• Give a unique outdoor gift to family and friends
• Help protect Arizona’s bald eagles: Respect closure areas
• Commission to consider elk and antelope hunt orders on Dec. 5
• Mechanic finds invasive mussel shells in Roosevelt Lake boat
• Arizona’s Mearns’ quail season in full swing
• Reserve your spot for the Commission Awards Banquet
• Combination hunt and fish license offers best value of the season
• Joint law enforcement checkpoint at Redington Pass screens 163 vehicles
• Reminder to OHV riders: Decal renewal is your responsibility
• Deer poachers sought by Game and Fish
• Provide your input on Arizona’s State Wildlife Action Plan

Give a unique outdoor gift to family and friends

This holiday season treat your family and friends to those special items they might not purchase for themselves.

Does mom or dad love to fish Arizona’s many lakes and streams? Purchase a lifetime or super conservation license.

Does grandma love to read? Give her a gift that lasts all year with a subscription to Arizona Wildlife Views magazine.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department offers many other unique and must-have gifts for the outdoor adventurers and wildlife lovers in your life.

“This holiday season give a gift that your loved ones are sure to remember. Half the fun is knowing you’ve treated your recipients to something truly special,” says Assistant Director Ty Gray. “We’ve come up with a list of gift ideas we’re sure will wow young and old alike.”

The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s holiday gift picks include:

• Arizona Lifetime Fishing and Hunting Licenses – As a lifetime license recipient, you are entitled to fish and hunt in Arizona for your lifetime, even if you move out of state. No longer will you worry about last-minute license purchases, expiration deadlines, license fee increases or residency requirements. Privileges are retained for life. License holders are responsible for purchasing either resident or nonresident big game tags, permits or stamps as required by law. License fees vary. For more information, visit www.azgfd.gov/eservices/licenses.shtml and click on the lifetime license link.
  
  
• Super Conservation Licenses for 2010 – These super package deals combine multiple licenses, stamps and tags to create outstanding values for avid anglers and hunters. For example, the Super Conservation Combination Hunt and Fish license includes a General Fish license, Urban Fish license, trout stamp, General Hunt license, Unit 12A (North Kaibab) Habitat stamp, state waterfowl stamp, state migratory bird stamp, nonpermit-tags for archery deer, archery turkey, bear and mountain lion. The Super Conservation Combination Hunt and Fish license is available to residents only, and may be purchased for $163 at any department office. For a listing of all licenses, visit www.azgfd.gov/eservices/licenses.shtml.
  
  
• “Arizona Wildlife Viewing Guide” – Arizona provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in the nation, with more than 900 animal species and 50 million public acres of natural land to explore. This guide takes you on a magnificent journey through 128 unique sites and the wildlife found at them, accompanied by beautiful photographs of the sites and animals. Readers will enjoy tips for wildlife watching, a tiered rating system that highlights “can’t miss” locations, site features and driving directions. The book can be purchased for $14.95 at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s seven offices statewide and through the department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/publications. 
  
  
• Arizona Wildlife Views magazine – Published bimonthly by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the magazine offers a variety of articles on hunting, fishing, boating, wildlife viewing and conservation in our state, as well as “Focus Wild” children’s articles. Subscriptions are $8.50 per year. Order at www.azgfd.gov/magazine.
  
  
• 2010 Arizona Wildlife calendar – With spectacular photos of Arizona’s wildlife, the calendar will provide daily enjoyment, as well as note key wildlife events and approved hunting and fishing season dates. Purchase calendars for $3 at any department office or at www.azgfd.gov/magazine.
  
  
• Sponsor-a-Turtle Program – Support Arizona’s turtle conservation by sponsoring a turtle in the name of a friend or loved one. There are several suggested contribution levels that provide support for varying types of research. All sponsors will receive a Turtles Project sponsor kit, which includes a personalized sponsorship certificate and a photo of a turtle in the chosen sponsorship level. Contributors of $100 or more will receive an annual Turtles Project newsletter, and contributors of $200 or more will receive a detailed account of a specific tortoise in the department’s desert tortoise radio-telemetry project for that year. Visit www.azgfd.gov/turtles for more information.

For more information on purchasing these gifts that are sure to please, visit the department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov.

