Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is soliciting nominations for its 2019 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. There are 12 award categories (see list below). Nominations may include individuals, organizations, clubs, foundations or government agencies. Arizona Game and Fish Department employees are not eligible for nominati... Full story
For that reason, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has trucked or airlifted more than 1.5 million gallons of precious water to catchments throughout the state since January 2018. And trail cameras tell the tale of this important work with footage of elk, deer, bighorn sheep and countless other species leaning over for a refreshing drink at one of 3,000 catchments maintained by the department. "Water catchments are used by all wildlife and while badly needed monsoon rains recently returned, st... Full story
Ever wonder what it would be like to see hundreds of elk in one place at one time? That certainly will be possible at Mormon Lake. During two sessions this opportunity is possible during the elk viewing workshop hosted by the Arizona Game and Fish Department with support from Mormon Lake Lodge. Workshop presentations are scheduled for the morning on Saturday, Aug. 17. The workshop includes a presentation and a field trip to watch elk on Mormon Lake. “This is always a popular event; people w... Full story
Bats get a bad rap, but the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) aims to change that by highlighting the good they do – such as eating pesky mosquitoes and flies – during a bat netting and monitoring workshop on Friday, Sept. 6. The event runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Needle Rock Recreation Area northeast of Scottsdale and costs $25 per person, with proceeds going to help the department provide other wildlife viewing events statewide. During the event, participants will observe the cap... Full story
Three-year-old eagle undergoes surgery to repair broken leg, released at Horseshoe Lake. After a graceful half-mile flight across Horseshoe Lake, the three-year-old bald eagle released back into the wild by Arizona Game and Fish Department and Liberty Wildlife was free once again. It was a fitting conclusion for the bird that was found in February at a Queen Creek dairy suffering from a shattered femur. Left untreated, the bird would have certainly died, yet four months later, a small group of... Full story
Applications are being accepted by mail. Arizona hunters will have an opportunity to receive a hunt permit-tag for select 2019 deer, fall turkey and fall youth-only javelina hunts. There are 968 leftover hunt permit-tags available for general deer hunts, with most of those hunts being for antlered white-tailed deer only in Game Management Units (GMUs) in the southeastern portion of the state. There also are leftover hunt permit-tags for muzzleloader deer (249), youth-only deer (55), youth-only... Full story
Hunters can check portal account, or by phone. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has completed its random draw for 2019 fall hunts. To check draw results for the deer, fall turkey, fall javelina, bighorn sheep, fall bison, fall bear and sandhill crane seasons, applicants should sign into their free AZGFD portal account or call the department’s automated telephone system at (602) 942-3000, pressing “2” and following the prompts. Be prepared to provide a Social Security or Depar... Full story
Arizona Big Game Super Raffle nets $669,065 for wildlife. 10 permit-tags, Swarovski optics package, N.M. elk hunt among prizes Winners of the 14th annual Arizona Big Game Super Raffle were announced Thursday night at Arizona Game and Fish Department headquarters in Phoenix. The prizes included a total of 10 Special Big Game Tags, one for each of the state’s big game species — bighorn sheep, elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, bison, turkey, bear, javelina and mountain lion. The per... Full story
There isn't much hunting going on this month, and it's a bit warm to go out shooting (unless you pay for an indoor range), but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be training. This is a great time for dry-fire practice, mental conditioning, close-quarters combat training, indoor-range time, classes, and research on legal matters. This is also a good time to check your concealed-carry permit to see if it needs to be renewed soon. Dry-Fire Practice Dry-fire practice is simply practicing with an... Full story
Congratulations To These Winners! Make plans to attend the Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation's 22nd annual Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet and honor your fellow conservationists on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019, at the Wigwam Resort, 300 East Wigwam Blvd. in Litchfield Park, Ariz. This year's inductees into the Outdoor Hall of Fame include four outstanding individuals and one outstanding organization. Those To Be Honored The inductees are Bob Fletcher, a long-time sportsman-conservationist who... Full story
PHOENIX - Arizona hunters will have an opportunity to receive a hunt permit-tag for select 2019 deer, fall turkey and fall youth-only javelina hunts. There are 968 leftover hunt permit-tags available for general deer hunts, with most of those hunts being for antlered white-tailed deer only in Game Management Units (GMUs) in the southeastern portion of the state. There also are leftover hunt permit-tags for muzzleloader deer (249), youth-only deer (55), youth-only muzzleloader deer (7), turkey... Full story
As many people are gearing up to spend time outdoors this summer, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) reminds everyone planning to ride an off-highway vehicle (OHV) to do so safely and responsibly. Numerous fatal accidents last year involved utility task vehicles (UTVs) that rolled over and pinned the operator underneath. Wearing a seatbelt is critical because it will help keep the operator and any passengers inside the UTV in the event of an accident. If children are a part of the... Full story
In a battle against a moving vehicle, a Sonoran desert tortoise is most certain to lose every time. While "Charlie," a 20-plus-year-old tortoise, escaped with its life in this instance - albeit with a damaged shell that has now healed - it's now well enough to be adopted into a forever home. Dozens of tortoises up for adoption by the Arizona Game and Fish. As is "Hook," another tortoise that needed surgery to amputate its right foot after being attacked by a dog. Today both are among the... Full story
