• Application deadline for fall hunts is approaching
• Wildlife officers assist with human and wildlife impacts as Wallow Fire grows
• Bring your family to the free Outdoor Festival at Mormon Lake
• Lead continues to hamper condor recovery in Arizona and Utah
• Living with bears: New wildlife feeding ordinances target attractants
• Enter the Big Game Super Raffle for a chance at a hunt of a lifetime
• Volunteers trap unwanted turtles at Phoenix Zoo
• Free Fishing Day events scheduled for June 4 and 11
• Public input sought on Wildlife Viewing Action Plan
• Statewide public meetings to be held on revisions to Arizona’s hunting guidelines
• Register for the Burro Creek Volunteer Project June 11-12

Application deadline for fall hunts is approaching

The application deadline for the fall drawing cycle for deer, fall turkey, fall javelina, bighorn sheep, fall buffalo and pheasant is Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at 7 p.m. (MST).

Applications must be either hand-delivered to one of the seven Game and Fish offices or sent by U.S. mail to:

Drawing Section
Arizona Game and Fish Department
PO Box 74020
Phoenix, AZ 85087-1052

Applications must be received by Game and Fish by the deadline. Postmarks don’t count and there is no online application process available.

The 2011-12 Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations are available at more than 300 license dealers statewide, at Game and Fish offices, and online at www.azgfd.gov/draw. The regulation booklet contains information on how to fill out an application, how the draw works, license requirements, hunt numbers, season dates, number of permits available, and other pertinent information for the hunter.

Wildlife officers assist with human and wildlife impacts as Wallow Fire grows

As the Wallow Fire continues to grow and impact eastern Arizona’s landscape – displacing residents and threatening livelihoods – wildlife officers are on the ground helping evacuate residents, protect structures and mitigate the effects on wildlife. The fire has burned nearly 106,000 acres as of early June 3 and is at zero percent containment.

An interagency team is monitoring the effects of the fire on the endangered Mexican wolf population that lives in the area.

Two of four wolf packs that are known to reproduce regularly in Arizona – the Rim and Bluestem Packs -- are in the immediately impacted area of the fire. Young pups have been confirmed for the Bluestem Pack, and the Rim Pack is displaying behavior that is consistent with denning activity. However, the fire’s impact on these wolves thus far has been low.

As part of a larger containment strategy, a low-intensity fire was ignited along the fireline north of the Black River to remove ground-level fuels and help prevent a high-intensity fire in the vicinity of the Bluestem Pack. This burnout was intended to reduce the intensity of the main fire when it burns through the denning area and is an important step promoting the survival of the pups associated with this pack.

“Fire is a natural part of the ecosystem for all wildlife, including this wild population of Mexican wolves,” said Chris Bagnoli, Arizona Game and Fish’s Interagency Field Team (IFT) Leader for the wolf reintroduction. “The team has to balance the desire to help protect the affected wolves, while also preserving the bond between the pups and the adults and not putting fire crews at risk. Unfortunately, removing the pups now and returning them to the den later isn’t an option as the adults will not accept them later.”   

The fire also has the potential to affect the Hawks Nest Pack, which is denning several miles away from the where the front line of the fire is as of June 3. The team will continue to monitor this pack as the fire progresses in their direction.

The Eastern Arizona Type II Incident Management Team, commanded by John Philbin, is also assisting in the wolf monitoring effort. The team has allowed project personnel to use a helicopter for survey flights, which have located both the Rim and Bluestem Packs by their telemetry collars. The information obtained from the collared wolves confirms that they are still located adjacent to den sites, indicating that the pups are most likely still alive.

“As an element of a fire-adapted ecosystem, these are wild wolves and like most wildlife, they have an amazing ability to move in response to wildfire,” Bagnoli said. “Forest service personnel reported seeing one of the Bluestem pack members and at least one pup of the year during operations Wednesday so we know that the pups are still being tended by the adults.”

