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Whether in a canoe or kayak or on a stand-up paddleboard, all offer a calm, serene way to enjoy boating - unless of course there are many power craft sharing the lake or a sudden storm makes an appearance. Then, the best advice is to hug the shoreline and quieter waters, or if in real danger, the obvious choice is to get out of the threatening weather. (Experts will always advise that you "know before you go"; in other words, check the weather reports before putting in.) September in Arizona is... Full story
Arizona's deer and elk hunters are urged to attend any of the four remaining workshops about Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a fatal wildlife disease that affects the nervous system of cervid animals. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) had scheduled a total of eight workshops that began earlier this month at department headquarters and regional offices throughout the state. The remaining workshops will take place at regional offices in Pinetop (Aug. 17), Kingman (Aug. 24), Tucson... Full story
September 2: Labor Day September 8: Grandparents' Day In February 1977, Senator Randolph, with the concurrence of many other senators, introduced a joint resolution to the senate requesting the president to "issue annually a proclamation designating the first Sunday of September after Labor Day of each year as 'National Grandparents' Day'." Congress passed the legislation ... September 11: Patriots' Day In the United States, Patriot Day occurs on September 11 of each year in memory of the... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department's proposed recommendations for the 2025 fall and spring seasons for turkey and bison are available for review at www.azgfd.com/hunting/regulations/hunt-guidelines-process/. The hunt structures and recommendations were formulated based on the hunt guidelines recently approved by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. All questions or comments about a particular game management unit or hunt can be emailed to AZHuntGuidelines@azgfd.gov. The public also is... Full story
Falcons are known for their incredible speed and agility, and usually feed on smaller birds, which they dive at and capture in mid-air. Commonly observed falcons in Arizona include the peregrine falcon, prairie falcon and American kestrel. The merlin and crested caracara are also in the falcon family. • Accipiters, such as Cooper's and sharp-shinned hawks, have short rounded wings and long tails and are common forest-dwellers. They are expert at chasing small birds through trees and catching t... Full story
The Dirt Expo is going back to Westworld in Scottsdale, Ariz., Arizona's original and largest Off-Road, Sand, and UTV Expo is going BIG for its 10th Anniversary on December 7 and 8, 2024! Everything from -industry-leading vendors, legendary raffles, seminars, classes, and more will be on the agenda with so much more to be announced. 100's Of Vendors Exhibitors from across the country will be available to show the latest and greatest the industry has to offer. Seminars And Classes Everything... Full story
When it comes to dove hunting in Arizona, one thing is pretty much indisputable: There's never a bad season opener. When it comes to dove hunting in Arizona, one thing is pretty much indisputable: There's never a bad season opener. All signs indicate that there will be birds aplenty when the 2024 season gets underway 30 minutes before legal sunrise Sunday, Sept. 1. This is especially true for hunters who are willing to scout in the mornings and evenings between now and the opener to locate some... Full story
Cool, clear air. Sparkling stars on velvet sky. Heady fragrance of pine. Soft breeze. Gentle stream songs. Delicious aromas of brewing coffee, of sizzling bacon. Silence. Peace. Refreshment. These are some of the descriptors I could use as I remember my days of camping in Washington State and in Alberta, Canada. Mind you, I could also say "cold", "freezing", "chilling", but those would apply to late-season camping in the Northwest. Not here in the Southwest. In fact, generally that is one of... Full story
August 6: More Opportunities The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) once again will be offering hunting opportunities that will provide hunters with a chance to draw an additional elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and Gould's turkey permit-tag, while generating revenue to support wildlife conservation efforts across the state. The draw will close at 5 p.m. (Arizona time) Tuesday, Aug. 6. Applicants who are drawn for a limited-entry permit-tag will be contacted by the department (during... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has issued a Notice of Intent to Pursue Rulemaking to begin the process to amend its Article 4 rules (live wildlife) to implement the recommendations made in the recent five-year review report. The amendments proposed in the five-year review report are intended to increase the effectiveness of the rules to meet the department’s mission, ensure consistency with state and federal statutes, and to increase the clarity of the existing rules. Except for the a... Full story
Wildlife officers from the Arizona Game and Fish Department released to the wild a mountain lion that had wandered onto the campus of the Tucson Medical Center on Friday and became entrapped in an enclosed courtyard. The department was alerted to the presence of the subadult male mountain lion around 10:30 a.m. Friday. With the assistance of officers from the Tucson Police Department, the wildlife officers were able to successfully dart and tranquilize the mountain lion without injury around... Full story
Most of the trout in Arizona are stocked fish, which means that trout fishing is mostly a "put and take" game. The Arizona Game and Fish Department puts the trout in, and we take them out. Most of the fish that are stocked are small, what the Game and Fish calls "catchable" trout, but some of our lakes and streams have genuine trophy fish, and the Game and Fish Department usually throws in a couple of bigger fish in each stocking just to give you an incentive to fish. Don't miss the Arizona... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is urging everyone to wear a life jacket, and follow all safety regulations and laws this summer when recreating on Arizona's waterways. "A life jacket does exactly what it says - it saves your life when you need it," said Danny Rodriguez, watercraft law enforcement program coordinator. "However, it can only save your life if you're wearing one, and often it's too late to put one on once you realize you need it." According to U.S. Coast Guard... Full story
