• 2010 pronghorn antelope and elk regulations in stores now
• Public meetings on proposed aquatic invasive species regulations continue next week
• Don’t miss the season premiere of Arizona Wildlife Views TV
• Go catch a super-duper sized trout in the urban lakes
• Mark your calendar for the ISE show in February 
• OHV Decal renewal is your responsibility
• Wildlife action plan public meetings to be held next week in Yuma and Mesa
• Get Outside Arizona: AZGFD offers portal page for outdoor activities
• Video from wild burro seminar available for viewing online
• Ladies: Learn new outdoor skills at "Becoming an Outdoors Woman"

2010 pronghorn antelope and elk regulations in stores now

The printed regulation booklets for Arizona’s 2010 elk and pronghorn antelope hunting seasons are now in license dealer stores throughout the state. Hunters who are interested in a tag will need to submit an application through the lottery-draw process.

Applications must be submitted to the Arizona Game and Fish Department by U.S. mail to P.O. Box 74020, Phoenix, AZ 85087-1052 or hand-delivered to any department office by Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010 by 7 p.m. (MST) – postmarks do not count. No online application service is available.

There is still time to take advantage of the “correction period.”

If an application that is received by Jan. 21 has an error, the department will make three phone calls in a 24-hour period. If the applicant is reached by phone, the department will try to help fix the error to prevent it from being rejected.

For a list of some of the most common errors made when filling out your application, visit www.azgfd.gov and enter “ten tips when applying” in the search bar.

Hunters are reminded that a 2010 hunting license is required to apply. Department officials encourage hunters to get their license before applying for an elk or antelope hunt permit-tag if they wish to do any other hunting in early 2010. Licenses purchased through the draw process will not be mailed out until after the draw is completed.

For those hunters itching to get into the field before next fall, there are a variety of javelina permit-tags left over from the spring drawing available at any of the seven department offices or by mail. In addition, javelina archery-only nonpermit-tags for metro Game Management Units are also available at any department office or license dealer. For a list of available spring javelina hunts, visit www.azgfd.gov/draw under “View List of Leftover 2010 Spring Hunts for Turkey, Javelina and Bear (PDF, 42kb).”

To learn more about the big game draw lottery process, bonus points, and available leftover spring hunting permits, visit www.azgfd.gov/draw.

 

Public meetings on proposed aquatic invasive species regulations continue next week

The Arizona Game and Fish Department will host two more public meetings next week to discuss proposed regulations to fight the spread of quagga mussels and other aquatic invasive species in Arizona waters. The meetings are scheduled for:

• Tuesday, Jan. 19, 6-7:30 p.m. - Bullhead City, Mohave Community College, 3400 Hwy 95. 
• Thursday, Jan. 21, 6-7:30 p.m. - Mesa, Game and Fish Region 6 office, 7200 E. University Dr. 

The proposed regulations, known as director’s orders, were authorized by aquatic invasive species legislation passed last year by the Arizona Legislature and will give Game and Fish the authority to identify those species considered aquatic invasives, identify the waters that contain them, and establish mandatory conditions for moving boats from those waters.

The proposed measures can be viewed at www.azgfd.gov/mussels. A link to a webcast about aquatic invasives and the regulations can also be found on that page.

The meeting will include a presentation on aquatic invasives, the proposed regulations and why they're needed, steps boaters and anglers can take to prevent the spread of aquatic invasives, and how the public can provide input on the regulations. Comment can be sent by e-mail to quaggacomments@azgfd.gov through Jan. 25.

“It is critical for anyone who uses watercraft, or has a business reliant on watercraft, to understand the essential nature of this aquatic invasive species containment effort,” said Tom McMahon, invasive species program coordinator with Game and Fish. “The spread of quagga mussels has far-reaching impacts, both financial and ecological, that can touch virtually every resident of the state.”

