection with alleged poaching activities that occurred north of Springerville in December.
Four of the men — John K. Parks, Michael E. Mangum, Jeffery D. Phillips and Frederick P. Dobson — were arrested May 15 at the Tucson Electric Power/Salt River Project generating station outside of Springerville. The four were taken into custody without incident with the assistance of power plant security staff and the Apache County Sheriff’s Department.
A fifth man, Freeman L. Kartchner, was later arrested off-site by officers.
Parks, Mangum and Kartchner were charged with unlawfully killing four mule deer does during the closed season and with the aid of a spotlight. Most of the meat was left to waste.
They were also charged with vandalism for damage caused to ranchers’ fences, gates and locks. In addition, Parks and Mangum were charged with littering for allegedly leaving a string of empty beer bottles in the area.
Phillips, who was not present during the alleged poaching incidents, was charged with providing false and misleading information to officers to protect two of the other individuals. Dobson, who also was not present during the incidents, was charged with eight counts of fraudulently obtaining resident Arizona hunting licenses and tags.
The alleged poachings occurred during the night and early morning hours of Dec. 20-21, 2008, near Richville, a rural farming and residential community located along the Little Colorado River between Springerville and St. Johns. The arrests were made as a result of a tip called in to the Game and Fish Department’s Operation Game Thief hotline.
“I’d like to recognize and commend the high level of cooperation our staff received from the power plant administration and its security personnel,” said Jim Hinkle, law enforcement program manager in the department’s Pinetop office.
Hinkle emphasized that poaching is not hunting. “The vast majority of people who hunt have a deep respect for wildlife resources and the laws established to protect them, and they are outraged by poaching. Unlawful killing of any wildlife is considered a major loss for the residents of Arizona and our wildlife resources.”
If convicted of the criminal charges, each of the men, except Phillips, will face potential license revocations and/or civil assessments from the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. The commission may civilly assess the men a minimum of $1,500 or more for the loss of each mule deer to the State of Arizona.
To report a poaching or wildlife-related violation, hunters and non-hunters alike are strongly encouraged to call the Operation Game Thief toll-free hotline at (800) 352-0700, 24 hours a day, 7 days week. Callers are eligible for a reward if the information leads to an arrest. Caller identities can remain anonymous upon request.
Free Fishing Days in Arizona are on June 6 and 13
Arizona’s Free Fishing Days celebrating National Fishing and Boating Week are on two consecutive Saturdays, June 6 and 13. No fishing license is required on those days on all state or urban waters or from shore on the Colorado River.
This is a great opportunity for kids to take their parents fishing, or for you to introduce a friend, neighbor or co-worker to this fun outdoor experience.
“With most of our lakes full for a second year in a row thanks to excellent winter rains and snow pack, this is a phenomenal time to get out fishing,” said Fishing Report Editor Rory Aikens. “It’s a great way for kids to make sure their parents don’t suffer from outdoor recreation deficiency.”
Check the Game and Fish Department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov for the latest fishing report so you can best plan your fishing outing. Remember that bag limits and other regulations must be observed on Free Fishing Day.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department will sponsor a number of Free Fishing Day clinics/events. Loaner fishing rods and bait are provided for free at most of these venues. Times and locations are:
Saturday, June 6, Kaibab Lake (Williams), 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Loaner fishing rods and bait will be available. For more information, contact Shelly Shepherd at (928) 214-1241.
Saturday, June 13, Tempe Town Lake (on the north shore near the Mill Avenue Bridge, just south of Lake View Drive), 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Loaner fishing rods, bait and instruction will be available. For more information, call Pam Ostwinkle at (623) 236-7219.
Saturday, June 13, Lynx Lake (near Prescott), 7 a.m. to noon. This event is held in cooperation with the Prescott National Forest. Trout and catfish will be stocked before the event. Loaner fishing rods and some bait will be available. For more information, contact Zen Mocarski at (928) 692-7700 x2301.
Saturday, June 13, Deadhorse Ranch State Park (near Cottonwood), 8 a.m. to noon. This event is held in the middle lagoon in cooperation with the Prescott National Forest and Deadhorse Ranch State Park. Admission fees to the state park for event participants are waived (paid for by the U.S. Forest Service). Catfish will be stocked prior to event. Loaner fishing rods, some bait and instruction will be available. For more information, contact Dead Horse Ranch State Park at (928) 634-5283.