Help protect Arizona’s bald eagles: Respect closure areas

It’s time again for Arizona’s bald eagles to begin their breeding activities, and outdoor recreationists are asked to help protect important breeding areas by honoring the closure of 20 areas across the state. 

Various land and wildlife management agencies close the breeding areas for part of the year, beginning in December, to protect the state’s 50 breeding pairs of bald eagles. Some of the closure areas are located near popular recreation sites.

“Even though the bald eagle is federally protected under the Endangered Species Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, they still require the public’s help to reproduce successfully and flourish in the state,” says Kenneth Jacobson, head of the Arizona Game and Fish Department Bald Eagle Management Program. “Human activity near active bald eagle nests can cause a breeding pair to leave its eggs uncovered, leading to a failed breeding attempt. It can take only 30 minutes for a breeding attempt to fail.”

The bald eagle was federally listed as an endangered species in 1978. Nationally, the birds recovered enough to be removed from the list in August 2007, but they remain listed as an endangered species in Arizona.

In December, Arizona bald eagles begin rebuilding nests in preparation for laying eggs. During this time, land and wildlife management agencies enact the seasonal breeding area closures. Bald eagles nest, forage and roost at the rivers and lakes that have become some of Arizona’s most popular recreation spots, and this time of year can be challenging for the birds.

However, Jacobson says, “With the public’s help and cooperation, we can all take responsibility for ensuring that Arizona bald eagles breed successfully.”

AIRSPACE ADVISORY

Statewide

• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has established a 2,000-foot above ground level (AGL) advisory along the Salt and Verde river drainages. When traveling in these drainages or near riparian habitat statewide, aircraft should maintain a minimum of 2,000-foot AGL to ensure compliance with state and federal law.

SEASONAL CLOSURES

Alamo Lake

• A portion of upper Alamo Lake may be closed to boats from Jan. 1 to June 30. Contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Region IV, Yuma, (928) 342-0091.

Lake Pleasant

• No vehicle, watercraft or foot entry is allowed into the Lower Agua Fria Arm from Dec. 15 to June 15. Contact Maricopa County Parks and Recreation, (928) 501-1710.

Verde River

• Verde River below Sycamore Canyon Wilderness is closed to foot and vehicle entry from Dec. 1 to June 15. Floating through is allowed. Contact Coconino National Forest, Sedona Ranger District, (928) 282-4119.
  
  
• Verde River near Chasm Creek is closed to foot and vehicle entry from Dec. 1 to June 15. Floating through is allowed. Contact Prescott National Forest, Verde Ranger District, (928) 567-4121.
  
  
• Verde River upstream of the East Verde confluence is closed to vehicle and foot entry from Dec. 1 to June 30. Floating through is allowed, but no stopping in the river or landing is permitted. Contact Tonto National Forest, Cave Creek Ranger District, (480) 595-3300.
  
  
• Verde River near Mule Shoe Bend, allows watercraft to float through, but no stopping in the river or landing is allowed from Dec. 1 to June 30. Contact Tonto National Forest, Cave Creek Ranger District, (480) 595-3300.
  
  
• Verde River below Horseshoe Dam may be closed to vehicle or foot entry on the southwest side of the river from Dec. 1 to June 30. Floating through is allowed, but no stopping in the river or landing on the southwest side of the river is allowed. Contact Tonto National Forest, Cave Creek Ranger District, (480) 595-3300.
  
  
• Verde River below Bartlett Dam is closed to foot or vehicle entry from Dec. 1 to June 30. Floating through is allowed. Contact Tonto National Forest, Cave Creek Ranger District, (480) 595-3300.
  
  
• Verde River at the Needle Rock Recreation area is closed to foot and vehicle entry on the east side of the river from Dec. 1 to June 30. Floating through is allowed, but no stopping in the river or landing on the east side of the river is allowed. Contact Tonto National Forest, Cave Creek Ranger District, (480) 595-3300.

Tonto Creek

• Tonto Creek from Gisela to 76 Ranch is closed to vehicle, foot entry, and floating through from Dec. 1 to June 30. Contact Tonto National Forest, Tonto Basin Ranger District, (928) 467-3200.
  
  
• Tonto Creek inlet to Roosevelt Lake is closed to vehicle and foot entry within 1,000 feet of the nest on land, and to watercraft within 300 feet on water, from Dec. 1 to June 30. Contact Tonto National Forest, Tonto Basin Ranger District, (928) 467-3200.

