Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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It is with regret that we announce the passing on Jan. 2 of Wendell George Swank, a former Arizona Game and Fish Department director. Mr. Swank, who worked 15 years for AZGFD and served as director from 1964-68, is perhaps best known for his role in transitioning the department to the use of a science-based wildlife management model. A graduate of Texas A&M University, he joined AZGFD as a member of the first group of college graduates hired by the department as game rangers (wildlife managers)... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is investigating the poaching of a mule deer buck that occurred in late December on the Kaibab National Forest, 10 miles south of Williams in Game Management Unit 8. The deer was found off Forest Service Road 354, about one mile from the Perkinsville Highway. Officials investigating this case found the deer carcass with a bullet wound in the neck and the antlers removed. Officers have limited evidence and are requesting the public's help in solving this... Full story
Tip Of The Week At Apache Lake, anglers have been catching a high number of largemouth bass in the 1-2-pound range on Lucky Craft rip baits. The Reel Deal Some reported hot spots have been Bartlett Lake for largemouth bass, Lake Pleasant for flathead catfish, and Kinnikinick Lake for brown and rainbow trout. Kudos to Rich Griner of Queen Creek, who caught this 26-inch, 8.6-pound rainbow trout from Canyon Creek on a worm in mid-November. Griner said his fish was caught upstream of the hatchery... Full story
Each year as part of its nationally-recognized and highly successful program to manage and conserve bald eagles in the state, the Arizona Game and Fish Department asks outdoor recreationists and aircraft pilots to help protect important eagle breeding areas by honoring the closure of 23 areas across the state. Various land and wildlife management agencies close the breeding areas for part of the year to protect the state's 55 breeding pairs of bald eagles. Some of the closure areas are located n... Full story
With the recent release of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1, interest in target archery has soared, especially among young people. To assist newcomers with getting started, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has created a new Web page, www.azgfd.gov/archery. "We have seen an incredible influx of youngsters looking into classes and researching archery," said Tanja Washburn, archery education coordinator for Game and Fish. "We felt it was important to have a resource page where people can... Full story
What do you buy for the person who seems to have it all? Give them a gift this holiday that not only provides enjoyment for them, but also benefits wildlife conservation in Arizona. This year, consider one of the many unique gift ideas the Arizona Game and Fish Department has to offer. Buyers are sure to find something for everyone with a variety of gift ideas and prices, including the following: Leftover Spring Big Game Hunt Tag If the hunters on your holiday gift list missed the recent draw... Full story
As part of a conservation program for the endangered Mount Graham red squirrel, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted an annual squirrel survey and estimated approximately 274 animals in the Pinaleño Mountains in southeastern Arizona. This year's survey shows an increase of two squirrels over the 2013 estimate of 272 squirrels. "After seeing considerable population growth in 2013, the recovery team is encouraged to see those gains... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission has voted to give the Director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department authority to finalize a cost-sharing agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) to repair the Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery. In a 5-0 vote, the commission has agreed to pay up to $389,000 to fix a broken pipeline for the hatchery. The contribution amounts to 50 percent of the cost of the project. “This is a great pre-New Year’s present for the people of Mohave Cou... Full story
Mr. Zieler has been with Salt River Project since 2008, and has served as Supply Chain Manager, Operations & Maintenance Supervisor and Safety & Security Coordinator. He previously served as Chief of Police for the St. Johns Police Department (1998-2007); Narcotics Agent, Gang Enforcement Officer and Deputy Sheriff with the Apache County Sheriff’s Office (1991-98); and, Corrections Officer for the Arizona Department of Corrections. Additionally, Mr. Zieler has served on numerous boards, i... Full story
The U.S. Department of the Interior triggered a "high-flow release" at Glen Canyon Dam beginning Nov. 10 and lasting four days. The release was part of a long-term strategy that was announced in May 2012 by former Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to meet water and power needs, as well as to allow better conservation of sediment downstream and to better address the important resources in the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam. Benefit To Downstream Resources The high-flow release, which... Full story
Chandler photographer Robert Rinsem's image of a handsome hooded merganser gliding across golden waters has captured the grand prize in this year's Arizona wildlife photo contest, sponsored by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The contest, which promotes Arizona's diverse wildlife, attracted more than 700 entries on the theme "Arizona's surprising wildlife." Thirteen winning images have just been published in a full-size 2015 wildlife calendar in the November–December issue of Arizona W... Full story
More people are now on the roads at the time of day when wildlife can be difficult to see: dusk. The sun is setting and the shadows make many species of wildlife particularly difficult to spot, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department is reminding motorists to use caution when on the roads as the sun begins to set. "There are more cars on the road when many wildlife are active and the shadows allow them to blend in well to the surroundings," said Zen Mocarski, public information officer for the... Full story