The Interagency Field Team will monitor the after-effects of the fire and may provide supplemental feeding if the wolf’s prey base diminishes significantly immediately after the fire. The fire is expected to initiate regrowth in the next couple of years that will help provide plenty of forage for elk, mule deer and white-tailed deer. 
 
Mexican wolf reintroduction is a joint effort by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arizona Game and Fish Department, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, White Mountain Apache Tribe, USDA Forest Service, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service - Wildlife Services, and other local stakeholders.

Bring your family to the free Outdoor Festival at Mormon Lake

Great weather has arrived, and it is time to get outdoors and explore Arizona’s natural resources. Kick start your summer adventures at the Outdoor Festival at Mormon Lake Lodge on Saturday, June 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The lodge is located on Main Street at Mormon Lake, about 30 miles southeast of Flagstaff off Lake Mary Road.

This free one-day event is co-hosted by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and Mormon Lake Lodge. The day will be filled with fun activities, including archery and fishing. There will also be information booths from a variety of exhibitors, including the opportunity to see live wildlife up close and personal from the Game and Fish Department’s Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center.

“This event is for anyone interested in the outdoors, whether you hunt, fish, enjoy wildlife watching, or are interested in conservation,” says Shelly Shepherd, information and education program manager for the Game and Fish Flagstaff region. “It gives adults and kids the opportunity to meet people who work in wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation and learn more about the amazing resources and recreational opportunities our state offers.”

The day is also significant because it is one of two statewide free fishing days. This allows anyone to go fishing without a license, although they need to follow all other state fishing regulations. Another free fishing day will be held on June 11, and Game and Fish will be hosting events statewide on both days (see article in this newsletter). 

The Outdoor Festival is a recognized Arizona Centennial Event. Beginning this year and culminating in 2012, Arizona will celebrate its centennial with a calendar of activities, projects and events that commemorate our state’s diverse nature and economic growth and development. On Feb. 14, 1912, after nearly 49 years as a U.S. territory and thousands of years as a sacred home to indigenous peoples, Arizona became the 48th state and the last of the contiguous states to enter the Union of the United States of America.

For more information about the festival, contact the Arizona Game and Fish office in Flagstaff at (928) 774-5045. For information about Mormon Lake Lodge, call (928) 354-2227.

Lead continues to hamper condor recovery in Arizona and Utah

Recent episodes of lethal lead poisoning in California condors have biologists asking for more help from the public to conserve endangered condors in northern Arizona and southern Utah.

Tests indicated that a total of six California condors had toxic levels of lead in their bodies in early May. Three of the birds died of lead poisoning. The other three were successfully treated and released back into the wild.

Necropsies were conducted by the San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research.

“X-rays showed 18 shotgun pellets in the digestive system of one bird and six in another. The third condor had remains of a spent bullet in its system, all suggesting these scavengers died after eating one or more animal carcasses that had been shot,” said Chris Parish, head of The Peregrine Fund’s condor recovery program in Arizona.

Biologists were alerted to the most recent poisoning incident by a Grand Canyon hiker who reported seeing a dead condor. Biologists recovered the bird, an 11-year-old male that had been nesting in the area.

“The loss of this older condor is especially harmful to the recovery of the species because of its potential to add to the population as a breeding bird,” Parish said. “While the Arizona program is experiencing some positive milestones, like the new chick that recently hatched in the wild, the availability of lead to condors continues to hamper the program.”

After receiving the hiker’s report, Peregrine Fund biologists immediately began capturing other condors known to have been in the same area to try to determine the cause of death. Of nearly 30 birds captured and tested, five had toxic blood lead levels that required treatment and two died, in addition to the bird found by the hiker. The other three birds were released back into the wild after chelation treatment, a process used to remove lead from the birds’ systems.

Chronic lead poisoning paralyzes a condor’s digestive system, which leads to starvation, weakness, and death. Acute lead poisoning, typical of high doses, can kill condors more quickly.