Saturday, June 13, Francis Short Pond (near downtown Flagstaff), 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Loaner fishing rods and bait will be available. For more information, contact Shelly Shepherd at (928) 214-1241.
Saturday, June 13, Garrett Tank (outside Seligman), 9 a.m to 5 p.m. Garrett tank will be stocked with catfish prior to the event. Loaner fishing rods and some bait will be available. For more information, contact Zen Mocarski at (928) 692-7700 x2301.
Saturday, June 13, Yellow Pine Ranch Pond (outside Kingman, located on Blake Ranch road about 7 miles south of Interstate 40), 7 a.m. to noon. This event is held in cooperation with the Kingman Elks Lodge, Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, and the Yellow Pine Ranch. Catfish will be stocked prior to the event. Loaner fishing rods and some bait will be available. For more information, contact Zen Mocarski at (928) 692-7700 x2301.
Saturday, June 13, Riggs Flat Lake (on Mt. Graham near Safford), 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come fish for trout in the cool pines. Loaner fishing rods and bait will be available. For more information, contact Joe Fagan at (520) 730-6398.
For more tips on how kids can take their parents fishing, see the next article (condensed) that appeared in the May-June 2008 edition of Arizona Wildlife Views magazine.
Dudes: Want to take your parents fishing?
By Rory (old fogey) and Joshua (young kid) Aikens
Dudes (and dudettes), want some cool tips on how to take your parents fishing?
With a little help from Mrs. Lepick’s 1st grade class at Stetson Hills Elementary in Phoenix, here are some tips from kids themselves.
Michael said first he would do his chores, then ask his dad to go fishing, and then, “We would get in the truck. Finally, we are fishing.”
Casey also opted for the chore strategy, but followed up by getting the fishing poles ready and putting them in the car for mom and dad.
Sierra knows how to play on her parents’ heart strings or work on their sympathy. “First I would say I love to go fishing. Next I would beg to go fishing.”
Vincent likes using a little psychology spiced with the sympathy ploy and a lot of perseverance. “First I would tell them it can be a vacation. Next I would get on the floor and beg. Finally, I would keep asking over and over again.”
Cole opted for a unique approach. First I will by them whine. Then I will make them drive me there. Finally, I will go fishing.”
Christian’s strategy was employing food and whine – first making breakfast and then whining to go fishing.
Here are a dozen or other cool things us kids can do to get mom and dad for a groovy day of fishing.
1. Convince your daddy to buy mommy a new fishing pole, and then tell her you’ll teach her how to catch fish (even offer to bait her hooks).
2. Ask your daddy about the biggest fish he ever caught. After listening to the long story, say, “Gee pops, I wish you would show me how to catch one like that!”
3. When at the grocery store with mommy or daddy, load the grocery cart with lots of great stuff for a picnic at the lake – don’t forget the bait. Shrimp, hot dogs, anchovies and cheese are always good choices. If you don’t catch fish, they can be used as super toppings for pizza or Nachos.
4. Put a five dollar bill on a hook and drag it across the family room floor – that is one way to get your parents away from the TV and out to the lake for some fishing. Maybe make it a ten-spot if you are reeling in a big allowance.
5. Give your mommy a big hug and tell her how “pretty” and “young” she always looks in her favorite sun hat while fishing.
6. Record some of the most exciting fishing shows on TV and start playing them early on a sunny Saturday morning when your parents are just waking up, especially if they smell fresh coffee brewing.
7. Call your grandpa on the phone and ask him when was the last time he took your dad (or mom) fishing or camping, and ask, “Gramps, isn’t it time again?”
8. Find a fun fishing photo and send it to your parent’s cell phones or laptops with a note, “Wish we were there. I love you!”
9. Download all the fishing songs you can find on the Web and put them on your parent’s IPODs to play when they go jogging, working out in the gym or just chillin’ around the pool.
10. Convince your favorite aunt or uncle (or grandparent) to challenge your parents to a family fishing tournament, with the loser paying for all the hot dogs to eat at the lake.
11. Get out your box of crayons and draw a picture of your family fishing with a note at the top that says, “I love fishing with mommy and daddy,” then use some magnets and place it on the refrigerator door.
12. Before your mom and dad wake up, get the fishing gear ready next to the front door and maybe even pack a picnic (even a loaf of bread and some PB&J will work).
