Wildlife News: Aug. 28

Wildlife News - August 28, 2009

• Dove season opens on Sept. 1
• Celebrate Labor Day weekend by boating safely
• Federal stimulus dollars to help Arizona wildlife
• Next commission meeting is Sept. 11-12 in Phoenix
• Concerns over historic Kofa bighorn sheep herd elevated
• 2010 Arizona spring hunting regulations are online
• New mine closure in Peoria protects both the public and threatened bats
• Reward offered in deer poaching case
• Learn your lizards at Boyce Thompson Arboretum’s guided walks
• Five inductees honored at Outdoor Hall of Fame banquet
• Boaters: Watercraft registration renewals no longer accepted by phone

Dove season opens Tuesday
Wing shooting perfect for new hunters, lifelong tradition for seasoned hunters

Gather up your shotgun, birdshot, retriever, and ice chest because Arizona’s dove season opens on Tuesday, Sept. 1.

“With the continued drying conditions throughout the state this summer, dove hunters will find birds concentrated around traditional agricultural areas due to the dependable food sources,” said Randy Babb, Arizona Game and Fish Department biologist and avid upland hunter. “This will provide some very good hunting opportunities for those that spend time scouting.”

Given that, hunters are encouraged to wear some hunter orange when taking to the field. Hunting doves doesn’t require full camouflage, and if you hold still before taking your shot, the dove won’t even notice, but other hunters will see you -- even in pre-dawn light.

Babb added, “There are some desert areas that do have reliable water sources and good drainage that provide roosting cover, food, water and resting areas for doves that can be productive. Hunting a distant stock tank in the upper desert can provide an exciting and private hunting experience.”

The weather forecast for the opener is for dry and hot conditions. Expect morning temperatures to be in the 80s and ramp up 100 before you know it. Dove meat is fantastic when gathered and prepared properly. With high temperatures, be sure to get your harvest on ice quickly, or your taste buds will suffer severely.

The season runs from Sept. 1-15, with shooting hours starting one-half hour before sunrise. The sunrise time for central Arizona on Sept. 1 is 6:03 a.m. Adjust accordingly depending on if you are in the west or east ends of the state, up to nine minutes in some cases. Legal shooting hour ends at noon in the South Zone. However, all-day shooting hours are open to juniors statewide and all hunters in the North Zone (see regulations for details).

Bag limits are the same as previous years, with a 10-bird total of mourning and white-winged dove, of which only six may be white-winged doves. There is no limit on collared doves. Be sure to leave one feathered wing on each bird until you reach your final destination.

Before heading to the field, be sure to pick up plenty of shotgun shells. The unspoken average of shots per bird harvested is five to one – so make it three boxes of shells. Shot size No. 8 or 7 ½ bird shot will do.

A general hunting license is required for hunters ages 14 and up. The Arizona Migratory Bird Stamp is required for those 16 and older. However, for new and younger hunters there are two options. Young hunters under 14 may hunt without a license (2 maximum), when accompanied by a licensed adult – so take a youngster hunting. An apprentice license is available at no charge and valid for two days, allowing new hunters the chance to “try before you buy.” The license is valid for two consecutive days but must be issued to a licensed mentor. To hunt doves with the apprentice license a migratory bird stamp is required. To learn more about the new apprentice license, visit www.azgfd.govand select the license icon.

Ready? So where to go?

Arizona offers a plethora of public lands open to licensed hunters. The places to avoid are city limits (most have ordinances against discharging a firearm), and private property without written permission.

There are many agricultural areas in the central corridor of the state that border BLM or state trust land that will offer hunting opportunities.

Babb suggests, “Using Google Earth or the Delorme Gazetteer are great resources for identifying land ownership, topography (water holes, drainages, etc.) and other potential honey holes. Another great cross reference is to go online to http://rainlog.org(or similar site) and check out rainfall numbers to see up-to-date information for where the best crop and water sources may be.”

Lastly, to simplify learning how to dove hunt, the Arizona Game and Fish Department is hosting and teaming up with sportsmen’s groups to provide a number of designated hunts – some offering mentoring and equipment to help you get started. Schedule events are:

• Sept. 1-3: Habitat fundraiser dove hunt (fee required), Texas Hill Farms, Roll (east of Yuma). To register, contact getoutsideaz@gmail.com.
  
