• Public input requested for revising hunt guidelines
• 2009-10 Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations available online
• Fish consumption advisory issued for specific fish species at Pleasant and Roosevelt
• Payson Wildlife Fair set for Saturday, May 9
• Calling all photographers
• Archery 3-D fun shoot and Archery in the Schools 3-D regional shoot to be held May 9
• “Supermom” defies odds and raises eaglet to fledging
• Closure at Woods Canyon Lake goes into effect to protect breeding bald eagles
• Next commission meeting is May 15 in Phoenix
• Catch a memory at Goldwater Lake
• Free workshops provide a glimpse into the lives of the Valley’s most secretive residents
• Tri-State Boating Safety Fair promotes “Go Boating Safely!”
• Kurt Bahti named Shikar-Safari Officer of the Year for Arizona
• Special hunt tags raise funds for wildlife conservation; offer hunt of a lifetime
• Great American Deer Raffle helps benefits Arizona’s deer herds
• Dates announced for popular bighorn workshops

Public input requested for revising hunt guidelines
Your input will help shape and preserve Arizona’s hunting heritage

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is accepting public input for revising the state’s hunt guidelines now through the end of May. Comments may be submitted either electronically via e-mail or by mail to the department headquarters in Phoenix.

The hunt guidelines set the framework (biological and social) that the department uses to develop specific hunt recommendations and set permit levels, season dates and season structures.

Every two years, on odd-numbered years, the department reviews and revises the existing hunt guidelines and recommends changes that address the direction given by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. The guidance for the 2009 package, which will be the framework for setting the 2010-11 and 2011-12 hunting season structures, is for standardization, simplification, and increasing hunter participation.

“This is your opportunity to get involved. The department needs your thoughts and ideas on how to meet the demand for hunting opportunities,” said Brian Wakeling, chief of game management. “What can we do different with our hunt structures to make it better for hunters, while still managing within biological sideboards? And what are your thoughts and ideas on how we can get more hunters engaged and in the field?”

The current hunt guidelines to be revised can be reviewed and downloaded at www.azgfd.gov/pdfs/h_f/huntingrecommendations/2009/HuntGuidelines.pdf.

Please submit ideas and comments through May 31 to azgamebranch@azgfd.gov or to Hunt Guidelines, Arizona Game and Fish Department, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086.

After all the comments are received, reviewed, and processed, the department will host nine public meetings across the state, from June 10-25, to present the proposed revisions, answer questions, and to collect any additional public input. A final draft will then be prepared and posted at the department’s Web site prior to being presented to the commission for approval at its Sept. 11-12 meeting in Phoenix.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission and Department want to accommodate the many varied desires of our hunting and non-hunting public. Wildlife is managed in the public trust for all Arizonans; this is how the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation is perpetuated.

To learn more about the hunt guideline process and a listing of public meeting dates and locations, visit www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines.

2009-10 Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations available online
Hunters can start applying for fall hunts now; draw deadline is June 9

The 2009-10 Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations are available now at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/draw. Applications are now being accepted for hunting permits for fall deer, turkey, juniors-only javelina, bighorn sheep, buffalo, bear, mountain lion and pheasant (antelope and elk are already complete).

The application deadline for the fall draw is Tuesday, June 9, by 7 p.m. (MST) – postmarks do not count. Those applying are reminded there is no online application process available. All requests must be via the paper application process only – either by dropping the application off at any department office or by U.S. mail.

All of the materials needed to apply are available at www.azgfd.gov/draw, including a digital PDF application that can be filled out using a computer for improved legibility, some minor error prevention and convenience. However, the PDF form must be printed, signed and submitted (along with the correct fees using check or money order) by mail, or by hand delivery to any department office. The form can also be printed and filled out using an ink pen.

Printed copies of the 2009-10 Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet, applications and envelopes are anticipated to be available at license dealers statewide by mid-May.

Applicants should note, there is a new P.O. Box for submitting hunt permit applications and the new address should be reflected on the new envelopes. The new address is Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn.: Drawing Section, P.O. Box 74020, Phoenix, AZ 85087-1052. However, applications mailed to the old address will be automatically forwarded to the new address.

Hunters are reminded to avoid a couple of common mistakes when applying for a fall hunt permit-tag. Some common errors include using Game Management Unit numbers (one to two-digit, sometimes with letter code) in lieu of the hunt numbers (four-digit), incorrect payment amount, and using the wrong year’s hunting license number.