Rising temperatures and longer days mean spring is here and newborn wildlife are likely exploring the world around them. The Arizona Game and Fish Department understands the public's desire to help seemingly "abandoned" animals such as baby birds and bunnies, however, the department reminds people to refuse the urge to "rescue" wildlife and to please leave baby wildlife alone. While their intentions are good, in reality they're taking a newborn or juvenile animal from its parents, which likely... Full story
Bears are now on the move; the public is reminded not to feed wildlife. Arizona’s bears are on the move in search for an easy meal, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds everyone to be safe by being Bear Aware The warning comes as department officials tranquilized and safely relocated a sub-adult male bear in April in Prescott Valley. AZGFD was contacted by local police who reported that a bear had been spotted in the Prescott Valley Old Town Plaza parking lot. Two Prescott Valley o... Full story
AZGFD Warns Of Possible Rabies Exposure As Temperatures Warm Spring has sprung, temperatures are trending upward and people and pets are on the move outdoors - that means potential exposure to rabies will be on the increase. The Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds the public to protect themselves and their pets by keeping a safe distance from wildlife, especially animals that may be behaving abnormally, such as those that appear overly aggressive and/or lacking a fear of humans. "The... Full story
Nesting Efforts End At Lake Pleasant Eagles' nest is now empty after four attempts to produce hatchling. For the past four months, viewers have been treated to round-the-clock glimpses of a pair of nesting bald eagles through a live-streaming camera installed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD). Now there's not much to see but an empty nest made of twisted twigs and branches on the side of a sheer cliff above Lake Pleasant, a disappointing sign that any hope of the birds producing a... Full story
Proposed Fall/Spring Hunt Recommendations Available For Review The Arizona Game and Fish Department's proposed hunt recommendations for the 2019-20 fall deer, turkey, javelina, bighorn sheep, bison, bear, mountain lion, predatory and furbearing mammals, and trapping seasons, as well as for the 2020-21 spring javelina, bison, and bear seasons, are available for review at www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines. The hunt structures and recommendations were formulated based on the hunt guidelines approved by... Full story
The numbers are in, and last weekend’s Arizona Game and Fish Department Outdoor Expo had the largest turnout in the event’s 15-year history. The expo, presented by Shikar Safari Club International, drew 52,000 visitors over the March 30-31 weekend at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix. That broke the previous weekend record of 46,600, set in 2017. Supports Outdoor Passions “We’re not aware of any other free event of this scale that combines conservation, recreation and industry into su... Full story
Public comment period runs to May 12. The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is proposing to adopt a rule that would prohibit using any lethal method of take during a hunting contest for predatory and fur-bearing animals, as defined under Arizona Revised Statutes 17-101. In a public meeting March 15, the commission unanimously approved a Notice of Rulemaking Docket Opening and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (also posted at www.azgfd.gov/rulemaking). The Notice was published in the Arizona... Full story
(This news release was issued by the Arizona Attorney General's Office.) The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the limited use of motor vehicles to retrieve lawfully taken elk and bison on the Kaibab National Forest. In January 2016, several environmental litigants (WildEarth Guardians, Grand Canyon Wildlands Council, Wildlands Network, and the Sierra Club) sued the U.S. Forest Service over its decision to allow hunters to drive cross-country up to one mile off of designated roads to... Full story
Life jacket exchange events kick off Safe Boating Week on Saturday, May 18 PHOENIX - Safe Boating Week is on the horizon and the Arizona Game and Fish Department will kick off the national campaign locally with multiple life jacket exchange events at area lakes Saturday, May 18. Now in its 11th year, the Life Jacket Exchange program allows people with an old, worn out life jacket to swap it for a new one (while supplies last). Last year, the department's Boating Safety Education program... Full story
Deadline: 7 p.m. (Arizona time), Tuesday, May 14 PHOENIX – The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has posted the 2019-20 Arizona Hunting Regulations online at www.azgfd.gov/draw. The department now is accepting paper applications for 2019 hunt permit-tags issued through the draw process for deer, fall turkey, fall javelina, bighorn sheep, fall bison and sandhill crane. Note: In a significant change, this will be the first time that applications will be accepted as part of the fall draw pro... Full story
AZGFD Launches Enhanced Online License Purchasing Service Includes mobile-friendly purchase option for smartphones, tablets PHOENIX — Got five minutes? In the amount of time it takes to make an omelet, empty the dishwasher or write a thank you note, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has made it that easy to purchase a hunting, fishing or combination license online. A new interface featuring a slightly different look is only the first thing AZGFD customers will notice. The enhanced o... Full story
June 18 Deadline To Apply For Local Sportsmen's Group Grants PHOENIX – The Arizona Game and Fish Department is accepting applications for $75,000 in annual grant funding for local sportsmen's organizations to provide public, hands-on projects that are focused on the progressive development of new hunters and anglers. The Local Sportsmen's Group grants program places a high priority on projects that involve the pursuit or harvest of fish or wildlife with a valid license (and any necessary hunt p... Full story
