Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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The National Safe Boating Council, in partnership with the Canadian Safe Boating Council, invite boating safety professionals, the boating community and the media to participate in the sixth-annual "Ready, Set, Wear It!" Life Jacket World Record Day on Saturday, May 21, 2016. Participants in cities around the globe will gather to set a world record for the most life jackets worn and inflatable life jackets inflated. The goal is not only to promote the comfortable and versatile options when it... Full story
Many people enjoy recreational boating and fishing in the spring. Yet, what looks like a perfect day can quickly become hazardous if you end up in frigid water. The annual Wear It! boating safety campaign reminds spring boaters to take extra precautions. "Situations on the water can escalate quickly, and wearing a life jacket not only gives you peace of mind to control an emergency situation but can also save your life," said Rachel Johnson, executive director of the National Safe Boating... Full story
Tip Of The Week From the fishing log: Around this time last year, and in similar water temperatures, the smallmouth bass bite was hot on the Parker Strip section of the Colorado River. Anglers had success on nightcrawlers and assorted soft baits. Worms were also working well for the large hybrid redears known to occupy this stretch of river. Keeping a fishing log - recording dates, times, moon phases, what bait worked (or did not work) for what species and at what water depth/temperature, etc.... Full story
Joint announcement from Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection, Sky Island Alliance, Tucson Audubon Society, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Pima County, the Regional Transportation Authority, Granite Construction, and other partners TUCSON, Ariz. -- The public is invited to attend a dedication ceremony for the recently completed Oracle Road wildlife crossings north of Oro Valley at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 10. RSVPs are requested if you plan to attend; you can RSVP by submitting the... 
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PHOENIX – Conclusive evidence of quagga mussels has recently been discovered at Canyon, Saguaro and Apache lakes, major recreational waters on the Tonto National Forest. Effective May 1, the Arizona Game and Fish Department will list these lakes as AIS-affected waters under AIS Directors Orders #2. There is not an infestation of quaggas at Apache, Saguaro or Canyon. Yet there is genetic and visual evidence in all these waters of the invasive quaggas that colonize rapidly on hard surfaces and c... Website
PHOENIX - "Clang!" That distinctive sound of a bullet hitting steel soon will be ringing out every third Saturday of the month on the small bore range at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in north Phoenix. Christopher Dean, range manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department, said he hopes a new target-shooting experience – "Saturday Steel" – will hit the mark with recreational shooters of all ages and skill levels, beginning Saturday, May 21. "This is meant to be a fun opportunity," Dean sai... Full story
PHOENIX -- A peregrine falcon chick hatched in a nest box on a downtown Phoenix high-rise was seen struggling this weekend, causing the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) to take action. The wild peregrine chick, whose hatching was captured by a dedicated web-video camera, was having difficulty using its legs, causing it to fall and flail its wings.... Website
Tip Of The Week At Lake Havasu, a.k.a. Arizona's West Coast, anglers can have banner days on the bedding smallmouth bass. Crappie and largemouth bass will follow with their egg protecting endeavors. (Did I say, "crappie"? Yep, and it looks like Alamo Lake is ripe to be targeted for this great-tasting fish. Just get some good advice from an area tackle shop – if you need it -- and mean business.) The Reel Deal Most bass are in pre-spawn mode in most of the desert lakes. Before recent storms, some... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department Outdoor Expo is all set for Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3, at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix. Admission and parking are free! From Wildlife To Fish To Targets Last year's Expo and Youth Day drew a total of 39,000 attendees, and again this year, there will be plenty of hands-on fun for all ages. Check out the huge kids fishing tanks and take home a free photo. See all sorts of live wildlife. Learn target archery and try other shooting... Full story
The Reel Deel Bass Action Look for the bass action to get even better at some our pristine lakes in the desert. Apache, Canyon and Saguaro all have been stocked with rainbow trout throughout the winter, so throwing some trout-imitation swim baits can produce some trophy bass. With an onset of warmer-than-average temperatures, more bass have ventured into shallower waters in a pre-spawn mode (certainly at Roosevelt and likely Saguaro, too) and are willing to chase crankbaits, spinnerbaits and cha... Full story
For more than 20 years, the Heritage Fund has made a difference not just to wildlife conservation efforts, but also to the state's economy, public access, environmental education and outdoor recreation. Passed by voters as a ballot initiative in 1990 by a 2-1 ratio, the fund provides up to $10 million each year from Arizona lottery proceeds to the Arizona Game and Fish Department for the conservation and protection of the state's wildlife and natural areas. Protect, Provide, Educate The... Full story
Updated Wildlife Rules Now In Effect. The Arizona Game and Fish Department, as part of its regular five-year review rulemaking process, has updated its Article 4 (Live Wildlife) rules. The new provisions became effective in December 2015 and were approved by the Governor's Regulatory Review Council. The new provisions include some notable changes including the following: • Removal of hedgehogs from the restricted live wildlife list to allow them as pets. • Prohibitions on possession of any non... Full story
