Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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Poaching Poachers are thieves who steal Arizona’s most precious natural resource – wildlife! Poaching interferes with the ability to effectively manage wildlife and wildlife habitat. It negatively impacts the ability to enjoy the outdoors, and reduces opportunities to hunt and fish in Arizona. Cellular phone calls to the OGT hotline have proven to be extremely beneficial. An officer’s chances of apprehending the violator while he is still in the woods are greatly enhanced when the offense is re... Full story
Photos Courtesy of John and Margie Anderson John and I had been wanting to explore the area southwest of Wikieup for a long time, and we finally got there last month. We honestly didn't even know if there was anything worth seeing back there, but the fact that you would be able to check out the Big Sandy River decided me! Click here for more on Arizona Rivers and Streams. We did this whole trip in one day from Phoenix, so it's doable, but it makes for a very long day. Starting on Highway 93, go... Full story
Huzzah: New In 2024! We are thrilled to announce the following new and exciting additions for the upcoming 2024 Arizona Renaissance Festival season. Whether you are a seasoned festival-goer or a first-time visitor, prepare to be captivated by the exquisite new additions awaiting your arrival. The Hops!! - New Pub Crawl Introducing "The Hops!!" - a brand new pub crawl at the Arizona Renaissance Festival! Whether you're a seasoned pub crawler or new to the experience this limited capacity, tickete... Full story
From in-person events all across the state of Arizona to educational programs you can experience from the comfort of your own home, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has a wildlife viewing event you are sure to enjoy. Learn more about each of these incredible programs and how you can attend. Bat Netting Arizona is home to 28 species of bats, and many live and forage in our own backyards. Here's your chance to see these fascinating creatures up close. https://www.azgfd.com/... Full story
We have established fishing waters in 23 Arizona communities. Whether you are an experienced, occasional or new angler, the Arizona Community Fishing Program offers fishing opportunities that you are sure to enjoy. There are currently more than 50 city park lakes participating in the Program, a partnership between the Arizona Game and Fish Department and 23 communities across the state. Detailed maps and park-specific information on all Community Fishing waters are found in this website... Full story
Whether you're new to angling or a seasoned pro, the fishing challenges provide opportunities to pursue and catch your "big fish" and have it posted on our website. Find your challenge, see how to enter, and explore the official rules. Fishing Challenges Offered By AZGFD Bass Anglers: The Arizona Hawg Bass Challenge Arizona is home to great largemouth bass fishing! The Arizona Game and Fish Department works to provide great opportunities for anglers to catch huge largemouth bass all over the... Full story
Types of events that we include: Mentored events Skill development Seminar, webinars, clinics Habitat projects Layout / Methods: Click here for last year's regulation list of events for your reference. Skill Type Definitions: • Introductory - No hunting or pursuit of wildlife • Beginner - Basic take of wildlife, 1-day event, pass shooting • Developing - Pursuit of wildlife, overnight events, remote locations • Intermediate - Pursuit of more challenging species • Experienced - Minimal mentoring... Full story
Here it is: already February of a new year that just got started "a day or so ago", didn't it? No, it was over a month ago, and 2024 is well underway. My how time flies, and it's easy to miss opportunities because they're often over even before we make our plans to participate. So, what's the bottom line here? Don't miss out. Ideas are plentiful: from Arizona Game & Fish, from 'Touch a Truck' at Lake Pleasant, from Margie Anderson, from Fearless Kitties in Fountain Hills, from the Arizona Ren Fa... Full story
February Feature During February, Fearless Kitties of Fountain Hills, Ariz., is seeking $10,000 in donations to try to get matching funds. Any amount is welcome and can be a gift in memory of either a loved one or even a beloved pet. At the rescue home, there is also a Giving Tree with ornaments for sale. There will also be a raffle. Fearless Kitty Rescue is known for saving kitties in need, its Continuing Care Program and is a non-profit 501 (C) (3) cat/kitten rescue group. More information is... Website
States and U.S. territories that shared $19.8 million in total BIG funding in the 2023 grant cycle included Arizona. Does your town or region make it easy for boaters to visit and spend locally? Having safe, protected dockage and offering amenities to these tourists by water can bring boaters in, but how do you pay for it? The Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) program, first championed by Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), has proven effective in attracting boaters and... Full story
Venturing into the great outdoors can seem a bit daunting at first. Here are some beginner-friendly suggestions to get you started and have you feeling like an Arizona outdoors pro in no time. Double Butte Loop Trail https://www.phoenix.gov/parks/trails/locations/papago-park/trail-map Papago Park Phoenix/Tempe Over the course of 2.2 miles, the Double Butte Loop Trail circumnavigates the large red sandstone Papago Buttes that are visible from vantage points throughout much of metro Phoenix. The... Full story
A lot of old-timers will tell you that the best way for a crappie fisherman to deal with a cold front is to stay home. Unfortunately, most of us don't have the luxury of choosing which days to go fishing. Why does it always seem like the dreaded cold fronts pass through just before the weekend, or right in the middle of the tournament? Crappie Recover Faster The effects of a cold front are particularly devastating in the spring. A five degree drop in surface temperature can drive the fish off... Full story