Salt River

• Salt River from Horseshoe Bend to Redmond Flat allows watercraft to float through, but no stopping in the river or landing is allowed from Dec. 1 to June 30. Contact Tonto National Forest, Globe Ranger District, (928) 402-6200.
  
  
• Salt River near Meddler Point is closed to vehicle and foot entry within 1,000 feet of the nest on land, and to watercraft within 300 feet on water, from Dec. 1 to June 30. Contact Tonto National Forest, Tonto Basin Ranger District, (928) 467-3200.
  
  
• Salt River below Stewart Mountain Dam is closed to vehicle or foot entry on the south side of the river from Dec. 1 to June 30. Floating through is allowed. Contact the Tonto National Forest, Mesa Ranger District, (480) 610-3300.

Becker Lake

• A portion of the lake may be closed to watercraft and a portion of the shoreline may be closed to foot entry from Feb. 1 through June 30. Contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Region I, Pinetop, (928) 367-4281.

Luna Lake

• Luna Lake is closed to vehicle and foot traffic on the north side from Jan. 1 to June 30. Contact Apache National Forest, Alpine Ranger District, (928) 339-4384.

Lynx Lake

• Portions of the lake may be closed to vehicle or foot traffic and a portion of the shoreline may be closed to watercraft from Dec. 1 to June 30. Contact the Prescott National Forest, Bradshaw Ranger District, (928) 443-8000.

Lower Lake Mary

• There is no vehicle or foot traffic allowed on a portion of the north side of the lake from Jan. 1 to Aug. 30. Contact the Coconino National Forest, Mormon Lake Ranger District, (928) 774-1147.

Greer Lakes

• A portion of the lake may be closed to watercraft and a portion of the shoreline may be closed to foot entry from March 1 through July 31. Contact the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, Springerville Ranger District, (928) 333-4372.

Woods Canyon Lake

• A portion of the lake may be closed to watercraft and a portion of the shoreline may be closed to foot entry from April 1 through August 31. Contact the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, Black Mesa Ranger District, (928) 535-7300.

TIPS FOR VISITING EAGLE AREAS

If you are visiting bald eagle country, an advance call to the local land management agency (USDA Forest Service district, etc.) or the Arizona Game and Fish Department may help you plan your trip to avoid disturbing bald eagles. By following these simple guidelines, we can all help ensure that our living wildlife legacy will last for generations to come:

• Enjoy bald eagles from outside the closures, especially during critical nesting times (December to June). These areas are posted with signs and/or buoys, and most have daily nestwatch monitors. Anyone approached by a nestwatcher and asked to cease an activity or leave a closed area should comply. A few good places to see bald eagles without disturbing them (during December and January) are at Lake Mary and Mormon Lake near Flagstaff or on the Verde River Canyon Train in Clarkdale.
  
  
• Bald eagles protecting an active nest will let you know if you are too close. If a bald eagle is vocalizing and circling the area frantically, you are too close and need to leave the area quickly. Bald eagles incubating eggs or brooding small young should never be off the nest for more than 15 minutes.
  
  
• Pilots should maintain the FAA-recommended 2,000-foot AGL advisory when flying over bald eagle habitat. These areas are designated on the Phoenix Sectional Aeronautical Map. Special brochures for pilots regarding this advisory can be obtained by calling the Arizona Department of Transportation or the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s nongame branch, (623) 236-7506.
  
  
• Help from anglers is especially needed. Monofilament and tackle has killed two nestlings and has been found in two-thirds of all bald eagle nests in the state. Every year we remove this potentially lethal material from nests and/or entangled nestlings. Ospreys, shorebirds, waterfowl and songbirds also succumb to this litter. Do not discard any type of monofilament along rivers and lakes, but recycle it at fishing stores. Keep your monofilament fresh; do not use old brittle line. Make sure to use the correct test line for the fish you are trying to catch. Also, do not cut the line when an undesirable fish is caught and return it to the water with the hook and line attached.

You can help bald eagle research and recovery efforts by reporting any harassment or shooting of bald eagles. Call the Arizona Game and Fish Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-800-352-0700 or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Law Enforcement at (480) 967-7900.