Come see a bald eagle, bobcat, ringtail, and many bird and reptile species at the free Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center's open house on Saturday, Nov. 22 and Sunday, Nov. 23 from 10-3 p.m. daily. During this once-a-year glimpse into the center's operations, visitors will have the opportunity to see wildlife up close, view educational displays, make wildlife-related crafts and meet wildlife experts. Over thirty years ago, the Arizona Game and Fish Department opened the first state-run wildlife... Full story
For all you trout enthusiasts, Friday, Nov. 14 was the day! Rainbow trout made their return to the core Community Fishing Program waters. Except for Tempe Town Lake, all expansion waters will be stocked with trout the week of Dec. 15. These trout stockings will continue in CFP Waters through mid-March - so grab your fishing poles and hit the lakes and ponds - it's time to catch some trout! Welcome Back The Trout The City of Tempe and the Arizona Game and Fish Department will host the annual... Full story
Even native Arizonans tend to overlook the southern bass lakes when they get the urge to bass fish. The biggest lakes are in the central part of the state and along the Colorado River, and those areas are also quicker and easier to get to for a majority of the population. For those who live closer to the border, and for those willing to take the time to get there, four smaller more peaceful lakes beckon. Although you could do a drive-by of all four in a single day, each of them is different... Full story
The U.S. Forest Service has issued a special use permit to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission for a new target range to be built near Show Low. The Second Knoll Target Range will be operated by the White Mountain Shooters Association (WMSA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, through a license agreement with the commission. The target range will be located in an unused cinder pit that was previously permitted by the Forest Service to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). The... Full story
The endangered, native desert pupfish took another step towards recovery recently when over 300 fish were released by the Arizona Game and Fish Department into a refuge pond at Mesa Community College's Red Mountain Campus (MCC). The fish that were released came from ponds at the Phoenix Zoo and Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center. Both partners work to help reproduce pupfish. "Partnerships are the key to helping recover Arizona's native wildlife species that are in peril," said Mike... Full story
Doug Burt Hunting and Shooting Sports Program Manager Arizona Game and Fish Department Nov. 21-23 kicks off another string of youth camps! If you're interested in visiting an event to get an idea of what they look like, want to help out – glass, cook, fire tending, etc., or just looking for a road trip with the family during this great weather, here are some great options. Details and contact information are below. Also, don't forget it's small game season, so take advantage of flushing q... Full story
Dove hunters are advised that the printed copies of the 2014-15 Arizona Dove Regulations have a misprint regarding the starting and ending dates of the late dove season (they are off by a day). The correct dates for the late dove season are Friday, Nov. 21, 2014 through Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015. The amended regulations with the correct dates have been posted on the Arizona Game and Fish Department website at www.azgfd.gov/dove and www.azgfd.gov/h_f/hunting_rules.shtml.... Full story
Arizona's endangered black-footed ferret population accomplished several steps towards recovery today with the release of 25 animals on the private Espee Ranch, a working, northern Arizona cattle ranch owned by Babbitt Ranches. Officials from a variety of partner organizations including Babbitt Ranches, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arizona Game and Fish Department, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of Agriculture (APHIS Wildlife Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture), Natural... Full story
Cooler temperatures signal the arrival of fall, and Oct. 3 marked the season opener for many of Arizona's wild pursuits. From quail and rabbit in the desert to squirrels and ducks in the high country, fall hunting represents outdoor recreation at its best. Quail and rabbit can be hunted in the open spaces of the lower desert up to the rolling hills of scrub oaks and manzanita bush of the mid-level desert. Squirrel hunting provides the perfect reason to escape to the crisp air of the ponderosa... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is advising migratory waterfowl hunters that access at Berry Road, on the southeast end of Mormon Lake off FH 3 or Lake Mary Road, will be open for this year's waterfowl hunting season. Although the road is open for this year's hunting season, its seasonal use in the future will be under review by the Forest Service. To gain access to Berry Road, hunters must first contact, by phone or in person, the Flagstaff Game and Fish office or the department's... Full story
The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), the professional association that serves as the collective voice of North America's state, provincial and territorial fish and wildlife agencies, is proud to announce that Arizona Game and Fish Department Director Larry D. Voyles has been selected as the organization's incoming President for 2014-2015. Voyles has served in other posts within AFWA, including a term as the Association's Vice President. Outgoing President Dan Forster, director... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department will host three remaining public forums to meet with constituents about developing the 2015 hunt recommendations for pronghorn antelope, elk, and population management seasons. (The first forum was held Oct. 16 in the Flagstaff regional office.) The remaining meetings will be held at these Game and Fish regional offices: • Monday, Oct. 20, from 6-8 p.m. at the Kingman regional office, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road, • Thursday, Oct. 23, from 6-8 p.m. at the Mes... Full story
The Community Fishing Program resumed stocking catfish in the core waters in mid-September. Two trucks serviced the Phoenix and Tucson areas from two separate ponds in Arkansas. Unfortunately, one of those ponds had weaker-than-normal fish, and following the stocking, we had reports of mortalities from almost all of the Phoenix-area waters at various levels. Rest assured we're working with our municipal partners to remove the dead fish and get them replaced as we continue October catfish... Full story