Once you get them hooked on the fishing idea, be prepared to help them choose a bodacious place to hang. Here are some suggestions.
* If you only have a morning or afternoon available, take your parents to one of the popular urban lakes. These fun fishing holes are especially great if you have younger brothers and sisters. The younger ones (or dad) can get bored with fishing. Most urban lakes are located in city parks with playgrounds and other fun stuff.
* Want trout for dinner? One groovy place is the Lower Salt River near Phoenix. If you don’t catch fish, you can always help your parents make driftwood ships to float downriver like Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Oh yeah, the place to fish is where the tubers cruise down the river. That give you any ideas?
* If you have a weekend to spend, take your parents camping to the Mogollon Rim lakes in the cool pines, such as Woods Canyon, Willow Springs, Bear Canyon and Knoll. Be sure to take plenty of bodacious chocolate bars, graham crackers and marshmallows for S’Mores. Parents love to make gooey, sweet things to eat around the roaring campfire.
* Parents think that playing along gurgling creeks and rushing streams is far out. Take them on an outdoor adventure to Christopher Creek, Tonto Creek, Haigler Creek, Oak Creek, Beaver Creek, Black River (East or West Fork for native Apache trout), the Little Colorado River in the Greer Valley (Apache trout) or the East Verde River. Take along extra shoes in case your parents get their feet wet. You don’t want them catching cold and wimping out.
* If dad’s looking for a big fish on the end of the line, take him to one of the desert lakes in search of those bottom dwellers – catfish and carp. Be sure dad has a stout rod and with new fishing line. A 5- or 10-pound catfish will give dad (and you) a tussle he won’t soon forget.
* Rent a small aluminum boat at Woods Canyon, Big Lake or Reservation Lake. Even dad can catch a trout if you slow-troll for using small spinners, Z-rays, Super Dupers, and Rapalas.
* Another boss choice in the city is Tempe Town Lake. It’s always a great place to go if you get your dad tickets for a ball game at ASU or get your mom tickets for a concert at Gammage Auditorium. That way, the whole family can get there early and dad can fish instead of getting grouchy while being stuck in traffic and your mommy won’t have to get mad at him again.
Improve your marksmanship
Summer evening shooting leagues offered at Ben Avery
If the recent NRA convention in Phoenix got your American spirits pumping, or you just recently bought a new firearm to replace that old hand-me-down, then now is the time to join one of the summer recreational shooting leagues at the renowned Ben Avery Shooting Facility.
Beginning in June and running for eight weeks, these three leagues are designed to introduce recreational shooters to organized shooting that will expand and improve your marksmanship skills. The disciplines are bull’s-eye pistol, international-style archery and off-hand air gun. Both the pistol and archery leagues will be outdoors under stadium lighting, with the air gun league housed under the recently renovated indoor air gun range.
“All three of our leagues offer participants a safe and recreational atmosphere to improve their shooting skills,” said Marty Herrera, manager of the Ben Avery Shooting Facility. “Our leagues are run by our certified Range Safety Officers who have experience and knowledge in a variety disciplines and organized shooting.”
Bull’s-eye pistol league:
The bull’s-eye pistol league is for shooters ages 14 or older. Each night consists of four components: a slow-fire, timed-fire, rapid-fire, and a national match component.
The four components collectively make up a 900-point match in which participants may shoot one or more of the components.
The league meets every Tuesday night from June 9 to July 28 at the Small Bore Range. Shooting begins promptly at 6:30 p.m. Participants are encouraged to use their own firearm and ammunition (rimfire or centerfire) and either revolvers or semi-automatics are permitted.
The range has a limited supply of loaner .22-caliber firearms and ammunition available on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost is $24 for each single component or $80 for all four components. Pre-registration is required, contact Christopher Dean at cdean@azgfd.gov or (623) 582-8313.
International-style archery leagues:
The international-style archery league offers brackets for youth ages 8-17, men and women.
FITA style targets will consist of a 3-spot or single 40 cm target face at 20 yards or an 80 cm target at 10 yards for the youth.
The league meets every Wednesday night from June 10 to July 29 at the FITA Range with an awards banquet on Aug. 5. Start time is at 7 p.m. Loaner bows (introductory style) are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Individual costs are $60 for adults and $30 for youth. Family shooters receive a discount. Pre-registration is required, contact Mike Raum at mraum@azgfd.gov or (623) 582-8313.