Commission to consider elk and antelope hunt orders on Dec. 5
Meeting is open to the public and can be viewed live on the Web

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission will consider and may vote to approve Commission Orders 3 (pronghorn antelope), 4 (elk), and 26 (population management) for the 2010 fall hunting season during the Saturday portion of its regularly scheduled meeting on Dec. 4-5. The commission orders establish seasons and season dates, bag and possession limits, permit numbers or authorized limits, and open areas.

The hunt recommendation package includes a proposed allocation of big game permits to Hopi hunters in Game Management Units 4A, 5A and 5B as part of a Cooperative Agreement between Game and Fish and the Hopi Tribe that allows hunter access by the general populace onto about 160,000 acres of sovereign Hopi Trust Lands within those units for the 2010 elk and antelope hunts. The hunt recommendation package can be viewed by clicking on the link at www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines. Background on Hopi Trust Lands and the Cooperative Agreement can be found by clicking here.

For the full commission meeting agenda for Friday and Saturday, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission, click on “commission agenda,” and scroll down to the link for the Dec. 4-5 meeting.

The public can view the meeting any of three ways: (1) attending the meeting in person in Phoenix; (2) viewing it via video stream at five of the six Game and Fish regional offices (Flagstaff is unavailable at this time due to office construction); or, (3) viewing it over the Web at www.azgfd.gov/commissioncam.

Those wishing to submit “blue slips” to present oral comment during the meeting must do so either in person at the Phoenix meeting or at one of the five regional Game and Fish offices that will be showing the video stream (Flagstaff is unavailable at this time due to office construction). For office addresses, visit www.azgfd.gov/offices.

Mechanic finds invasive mussel shells in Roosevelt Lake boat
Authorities find no evidence these invaders are actually in the lake

Zebra mussel shells were found in the filter of an air conditioning unit of a 35-foot cabin cruiser boat that was purchased new and moored at Roosevelt Lake since 2005. However, state authorities found no live mussels or any other compelling evidence that invasive mussels have made their way into this popular recreation and fishing lake in central Arizona.

“Quite simply, we just don’t yet know the origin of the very few invasive mussel shells found in this boat,” said Tom McMahon, invasive species coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

The cabin cruiser was undergoing routine maintenance when an astute marine mechanic discovered the shells in the water filter of an air conditioning unit. The air conditioner utilizes lake water.

McMahon said physical inspections of the boat’s hull, the surrounding docks, and throughout the marina have shown no evidence of any invasive mussels. Biologists have also examined water samples collected from the Roosevelt Lake marina for the presence of veligers, the name for the microscopic mussel larvae. No veligers have been found in these samples or any previous samples collected from Roosevelt in 2009. Divers from the marina will also be checking underwater structures and habitat as well.

McMahon said what makes this discovery even more puzzling is that the cabin cruiser in question was apparently shipped to Roosevelt straight from the manufacturer in Maryland five years ago. However, the boat could have been exposed to other waters during field testing or sales activities prior to shipping to Arizona.

“We are very confident that these shells did not originate in Arizona, but were most likely transported to Roosevelt Lake within the interior of the boat in 2005 and probably not viable. The Arizona Game and Fish Department, along with the Salt River Project, will continue to survey Roosevelt and other waters in the state for quagga and zebra mussels”, says McMahon.

Zebra and quagga mussels are freshwater, bivalve mollusks that typically have a dark and white (zebra-like) pattern on their shells. They are alien to North America, but have invaded many waters in the east. Although quagga mussels have been found in the lower Colorado River and in lakes Mead, Mohave, Havasu and Pleasant, no zebra mussels have been discovered in Arizona.

Despite some minor morphological and ecological differences, both invasive mussel species are very similar and pose a significant threat to the environment and our water infrastructure systems. They are both generally quite small, only about ¾ of an inch or less in length. These mussels can clog boat intakes and the grates and pipes for water delivery systems. It is estimated that invasive mussels in North America have cost industries and businesses billions of dollars.

On a positive note, McMahon said it was good that a marine mechanic at Roosevelt was able to alert the Game and Fish Department to the presence of these shells. “Our first and best line of defense for invasive species is the public, especially the boating public.”

Furthermore, it is illegal to transport or move live, viable invasive mussels in Arizona. A new law, the Aquatic Invasive Species Interdiction Act of 2009, prohibits the transport, release, placement or movement of these invasive mussels into waters of the state. Violators could be fined up to $500 per occurrence.

