Sorted by date Results 101 - 125 of 241
PHOENIX — James Ammons assumed the role of chairman of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission on July 1. Charged with leading the five-member commission for the 2017-2018 fiscal year, Ammons has been serving on the commission since 2014 after being appointed to a five-year term by then-Gov. Jan Brewer. Ammons replaces Chairman Edward “Pat” Madden, whose term as chair expired June 30. Madden will continue to serve on the commission through the end of the year until a successor is appointed by th... Full story
PHOENIX -- The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking public comment on proposed hunt guidelines for the 2018-19 through 2022-23 hunting seasons. The proposed guidelines were developed based on input received through written public comment and information gathered during a webinar and eight public meetings conducted statewide. The proposed guidelines can be viewed on the department’s website at https://www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Guidelines/. Comments on the proposed guidelines may be s... Full story
Arizona Game and Fish Department Director Larry D. Voyles has announced that he will retire from the state's wildlife agency this summer. Director Voyles, who first joined the Department as a wildlife manager in the Yuma region in 1974, will remain as Director until his replacement is named by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. Reflections On Nine Years In a letter to Game and Fish employees, Voyles reflected on his nine years as Director of the 600-person agency, saying "I was in the unique... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission recently approved several boating and watercraft regulation changes aimed at increasing customer service and public safety on Arizona's waterways. The commission approved the changes at its April 7 meeting, amending the state's Article 5 rules, which outline boating and water sports regulations and fees. The proposed changes will now be considered by the Governor's Regulatory Review Council on June 6 and, if approved, will become effective Aug. 5. The... Full story
PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Commission recently approved several boating and watercraft Regulation changes aimed at increasing customer service and public safety on Arizona’s waterways. The commission approved the changes at its April 7 meeting, amending the state’s Article 5 rules, which outline boating and water sports regulations and fees. The proposed changes will now be considered by the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council on June 6 and, if approved, will become effective Aug. 5.... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking public comments on multiple proposed boating and water sports rule changes. In mid-January, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission approved a draft notice of proposed rulemaking, amending Article 5, which outlines boating and water sports regulations and fees. The deadline to submit comments on the proposed rule changes is Sunday, March 5. The following are among the proposed changes: Requiring a signature be notarized/witnessed when the... Full story
Arizona Boating & Watersports / Western Outdoor Times publications have won four awards. 2008 - Arizona Game & Fish Commission Media of The Year Award 2010 - National Water Safety Congress Award of Merit 2013 - Arizona Game & Fish Commission Media of The Year Award 2016 - Arizona Game & Fish Commission Outdoor Writer of The Year Award Arizona Boating & Watersports / Western Outdoor Times publications include - Arizona Boating & Watersports / Western Outdoor Tim... Full story
We have all been led to believe that democracy is the best way of life and that the United States is the best example of how a society should be lived. I have long held that belief, but current events have had me wondering if that is really true or if as a sportsman democracy could put an end to the pursuits that I hold dear. How can this possibly be? Let's follow along and see if you agree with my train of thought. The Right To Hunt And Fish The right to bear arms is always front and center of... Full story
Famed for its dramatic rapids and canyons, the Colorado is one of the most desirable whitewater rivers in the United States, and its Grand Canyon section – run by more than 22,000 people annually – has been called the "granddaddy of rafting trips". Grand Canyon trips typically begin at Lee's Ferry and take out at Diamond Creek or Lake Mead; they range from one to eighteen days for commercial trips and from two to twenty-five days for private trips. Private (noncommercial) trips are ext... Full story
Biologists with the Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team (IFT) recently learned a fostered wolf pup introduced to a pack in 2014 has produced a wild offspring of her own. In a critical breakthrough in Mexican wolf management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently reported that a genetic test of male 1561 revealed that it is the offspring of male 1293 and female 1346. The female was one of two pups fostered into the den of the Dark Canyon Pack in New Mexico in 2014. "We now have proof that... Full story
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Last week, President Obama took unilateral action and issued a Presidential Proclamation under the outdated 1906 Antiquities Act, locking-up 1.35 million acres of land in southeastern Utah through designation of the new Bears Ears National Monument and locking-up 300,000 acres of land in Clark County, Nevada through designation of the new Gold Butte National Monument. Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) http://gosar.house.gov/, Chairman Emeritus... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission will recognize 17 people during the 2016 Commission Awards event, which will commend national/state/local leaders, wildlife advocates, and volunteers for their work to support the state's wildlife. The event will be held on Saturday, Jan. 14, at the Arizona Grand Resort at 8000 S. Arizona Grand Parkway in Phoenix. Reservations are being accepted for $65 per person to attend the event, which begins with a social hour and live music at 5 p.m., and will be... Full story