Apply early and take advantage of the grace period. Here’s how it works: If your application has a mistake and is received by May 28, the department will attempt to call you three times in a 24-hour period and give you the opportunity to correct the mistake. After that date, mistakes can cause your application to be rejected.

New this year, pheasant applications are now due at the same time as the other big game species, Tuesday, June 9. This improvement will eliminate remembering an additional deadline date for this permitted hunt and it should simplify the internal processing of these applications.

Another change to the tag allocation process for this year is an improved system for distributing leftover tags through the first-come, first-served process. The “by mail-only” process using an application will still be used starting Aug. 3 at 8 a.m. However, after 8 a.m. on Aug. 10, remaining tags may be purchased at any department office.

Fish consumption advisory issued for specific fish species at Pleasant and Roosevelt

A fish consumption advisory has recently been instituted for largemouth bass at Lake Pleasant and largemouth bass and channel catfish at Roosevelt Lake because recent samples of those specific species of fish collected at these two lakes showed elevated levels of mercury.

That brings the number of Arizona lakes with mercury consumption advisories to 14.

The consumption advisory is not directed at other fish, such as black crappie, bluegill, green sunfish and redear from either lake. The advisory does not apply to the use of the lakes for fishing, bird watching, swimming or other recreational uses.

However, anglers should take simple precautions and follow the guidelines to limit your consumption of those specific species of fish at these two lakes (see the consumption guidelines below).

Mercury can accumulate in the tissue of fish through a process called bioaccumulation. Basically, it is a food-chain effect.  Elemental mercury that is present in the environment is converted to methlymercury by bacteria.  The bacteria are then ingested by other microorganisms which are then consumed by insects and baitfish.   Health experts say those organisms likely have extremely low levels of mercury that don’t pose a known health risk.

However, for each step up the food chain, as one organism consumes another, mercury levels become more and more concentrated. Therefore, large top-of-the-line predators can experience levels beyond the consumption threshold established by health officials.

The consumption guidelines are:

Lake Pleasant—largemouth bass:

* Children under the age of six:  No consumption
* Women of child-bearing age and children between 6-16 years old: One 8 oz. fish meal per month
* All other adult women: One 8 oz. fish meal per month unless a doctor supports a higher consumption rate.
* Adult men: Five 8 oz. fish meals per month.

Roosevelt Lake—largemouth bass and channel catfish:

* Children under the age of six:  No consumption
* Women of child-bearing age and children between 6-16 years old: One 8 oz. fish meal per month
* All other adult women: One 8 oz. fish meal per month unless a doctor supports a higher consumption rate.
* Adult men: Five 8 oz. fish meals per month

Mercury in the environment can come from various sources and can cause numerous health problems when ingested, most notably its toxicity to the central nervous system. Infants and pregnant or nursing mothers are considered most at risk to possible health effects.

In addition to Lake Pleasant and Roosevelt Lake, fish consumption advisories remain in place for the following water bodies in Arizona: Painted Rock Reservoir, Arivaca Lake, Alamo Lake, Parker Canyon Lake, Upper Lake Mary, Lower Lake Mary, Lyman Lake, Pena Blanca Lake, Coors Lake, Soldier Lake, Soldier Annex Lake and Long Lake.

For a fact sheet on fish consumption advisories in Arizona, visit:  http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/water/assessment/download/fish-0409.pdf.

For a list of frequently asked questions about the fish consumption advisories at Lake Pleasant and Roosevelt Lake, visit http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/water/assessment/download/fish-pleasant.pdf and http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/water/assessment/download/fish-roosevelt.pdf.

For information about fish consumption advisories at other Arizona lakes, as well as additional information about mercury from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Food and Drug Administration) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, visit http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/fish_consumption.shtml.

Payson Wildlife Fair set for Saturday, May 9

Green Valley Park in Payson, Ariz., will undergo an amazing transformation on Saturday, May 9, when its sprawling grassy expanses turn into a carnival full of wildlife and fun outdoor activities. The 15th annual Payson Wildlife Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day, and organizers have been working hard to make it the best yet. Admission to the public is free.
 
“This is a great way for the family to spend a Saturday,” says Craig McMullen, Arizona Game and Fish Department wildlife manager in the Payson District. “Parents and kids can fish, play games and get a close-up look at lots of amazing animals. The wildlife featured is magnificent.”