Arizona's bald eagles are back, and they are now preparing for the next generation of eagles at breeding sites statewide. To assist with the state's continued bald eagle population growth, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) encourages outdoor recreationists, aircraft pilots, drone operators and motorized paragliders to do their part by not disturbing the state's 97 eagle breeding areas. To protect breeding attempts, some portions of public land and water areas will be temporarily... Full story
Raffle Proceeds Benefit Arizona's Wildlife Why don't you give someone special (perhaps yourself!) a ticket for Conservation First USA's 2024 raffle! Seven lucky individuals will win one of seven special big-game tags (bighorn sheep, elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, bison and turkey) for the 2024–25 hunting season. Buy tickets today! New this year: Purchase the "All 7 Package" and receive one entry per species, PLUS a free entry for the Swarovski Optics Package. Details: • Raf... Full story
Go Lake Havasu presents ideas to do just that. The 2007 movie The Bucket List made the term "bucket list" a cultural phenomenon. According to the Internet Movie Database, it's the comedy-drama where Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman play two terminally ill men who escape from a cancer ward and head off on a road trip with a wish list of to-dos before they die. Along Arizona's West Coast, home of the historic London Bridge and 60 miles of Colorado River shoreline, tourism officials like to think... Full story
This is the perfect time of year to take your winter guests or your family to some of the wonderful places in Arizona that get a bit warm in the summertime. We've taken the granddaughters to all of these places, and believe it or not, Trinity tells us that the Hassayampa Preserve was her favorite hike ever! Some of these places are free to visit, and others are not, so I'm including current prices as well as how to get there and what not to miss! Enjoy! Boyce Thompson Arboretum The girls have... Full story
We are thrilled to announce the following new and exciting additions for the upcoming 2024 Arizona Renaissance Festival season. Whether you are a seasoned festival-goer or a first-time visitor, prepare to be captivated by the exquisite new additions awaiting your arrival. Huzzah! The Hops!! - New Pub Crawl Introducing "The Hops!!" - a brand new pub crawl at the Arizona Renaissance Festival! Whether you're a seasoned pub crawler or new to the experience , this limited capacity, ticketed event... Full story
Katie Hobbs has announced the nomination of James E. Goughnour as a member of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. Goughnour is currently finishing a five-year term that began after his appointment in 2019 by then-Governor Doug Ducey. He served as commission chair in fiscal year 2023 and was one of two candidates forwarded in November by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission Appointment Recommendation Board for Governor Hobbs' consideration. He has lived in Arizona for more than 45 years and is... Full story
AZGFD aims to meet elk objectives. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is seeking to bolster its pool of hunters who apply to be randomly selected throughout the year for specific population management hunts. Population management hunts enhance the department's ability to meet population and habitat management objectives when traditional harvest strategies are not meeting these objectives. At this time, a population management hunt for any elk is planned for February in portions of... Full story
Hunt Guidelines Available For Review The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s proposed amendments to Arizona hunt guidelines for fall 2023 through spring 2028 seasons are available for review at https://www.azgfd.com/hunting/regulations/hunt-guidelines-process/. All questions or comments about the proposed changes can be emailed to AZHuntGuidelines@azgfd.gov. The public also is invited to call any of the department’s regional offices statewide and ask to speak with a game management bio... Full story
We've said goodbye to 2023 and now is a good time to reflect on the changes that we want - or need - to make in 2024; how about adding an outdoors resolution to your list? The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) offers some simple resolutions, any one of which should be easy for an outdoors enthusiast to stick to - • Fish local. Make it a point to wet a line this year at one (or more) of the state's 50-plus waters in the Community Fishing Program that are seasonally stocked with channel c... Full story
The data management system AZGFD uses to track the locations of wildlife, including javelinas, is getting a major overhaul. Kudos to StateScoop and reporter Keely Quinlan for a recent news story about how the Arizona Game and Fish Department is consolidating all of its wildlife tracking data into a new, cloud-based management system known as the wildlife data warehouse. With the data available in one place, Arizona's wildlife researchers can help conservationists, policymakers and land... Full story
The endangered Yuma clapper rail inhabits the Yuma Wetlands Wildlife Area. Walk On The Wild Side:Yuma Wetlands Wildlife Area Located in western Arizona, the Yuma Wetlands Wildlife Area offers outdoor recreational opportunities such as wildlife viewing, angling and hiking. There is a 2.5-mile walking trail that takes visitors through areas of restored cottonwood, willow and mesquite habitat along the Colorado River and restored back channel. Common mammals in the wildlife area include beavers,... Full story
• More revelry at the Renaissance Festival, • More safety for drivers and elk, • More awards for positive outdoor activities and supporters, • More trout in community waters, • More places to explore, and • More focus on the Second Amendment. This issue celebrates the "newsy New Year" that is ahead of us. This month the Arizona Game & Fish Commission honors those individuals who have excelled in their support for wildlife and outdoor concerns. In February, the annual chance to step back in tim... Full story
Across much of America, including parts of Arizona, millions of recreational boats have been laid up for winter storage. With the boating season officially over, some boat owners may think they are free and clear for the next six months. However, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) offers three best practices for winter storage to ensure the off-season goes smoothy and safely. 1. If you haven’t done so yet, read your marina, boat club or storage facility contract. Every page. W... Full story