Off-hand air gun leagues:
The off-hand air gun league is for shooters looking to have fun and learn about one of the fastest growing forms of shooting sports competition. Each match includes 300-points consisting of three relays of 10 shots from 10 meters in 20 minutes.
The league meets every Thursday evening from June 11 to July 30 at the Air Gun Range. Shooting starting promptly at 6:30 p.m.
The range is restricted to a velocity of 600 fps (feet per second) or less. Loaner air guns and pellets are available on a limited and first-come, first-served basis.
Adaptive equipment may be available for disabled shooters, but please include any equipment needed during pre-registration. The cost is $60 for adults and $30 for youth 17 and under. Pre-registration is required, contact Matt Schwartzkopf at mschwartzkopf@azgfd.gov or (623) 236-7076.
The Ben Avery Shooting Facility is on the northwest corner of I-17 and Carefree Highway in north Phoenix, approximately 10 minutes north of Loop 101. Located on 1,650 acres, it is one of the largest government-operated recreational shooting complexes in the world.
This unique shooting complex averages more than 120,000 shooters per year and is home to a number of regional- and national-class competitions and other major events. Offering a wide array of target-shooting opportunities, the facility has 67 covered stations at the main range (all handicap accessible), and more than 25 additional rifle, pistol, and archery ranges for recreational and competitive shooting.
The Clay Target Center offers 18-lighted trap/skeet overlay fields and two sporting clays courses.
The summer hours are Wednesday and Thursday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., then 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. The range is closed Monday and Tuesday.
To learn more about shooting sports and the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, visit www.azgfd.gov/basf.
Game and Fish HQ gets top environmental rating
Becomes first building in Phoenix to receive “platinum” LEED recognition
The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s headquarters building in Phoenix has earned “platinum” certification—the highest awarded—through the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program.
There are only three other buildings in Arizona that have received platinum certification: the Applied Research and Development Center at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff; the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University in Tempe; and the Lee H. Brown Conservation Learning Center in Tucson.
“We’re proud to receive this prestigious recognition,” said Arizona Game and Fish Department Director Larry Voyles. “As a natural resources agency, it is fitting we have a workplace that meets the highest standards in energy-efficient and environmentally friendly design.”
The building employs design features and technology that reduce the need for artificial light, help with temperature control, cut exterior water usage through natural landscaping, and scale back interior water use via water-efficient plumbing fixtures.
Among the features is a 189-kilowatt rooftop photovoltaic solar system that, when implemented this summer, will generate an estimated 290,000 kWh (kilowatt hours) annually. This renewable power will offset the equivalent of 208 metric tons of CO2 emissions.
Other environmentally friendly features include the use of regionally harvested materials as well as wood harvested from managed forests. A green cleaning program also helps ensure the building has a reduced impact on the environment.
The 83,000-square-foot headquarters administration building is part of a 117,115-square-foot complex that also includes a 27,000-square-foot warehouse/lab building and a vehicle maintenance facility. The complex is located at 5000 W. Carefree Highway in Phoenix.
The department has occupied the complex since November 2007, when it moved from its former headquarters site of 14 modular buildings and trailers located at Greenway Road and 23rd Avenue.
Partners in the project included Lincoln Property Co. (developer), Will Architects (architect/designer), Sundt Construction Inc. (general contractor), Piper Jaffray (financing), and Green Ideas Environmental Building Consultants (LEED consultant).
Public input requested to help shape hunt guidelines
Game and Fish hosting public meetings across the state this month
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is hosting a series of nine public meetings to solicit input on the proposed revisions under consideration for the hunt guidelines used for setting the 2010-11 and 2011-12 hunting season dates, structures, permit levels, and more.
The proposed revisions under consideration for the hunt guidelines were developed based on agency and constituent input since 2007, when hunt guidelines were last revised. Additionally, the department formally solicited and received more than 100 suggestions during the public comment period in May. Moreover, dozens of ideas, field notes, biological considerations, social aspects and more went into improving the hunt guidelines during a multitude of work sessions by a diverse representation of department employees.
“This draft revision of the hunt guidelines is the result of a collaborative and transparent effort between the department and its constituents,” said Game and Fish Director Larry Voyles. “We want to continue this relationship by encouraging sportsmen and sportswomen to find the time, in their already busy schedules, to attend a public meeting and share their thoughts and concerns. By doing so, together we can shape these guidelines to foster and perpetuate our hunting heritage for the next generation of hunters.”