This all reinforces why it is necessary to always clean, drain and dry your boat after every outing on any lake. “Please do your part. Wash and dry your watercraft so you; Don’t Move a Mussel”, says McMahon.

Arizona’s Mearns’ quail season in full swing

Now that the Mearns’ quail season has opened (Nov. 27), upland hunters can harvest any of the three species of quail in Arizona.

Arizona Game and Fish Department officials report average to below-average Mearns’ quail populations for the 2009-10 season. Although, there should be plenty of adult birds held over from last season, the summer rains needed for recruitment of new birds was well below average.

These conditions will require hunters and dogs to cover a little more country to bring these fantastic birds to hand. The good news is that, although the season is long, the country is mesmerizing, and there is a chance to bag all three species of quail – Mearns’, Gambel’s and scaled.

The season for all three quail ends Feb. 7, 2010.

To learn more about hunting in Arizona, visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Web site, at www.azgfd.gov/hunting.

Reserve your spot for the Commission Awards Banquet

Don’t forget to make your reservation for the annual Arizona Game and Fish Commission Awards Banquet on Saturday, Jan. 16, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at 2532 W. Peoria Ave. in Phoenix.

The banquet recognizes individuals and organizations that have contributed to Arizona's wildlife resources and the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The event begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and presentation of the commission awards.

Individual tickets are $55 (tickets for award winners, spouses and immediate family are complimentary.) Tables of 10 are $500 - a discount of $50.

Organizations can purchase “award table sponsorships” for $550. These sponsorships include a table in the organization's name, logo advertisement in the event program, recognition in the introductory PowerPoint presentation and event press release, and five banquet tickets for the organization. Other sponsorship opportunities are also available.

For more information or to obtain a reservation or sponsorship form, visit www.azgfd.gov/inside_azgfd/commission_awards.shtml or contact Marty Fabritz at (623) 236-7281 or mfabritz@azgfd.gov.

2009 Commission Award recipients who will be formally recognized are:

• Award of Excellence – Phoenix Herpetological Society and Arizona Wildlife Federation
• Youth Environmentalist of the Year – Shelby Miller
• Outdoor Writer of the Year – Stephanie Rainey
• Media of the Year – Outdoor Wires
• Conservation Organization of the Year – Liberty Wildlife
• Conservationist of the Year – Jim Unmacht
• Natural Resource Professional of the Year – Heidi Blasius
• Volunteer of the Year – Steve Clark
• Educator of the Year – Dave Brown
• Mentor of the Year – Scott Bonar
• Advocate of the Year – Sandy Bahr
• License Dealer of the Year – Sprague’s Sports
• Wildlife Habitat Stewardship Award – Jim O’Haco

Combination hunt and fish license offers best value of the season
Hunting and fishing recreation offer families an outdoor adventure

The frenetic activity of the holiday season probably has most of us ready for a break. And what better way to get away and recharge than a fun, relaxing trip to the great outdoors?

A hunting and/or fishing license is your passage to escape to the open spaces of the desert uplands or to a local fishing hole to spend some quality time with family and friends. The memories from an exciting outdoor adventure will far outlast any shopping trip.

Arizona is blessed with a wide variety of wildlife, incredible landscapes, and vast amounts of public lands. Hunting and angling are healthy activities that allow you to experience all that our state has to offer.

A general hunting license, fishing license, or combination hunt and fish license is all you need to start enjoying your wildlife-related outdoor adventure. The combination hunt/fish license also includes the trout stamp and offers savings over the cost of the licenses and stamps purchased separately.

Below are just some of the great hunting and fishing activities in season now in Arizona.

Hunting – Hunting opportunities in December are extensive, especially in the small game arena. There are three species of quail (Gambel’s, Mearns’ and scaled), mourning dove, cottontail rabbits, two types of jackrabbits (black-tailed and antelope), two types of tassel-eared squirrels (Abert’s and Kaibab) along with red and grey squirrels, as well as many varieties of ducks and geese. Many of these game animals can be found in the same areas offering a mixed bag and exciting hunting adventure, not to mention the great meal they provide. (Note, dove and waterfowl require special stamps.)

