Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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The western burrowing owl is one of the most interesting birds of prey in Arizona. Its species name, cunicularia, means "miner", in reference to this owl's unusual habit of spending time underground. Their use of burrows makes them susceptible to impacts from ground-disturbing activities. Burrowing owls are increasingly at risk of displacement in the greater Phoenix area due to commercial and residential development. As one of several solutions to help conserve and protect the species, the... Full story
Once endangered, bald eagles have been slowly growing their numbers around the country. Thanks to the careful work of the Arizona Game and Fish Department and its partners on the Southwestern Bald Eagle Management committee – a coalition that includes government agencies, private organizations and Native American tribes – we've made good progress recovering bald eagle populations in Arizona. From tracking just 11 breeding pairs in 1978, we monitored an estimated 69 pairs in 2018. Even more imp... Full story
Boquillas Ranch Access Agreement Renewed For One Year - AZGFD, Navajo Nation Hope To Reach Long-Term Deal The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) and the Navajo Nation have renewed an access agreement that ensures continued public recreation use for one year on the Boquillas Ranch in Game Management Unit 10. The 720,000-acre ranch in northwest Arizona, which accounts for more than 50 percent of the land in Unit 10, is owned by the Navajo Nation. After more than six months of negotiations be... Full story
All Arizona Hunting, Fishing License Sales Going Online License dealers will no longer sell traditional paper licenses, but many will offer an online purchase option; customers can also buy directly online at https://license.azgfd.com/ or at AZGFD offices. In a move to further modernize its licensing system, beginning January 1, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) will no longer offer traditional paper "book" licenses sold through license dealers. Dealers Vary... Full story
Hunters are reminded to help keep Arizona free of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). With big game seasons still taking place through the end of January, the Arizona Game and Fish Department is asking hunters to continue doing their part to help keep Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) at bay. CWD is a fatal wildlife disease that affects the nervous system of deer and elk. All successful deer and elk hunters are encouraged to bring the head of their harvested animal - especially bucks and bulls - to any d... Full story
Sure, there have been birds for hunters who were willing to get out and climb the hills and canyons of southeastern Arizona when the season opened in early December for Mearns' quail. But the fact remains that it's going to take more than one summer of decent monsoon rains to give populations a desperately needed boost and improve lagging harvest rates. Mearns' Numbers Low "Montezuma (Mearns') quail numbers have been low since we've not had a really good monsoon since 2018, and they respond to... Full story
Popular calendar features 2021 wildlife photo contest winners. The Arizona Game and Fish Department has unveiled its 2022 wildlife calendar, which showcases the winning photographs from its annual contest. The winning images are featured in the full-size 2022 wildlife calendar, which is published in the November-December 2021 issue of Arizona Wildlife Views magazine. Isabel Guerra Clark's photo of desert bighorn sheep at Canyon Lake was awarded best in show and is showcased on the cover. Guerra... Full story
Four years after their habitat was nearly wiped out by the 2017 Frye Fire in the Pinaleño Mountains of southeastern Arizona, an annual survey of the endangered Mt. Graham red squirrel shows their numbers are holding steady compared with last year. 109+ Squirrels Now The annual survey resulted in a minimum estimate of 109 squirrels-the same number as in 2020. Last year was the first time the population had returned to the triple digits since being severely impacted by the Frye Fire. The survey... Full story
Outdoor recreationists, pilots, drone operators asked to avoid nesting areas. From Arizona Game & Fish Arizona's bald eagles are back, and they will soon be 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 93 eagle breeding... Full story
Sandhill Cranes Return To Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area Sandhill cranes by the thousands have once again returned to their wintering grounds at the Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area in southeastern Arizona. For the next few months, viewers can observe almost 20,000 of these fascinating birds on a live-streaming camera installed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD). View the live stream here: www.azgfd.gov/sandhillcranes. A Record Number Of the 47,000-plus sandhill cranes that migrated to... Full story
Now through January 15, 2022 (Select Nights) The wonder of wandering through the Phoenix Zoo Lights is a magical part of the Christmas season. From 5:30-10:30 p.m. experience the thrill of incredible lighting throughout the part. Tickets are $20/person, $16/member, and children two and under are free. December 3 The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) will ...... 