“If the hiker hadn’t found the dead bird and reported it, this exposure event might have slipped under our radar and the population could have suffered the loss of even more birds,” Parish said. “Annual exposures tend to follow the big-game hunting seasons, but this episode shows that it can happen anytime. Condors are scavengers and if carcasses or discarded remains are left in the field, they will consume them.”

Since 2005, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has been working with hunters in the condors’ core range of northern Arizona to voluntarily use non-lead ammunition. The effort has resulted in up to 90 percent of hunters taking efforts to reduce the amount of lead available to condors. The department has provided free non-lead ammunition to hunters drawn in affected game management units and also to Navajo animal control officers and the Coconino County Sheriff’s Department.

“Arizona Game and Fish has been encouraged by the support it has received from hunters to use non-lead ammunition in condor range, but we’re asking for anyone who uses a firearm to harvest or dispatch wildlife or domestic animals to use non-lead ammunition or remove the carcasses from the field in condor range,” said Kathy Sullivan, the Game and Fish condor program coordinator..

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources began a non-lead program for hunters last year to benefit condors that have expanded their foraging range to Zion National Park and surrounding areas.

When hunters learn that lead ammunition harms wildlife, they often are willing to use non-lead bullets or haul the remains out of the field.

“I am a hunter and until a few years ago I had no idea that lead-based ammunition was harmful,” Parish said. “Now, like many hunters who are aware of the problem, I use non-lead ammo and find that it offers fantastic performance.”

There are now 68 California condors flying free in the wild in Arizona. Another nine condors are in a holding pen awaiting release within the next few months.

For more information on the condory reintroduction program, visit www.azgfd.gov/condor.


Living with bears: New wildlife feeding ordinances target attractants

As spring weather warms high country forests and current drought conditions worsen, Arizona Game and Fish Department officials are again strongly urging homeowners, residents and visitors alike to take immediate steps to minimize encounters with black bears and other potentially dangerous wildlife that, in their search for food and water, may wander into local towns, communities and outlying subdivisions in the Mogollon Rim and White Mountains areas.

In 2009, the most recent year for which statistics are available, staff at the Pinetop Game and Fish regional office received more than 300 bear-related calls from the public. Wildlife managers captured 19 different bears, and they had to destroy 10 under the guidelines of the department’s nuisance bear policy.

“By far, the biggest attractant and root of human/bear conflicts is always the same – household garbage,” says Bruce Sitko, information/education program manager for the Pinetop region. “Bears are quick learners and will soon associate any backyard or campground as being a potential food source.”

“It’s very important to note that, while garbage stored outside is by far the largest attractant, studies show that storing garbage in a secure garage or shed until the morning of collection will virtually eliminate the chances of a bear visit,” says Sitko. “If a bear doesn’t find a food source, it will move on.”

New, local wildlife feeding ordinances enacted

In the interest of public safety and minimizing contact between humans and potentially dangerous wildlife species, last year department officials worked with officials at Navajo County and the Towns of Show Low and Pinetop-Lakeside to develop and enact ordinances designed to protect both people and wildlife. The ordinances make it unlawful for anyone to fail to secure food or other attractants likely to lure bears, coyotes or javelina into close proximity with people after being notified by any peace officer or county official that remedial action needs to be taken.

Gila County has a similar ordinance, and Arizona Revised Statutes 13-2927 also prohibits unlawful feeding of wildlife in Maricopa and Pima Counties.

“The department has worked diligently for years to educate White Mountain and Mogollon Rim country residents and visitors on the potential consequences resulting from careless placement or storage of trash, food and other items that tend to attract wildlife,” says Sitko.

“However, despite repeated contacts and advisories, some people, whether intentionally or unintentionally, continue to make various types of food sources available to dangerous wildlife, including bears.”

These food sources include pet food, uncleaned BBQs, bird feeders and even orchard fruit on the ground. The food odors, in turn, attract bears that have a very keen sense of smell – approximately seven times better than a bloodhound and 100 times better than a human.”