Fishing – Fishing this time of year brings fresh stocked rainbow trout to many of Arizona’s waters, including those in the urban lakes program. These hearty, feisty-fighters provide great angling fun and good eating when you are tired of turkey leftovers. In addition to trout, anglers can find bass, catfish, sunfish, and crappie. For a great hike and scenic trip, try Wet Beaver Creek, West Clear Creek, or maybe even Oak Creek. If you want to stay close to the Phoenix metro area, try the Lower Salt River, Tempe Town Lake, or one of the many urban program waters. Other good bets are Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake in central Arizona, Dead Horse Ranch State Park near Cottonwood, the Verde River from Cottonwood to Camp Verde, Goldwater Lake outside of Prescott, and the Colorado River along Casino Row in northwestern Arizona. (Remember, an urban fishing license is required for the urban program waters.)

Licenses are available at all seven Arizona Game and Fish Department offices and more than 300 license dealer across the state. Keep in mind that 2009 class A fishing licenses and class U urban fishing licenses are half-price right now and good through the end of 2009.

Resident license fees: 

• Child ages 10-13 - hunting $15, combination hunt and fish $20.
• Youth ages 14-20 – combination hunt and fish $26.50. 
• Adult ages 21 and up - hunting $32.25, combination hunt and fish $54. 
• Family of four combination hunt and fish license $137.20 (a savings of $24).*
  
  *Note – Hunt and fish combo license includes trout stamp.

For more information on licenses, visit www.azgfd.gov/eservices/licenses.shtml.

To read the full version of this article, click here.

Joint law enforcement checkpoint at Redington Pass screens 163 vehicles

Arizona Game and Fish Department officers participated in a joint law enforcement checkpoint on Nov. 29 in the Rincon Mountains that screened 163 vehicles, issuing one citation for failure to tag a harvested deer and warning 11 off-highway vehicle (OHV) operators for not displaying required OHV stickers.

The 11 warnings were issued to OHV operators with vehicles on trailers. They were among 23 OHVs screened at the day-long checkpoint on Redington Pass Road also manned by the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and Pima County Sheriff’s Office. More than 50 hunters were screened, eight of whom had taken deer.

“If the OHV operators that we warned had been driving their vehicles on the road or elsewhere, they would have been cited,” said Raul Vega, acting supervisor for the Game and Fish Department’s Region V (southeastern Arizona). “We have a zero-tolerance policy for OHVs that are not properly tagged and licensed.”

The statewide compliance rate for the Arizona OHV Decal program, which took effect Jan. 1, 2009, has only been 21 percent. All OHVs weighing 1,800 pounds or less and designed by the manufacturer primarily for travel over unimproved terrain are required by state law to display an OHV sticker and bear a license plate. Flyers about the program were distributed at the checkpoint. The following article contains additional information about the OHV Decal program.

The checkpoint was also staged because hunting seasons were ongoing in Region V for white-tailed deer, elk, dove, sandhill crane and quail.

The public is encouraged to visit www.azgfd.gov or www.servicearizona.com for more information about required hunting licenses and tags, as well as for those required for OHVs.

Reminder to OHV riders: Decal renewal is your responsibility

The “user play/user pay” program known as the OHV Decal program went into effect Jan. 1, 2009. The program requires the annual purchase of an OHV Decal for any off-highway vehicle that is designed by the manufacturer primarily for travel over unimproved terrain and weighs 1,800 pounds or less.

Remember, the OHV Decal you purchased is valid for one year from the date of purchase. No renewal notice will be sent to you about the expiration of your decal, so it is your responsibility to make sure your vehicle is up-to-date. For example, if you purchased your OHV Decal in January of 2009, you have until Jan. 31, 2010 to purchase the renewal decal.

The OHV Decal program was started to help better manage the explosive growth of OHV use in Arizona. Revenue collected through this program is already being used toward education programs, public information products and OHV law enforcement efforts, including hiring seven new OHV law enforcement officers.  These new officers will specialize in OHV enforcement, promoting safe and responsible use. Future revenue will be used to bolster grants which fund trail restoration and clean-up projects, with the goal of sustainable OHV management and motorized access.

Law enforcement officers across the state, including those in the national forests and on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, are enforcing the requirement for the OHV Decal. Don’t let a citation be your reminder to get or renew your decal. New OHV Decal enforcement efforts are being created, and targeted multi-officer efforts will be happening around the state with little or no notice.

OHV Decals are available at any MVD office, MVD third-party service provider, or online at www.servicearizona.com.