Live animals on display will include raptors, rattlesnakes, Gila monsters, prairie dogs and alligators. Fair visitors can also test their skills at one of the casting booths or pellet gun and archery ranges, and they can visit booths from a variety of conservation groups, including the Arizona Antelope Foundation, Phoenix Herpetological Society, and Arizona State Parks, to name a few.

Green Valley Lake will receive more than double its normal stocking of trout in preparation for this event. The park typically receives about 300 pounds of trout per stocking. For this event, 800 pounds of fish will be released into the lake prior to the fair. No fishing license is required for fair attendees, and equipment and bait can be borrowed from the free fishing booth at the fair.

The Payson Wildlife Fair is a cooperative effort between the Arizona Game and Fish Department, USDA Forest Service, Mogollon Sporting Association, and Payson Parks and Recreation Department.

Green Valley Park is located at 1000 W. Country Club Drive, Payson (take State Route 87 to Main Street and go about one mile west).

Calling all photographers

Blow the dust off your camera lens and lace up your hiking boots — it’s time to start taking pictures for our annual wildlife photo contest. Your best images could grab a coveted spot in the 2010 Arizona Wildlife Calendar.
 
 Winning wildlife images will grace the 2010 calendar, and winners will receive cash prizes. Also this year, a slideshow highlighting honorable mention photographs will be displayed on our Web page, giving your photos many more chances to be seen. Pictures are judged anonymously — there is no personal information included with them during the judging process.
 
New this year: Contestants are allowed to enter only three (3) photographs, so send us the best of your best and you just might win.
 
Mark your calendar and start shooting! The deadline for submissions to this year’s wildlife photo contest is July 6 at 5 p.m. MST. There is no fee to enter. For contest rules and an entry form, visit www.azgfd.gov/photocontest.

Archery 3-D fun shoot and Archery in the Schools 3-D regional shoot to be held May 9

A 3-D archery fun shoot will be held at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility’s archery range on Saturday, May 9, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This fun shoot is a 20-target course designed to be fun, exciting and challenging. All ages and skill levels are welcome.

No registration is required. The cost is $12 for shooters 18 and older and only $5 for those 17 and younger.

The Ben Avery Shooting Facility is located on the northwest corner of I-17 and Carefree Highway. Archers can enter the range at Archery Drive, which is the first light on Carefree Highway about 1.25 miles west of I-17.

Archery in the Schools shooters interested in the regional shoot should contact Denise Raum at (623) 236-7567 or draum@azgfd.gov.

For more information about the Arizona Game and Fish Department's shooting sports programs, visit www.azgfd.gov/shootingsports.

“Supermom” defies odds and raises eaglet to fledging

A female bald eagle in Arizona has defied the odds and successfully raised her offspring to fledging: a considerable feat for a single parent in these tough times. 

Bald eagles normally raise their young as a team, with parents taking turns foraging for food and protecting the young in the nest. Young eaglets left in a nest alone are susceptible to both temperature extremes and predators.

But, in this case, the male eagle disappeared days after the nestling hatched. His fate is still unknown.

Nestwatchers assigned to monitor the nest on the lower Salt River noted the female assuming all of the parenting duties in the absence of a male. The decision was made to provide supplemental food along the river’s edge to help insure the survival of the young bird and prevent abandonment of the nest and hatchling. Despite the supplemental feeding efforts, the female proved to be effective in providing for herself and rarely took advantage of the supplied fish, perhaps due to the availability of trout from the winter stocking.

“We’ve been keeping a close eye on this nest and we’re excited that all of our management efforts are paying off,” says Kenneth Jacobson, bald eagle management coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “We have never documented a single adult bald eagle successfully raise their young from such an early age. This female eagle is deserving of the title ‘Supermom.’”

Fledging, a nestling’s first flight, is considered a significant milestone for a young bird, although the adult will continue to provide food and protection for another two months on average while training the young eagle to survive on its own.

Arizona expects to have nearly 50 breeding pairs of bald eagles this year and hopes to match or exceed the 2008 record year of 53 eaglets surviving to make their first flight.

Closure at Woods Canyon Lake goes into effect to protect breeding bald eagles

It’s breeding time again for Arizona’s bald eagles, and outdoor recreationists are being asked to help protect an important breeding area at Woods Canyon Lake on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests by honoring a closure surrounding the nest area.