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

 

Don’t miss the season premiere of Arizona Wildlife Views TV

Arizona Wildlife Views television will be back on PBS with a brand new season of shows! The show, which is produced by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, will begin its 13-week run on KAET-TV (Channel 8 Phoenix) beginning Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 7:30 p.m. The show features stories from across Arizona, highlighting the wildlife and wonders of our great state.

Some of the shows you can look forward to include: The reintroduction of endangered species, like the Black-tailed prairie dog and Chiricahua leopard frog; habitat recovery such as Fossil Creek and the San Pedro River; tips from the Wildlife Viewing Guide on the best places to watch wildlife; and other wonderful feature stories starring the wildlife of Arizona.

The Emmy-winning Arizona Wildlife Views also airs on KUAT-TV in Tucson and on most city cable access channels throughout the state.

For more information or to watch your favorite episode again, go online to www.azgfd.gov/tv.

 

Go catch a super-duper sized trout in the urban lakes

Start 2010 off right by catching a whopping 2- to 5 pound rainbow trout close to home at your favorite urban lake.

The Urban Program lakes were stocked with incentive-sized trout on Jan. 12.

Arizona Game and Fish Department officials said this special incentive trout stocking in the urban lakes included trout in the 13- to 18-inch size, with some even larger – like 3 to 6 pounds or more.

“This is a great way to start off the New Year, and it helps highlight that an urban fishing license is one of the best recreational buys out there – it’s a ticket to fun all year long,” said Eric Swanson, who heads up the urban fishing program.

Trout are routinely stocked in the urban program lakes from early November through the middle of March. Starting in March, channel catfish are stocked.

“These urban lakes also have sunfish and bass to catch. Plus, these lakes are all in city parks that also offer other recreational opportunities for the whole family,” Swanson said.

The Urban Fishing Program is self supporting, and the cost of the fishing license helps defray the cost of purchasing and stocking the fish. “It’s a user pay, user play concept that can net you a lot of fun throughout the year,” Swanson said.

For more information on the Urban Fishing Program, visit www.azgfd.gov/h_f/urban_fishing.shtml.

 

Mark your calendar for the ISE show in February

Be sure to mark your calendar for one of Arizona’s largest hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation shows - the International Sportsmen’s Exposition (ISE) on Feb. 26-28 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.

As in years past, the Arizona Game and Fish Department will have a presence with several exhibits and activities. Department experts will operate the kids fishing pond, teach basic archery skills, and conduct the annual assets sale that includes everything from huge antlers to supple soft rabbit skins.

The Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center will once again have exciting live wildlife on display, and there will also be displays of venomous reptiles of Arizona live and under glass for folks to safely see.

For more information, visit www.sportsexpos.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewlocation&locationnumber=6.

 

OHV Decal renewal is your responsibility

The “user pay/user benefit” 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 off-highway use and weighs 1,800 pounds or less.

No renewal notice will be sent to you about the expiration of your decal. Don’t let a citation be your reminder to purchase or renew your decal. 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 OHV Decal.

Revenue collected through this program is already being used toward education programs, public information products and OHV law enforcement efforts. Future revenue will be used to bolster grants which fund trail restoration and clean-up projects, with the ultimate goal of sustainable OHV management and continued access for motorized use.

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

For more information about OHVs in Arizona, go online to www.azgfd.gov/ohv.

 

Wildlife action plan public meetings to be held next week in Yuma and Mesa

You can still participate in the public review process for Arizona’s State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) by attending a public meeting next week either in Yuma or Mesa. The meetings are scheduled for these dates:

• Tuesday, Jan. 19, 3 p.m., Yuma, Arizona Game and Fish Department Yuma regional office, 9140 E. 28th St.
• Wednesday, Jan. 20, 3 p.m., Mesa, Arizona Game and Fish Department Mesa regional office, 7200 E. University Drive.

The meetings will begin at 3 p.m. with a series of presentations, each followed by an open discussion period for up to 30 minutes. The meetings will end at 7 p.m. or sooner if all agenda items and open discussions have been completed.

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); and delineation of landscapes of conservation concern.