  
• Sept. 5-6: Juniors-only dove hunt, Robbins Butte Wildlife Area, near Buckeye (pancake and sausage breakfast provided by Chandler Rod and Gun Club). First-come, first-served, for details and directions, visit www.chandlerrodandgunclub.com.
  
  
• Sept. 5: Juniors-only dove hunt, Texas Hill Farms, Roll (east of Yuma). To register, contact getoutsideaz@gmail.com.
  
  
• Sept. 11-12: New hunters dove hunting seminar and hunt by AGFD and Chandler Rod and Gun Club. Seminar (required) on Sept. 11 at the AGFD Mesa Regional office, hunt on Sept. 12 in Queen Creek at Zimmerman Dairy. For additional information, contact David Carson (480) 987-4825 or Randy Babb (480) 324-3546.

Be sure to hunt in open areas, observe the ¼ mile rule when near a building (when in doubt, move further away), and always remove your trash from your hunting area (this includes your spent shotgun shells).

Of course, no matter where you go, remember to be safe. An easy lesson is the basic hunter’s safety rule T.A.B. +1: 

• T=Treat every gun as if it were loaded;
  
  
• A=Always keep your muzzle pointed in a safe direction;
  
  
• B=Be sure of your target and beyond;
  
  
• +1=Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot.

To learn more about the hunting opportunities offered by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, visit www.azgfd.gov/hunting.

Celebrate Labor Day weekend by boating safely

Holiday weekends are perfect opportunities to gather family and friends, pack food, and hitch up the boat to head out to one of Arizona’s waterways. The Labor Day holiday is nearly upon us and that means that boating safety should remain on the minds of recreational boaters before launching their watercraft.

Arizona’s waterways can expect high use during holiday weekends, and boating safety officials from the Arizona Game and Fish Department want to remind boaters to take precautions to ensure a safe but enjoyable experience this Labor Day.

Before hitting the water, boaters can refer to or download the Arizona Boater’s Guide from the Department’s Web site, or simply follow some basic safety tips:

• Make sure enough life jackets are on board the boat for everyone, that they are the right size, U.S. Coast Guard-approved, and in good working order free from deterioration.
  
  
• Designate a sober captain. Keep in mind that the ‘Boating Under the Influence’ blood alcohol content is .08, which is the same limit as driving a car under the influence of alcohol. Penalties include steep fines and jail time.
  
  
• Avoid overloading your boat by knowing the passenger and weight limits for your specific vessel.
  
  
• Know the “rules of the road.” The correct direction of travel on Arizona lakes is counterclockwise (shoreline off your right shoulder).
  
  
• Don’t crowd other boaters, and remember to maintain a safe distance when passing others. Keep in mind that boats do not have brakes.
  
  
• Check that your boat’s motor and propulsion system are working right.
  
  
• Make sure your fire extinguishers work.
  
  
• Arizona’s boating regulations can be viewed or downloaded at www.azgfd.gov/boating.

Whether you just bought a boat or have been boating for years, a boating safety class can prepare you for unpredictable or unexpected circumstances when you are on the water. It could save someone’s life, including yours. Take a boating safety class near you or online at www.azgfd.gov/boat-ed.

Federal stimulus dollars to help Arizona wildlife
Funds to employ rural contractors and purchase Arizona products

The Arizona Game and Fish Department Landowner Relations Program (LRP) will use $110,000 in economic stimulus funds to actively support private land improvements that will benefit both wildlife and the people of Arizona. These dollars came to the department from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Grassland restorations, riparian area protection and pond improvements are just a few of the four or five new projects that could be completed in the next year because of these funds. The projects must also benefit federal trust species that includes things like migratory birds, threatened or endangered species, and to improve water quality.

Landowner Relations Program Manager Sal Palazzolo said, “Projects that can put greater numbers of people to work will probably get chosen over others. For example, it takes lots of people and materials to put in a new fence as opposed to a project that might only take one or two people.”

For most of the improvement projects, local private contractors will be hired to perform the work, but in some cases the private landowners themselves will oversee the project. Local goods will be purchased, when they can, to help try to stimulate the economy in that area.