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Arizona hunters who were unsuccessful in the recent 2022 spring draw still have an opportunity to receive a hunt permit-tag for javelina or turkey. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has posted a list of leftover hunt permit-tags on its website at www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Draw/. At press time, a total of 1,538 leftover hunt permit-tags were available for the following hunts: • 921 handgun, archery or muzzleloader (HAM) javelina • 322 archery-only javelina • 205 general javelina • 62 yout... Full story
Award recipients will be honored at annual banquet on Saturday, Jan. 22. The Arizona Game and Fish Commission selected 17 recipients of the 2021 Commission Awards at its Sept. 24 meeting in Greer, Ariz. The award winners will be honored at the annual Commission Awards Banquet on Jan. 22, 2022, at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort in Phoenix. The Commission Awards recognize Arizonans who have contributed significantly to the conservation of the state’s wildlife, its outdoor heritage, and t... Full story
Hunters can check their AZGFD portal account. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has released the draw results for 2022 spring hunts for turkey, javelina, bison and bear, and raptor capture. AZGFD portal accounts now are the sole source for finding out draw results and viewing bonus points. Customers can create a free portal account (family account features are now available) at accounts.azgfd.com/Account/Register. Draw results no longer will be provided through the automated phone... Full story
By Anna Johnson - Associate Editor, Arizona Wildlife Views Citizen Science Opportunity: Counting For A Cause Circles of friends. Circles of care. Circles of volunteers counting birds. Yes, it's true! Each winter since 1985, the annual Christmas Bird Count takes place in Arizona (and across the country) - in circles - to monitor bird population numbers and species in their expected locations. Circles are "drawn" over regions of the state to divide land in segments small enough to manage... Full story
The Heber Wild Horse Territory was established in 1974. It was in conjunction with the Wild Horse & Burro Act that President Nixon signed into law in 1971. Since that time, horses in the Heber area have been studied extensively. In 1993, the Apache Sitgreaves National forests found that there were only two solitary mares in the area at that time. This changed in 2002 with the Rodeo Chedeski fire. Horses that were on the White Mountain Apache Tribal lands poured into the Apache Sitgreaves... Full story
Oh, the views: spectacular! Thank you, Margie Anderson, for some fantastic photos of vistas here in Arizona, and on our "Western Wildlife" page, we salute another incredible photographer, George Andrejko, Arizona Game & Fish Department, who has some tips for taking pictures of wildlife. With so many negatives confronting us, usually from the media, there is such good news to celebrate here in the Southwest — We have family outings to enjoy as outdoor fans cut their own Christmas trees. We h... Full story
Friends, Arizona has one of the most dynamic ecosystems in the world! Arizona ranks among the top 5 states for the number of native birds, reptiles, and mammal species and is in the top 10 for overall diversity of vertebrates. Arizona provides a unique outdoor experience, whether it's hiking, kayaking, fishing or wildlife watching...it doesn't get any better than recreating outdoors in Arizona. Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is a critical resource for the future of Arizona wildlife.... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has created an innovative online course - "Ethically Hunting Arizona" - that provides hunters 18 and older with an opportunity to earn a lifetime bonus point. A bonus point is simply an accumulated credit (or point) that authorizes the department to issue additional computer-generated random numbers to a big game draw application, thus providing an applicant with an added chance of receiving a low random number in the draw and improving their draw... Full story
When The Time Is Right, Wildlife Photos Can Be Incredible By George Andrejko Photographer, Arizona Game And Fish Department Wild Arizona: Two Tips For Better Wildlife Photos Wildlife photography is a pursuit that can be enjoyed for a lifetime. There's always something new to learn. This time of year offers plenty of opportunities to take pictures of birds and animals. When you're outside with a camera this month, make it a point to practice your composition skills. As you look at the subject,... Full story
Hunters should look for spots that received localized moisture. There's just no other way to say it: This is going to be one tough quail-hunting season. Now that we've gotten that announcement out of the way, that doesn't mean hunters who have high hopes of chasing Gambel's and scaled quail across the landscape should keep their boots in the closet and their shotgun in the safe when the 2021-22 season opened Oct. 15. "Hunting desert quail will probably be mediocre, generally," said Larisa Hardin... Full story
Arizona Game and Fish Department and private landowner win awards from Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) won two awards and southern Arizona rancher Ian Tomlinson and his Vera Earl Ranch won one, at the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) annual awards ceremony in Providence, Rhode Island, held in-person and virtually on Sept. 13. The awards recognize individuals and organizations for their dedication to advancing fish and... Full story
Arizona November 2021 Hunting Calendar 2021-22 Fees: General Hunting, resident: $37 Non-resident: not available see combination Combination Hunt and fish, resident: $57 Non-resident: $160 Youth combination hunt and fish (ages 10-17), resident: $5 Non-resident: $5 Short-term combination license, resident: $15/day, Non-resident: $20/day There are also fees for permit-tags and nonpermit-tags. See the 2021-2022 Hunting Regulations at www.azgfd.com for details. Report Vandalism: 1-800-VANDALS Report... Full story
Portal account needed to access draw results; automated phone service ends. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is accepting applications for 2022 hunt permit-tags issued through the draw process for spring turkey, javelina, bison, bear and raptor capture. To apply, visit www.azgfd.gov and click on "Apply for a Draw." For an overview of the application service, including license requirements, applying for bonus points and payment information, see Page 8 of the "2022 Spring Turkey,... Full story
Meetings are to discuss plans for the future of the state's wildlife. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is updating its 10-year conservation plan - the Arizona Wildlife Conservation Strategy (AWCS) - and is sharing the core elements of the new strategy based on public input to date. The department will host two virtual meetings in October to discuss enhancements to the AWCS and obtain feedback from the public. The meeting times and dates are - • Bats of Arizona - 6:30-8 p.m. Oct. 7 (... Full story