The public can also provide input into aspects of the plan by accessing an online survey at www.azgfd.gov/cwcs. A schedule of additional public meetings in February (for Pinetop, Flagstaff and Phoenix) can also be found on that page.

Arizona’s SWAP, previously known as the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, builds on and complements existing plans and wildlife conservation projects and provides a vision for managing Arizona’s fish, wildlife, and wildlife habitats over the next 10 years. It is a means to receive federal funding for wildlife conservation in the form of state wildlife grants.

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. The public review process currently being conducted is a requirement of the plan.

The existing SWAP document, along with some new maps and documents, is posted at www.azgfd.gov/cwcs. A DVD of the complete set of SWAP maps (there are more than 340) can be requested through SWAPcomment@azgfd.gov.

 

Get Outside Arizona: AZGFD offers portal page for outdoor activities

Arizonans of all ages can kick off the New Year with a healthy lifestyle and get reconnected with nature and each other through the many outdoor-related programs offered by the Arizona Game and Fish Department at www.azgfd.gov/getoutside.

“Our new ‘Get Outside Arizona’ portal Web page includes dozens of programs that offer families many outlets to enjoy the outdoors and traditional American pastimes,” said Craig McMullen, chief of wildlife recreation. “What’s exciting is, after being introduced to the great Arizona outdoors, many people continue with these types of activities as part of a healthy way of life.”

The state’s wildlife agency has been providing Arizona with outlets to the outdoors and outdoor recreation for nearly 100 years. Who better to get you in touch with nature than the experts who work day in and day out managing, restoring, and conserving Arizona’s diverse wildlife.

“During a time when many families are looking to get back to the basics, a great place to start is by experiencing the state’s diverse landscapes and wildlife through wildlife viewing, hunting and fishing, shooting sports, wildlife education and more,” said McMullen. 

Many of the programs, like wildlife viewing or Focus Wild, are non-consumptive, self-paced and can be done in nearly any outdoor environment. Kids can learn about the habitats where wildlife live, how they adapt to the elements, and what is important to their survival.

Health isn’t the only thing. Through many of these programs families will be able to learn about wildlife conservation, develop an understanding and knowledge of the environment, and reconnect with each other away from the television and other electronic distractions.

If you are looking to get in touch with wildlife, nature and the environment, visit www.azgfd.gov/getoutside.

 

Video from wild burro seminar available for viewing online

The video recording of the Jan. 13, 2010 wild burro seminar and webcast is now available for on-demand viewing at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s video Web page at www.azgfd.gov/video (titled “wild burro seminar”).

The seminar addressed the life history and ecology, legal history, resource and management issues, proposed legislation, and how burros on public lands relate to native wildlife and habitats in Arizona.

The approximately 45-minute presentation was given by a panel of three of the department’s experts with more than 50 years experience in the management of wildlife, habitats, and public lands.

The department periodically hosts webcasts on varied topics. Notices about upcoming webcasts will be posted in advance at www.azgfd.gov/webcast.

 

Ladies: Learn new outdoor skills at “Becoming an Outdoors Woman”

Spend the weekend with like-minded women learning a variety of exciting outdoor activities, but with bed and breakfast comforts, at the 5th annual Becoming an Outdoors Woman winter workshop.

The fun-filled event takes place Jan. 29-31 and includes deluxe lodging, meals, use of equipment, and instruction at the resort-style Saguaro Lake Ranch in the heart of the Sonoran desert. Activities include bird watching, fishing, how to hunt javelina and deer, geocaching, boating, photography, and more.

Becoming an Outdoors Woman is an outdoors skills program for women 18 or older. These workshops, taught by expert instructors, introduce women to outdoors skills in an enjoyable, non-threatening environment in unique destinations.

The workshop is hosted by the Arizona Wildlife Federation and will include instructors from the Arizona Audubon Society, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and more.

The weekend workshop is $375. To register, visit www.azwildlife.org or contact Linda Dightmon, Arizona BOW coordinator at (480) 644-0077 for more information.