“Wildlife managers and government officials are looking at these new ordinances as another tool in a long-term approach to minimizing encounters between dangerous wildlife and people,” says Sitko. “Citations for noncompliance, at least initially, will be issued only in extreme cases. We want to give the public time to become familiar with the laws. It is also important to understand this is a work in progress, and there are no quick solutions.”

Following are four simple steps to minimize bear encounters:

• Store household trash in a secure location such as a garage, shed or bear-proof container.
• Put household trash out the morning of collection; never the night before.
• Clean your trash container regularly.
• If you hear of a bear in your area or see a yellow Game and Fish sign that says “Advisory – Bear Frequenting Area,” take all necessary precautions to prevent attracting it, including securing all trash, bird and squirrel feeders, and any other potential food attractant.

“Please, do your part to protect yourself and protect a bear,” Sitko says in summary. “Eliminate food attractants, especially household garbage, and take an extra step to encourage your neighbors to do the same.”

For more information or questions on reducing wildlife conflicts at your home or property, contact the Pinetop regional office at (928) 367-4281, pick up a copy of the “Living with Bears” brochure at the Pinetop office, or log onto the department website at www.azgfd.gov and click on the “Living with Urban Wildlife” link.

Funding to help residents and visitors learn to appreciate and coexist with Arizona’s unique wildlife is made available through the Game and Fish Heritage Fund, which comes from lottery ticket sales and is used for conservation purposes, including educating the public about wildlife, protecting endangered species, and creating more opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Enter the Big Game Super Raffle for a chance at a hunt of a lifetime

Want a chance at a hunt of a lifetime while helping wildlife conservation at the same time?

The Arizona Big Game Super Raffle is a collaborative effort among various nonprofit conservation groups to bring 10 special big game tags (issued by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission) to raffle for the purpose of raising funds for the benefit of wildlife. Every dollar raised by these tags goes toward management projects that benefit each tag’s particular species in Arizona, and also indirectly benefit other species.

Hunts available through the raffle include antelope, black bear, buffalo, Coues white-tailed deer, desert bighorn sheep, elk, turkey, javelina, mountain lion and mule deer. Winners will be able to hunt for 365 days almost anywhere in the state of Arizona during the 2011-2012 hunting season.

Tickets range from $5 to $25 and can be purchased by mail or online. To cover the administrative costs of the raffle there are two bonus items: an incredible Swarovski optic package valued at $9,700, ticket cost of only $10; and, a guided trophy elk hunt in New Mexico valued at $6,500, ticket cost of only $20.

For $150, you get one ticket for each of the 12 items up for raffle, that’s only $12.50 a ticket.

The deadline for mail orders is July 15. Online orders are available until July 17. The public drawing will be held July 21.

For more details, order form, and deadlines, visit www.arizonabiggamesuperraffle.com.

Volunteers trap unwanted turtles at Phoenix Zoo

Thanks to the help of over 100 volunteers, the annual Turtle Trapping event at the Phoenix Zoo was once again successful at reducing nonnative turtle populations to help native aquatic wildlife.

This year, 110 turtles (46 females and 64 males) were trapped, including three painted turtles and 107 pond sliders, by a team from the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Phoenix Zoo and Phoenix Herpetological Society.

“Since we started trapping non-native turtles at the zoo in 1999, the number of turtles we trap has decreased with each passing year. However, this year the numbers were up, and based on the turtles we trapped, we think it’s from more people releasing pet turtles since the 2010 trapping,” said Cristina Jones, Game and Fish’s turtles project coordinator. “The turtles’ shells and their approximate size give us clues that help us know whether they were pets at one time.”

It is estimated that each year, hundreds of pet turtles are released into this pond. Many pet owners purchase the turtles when they are small, not realizing how big these creatures can become.

All native turtle species and male nonnative turtle species found at the pond were returned to the water to continue to provide zoo visitors with the opportunity to see a variety of native and non-native turtles. Turtles were measured, weighed, sexed, species verified and marked for identification.