Visitors to the lake and the Rocky Point Picnic Area will be asked to not disturb the eagles during the nesting and fledging times which should occur throughout the summer. Users of the hiking trail adjacent to that portion of the lake will be re-routed around the nest to provide more security for the birds. Boaters are asked to not enter the buoy closure or stop near the nesting area on the southwest shore of the lake.

“Even though the bald eagle is doing well in Arizona, 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.”

Anglers are also being asked to help bald eagles by placing discarded fishing line (monofilament) in one of the three monofilament recycling bins that are in place at Woods Canyon Lake. In 2009, biologists have already removed fishing line or tackle from two bald eagle nests, affecting four nestlings. Fishing line can entangle young nestlings and adult birds and cause death. 

Nestwatchers from the Arizona Bald Eagle Nestwatch Program will observe the nest from dawn to dusk, collecting data about the eagles’ behavior, educating the public, and notifying rescuers of any life-threatening situations for the birds.

The closure is effective immediately until approximately September. 

"The Rocky Point Picnic Area will remain open as usual," says Beth Dykstra, recreation staff on the Black Mesa Ranger District, "but we will be posting some signs directing foot traffic around the nest area. Even though part of the shoreline will not be accessible, we are hopeful that our visitors to the lake this summer will enjoy the splendid opportunity to learn about these magnificent birds."

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

Arizona bald eagles begin rebuilding nests starting in December in preparation for laying eggs. Bald eagles in the northern parts of the state begin their breeding activities later than those in the southern portions of the state. During the breeding season, 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.

Next commission meeting is May 15 in Phoenix

The next meeting of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission will be held Friday, May 15,
at the Arizona Game and Fish Department headquarters at 5000 W. Carefree Highway in Phoenix (1.5 miles west of I-17).

The meeting begins with an executive session at 8 a.m., followed by the public session. The public is invited to attend the meeting at the Phoenix headquarters or view the meeting via a videoconference feed at any of the department’s regional offices in Pinetop, Flagstaff, Kingman, Yuma, Tucson and Mesa. For a list of office addresses, visit www.azgfd.gov/offices.

Items on the agenda include:

• Request for Commission approval on the Northern Arizona Regional Shooting Facility objectives, timeline and budget commitment.
• Request for commission approval for the department to acquire BLM patents for the Usery Mountain Shooting Range in Maricopa County, the Sierra Vista Shooting Range in Cochise County, and the Region IV administrative office in Yuma.
• An update on the status of the department’s e-commerce activities. The update will include information for online watercraft registration renewals, license sales and big game applications.
• Presentation to the commission of a final list of award categories for the 2009 Commission Awards (for awards to be presented in January, 2010).
• Updates on legislative, lands, nongame, shooting sports, and information/education/watchable wildlife activities.
• Hearings on license revocations for violations of Game and Fish codes and civil assessments for the illegal taking and/or possession of wildlife.

The commission may vote to take action or provide the department with direction on the agenda items. For a complete agenda, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission and click on the “commission agenda” link.

Catch a memory at Goldwater Lake
Game and Fish to host First Fish Fishing Clinic

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is inviting the public to attend its second annual First Fish Fishing Clinic on May 17 at Goldwater Lake.

The event will run from 8 a.m. to noon.

“The event is focused on individuals who haven’t experienced the thrill of catching their first fish,” said Zen Mocarski, information and education program manager with the Game and Fish Kingman office.

All the equipment and bait necessary to catch the first fish will be available to borrow. Individuals with their own gear are encouraged to bring it. In addition, Game and Fish personnel will be available to help teach people techniques that will enhance the experience.

“Many people have had this experience,” Mocarski said. “However, maybe these same folks have yet to take their children out. This is a great opportunity to provide that once-in-a-lifetime memory.”

Game and Fish will also bring a mobile viewing tank for close-up viewing.

The first event in May 2008 attracted 240 people looking to catch their first fish.

Goldwater Lake is located approximately three miles south of Prescott on Senator Highway.

Free workshops provide a glimpse into 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, 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 free to the public. Educators are also encouraged to attend and receive continuing education credit.

Partners include the Maricopa County Flood Control District and Knight and Associates.

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.

Tri-State Boating Safety Fair promotes “Go Boating Safely!”
Officials to emphasize the enjoyment of safe and responsible boating on May 16

“Go Boating Safely!” is the new theme for Colorado River’s Annual Tri-State Boating Safety Fair.  The event will take place Saturday, May 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lake Havasu City’s London Bridge Beach Park, along the Bridgewater Channel at 1340 McCulloch Blvd.