The draft hunt guidelines are posted on the department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines on the right side of the page under the “what’s new” heading.
The public meetings are at the following locations, dates and times:
- Kingman, Wednesday, June 10, 6–8 p.m. at the Kingman Game and Fish regional office, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road
- Prescott, Thursday, June 11, 6–8 p.m. at the Yavapai County Board Chambers, 1015 Fair Street, Prescott, 86305
- Flagstaff, Monday, June 15, 6–8 p.m. at the Flagstaff Game and Fish regional office, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road Flagstaff, 86001
- Mesa, Tuesday, June 16 , 6–8 p.m. at the Mesa Game and Fish regional office , 7200 E. University Drive, Mesa, 85207
- Payson, Wednesday, June 17, 6–8 p.m. at the Best Western Payson Inn, 801 N. Beeline Highway 87, 85547
- Pinetop, Thursday, June 18, 6–8 p.m.at the Pinetop regional office 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd., 85935
- Yuma, Tuesday, June 23, 6–8 p.m. at the Yuma Game and Fish regional office, 9140 E. 28th St., Yuma, 85365
- Sierra Vista, Wednesday, June 24, 6–8 p.m. at the Buena High School, 5225 E. Buena School Blvd. Sierra Vista, 85635
- Tucson, Thursday, June 25, 6–8 p.m. at the Tucson Game and Fish regional office, 555 N. Greasewood Road, Tucson, 85745
Each public meeting will consist of a brief presentation of the proposed draft guidelines, which in many cases offers of a number of available options for the public to comment on. Some examples include:
- How do you feel about moving the early Kaibab deer hunt two weeks earlier?
- What percentage of juniors-only hunts should be offered?
After the presentation, department staff will take questions, provide insight and reasoning, and record any public recommended changes to the draft presented.
For those that are unable to attend a public meeting, your comments and suggestions on the draft guidelines are still welcome and encouraged through June 30. Please e-mail them to azgamebranch@azgfd.gov or send by U.S. mail to Hunt Guidelines, Arizona Game and Fish Department, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086.
The department will use these final public inputs to finalize the hunt guidelines under consideration, which will be presented to the commission for approval at its Sept. 11–12 meeting in Phoenix. Commission meeting agendas are available online at www.azgfd.gov/commission under commission agenda.
Voyles added, “When reviewing the guidelines, understand, there are a plethora of variables and there is no perfect solution for the many varied desires of our hunting and non-hunting public, yet we want to balance those needs in such a way that we do not compromise the viability of our wildlife or the experience.”
“It is an incredible challenge to balance constituent satisfaction, work load on law enforcement and wildlife managers, and allowing enough time for flight surveys, data collection, and other necessary biological wildlife management methodologies,” said Voyles. “What may seem like a simple change could have a domino effect on many other intertwined factors.”
Every two years, on odd numbered years, the department reviews and revises the existing hunt guidelines and recommends changes that address the current direction of the commission. The direction for the 2009 package is for standardization, simplification, and increasing hunter participation. The hunt guidelines set the framework, social and biological, that the department uses to develop specific hunt recommendations and permit level guides for commission orders (elk, deer, antelope, etc.).
To learn more about the hunt guidelines process, visit www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines.
Wanted: Your best wildlife photograph
Got a wildlife photo that makes people say “Wow!”?
Want to share it with the world?
Eager to earn a spot in the 2010 Arizona Wildlife Calendar?
If you answered “Yes, yes, you bet!” now’s the time to enter the 2010 Arizona wildlife photo contest.
We’re looking for great photos showcasing Arizona’s amazing wildlife. If your photo is selected as a winner, you’ll get a cash prize, plus publication in the 2010 Arizona Wildlife Calendar.
Also, this year we’ll display a slideshow highlighting honorable mention photographs on our Game and Fish Web page, giving your photos many more chances to be seen. Fame and fortune as a wildlife photographer — what could be better?
New this year: Contestants are allowed to enter only three (3) photographs. Pictures are judged anonymously — there is no personal information included with them during the judging process. Send us the best of your best and you just might win.
You can’t win if you don’t enter.