The event provided outreach volunteers on site to answer any questions about pet ownership, nonnative species and other options for people that can no longer care for their pet turtles.

The event coincided with World Turtle Day on May 23, and also provided a learning experience for the Game and Fish Department’s home school program. World Turtle Day aims to promote turtle conservation efforts.

For more information on turtles in Arizona, visit www.azgfd.gov/turtles.

Free Fishing Day events scheduled for June 4 and 11

Arizona’s annual free fishing days are celebrated on June 4 and June 11 this year as part of National Fishing and Boating Week.

On these Saturdays, no fishing licenses are required for persons fishing any public waters in Arizona.

“This is a great chance to grab some poles, gather up some friends and family members, and head out to your nearest urban lake or head up to the cooler country to fish a lake or stream,” said Rory Aikens, editor of the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Weekly Fishing Report.

Keep in mind that Arizona is in high fire season, and forest fires are currently affecting certain parts of the state. Please check on fire and weather conditions before heading out.

Remember that bag limits and other fishing regulations are in full effect and must be observed on Free Fishing Day. Kids under the age of 14 can fish for free all year long in Arizona, so this special fishing license exemption day means that the older kids and parents get a free pass for the day. Try fishing, you’ll like it!

The Arizona Game and Fish Department will sponsor a number of Free Fishing Day events to give people the opportunity to try out this fun, family-oriented pastime. Loaner fishing rods, bait and instruction are provided for free at most of these venues. Times and locations are:

• Saturday, June 4, Mormon Lake Lodge Pond (south of Flagstaff), 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. As part of the Outdoor Festival at Mormon Lake, the Arizona Game and Fish Department Flagstaff region, in cooperation with Mormon Lake Lodge, is offering a free fishing event among other outdoor activities for the whole family. For more information, contact the Game and Fish Flagstaff office at (928) 774-5045.
  
• Saturday, June 4, Dead Horse Ranch State Park (near Cottonwood), 8 a.m. to noon. Game and Fish staff, in cooperation with Arizona State Parks, will be on hand with loaner fishing gear, but you are encouraged to bring your own if you have it. The entrance fee into the park will be waived for the participants. Catfish will be stocked prior to the event. For more information, contact Dead Horse Ranch State Park at (928) 634-5283.
  
• Saturday, June 4, Silverbell Lake (Tucson), 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. Located at Christopher Columbus park on Silverbell Rd. between Ruthrauff and Grant. Catfish will have been stocked that week. Other fish found in the lake are largemouth bass and bluegills. For further information, please contact Wildlife Manager Diane Tilton, (520) 975-6149.
  
• Saturday, June 4, Rose Canyon Lake (Mt. Lemmon area near Tucson), 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There is no registration fee or signup for the clinic, which is held by Game and Fish in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service. On this day, the fee for Mount Lemmon and the campground will be waived. Parking is limited. The lake was last stocked with rainbow trout in the second week of May. For further information, please contact Wildlife Manager Martin Guerena, (520) 591-6307.
  
• Saturday, June 4, Yellow Pine Ranch (near Kingman). Note: Space for this event is limited, and the event is nearly full. Pre-registration is required through the Arizona Game and Fish Department Kingman office at 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road in Kingman; call first at (928) 692-7700. 
  
• Saturday, June 11, Parker Canyon Lake (near Elgin), 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The free fishing event will be part of the National Get Outdoors Day event held at Parker Canyon Lake, in cooperation with Game and Fish, the USDA Forest Service, and other agencies and conservation groups. The elevation of Parker Canyon Lake is 5,400 feet, so the weather will be several degrees cooler than Tucson. Camping and boat rentals are available for a fee at Parker Canyon Lake; call the store for more information at (520) 455-5847. For further information about the free fishing event, please contact Wildlife Manager Karen Klima at (520) 975-6490. 
  