This sixth annual fun-filled family affair will kick-off National Safe Boating Week (May 16-22) by a group of state, local and federal boating agencies that want to encourage boaters to hit the water this summer, but safely and responsibly.

Organizers will be talking about challenges that boaters face while boating on the Colorado River and about general boating safety.  Families will be given the opportunity to bring in one outgrown or unsafe life jacket to trade in for a brand new one from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (while supplies last). The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will also be conducting free vessel safety checks.

Families at the event and along the river will also receive a “boating safety bag” filled with promotional items and information about boating laws in strategic areas of the Colorado River.

Many beautiful lakes in Arizona, California and Nevada offer many boating opportunities, but none of them are more popular than the 233-mile long, and beautiful Colorado River.  “The river has several massive lakes and runs through three states, so we will be there to clarify both the fun boating opportunities and safety challenges we see with a waterway this large and complex.  We will also be manning 27 different boat launch ramps to make sure we reach the most boaters,” said Raynor T. Tsuneyoshi, California’s Boating Law Administrator. 

“This year, the lakes are full to the brim and we want people to go out on the water and enjoy the experience,  but we also want them to be safe and make good decisions,” said Kevin Bergersen, Arizona’s boating law administrator. “Most of us know that life jackets and designating a sober captain saves lives, but expecting the unexpected and using good judgment are key factors in returning home safely. We want this event to provoke that kind of awareness and thinking.”

Boating officials will also be informing boaters about “clean, drain and dry,” an effective procedure for combating and preventing the rapidly spreading nuisance of quagga mussels. This nasty invasive species continues to pose a serious threat to fun, safe and environmentally friendly boating.

“Quagga mussels are a growing concern as they take over more of the Colorado River system,” said Fred Messmann, Nevada’s boating law administrator. He said experts will be on hand to demonstrate cleaning techniques, explain the issue and provide clarification to boaters with questions.

The Tri-State Boating Safety Fair is free, and the public is encouraged to stay the entire day to picnic, swim, fish and partake in the action. For more information about the boating safety fair, call Arizona Game and Fish Department at (623) 236-7377, California Department of Boating and Waterways at (916) 263-0788, Nevada Department of Wildlife at (775) 688-1548, or visit www.BoatColoradoRiver.com. Information on common boating laws and each state’s requirements on the Colorado River can also be viewed on this Web site.


Kurt Bahti named Shikar-Safari Officer of the Year for Arizona

Kurt Bahti, the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Region 5 Tucson wildlife manager supervisor, received the 2008 Shikar-Safari Club’s Officer of the Year Award for Arizona for his lifelong service and impeccable record.

Bahti, a 30-year veteran, has more than 20 years experience as a field-training officer impacting a generation of new wildlife managers in Arizona. He draws from his vast experience in weapons identification, animal tracking, animal trapping, livestock brand identification, interview and interrogation, and his intimate knowledge of the region.

By blending his vast knowledge of proven techniques passed on by game rangers before him with the modern-day methods of wildlife management, Bahti has become one of the most respected and successful field officers in the department. As a leader, he is passionate, hard working, and has a genuine love for the state’s wildlife resources.

“It’s truly an honor to receive this award alongside so many other well respected officers,” said Bahti.

When asked to what he attributes his success, Bahti replied, “You can’t treat this as just a job; it’s a way of life.”

Bahti’s “way-of-life” attitude has garnered him many awards during his tenure, including the Cliff Sorrells FOP Officer of the Year Award, the Coronado National Forest Resource Conservation and Development Special Recognition Award, the FOP Lodge 32 Officer of the Year, and many Arizona Game and Fish Department commendations for excellence.

Awards aside, one thing that stands out is his commitment to his fellow employees. Bahti is well known for never asking his people to do something he is not willing to do himself – another sign of a great leader and officer.

Here are just a few examples of his accomplishments:

• Since 1994, cases in which he has been involved have netted over $50,000 in fine monies and civil assessments, and 125 years of license revocation.
• Made some of the department’s most important wildlife cases, including a case involving multiple violations of the state’s trapping laws. The results shaped how the department issues trapping licenses and changed, for the better, the way field officers worked with trappers.
• Employed inventive interrogation techniques on a poaching case of a 402-inch trophy bull elk that resulted in criminal fines of $14,000, an $11,000 civil assessment, and a total of 10 years of license revocation for the two subjects.
• In the absence of a regional investigator, Bahti carried out the investigation that resulted in the arrest and conviction of several repeat offenders and the seizure of multiple weapons and illegally taken game meat.