In the last fiscal year the LRP assisted 50 to 60 private landowners in making improvements to their properties. Most of the projects were on larger ranches that help support large numbers of wild animals and their habitats in Arizona as well as provide for recreational opportunities for the public.

Over the last year $3 to $3.5 million has been secured in outside funding through hard work by the landowners and cooperative partnerships with the department through the LRP.

Palazzolo said, “It’s a great feeling in this tough economic time to be able to assist in projects that are good for wildlife and good for Arizona.”

For more information about the Arizona Game and Fish Department Landowner Relations Program go online to www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/landowner_relation.shtml

 

Next commission meeting is Sept. 11-12 in Phoenix

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission will hold its next regularly scheduled meeting on Sept. 11 and 12 at the Arizona Game and Fish Department headquarters at 5000 W. Carefree Highway in Phoenix (1.5 miles west of I-17).

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 the Game and Fish regional offices; 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 at the Phoenix meeting or at the regional Game and Fish offices.

The Friday, Sept. 11 portion of the meeting begins with an executive session at 8 a.m., followed by the public meeting. Items on Friday’s agenda include:

• Updates on legislative issues, information/education/watchable wildlife activities, and state and federal lands issues.
  
  
• Request for commission approval of the road permit agreement with eight private landowners for the purpose of providing legal access to private property through Cluff Ranch Wildlife Area.
  
  
• Request for commission approval of the commercial lease with the State Land Department for a 10-year lease of the lands occupied by the AZGFD Kingman regional office.
  
  
• Request for commission approval of the agreement for permit with Tucson Electric Power Company for the purpose of continuing service for construction, operation, and maintenance of electric poles and lines through the AZGFD Tucson regional office.
  
  
• A briefing to the commission on the department’s e-commerce activities. The update will include information about online watercraft registration renewals, license sales and big game applications.
  
  
• Hearings on license revocations for violations of Game and Fish codes and civil assessments for the illegal taking and/or possession of wildlife (time certain at 2 p.m.).
  
  
• Request for commission approval to enter into intergovernmental agreements to fund watercraft law enforcement efforts by seven county and one municipal watercraft law enforcement agencies.
  
  
• Consideration of the 2009 nominees for Commission Awards.

The Saturday, Sept. 12 portion of the meeting begins at 9 a.m. Agenda items include:

• Presentation of the proposed hunt guidelines for the fall 2010 through spring 2013 seasons. The commission will consider and may vote to approve or direct the department to consider changes and/or new opportunities in the hunting and/or trapping guidelines. The guidelines will be available for public review on the Web or at department offices in advance of the commission meeting.
  
  
• Request for the commission to take a position on the proposed S.409 Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2009.
  
  
• An update on the department’s shooting sports activities.

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

Concerns over historic Kofa bighorn sheep herd elevated

Biologists recently presented the Arizona Game and Fish Commission with compelling data indicating that recovering the critically important Kofa desert bighorn sheep herd from near record-low population levels will be challenging due to additive mountain lion predation.

Game and Fish Department biologists informed the commission at its Aug. 7 meeting that the monitoring of one radio-collared mountain lion revealed it had killed 14 bighorn sheep since February, an average of one bighorn sheep about every 10 days. At this rate, this one lion is on pace to kill an estimated 37 bighorn sheep annually.

By comparison, the estimated annual yearling recruitment from the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge bighorn sheep herd is only 39 animals.

Additionally, biologists reported last week that the same radio-collared lion has made a 15th kill. The animal killed was a bighorn lamb within the Kofa Predation Management Area near the Little Horn Mountains.

“The rate at which this lion is preying on bighorn sheep is of grave concern,” said Game and Fish Yuma Regional Supervisor Pat Barber.

Eleven of the bighorn sheep killed were within the department’s Kofa Mountains Complex Predation Management Area. This management area includes all of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and three key areas that extend slightly beyond the refuge to encompass contiguous mountain ranges not captured by the Refuge boundaries. These areas contain habitats used by the Kofa NWR bighorn sheep population.

Barber added, “The Kofa NWR bighorn sheep population provides 76 percent of all bighorn sheep recruitment in a greater isolated metapopulation in southwestern Arizona and is a critical core in sheep restoration for Arizona and the southwestern U.S.”