• Saturday, June 11, Goldwater Lake (near Prescott), 8 a.m. to noon. The Arizona Game and Fish Department Kingman region and the City of Prescott are planning a day of free fishing for the whole family. Staff will be on hand to assist anglers. Bait will be provided and loaner rods will be available. For more information, please call the Arizona Game and Fish Department Kingman office at (928) 692-7700.
  
• Saturday, June 11, Garrett Tank (near Seligman), 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Throughout the day, there will be demonstrations on casting, baiting, cleaning, and cooking catfish. The weather can be variable, so dress in layers. Sunscreen is recommended. Loaner poles and bait will be available for use. For further information, please contact Wildlife Technician Jennifer Cordova at (928) 422-0155.
  
• Saturday, June 11, Roper Lake (near Safford), 7 a.m. to noon. This event, done in cooperation with Arizona State Parks, is open to all without any fees or prior registration for the fishing, and there will be rods/reels, bait, and other gear available for participants to use. Park entrance fees still apply. Participants will need to supply any food and drinks they might require. Weather can be warm this time of year, so be sure to bring sun screen and come on out and enjoy fishing at one of Arizona’s premier state parks. For more information, please contact Wildlife Manager Devin Skinner at (520) 591-7880.

For more information on fishing in Arizona, visit www.azgfd.gov/fish.

Public input sought on Wildlife Viewing Action Plan
Public meetings to be held throughout state in June

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking public review and input on an action plan for wildlife viewing recreation in Arizona.

The Wildlife Viewing Action Plan outlines objectives and strategies to help guide and implement a statewide watchable wildlife project. It identifies programs, products, and services the department is currently providing in wildlife viewing recreation, discusses opportunities and challenges for the future, and identifies new approaches that, if implemented, will help take advantage of opportunities and overcome challenges.

Game and Fish is seeking input from the public on the general topics and strategies that have been developed in the plan.

“This is a step to include users and stakeholders in evaluating the plan,” says Watchable Wildlife Coordinator Joe Yarchin. “We’re looking for input on any broad objectives or strategies we might have missed, including alternatives. We want feedback on whether this is hitting the mark or has some gaps that need to be addressed.”

The Arizona Game and Fish Department recognizes the need to manage for positive wildlife opportunities for all outdoor recreationists. There is strong public interest in watching wildlife. According to the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, 1.3 million wildlife viewing participants spend $838 million in Arizona annually.

Despite this comparatively large demographic, there appears to be a gap between the current conditions, as they relate to wildlife viewing recreation, and the desired future conditions. The action plan outlines objectives, goals and actions to narrow the gap.

The public meetings will be held from 6-8 p.m. on these dates and locations:

• Monday, June 20, Yuma, Arizona Game and Fish Department Yuma regional office, 9140 E. 28th St.
• Tuesday, June 21, Flagstaff, Arizona Game and Fish Department Flagstaff regional office, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road.
• Wednesday, June 22, Pinetop, Arizona Game and Fish Department Pinetop regional office, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.
• Thursday, June 23, Tucson, Arizona Game and Fish Department Tucson regional office, 555 N. Greasewood Road.
• Tuesday, June 28, Kingman, Arizona Game and Fish Department Kingman regional office, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road.
• Wednesday, June 29, Mesa, Arizona Game and Fish Department Mesa regional office, 7200 E. University Drive.
• Thursday, June 30, Phoenix, Arizona Game and Fish Department headquarters, 5000 W. Carefree Highway. Note: This meeting will also be webcast at www.azgfd.gov/webcast.

Each meeting will include an introduction, a presentation on the plan (including strategies and objectives), and the opportunity for discussion and questions and answers.

• Click here to view a copy of the Wildlife Viewing Action Plan.

Comments can be submitted at the meetings, or you can submit comments by e-mail to wwreview@azgfd.gov or by U.S. mail to: Wildlife Viewing Action Plan Comment, c/o Arizona Game and Fish Department, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086. The deadline to submit comment is July 6, 2011.

For more information, visit www.azgfd.gov/wwreview.