Tip Alamo Lake can be a crappie hot spot this time of the year. Heavy rains might delay the great winter crappie bite, but it bodes well for the lake's productivity. Catfishing can still be excellent. These voracious channel catfish at Alamo routinely feed on shad. Try live minnows on the bottom or drop-shot style just off the bottom. The Reel Deal Water temperatures across the state have dropped to their winter standards, and rain and snow has slowed or stalled driving in the high country. Be... Full story
Ending nearly a 10-year decline, watercraft registrations in Arizona rebounded this year, bringing more people to the state's waterways and likely contributing to an increase in watercraft-related accidents. Two Increases To date this year, there were 127,796 watercraft registered in Arizona, which is a 2.7-percent increase from the 124,425 registered in the state in 2014. With the increase in registrations, law enforcement officers statewide recorded a 13-percent jump in watercraft-related... Full story
It is the role of the Arizona Game and Fish Department to conserve, protect and manage more than 800 wildlife species within the state's boundaries – more than any non-coastal state in our nation. To fulfill that promise, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission and Department must stand as a barrier against all threats to our wildlife. It's a heavy responsibility carried out by all who serve at the Department, and it's why we are pressuring the federal government to provide the U.S. Bureau of L... Full story
Recently a story surfaced in the local news that the Department had lifted all fishing regulations at Tempe Town Lake and that anglers were free to take whatever they wanted. We want to ensure anglers have facts: • First, the Department has agreed to cease all fish stockings in Tempe Town Lake until the project has been completed, and the lake has been refilled. • Second, the Department has not lifted all fishing regulations for Tempe Town Lake, but we are evaluating options that could inc... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is launching a new program to encourage anglers to learn more about trout fishing in Arizona. The Arizona Trout Challenge Program is an incentive program that highlights the state's unique species, waters, and fishing opportunities. Any angler completing the Challenge will receive a certificate featuring the species caught along with the date and location. In addition, the first group of anglers to complete the Challenge will receive other items that may... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department, as part of its regular five-year review rulemaking process, has updated its Article 4 (Live Wildlife) rules. The new provisions became effective Dec. 5. The updated rules were recently approved by the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council. The new provisions include some notable changes including the following: • Removal of hedgehogs from the restricted live wildlife list to allow them as pets, • Prohibitions on possession of any non-human primate speci... Full story
In Arizona, winter doesn't have to mean sending boats and rods and reels into hibernation. While outdoor recreation opportunities across many U.S. states shut down during the season of freeze, Arizona rolls on with trout stockings and water temperatures just warm enough to convince fish to bite during the holidays. Although fishing tends to slow a tad this time of the year, there are some spots that are winter-friendly. Here, then, in no particular order, are the Arizona Game and Fish Department... Full story
Another year has passed and either you or someone you know somehow landed on Santa's "nice list" and may have received a new off-highway vehicle (OHV) during the holidays. But before jumping behind the steering wheel or handlebars to hit the trail, here's some equipment you'll need. A helmet - Whether riding in a side-by-side utility-type vehicle (UTV), all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or dirt bike, all riders younger than18 years old are legally required to wear a Department of Tra... Full story
To increase customer service, the Arizona Game and Fish Department encourages off-highway vehicle (OHV) owners to sign up to receive their yearly OHV decal-renewal reminder through e-mail. The decal program began in 2009 and requires all OHVs, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), side-by-sides and dirt bikes, to have a sticker if the vehicle is designed primarily for travel on unimproved roadways or trails. The sticker, which is placed on the upper left-hand corner of the license plate, is... Full story
When: January 16, 2016 Time: 7:30 AM Where: Far East Valley, on Hewitt Station Road, about 1.5 miles off Queen Valley Road Details: Coffee, donuts and lunch will be served to volunteers. Volunteers please bring: buckets, gloves, rakes, water and sunscreens. OHV Vehicles will be useful, please remember a helmet Questions? Visit www.footprintsmatter.org or call 480-983-2171 More details here ________________________________________ Arizona Outdoor Expo--April 2-3 Join Tread Lightly! and the... Full story
PHOENIX - Governor Doug Ducey has appointed Eric Slocum Sparks to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. Mr. Sparks is an attorney practicing in Tucson since 1987, specializing in debtor bankruptcy law and business reorganizations. Before opening his own firm in 1990, Mr. Sparks served as general counsel to several corporations, such as the Wilson Companies, GHR Energy Corporation, Bayou Asphalt Corp., and corporate counsel to Tenneco Inc. in Houston. Additionally, Mr. Sparks has served as an... Full story
PHOENIX – The Southwestern Single-Shot Rifle Schützenfest begins today, Friday, Nov. 27, and continues through Sunday, Nov. 29, at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix. The 41st annual competition, featuring only single-shot rifles (no bolt actions), will take place on the Benchrest Range. The range opens at 7 a.m. each day, with firing commencing as soon as possible. Firing will cease at about 3:30 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. The course of fire consists of shots being fired from bo... Full story
Antelope Poached Near Flagstaff The Arizona Game and Fish Department is investigating an out-of-season poaching of a buck antelope, which took place at the beginning of November in Game Management Unit 7 West northwest of Flagstaff. Game and Fish officers received information that a burgundy-red four-door Jeep Wrangler was seen leaving the area following a single shot from a high-caliber rifle and evidence at the scene indicates there may be another vehicle involved. The buck was found near... Full story