The deadline for submissions to this year’s wildlife photo contest is July 6 at 5 p.m. MST. There is no entry fee. For contest rules and an entry form, visit www.azgfd.gov/photocontest
Archery-only deer hunters:
Some hunting areas require a permit via the draw
Archery deer hunters are reminded that some game management units formerly open to over-the-counter archery nonpermit-tags now require a permit issued through the big game draw application process for the 2009-10 hunting season.
Archery hunters interested in hunting deer in units 1, 3A, 3C, 7, 12A, 12B, 13A and 13B will need to submit an application through the big game draw application process (deadline is June 9).
Hunters are also advised that some archery-only season structures (dates) have changed, so refer to the regulations for specifics.
Mandatory harvest reporting is still required by archery deer hunters with an over-the-counter tag. Please call (866) 093-3337. Archery deer hunters with hunt permit-tags obtained through the draw process are NOT required to call the harvest hotline. However, you will receive a hunter questionnaire in the mail. Please return your questionnaire.
Regardless of hunt permit-tag type, all successful archery hunters are encouraged to participate in the voluntary chronic wasting disease (CWD) sampling program. Hunters who are successful in Game Management Unit 12B are especially encouraged to submit heads. Because this unit borders Utah, deer from this area of the state may have the greatest potential for initial detection of CWD.
To submit a sample, heads can be brought to any Game and Fish Department office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. You will be notified of the results of this test and there is no charge for this service. Lab tests from the sampling during the 2008-09 season found no presence the disease in Arizona.
To learn more about hunting in Arizona, visit www.azgfd.gov/hunting.
Glimpse the lives of the Valley’s most secretive residents
Did you know that bats are the slowest reproducing mammals on earth for their size?
Did you know that every night they provide free insect-control services to the Valley?
The Arizona Game and Fish Department invites you to attend one of the free bat workshops being held throughout the summer to learn the answers to these questions and find out more about these shy, misunderstood creatures. The next workshop will be held on Friday, June 12 at 7:15 p.m.
The workshops will provide an opportunity for the public to watch an amazing sight as thousands of Mexican free-tail bats exit their roost for the evening at Phoenix’s largest bat colony, near the Biltmore area. The programs begin with a talk by bat biologists and an opportunity to see live bats up close. Participants will then watch the mass exodus using special night vision and ultrasonic sound equipment to hear the bat’s inaudible echolocation sounds.
“Bats are plagued by a lot of inaccurate myths,” says Angela McIntire, Arizona Game and Fish Department bat management coordinator. “But, they do so many good things like helping protect agricultural crops and our backyards from being overrun by pesky insects. And, few Valley residents know that they have a great wildlife viewing opportunity so close to home.”
Additional workshops will be held on:
- Friday, July 17 at 7:15 p.m.
- Friday, Aug. 14 at 7 p.m.
- Friday, Sept. 18 at 6:15 p.m.
Arizona is home to 28 bat species of bats, including two species that are nectar-feeders and pollinate plants like the saguaro and agaves.
Mexican free-tailed bats are found throughout Arizona in the summer and most migrate south in the winter. It has a wingspan of 11 to 13 inches, and it roosts in caves, tunnels, and crevices in tunnels, bridges and buildings.
Bats are most frequently observed between April and October, but many species are active year-round in the state. They are the only mammal that can truly fly and, contrary to popular myth, bats are not blind.
Don’t miss this opportunity to meet some of the Valley’s more secretive residents.
The events are family-friendly and free to the public. Educators are also encouraged to attend and receive continuing education credit.
The Maricopa County Flood Control District partners with the department to host the workshops.
The bat workshop series is supported by the Heritage Fund. Started in 1990, the Heritage Fund was established by Arizona voters to further conservation efforts in the state. The Arizona Game and Fish Department uses Heritage Fund dollars to manage more than 800 native wildlife species, including threatened and endangered species; to help urban residents coexist with wildlife; to educate children and the public about the environment and wildlife conservation; and, to create new opportunities for outdoor recreation like wildlife viewing.
The Heritage Fund provides critical funding to the department and benefits communities statewide.
Those attending a workshop should park at the commercial building located at 2400 E. Arizona Biltmore Circle. The building is on the northeast corner of 24th Street and Arizona Biltmore Circle, just south of Lincoln Dr. The workshop will be held on the southwest corner of that intersection at the Maricopa County Flood Control District Tunnel, next to the Squaw Peak Police Precinct. It will be marked with signage. The public is encouraged to arrive on time: The bats leave at sunset and won’t wait!