For more information about the OHV Decal program, go online to www.azgfd.gov/ohv.

Deer poachers sought by Game and Fish

Reward money is being offered for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the illegal killing of an adult female mule deer near Wellton, Ariz.

The Thanksgiving Day poaching is under investigation by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The deer was shot in the front left shoulder and left to waste in the desert. The subjects also left beer cans and trash behind.

This was a closed season poaching which occurred near a popular hunting area known as “Radium Hot Springs” located just east of Wellton. This incident occurred at night or in the early morning on or near Nov. 25 and 26.

“The doe was shot with a small caliber rifle and just left to waste,” according to Richard Myers, law enforcement specialist for Game and Fish. “Poachers are not hunters, and those who commit these acts not only steal from the resource, they steal from the residents of Arizona.”

Anyone with information which leads to an arrest in this case can get a cash reward of up to $1,000 by calling the Operation Game Thief hotline toll-free at (800) 352-0700. Caller identities may remain confidential upon request. You can also report online at www.azgfd.gov/thief.

Provide your input on Arizona’s State Wildlife Action Plan
Public meeting dates set for seven locations

The Arizona Game and Fish Department will hold a series of public meetings and accept public comment as part of an effort to update and revise Arizona’s State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP). 

This document, previously known as the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, was accepted by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s National Acceptance Advisory Team in April 2006. The approved plan requires the department to conduct a public review of the plan after the fourth year.

Arizona’s SWAP is unlike existing recovery plans and other regulatory documents in that it builds on and complements existing plans and wildlife conservation projects that are already underway. The plan outlines strategies and conservation actions aimed at promoting partnerships and coordinating efforts among all who hold a stake in conserving Arizona’s wildlife. As such, the plan addresses the full array of wildlife and habitats but focuses on identifying and managing the “wildlife and biotic communities of greatest conservation need”.

The review will focus on three main areas of the plan:

• The “Species of Greatest Conservation Need,” including the criteria used to determine their status and their spatial distributions.
• The spatial distribution of stressors to wildlife, including a vulnerability assessment for climate change.
• Delineation of landscapes of conservation concern.

The public meetings are scheduled to run from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the following dates:

• Tuesday, Dec. 15, Kingman, Arizona Game and Fish Department Kingman regional office, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road.
  
  
• Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010, Tucson, Arizona Game and Fish Department Tucson regional office, 555 N. Greasewood Road.
  
  
• Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010, Yuma, Arizona Game and Fish Department Yuma regional office, 9140 E. 28th St.
  
  
• Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010, Mesa, Arizona Game and Fish Department Mesa regional office, 7200 E. University Drive.
  
  
• Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010, Pinetop, Arizona Game and Fish Department Pinetop regional office, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.
  
  
• Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010, Flagstaff, Radisson Woodlands Hotel,1175 West Route 66.
  
  
• Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010, Phoenix, Arizona Game and Fish Department Headquarters, 5000 W. Carefree Highway.

The public meetings will include a formal presentation followed by the opportunity to participate in working groups that will discuss the plan’s main areas listed above.

In addition, the department will post the existing document and proposed changes at www.azgfd.gov/w_c/cwcs.shtml. The Web page will have a mechanism for people to submit comments to the department.

For over a decade, a coalition of more than 3,000 conservation organizations known as “Teaming With Wildlife” has labored to keep species from becoming endangered by increasing state and federal funding for wildlife conservation. This effort culminated in 2001 when federal legislation established a new State Wildlife Grant (SWG) program. SWG funds are used to support the needs of wildlife, their habitats, and related recreational and educational activities.

In order to continue receiving SWG funds, each of the 56 U.S. states and territories was required, by Congress, to submit a SWAP for approval to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Guidelines for developing the state plans and the eight required elements in each plan were established by state fish and wildlife agencies working with the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the Teaming With Wildlife Committee.

Arizona’s SWAP is the culmination of a two-year effort during which the department solicited input from numerous experts, resource professionals, federal and state agencies, sportsmen groups, conservation organizations, Native American tribes, recreational groups, local governments and private citizens, and integrated those ideas and concerns into a single, comprehensive vision for managing Arizona’s fish, wildlife, and wildlife habitats.

The department is encouraging all of those previous participants, as well as any other member of the public, to contribute to this review effort.