This isolated metapopulation is comprised of several smaller subpopulations between Interstates 8 and 10 and State Routes 85 and 95. Due to human development, fragmentation, and changes in landscapes, active management is required.

Although managers are working to address several issues that might limit sheep recovery, such as water availability, disease and human disturbance, predation at this level remains a significant concern.

Past surveys indicate that, historically, mountain lions were virtually non-existent or only transient guests around the Kofa region. However, in recent years, a number of lions have become residents on and around the Kofa NWR and are having a significant impact on the bighorn sheep population.

Furthermore, officials estimate there are three to five other mountain lions in the Kofa Mountains Complex Predation Management Area. Conservative modeling of four mountain lions (three males and one female) suggests predation could exceed the annual bighorn sheep recruitment by more than 150 percent.

“Once a localized wildlife population has zero recruitment or less, meaning it’s not replacing lost animals from standard mortalities, it’s just a matter of time before that population is extirpated.” said Game and Fish Wildlife Specialist John Hervert.

“We want to remind the public, our goal is not lion eradication,” said Barber. “When the Kofa bighorn sheep populations return to their historic levels, normal depredation is typically not a concern and in fact is healthy. However, with the herd at record lows, it is inhibiting critical recovery efforts of this valuable resource.”

The mountain lion population in Arizona is neither threatened, endangered, or at risk, and they are the most broadly distributed large mammal species in North America.

The concern over declining bighorn sheep populations is not unique to Arizona. There are a number of distinct bighorn sheep populations that have required federal listing through the Endangered Species Act, in part or exclusively due to mountain lion depredation, including the Peninsular, Sierra Nevada and the San Gabriel Mountain bighorn sheep populations. Recovery efforts for those populations will cost millions of dollars.

The department’s second self-imposed moratorium of lethally removing offending mountain lions when off the Refuge, that have been captured and collared on the refuge, ended July 31. In accordance with the May 2007 “Kofa Mountains Complex Predation Management Plan,” an offending lion – defined as one that kills more than one bighorn sheep within a six-month period – may be lethally removed when off of the Refuge.

No mountain lion has been removed from the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. Prior to the moratorium, two offending lions were removed from the Kofa Mountains Complex Predation Management Area, but they were outside of the Refuge.

The department agreed to delay implementing some portions of the Kofa Mountains Complex Predation Management Plan (i.e., instituted the moratorium) to accommodate the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s desire to complete an environmental assessment (EA). However, the EA was originally estimated to be completed in October 2008. The date was extended to April 2009, then October 2009. The current estimated completion date is now March 2010. Data of lion predation and bighorn sheep populations makes it evident that further delays will continue to reduce this seriously depressed population.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s draft environmental assessment (EA) proposing management options for limiting mountain lion predation on bighorn sheep within the Kofa NWR is now open for public comment. The proposed alternative will provide the Refuge with added management tools to help restore and preserve the bighorn sheep herd – one of the principal reasons for the refuge’s creation in 1939. The comment period is open until Oct. 2 and a public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 16 in Yuma. The anticipated completion date for the EA is March 2010. To learn more or comment on the draft EA, visit www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/arizona/kofa.

The EA is not required for the Arizona Game and Fish Department to manage resident wildlife (including mountain lions and bighorn sheep) off the Refuge.

The Kofa NWR bighorn sheep herd was once one of the most robust herds in the nation. Prior surveys estimate population levels ranging from 600 to more than 800 animals. However, in 2006 the survey revealed a historic low of 391 animals. The last two surveys showed an estimated 460 in 2007 and 436 in 2008. The 2009 survey is scheduled for October.

For history on the struggling Kofa bighorn sheep population, visit www.azgfd.gov/kofa.

2010 Arizona spring hunting regulations are online
Game and Fish accepting applications; apply now and take advantage of correction period

Eager hunters looking for a hunting permit for spring turkey, javelina, buffalo or bear can start applying now by visiting www.azgfd.gov/draw. The 2010 spring hunting regulation booklet is posted online at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Web site.

The deadline to apply is Tuesday, Oct. 13 by 7 p.m. (MST). Postmarks do not count.

This is a great time to get your application submitted and take advantage of the correction period. If your application has a mistake and is received by Sept. 24 by 5 p.m., 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.