For more information about bats in Arizona, visit www.azgfd.gov.
Deadline for sheep workshops quickly approaching
June 22 deadline for random draw
The deadline for the draw to participate in the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s popular Bighorn Sheep Workshops is quickly approaching.
The deadline for the draw is June 22.
These workshops offer wildlife enthusiasts an opportunity to learn about the sure-footed desert bighorn sheep and view them in their native habitat. The two-day workshops will be held July 31-Aug. 1 and Aug. 7-8.
The workshops are open to any member of the public 14-years-old and up. Nobody under 14 will be registered. Space, however, is limited to 40 people per session. Preference will be given to those who have not attended the workshop in the last two years.
The first day of each workshop involves mandatory classroom education from 6-8 p.m. at the Kingman Game and Fish office, followed the next day by a field trip on the Colorado River from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The sheep-viewing boat trip will depart from Willow Beach.
Participants will be selected through a draw process. Applications received on or before June 22 will be drawn at random. Following the draw, all applicants are contacted by mail or e-mail.
“If you like wildlife, you don’t want to miss this opportunity,” said Zen Mocarski, information and education program manager for the Game and Fish Kingman office.
“You can’t begin to appreciate these animals until you’ve seen them in the wild. Of course that aspect depends on the cooperation of the bighorns, but we’ve never been shut out.”
The workshops include an optional tour of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery prior to the Colorado River field trip. The 45-minute tour will begin at 9 a.m. and will feature both sport fish and endangered native fish.
To reserve a spot, a $20 per person refundable deposit is required in the form of a check made out to the Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation to help reduce the problem of no-shows. The money is refunded when a person either attends the workshop or calls to cancel at least 48 hours in advance. Wildlife for Tomorrow is a non-profit group that works closely with the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Registration is by mail only. Send the check to: Sheep Workshop, Arizona Game and Fish Department, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road, Kingman, AZ 86409. Include the names of participants, address, phone, e-mail (if available) and specify which weekend, if either, is preferred. Also, please include a note if you are interested in the tour of the fish hatchery.
Cash donations, which are not mandatory to participate, will be accepted at the workshop to help offset increasing costs for boat rentals and fuel. Please do not send cash donations prior to the event.
Participants are encouraged to bring a camera, water, snacks, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. No tripods will be allowed on the boats, but small coolers are okay.
“It will be hot on the river,” Mocarski advised, “but that’s when bighorn come down for a drink. There is limited shade on the boats, but the temperatures will be in the triple digits.”
Anyone with questions about the workshop may contact Mocarski at (928) 692-7700, ext. 2301, or e-mail zmocarski@azgfd.gov.
Know the legalities of picking up wildlife parts
A common question that needs to be addressed is the issue of whether individuals may pick up and keep the head, antlers, or any part of wildlife they find dead in the field. What may appear to be an easy question actually requires a complicated answer.
State law requires an individual to have evidence of legality when possessing or transporting wildlife carcasses or their parts. A hunting license and/or big game tag meets this requirement for wildlife lawfully taken during hunting season. However, if an individual in the field finds dead wildlife, or any part of an animal he or she did not legally take during the hunt, then that individual may not automatically possess and /or transport any of it. An exception is that there are no restrictions on the possession of naturally shed or cast antlers.
If an individual wishes to keep wildlife parts found in the field (other than shed antlers), he/she must contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department so an officer can determine the cause of death of the animal. If it is determined the animal died from a natural cause, such as predation, disease, fights, falls, drowning, lightning, etc., the wildlife part may be possessed by the individual. If the officer determines the animal died from an unnatural cause, such as wounding loss, illegal activity or vehicle collision, no part of the wildlife may be possessed or transported.
If the cause of death cannot be determined and the wildlife part is fresh, meaning bone or tissue moisture is present and the part is not oxidized, possession will not be allowed. This also applies to parts, such as skulls, where the age cannot be determined because the finder has boiled and/or cleaned them. If the cause of death cannot be determined and the part is old (with no moisture and oxidized), possession will be allowed.
Clear? Just remember, the key is to contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department prior to picking up the part. There is no way these parts may be lawfully possessed until the department has determined the cause of death.
Reference Arizona Revised Statute, Title17-371 and Arizona Game and Fish Commission Rule R12-4-305.