OLYMPIA – Recreational fishing and hunting licenses for the 2017-2018 season, which begins April 1, 2017, are available for sale today. Typically, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) begins to sell the upcoming year's licenses in December. "With the release of our new licensing system last month, we opted to delay selling 2017-18 licenses in order to avoid printing licenses from two separate systems, with slightly different formatting, for a single license year," said Peter V... Full story
The annual Arizona Game and Fish Commission Awards Banquet will be held on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, at the Arizona Grand Resort, 8000 S. Arizona Grand Parkway, Phoenix, Arizona 85044. The event will honor the recipients of the 2016 Commission Awards that were selected at the Commission’s August 26 meeting. The purpose of these awards is to recognize Arizonans who have contributed significantly to the conservation of the state's wildlife, its outdoor heritage, and the mission of the Arizona G... Full story
Publisher's Note: We at Arizona Boating & Watersports / Western Outdoor Times would like to congratulate Don McDowell. His hard work, perseverance, and dedication to preserving our wildlife has been acknowledged by his being awarded the AZGF Commission Advocate Of The Year (Federal). McDowell has worked tirelessly for many years to preserve our outdoor heritage. He is a valuable asset to the State of Arizona and the country as well. We hope that those who are responsible for making decisions... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds all active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces stationed in Arizona that they, and their spouses, may purchase resident hunting and fishing licenses. The current law stipulates that an active duty member permanently or temporarily stationed in Arizona may purchase a resident license permitting the taking of wildlife. That privilege recently has been extended to their spouses, as well. Gov. Doug Ducey signed House Bill 2324, sponsored by state Rep.... Full story
PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Commission will recognize 17 people during the 2016 Commission Awards event, which will commend national/state/local leaders, wildlife advocates, and volunteers for their work to support the state’s wildlife. The event will be held on Saturday, Jan. 14, at the Arizona Grand Resort at 8000 S. Arizona Grand Parkway in Phoenix. Reservations are being accepted for $65 per person to attend the event, which begins with a social hour and live music at 5 p.m., and wil... Full story
PHOENIX - In response to President Obama designating two national monuments this week in Utah and Nevada, Governor Doug Ducey issued the following statement requesting that the president respect Arizona by not designating the proposed Grand Canyon Watershed National Monument: "Western public land agreements have established a legacy of multi-use that have provided a recreational, environmental, conservation and economic balance that has served our state and nation well. "In the early 1990s... Full story
Edward "Pat" Madden of Flagstaff has become the Arizona Game and Fish Commission's newest chair.. He will lead the five-member commission for the 2016-17 fiscal year. Madden replaces Kurt R. Davis, who will continue to serve on the commission until his successor is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. Each commissioner serves a five-year term that is staggered and customarily serves as chairman during their final year. Madden, who joined the commission in 2013, has an... Full story
A bill to allow spouses of active duty military personnel stationed in Arizona to qualify for Arizona resident hunting and fishing licenses has been signed into law. Governor Doug Ducey signed House Bill 2324: G&F; military spouses; resident licenses, sponsored by Representative Frank Pratt (LD-8, Casa Grande). The Arizona Game and Fish Commission voted unanimously at their January 2016 meeting to support this expression of gratitude for the families whose service and sacrifice protect our... Full story
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. -- The Arizona Game and Fish Department is asking the Sierra Club to retract a fundraising letter that makes false statements about Arizona’s endangered condor population. The department (AZGFD) says untrue claims were made about hazards to condor health in a fundraising letter from Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club. In his June 24 fundraising appeal, Brune claims a link between uranium mining and condor health. Despite a moratorium against uranium mines i... Full story
In 2006, I wrote a lengthy article about the inequities involved in the pay structure for the law enforcement personnel in the Arizona Game & Fish Department. The department was losing their personnel to competing agencies across the board. Some were leaving for DPS (Department of Public Safety) some were opting for local police departments and some were going to the local county sheriffs offices. At that time, the then director for the Arizona Game & Fish Department was Duane Schroufe. The... Full story
OLYMPIA – The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted restrictions on the use of bait to hunt deer and elk, but made few significant changes in state hunting seasons at a public meeting April 8-9 in Olympia. The commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), agreed to set a 10-gallon limit on the amount of bait hunters can make available to attract deer and elk at any one time. The new rule, approved by a v... Full story
Every year the State of Arizona convenes the legislature in January and all kinds of bills pop up. Some are ludicrous (just ask Representative Townsend) and some are a response to critical problems. This year the Arizona Game & Fish Department has been pushing for SB1361 to be approved. What Is SB1361? What is SB1361 and why are a few select former commissioners screaming? Back in 1990, The Heritage Fund (Indian gaming monies) awarded an annual amount of $10 million dollars to the Arizona Game a... Full story
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking public comments on proposed recommendations for the 2016-17 hunting seasons. Through Feb. 25, WDFW will accept written comments from the public to help finalize hunting rules and regulations proposed for the upcoming hunting seasons. The proposals and comment forms are posted on the department’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/about/regulations/hunting_regulations/ Most of the proposals address changes in special per... Full story