One common mistake to avoid is using the wrong year’s hunting license. A 2010 license is required to enter the spring draw. Licenses may be purchased in advance at any department office or license dealer, and some types are available through the draw/application process.

Mailed applications should be addressed to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn.: Drawing Section, P.O. Box 74020, Phoenix, AZ 85087-1052. Applications may also be hand-delivered to any department office. For a list of offices, visit www.azgfd.gov/offices.

Hunters will see some of the same hunt structures as this year, including the juniors-only spring turkey over-the-counter nonpermit-tags, archery-only javelina over-the-counter nonpermit-tags for metro units, and the general spring bear over-the-counter nonpermit hunting opportunities.

With all the juniors-only hunting opportunities available this spring, one thing to remember is that hunter education is mandatory for kids 10-13 who wish to hunt big game. The Arizona Game and Fish Department now offers an online version of the program to accommodate the busy schedules of today’s public. After taking the self-paced portion online, a hands-on field day is required to become certified. To learn more about Arizona’s online hunter education course, visit www.hunter-ed.com/az.

New mine closure in Peoria protects both the public and threatened bats
First bat cupola to be constructed within city limits

It’s a win-win for the public and Arizona’s wildlife. In a cooperative effort led by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the abandoned Sunrise Relief Mine in Peoria was secured on Aug. 19 to protect the public and remove the fence eyesore for local residents, all while protecting threatened California leaf-nosed bats.

A special bat-friendly gate, or cupola, was built to close the mine entrance located on BLM-managed land at 91st Ave. and Happy Valley Road. The cupola will preclude people from entering the mine while allowing the bats living in the extensive mine to enter and exit. 

“The message is – ‘stay out and stay alive’,” explains Steve Cohn, field manager for the BLM’s Hassayampa Field Office. “In 2009, we fenced 25 abandoned mine sites and are working to immediately and permanently close 20 high-risk sites that have completed wildlife and cultural clearances. Where bats are present, we are committed to continue work with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to have bat gates installed.”

The BLM has a long history of resolving safety and environmental concerns at abandoned mines and has prioritized this and other sites that are in close proximity to both current and future residential developments.

“We are excited to see this project evolve from one where originally there were competing interests to one where all of the partners are proud to have found common ground that meets each partner’s objectives,” says Angie McIntire, bat conservation biologist for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “The BLM’s willingness to consider alternative options for closing the mine will help us conserve an important winter roost site for California leaf-nosed bats, which are a species of concern in Arizona.”     

Experts believe that preserving winter roost sites are particularly important for leaf-nosed bats. The species does not migrate or hibernate in the winter and requires geothermally warmed mine sites, making appropriate winter roosts limited for these mammals. Biologists estimate that 100-400 bats use the Sunrise Relief Mine during the winter.

The cupola is one of the first examples in the United States of a bat cupola being constructed within city limits to close a mine while protecting bats. Game and Fish plans to study the site after the cupola is installed to evaluate the effectiveness of the mine closure and what effects it has on the bat population. Other factors including future residential and road development may also have an effect and will be monitored.  

Partners on the project include Game and Fish, BLM, State Mine Inspector, City of Peoria and MK Company, a housing development company working in the Peoria area.

Management of bats falls under the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s program to recover species that are threatened, declining or that have been extirpated from the state.

Through Game and Fish’s partnerships with other public agencies, non-profit organizations and the science community, the department’s wildlife recovery program aims to prevent species from becoming endangered and conserve them in a more cost-effective manner. State-level involvement provides closer oversight of wildlife species on a day-to-day basis. Specific emphasis is placed on identifying and managing the wildlife and habitat of greatest conservation need, or those species that are no longer abundant and facing increasing threats from habitat degradation, disease, introduction of non-native species and climate change.

The BLM has now documented 1,060 mine sites in the greater Phoenix area, many of which are abandoned and potentially dangerous. Six high-risk abandoned mines near Wickenburg are slated for closure under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  

“Arizona has a rich legacy of mining in areas that were previously considered remote, but now they are in urban development zones where we are ensuring public safety,” Cohn adds.  

The Abandoned Mines Lands Program (AML) mitigates physical safety risks at these sites administered by the BLM.