Statewide public meetings to be held on revisions to Arizona’s hunting guidelines
Access issues to wildlife also to be discussed

The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s game branch is hosting 11 public meetings across the state to discuss revisions being considered for the hunt guidelines. The document is now in the draft stage and is available for the public to review, take a survey, and provide their comments.

For example, some of the questions being considered are:

• When do you think quail seasons should open?
• What do you think is the best strategy to provide juniors-only turkey hunts?
• How do you feel about managing for low numbers of elk or mountain lion in certain areas?

“This is your opportunity to guide us in meeting our varied hunting public’s needs, as well as continuing our hunting heritage for future generations,” said Chief of Game Management Brian Wakeling. “We’ve been collecting comments since April and this is a first look at those items being considered.”

The hunt guidelines provide the biological and social parameters used to formulate the annual hunt recommendations and go through a public review process every two years.

The meetings consist of a presentation given by key staff biologists, who can answer questions, provide background, and address other details about the process. For those who are unable to attend or prefer to review the materials at their own pace, all of the information is available online at www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines.

Additionally, at these meetings, you will also have the opportunity to discuss wildlife-related recreational access issues. The public’s wildlife often inhabits private lands or habitats surrounded by private lands. Private landowners have legitimate concerns about their private property, yet access to wildlife can be an equally legitimate public concern. Your input on this delicate issue will help inform the Game and Fish Commission on future decisions.

All of the meetings run from 6-8 p.m. per the following schedule and locations:

• June 6, Flagstaff – Flagstaff Game and Fish regional office at 3500 S. Lake Mary Road.
• June 7, Page – Glen Canyon National Recreation Headquarters Office.
• June 9, Phoenix – Game and Fish headquarters office at 5000 W. Carefree Highway.
• June 13, Pinetop – Pinetop Game and Fish regional office at 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.
• June 14, Payson – Best Western Payson Inn at 801 N. Beeline Highway.
• June 15, Mesa – Mesa Game and Fish regional office at 7200 E. University Drive.
• June 16, Yuma – Yuma Game and Fish regional office at 9140 E. 28th St.
• June 20, Prescott – Yavapai County Board of Supervisors office at 1015 Fair St.
• June 21, Tucson – International Wildlife Museum at 4800 W. Gates Pass Road.
• June 22, Sierra Vista – Sierra Vista Police Department at 911 N. Coronado Drive.
• June 23, Kingman – Kingman Game and Fish regional office at 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road.

After all the comments and surveys are received, reviewed, and processed, the department will prepare a final draft of the hunt guidelines to present to the Game and Fish Commission at its Aug. 26-27 meeting in Phoenix.

Once finalized, these guidelines (with commission approval) are used for setting the season dates, structures, permit levels, and more for the 2012-2014 hunting regulations.

Visit www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines for a copy of the draft guidelines, to take the survey online, to provide your comments, and to learn more about the hunt guideline and recommendation processes.

Register for the Burro Creek Volunteer Project June 11-12

The Arizona Elk Society and U.S. Forest Service will be hosting a wildlife habitat volunteer project on the weekend of June 11-12.

Volunteers will be removing unnecessary, old barbed wire fencing, repairing fencing around riparian areas, and reconstructing fence and trick tanks in cooperation with 26 Bar Ranch and the U.S. Forest Service.

Base camp will be located at Rudd Knoll in Unit 1, south of Springerville on Highway 261, and all volunteers are asked to bring their own fence pliers, wire side cutters, small bolt cutters, and gloves, if available. Preparation for cool mornings and possible rain is suggested, in addition to hats, long-sleeved shirts and sun block. Bring old clothes as you will be working with barbed wire.

There will be space for vehicles, tents and RVs at base camp. Porta-Johns and wash stations will also be made available.

Meals will be provided throughout the volunteer weekend, as well as water and refreshments while working. Due to the remote location, it is suggested that volunteers arrive on Friday to camp. Check on fire conditions. To pre-register or to find more information on volunteer work projects, please e-mail Tom Schorr at tomschorr@arizonaelksociety.org.