The Shikar-Safari Club International was founded in 1952 for the purpose of advancing knowledge concerning wildlife of the world. Each year, the group honors one officer from each of the 50 states for service during the previous year that demonstrated outstanding performance and achievement among the state agency’s sworn law enforcement personnel.

The award was presented to Bahti during the April 18 Arizona Game and Fish Commission meeting by Joe Melden of the Shikar-Safari Club International and Donna “Didi” Foss of the Joe Foss Institute.

Special hunt tags raise funds for wildlife conservation; offer hunt of a lifetime
Arizona Big Game Super Raffle offers all 10 big game species

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.

The Arizona Big Game Super Raffle now has 10 special big game tags up for raffle to raise money for wildlife conservation in Arizona. The deadline to purchase tickets by mail is July 3 (postmarks don’t count). The deadline to purchase tickets online is July 12.

The big game 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.

What makes these tags so special? The season dates for each hunt will be 365 days starting Aug. 15 and there are very few limitations on hunting areas.

Launched in 2006 by a consortium of sportsmen’s / conservation groups in cooperation with the Arizona Game and Fish Commission as a way to raise money for wildlife conservation, the Arizona Big Game Super Raffle returns all ticket proceeds to the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Every dollar raised for each species will go directly toward the management of that particular species.

Last year’s raffle raised $478,860.

Raffle tickets cost between $5 and $25, depending on species, and a ticket for all 11 raffles is only $150. Tickets can be purchased by mail using the downloadable order form and making a check payable to AZBGSR. Mail the form and payment to AZBGSR, P.O. Box 61713, Phoenix, AZ 85082. You can also buy tickets online at www.arizonabiggamesuperraffle.com. The site is a verified Authorize.Net merchant site and accepts VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover cards.

The public drawing is Saturday, July 18. The time and location will be announced soon.

Special big game tags are granted to qualifying nonprofit organizations, dedicated to wildlife conservation, by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission through a public application process each year per A.R.S. § 17-346 and R12-4-120.

Wildlife conservation and management of game animals by the Arizona Game and Fish Department is made possible by funding generated from the sale of hunting licenses, hunt permit-tags, and matching funds from federal excise taxes hunters pay on guns, ammunition and related equipment.

So, the next time you see a herd of elk near Flagstaff, or antelope in the open plains of Prescott, or if you’re lucky to spot a desert bighorn sheep peering down from a cliff in the desolate desert, remember to thank a hunter – wildlife’s original conservationists.


Great American Deer Raffle helps benefits Arizona’s deer herds

The Arizona Deer Association is sponsoring the Great American Deer Raffle to benefit Arizona's mule deer and Coues deer herds. One of the hunts available for raffle is an Arizona Commissioner’s Coues Deer tag. The winner of that drawing will receive a license and tag to hunt Coues whitetail deer throughout Arizona from Aug. 15, 2009 through Aug. 14, 2010 (per Commission Order 29). The raffle also offers other hunt opportunities.

You may order tickets for the Great American Deer Raffle online or by mail. Online orders must be received by June 22, 2009. Mail-in orders must be received by June 15, 2009. The drawing will be at the Arizona Deer Association’s annual fundraising banquet on June 27, 2009.

For more information, visit www.azdeer.org.


Dates announced for popular bighorn workshops
Hatchery tour available to those interested

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is offering the public an opportunity to view the majestic bighorn sheep in their natural habitat during its annual Bighorn Sheep Workshops.

The workshop offers wildlife enthusiasts an opportunity to learn about these sure-footed animals and view them in their native habitat during two separate two-day workshops on July 31-Aug. 1 and Aug. 7-8.

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.

These popular 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.

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.

“The draw process is an attempt to give people in outlying areas of Arizona a chance to make it on one of the two workshops,” said Zen Mocarski, public information officer in Kingman. “Our goal is to reach as many people as possible, and that’s difficult with only 80 open spaces over two weeks.”

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.

“Although the tour is not mandatory,” Mocarski said, “we’ve had many positive comments from those who made the trip. It offers people a chance to see the inner-workings of a hatchery.”

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 number, e-mail (if available) and specify which weekend 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.