Recreationists that come across a shaft or mining site that is exposed are encouraged to obtain the GPS coordinates and notify the Arizona State Mine Inspector.

Reward offered in deer poaching case
Doe shot with arrow and left to die

The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Operation Game Thief program is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of the individual(s) responsible for illegally killing a doe.

Game and Fish personnel are investigating a case in which a doe was shot with an arrow and left to die during the deer opener on Aug. 21 at approximately 10:45 a.m. The incident took place in Game Management Unit 20A along Senator Highway between mileposts 6 and 7, just north of the 307 hiking trail. The location is six or seven miles south of downtown Prescott.

Virginia Gouldsbury, wildlife manager for unit 20A, explained the deer did not die quickly.

“After it was shot with the arrow, people witnessed this deer still walking around. This is a criminal act. Although it was the first day of the deer archery season, you aren’t allowed to take does,” Gouldsbury said. “However, this isn’t the act of a hunter; it’s the act of a poacher.

“This is theft from the residents of Arizona.”

The suspects were seen driving a relatively new dark blue, extended-cab pickup truck, possibly a Chevrolet. One suspect was described as balding, with short, graying hair. He is estimated to be between 35-45 years old, approximately 5-feet, 10-inches, and weighing between 255 and 265 pounds. He was wearing grayish camouflage pants and a green camouflage shirt.

The second suspect was seen only from behind and is estimated to be about 6 feet tall.
Gouldsbury explained the individuals responsible can be charged with take out of season and waste of game meat.

“We didn’t lose just the one deer,” Gouldsbury said, “we lost its future offspring as well. This is a solvable case, but we need a little help from the public.”

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Operation Game Thief at (800) 352-0700. Calls can remain confidential upon request. Anyone with information is eligible for a reward of up to $1,500 upon arrest of the violator(s).

Learn your lizards at Boyce Thompson Arboretum’s guided walks

Have you ever wondered why lizards do those comical “pushups,” or do you need help identifying the species that may be living in your backyard? From large desert spiny lizards to beautifully colored collared lizards, Arizona is home to nearly 50 species of lizards. The public is invited to attend the family-friendly “Learn Your Lizards” guided walks at Boyce Thompson Arboretum to learn more about these fascinating desert reptiles.

The final lizard walks of 2009 will be offered at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 6 and Saturday, Sept. 12. Tours will feature presentations by reptile researcher and biologist, Abi King, from the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars for the best close-up looks at lizards and cameras to capture the half-dozen lizard species that are commonly seen around the trails and gardens of the Arboretum.  

For more information on the lizard walks, visit www.ag.arizona.edu/bta. A preview of the tour is also available at www.youtube.com.
 
The lizard walk and other weekend nature tours are included in the Arboretum’s daily admission of $7.50 for adults and $3 for children age 5-12. The Arboretum is located off of Highway 60 at milepost #223, approximately one hour east of Phoenix.

Five inductees honored at Outdoor Hall of Fame banquet

Five inductees into the Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame’s class of 2009 were honored at the Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation’s annual Outdoor Hall of Fame banquet on Aug. 21. The inductees were (L to R in photo):

• The Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club (accepting the award was President Jim Ammons)
  
  
• Frances Werner
  
  
• Mesa Hunter Education Instructor Team (accepting the award was Chief Hunter Education Instructor Mike Zaccardi)
  
  
• Dr. Robert Ohmart
  
  
• Bill Post

Brief biographical profiles of the inductees are included at www.azgfd.gov/w_c/ArizonaOutdoorHallofFame.shtml.

The Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame was established in 1998 by the Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation to honor those who have made significant contributions to Arizona’s wildlife, the welfare of its natural resources, and the state’s outdoor heritage. Selections for induction are made each year by the board of directors of the Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation from a list of nominations submitted.

For more information about the Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation, call (623) 204-2130 or visit www.wildlifefortomorrow.org.

Boaters: Watercraft registration renewals no longer accepted by phone

Boaters are advised that effective Sept. 8, 2009, the Arizona Game and Fish Department will no longer accept watercraft registration renewals by telephone.

For a reduced fee of $2.50, residents and non-residents can renew their registration online at www.azgfd.gov/watercraft.

Registration renewals are still accepted in person at any Arizona Game and Fish Department office or by mail.