From bears to bison, from trout to turkeys, from fish to falcons, our Arizona wildlife is a plethora of precious beings who share our world. Arizona Game & Fish is a major guardian of this resource, assisted by various species-specific groups and caring individuals. The Wildlife for Tomorrow's Hall of Fame each year recognizes people and organizations who have significantly cared for the environment and those who inhabit it, our wildlife. We congratulate this year's inductees and thank them... Full story
Community Fishing Program waters teeming with scrappy fighters. It doesn't have to be Friday to enjoy a good, old-fashioned fish fry. Cole slaw. French fries. Red beans and rice. Oh, and don't forget hush puppies. All are perfect complements to a pile of fresh-caught catfish filets, fried in a savory cornmeal batter until crisp and golden-brown. Whatever your choice of side dishes, leave the main course up to the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), which is now stocking Community Fishing... Full story
How fostering helps disseminate genetics in the wild population. What is the best way to infuse genetic diversity into the wild Mexican wolf population? Some argue that releasing captive-reared adult wolf pairs into the wild is the best way. But is it really? In this video, Jim deVos, Mexican wolf coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department, discusses why fostering of wolf pups into wild dens is more effective than releasing captive pairs in the long run because of the geographic... Full story
Submissions accepted through 5 p.m. Aug. 9, 2024 Do you want to see your photo on the cover of Arizona Wildlife Views? Do you have a knack for capturing great photos of wildlife? Then you won't want to miss the Arizona Game and Fish Department's 18th annual wildlife photo contest. One best in show and 11 winners will be showcased in the 2025 calendar, which is published as part of the November-December 2024 issue of Arizona Wildlife Views. The best-in-show photo is published on the cover of the... Full story
Waterfowl and snipe, trapping rules also on AZGFD's website. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has posted the "2024-2025 Arizona Dove and Band-tailed Pigeon Regulations" at www.azgfd.com/hunting/regulations. In addition, the "2024-2025 Arizona Waterfowl and Snipe Regulations" and "2024-2025 Arizona Trapping Regulations" can be found on the department's website. The dove and band-tailed pigeon regulations are produced in a downloadable format that hunters will find handy in the field.... Full story
Eight inductees to be honored Aug. 24 at the Wigwam Resort. PHOENIX - Make plans to honor your fellow conservationists at the Wildlife for Tomorrow(WFT) Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet Aug. 24 at the Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park. Eight new members will be inducted this year, a diverse group of experts and advocates who have made significant contributions to Arizona's natural heritage and have demonstrated passion and leadership in shaping the future of wildlife conservation in Arizona:... Full story
PHOENIX – The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is soliciting nominations for its 2024 Commission Awards. The awards recognize Arizonans who have contributed significantly to the conservation of the state's wildlife, its outdoor heritage, and the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD). There are 13 award categories (see list below). Nominations may include individuals, organizations, clubs, foundations or government agencies. AZGFD employees are not eligible for nomination. To n... Full story
Salute 'Old Glory' George M. Cohen said it well in the song he composed: " You're a grand old flag; you're a high-flying flag, and forever in peace may you wave; you're the emblem of the land I love, the home of the free and the brave... " June 14 we are reminded of this on Flag Day and again on Independence Day, July 4. Even in disturbing times like these, there is hope that all that Old Glory has symbolized will prevail. In celebration of our nation's independence, the folks at Lake Pleasant H... Full story
Reprinted from US Sailing Ed Huntsman, 72, who devoted his personal and professional life to boating safety, died after battling stage 4 cancer for nearly seven years on May 1, 2024. He was a committed volunteer to US Sailing as a member of the Safety at Sea Committee and Chair of the Committee Structure Task Force along with being a licensed captain, certified instructor, and combat veteran (Vietnam War). His First Family Son of Arral B Huntsman and Ann McFarland Viles Huntsman, brother of... Full story
PHOENIX - The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is beginning the rulemaking process to amend its Article 2 rules (licenses; permits; stamps; tags) to implement the recommendations made in the recent five-year review report. The amendments proposed in the five-year review report are designed to increase the effectiveness of the rules to meet the department's mission, ensure consistency with state and federal statutes, and to increase the clarity of the existing rules. Except for the... Full story
This is the time of year when Arizona's trails and backroads can seem more like busy city streets. While the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) supports all forms of safe, responsible outdoor recreation, those who operate a variety of motorized vehicles are being urged to pump the brakes and give a much slower "traveler" the right of way. A protected species, desert tortoises are traversing the same trails and backroads - but, in typical desert tortoise fashion, they do it in low gear.... Full story
AZGFD: Leave Baby Wildlife Alone With the arrival of warmer spring weather, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) once again is advising the public to leave baby wildlife alone. While it might be difficult to resist the urge to help seemingly abandoned animals, including newly hatched birds and baby rabbits, a parent is likely nearby and will return once humans have left the area. Sadly, once young animals have been removed from the wild, some species -like elk calves and deer fawns -...