Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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PHOENIX -- A peregrine falcon chick hatched in a nest box on a downtown Phoenix high-rise was seen struggling this weekend, causing the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) to take action. The wild peregrine chick, whose hatching was captured by a dedicated web-video camera, was having difficulty using its legs, causing it to fall and flail its wings.... 
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Tip Of The Week At Lake Havasu, a.k.a. Arizona's West Coast, anglers can have banner days on the bedding smallmouth bass. Crappie and largemouth bass will follow with their egg protecting endeavors. (Did I say, "crappie"? Yep, and it looks like Alamo Lake is ripe to be targeted for this great-tasting fish. Just get some good advice from an area tackle shop – if you need it -- and mean business.) The Reel Deal Most bass are in pre-spawn mode in most of the desert lakes. Before recent storms, some... Full story
To: John ("JK") Koleszar & Western Outdoor Times, Arizona Boating and Watersports Re: "Western Wildlife" article in the February 2016 edition, "Wake Zone, What Price is Enough?" Challenge Accepted I would like to submit a response to the heavily opinionated piece that was published in the February 2016 "Western Wildlife" section of the Western Outdoor Times by John Koleszar. My response is that Mr. Koleszar seems to have written a biased piece without including many facts about wild horses and b... 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
Kartchner Caverns State Park will celebrate Earth Day and the return of the Myotis velifer bat colony to Kartchner Caverns State Park at "Bat Day" on Saturday, April 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day will be filled with family activities, presentations and hands-on activities. The cave will be open for tours but those should be reserved in advance. The event will include presentations in the theater by State Park Rangers and guest speakers including Keith Graves and Joel M. Diamond, PhD and live... Full story
A draft recreational boating Compatibility Determination for Havasu National Wildlife Refuge is now available for public review and comment. Due to an increase in safety concerns and the protection of wildlife habitat, the Service is in the process of reassessing all boating recreation activities taking place at the Refuge. The Refuge began reevaluating boating usage when the need arose to extend a 17-mile restricted boating area by ½ mile of No-Waterskiing for the safety of the visiting... Full story
Bill Luke Bass Days is "Making Bass Fishing Great Again!" The 18th annual event at Pleasant Harbor RV Resort and Marina is handing out over $50,000 in cash prizes over the course of the three-days bass fishing tournament. The bass fishing tournament has six daily hourly weigh-ins; every hour first place pays $300, second through tenth place pay $100. Top Overall Big Bass this year wins $10,000! The Biggest Bass of The Day, each day, will win $2,000. And, Bill Luke will pay a $1,000 cash award... Full story
The warming spring weather brings out "the best in show". Make that plural: shows! The first of the Arizona favorites is the 16th annual International Sportsmen Exposition & Arizona Boat Show, this year at WestWorld of Scottsdale from Thursday, March 10 through Sunday, March 13. One of the highlights of the Expo is shown on this month's cover - the giant WesternBass.com Aquarium Demonstration Tank, which is presented again this year by Arizona Boating & Watersports/Western Outdoor Times news... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department Outdoor Expo is all set for Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3, at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix. Admission and parking are free! From Wildlife To Fish To Targets Last year's Expo and Youth Day drew a total of 39,000 attendees, and again this year, there will be plenty of hands-on fun for all ages. Check out the huge kids fishing tanks and take home a free photo. See all sorts of live wildlife. Learn target archery and try other shooting... Full story
Thank you! What a fantastic gathering and discussion we had on Jan. 30. We had 50 people in attendance of whom 15 were first-time attendees — our highest turnout yet! The cross section of representation was equally as impressive with 21 unique organizations (many wear multiple hats) — including three angling groups and two predator hunting group. The Department was equally represented by our public-information staff (five), terrestrial branch (one), wildlife managers and regional staff (four), hunter education (one), and shooting sports (tw... 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
For more than 20 years, the Heritage Fund has made a difference not just to wildlife conservation efforts, but also to the state's economy, public access, environmental education and outdoor recreation. Passed by voters as a ballot initiative in 1990 by a 2-1 ratio, the fund provides up to $10 million each year from Arizona lottery proceeds to the Arizona Game and Fish Department for the conservation and protection of the state's wildlife and natural areas. Protect, Provide, Educate The... Full story
Grand Canyon, Ariz. – The National Park Service (NPS) has announced a 30-day public comment period seeking input on changes to the scope of the Bison Management Plan at Grand Canyon National Park. The focus of the planning effort will shift from development of a long-term management plan for North Rim bison to initial herd reduction. In spring 2014, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the NPS initiated public scoping for an environmental impact statement (EIS) to d... Full story
Saturday, March 19 (next Saturday) is our annual National Archery in the Schools (NASP) State Tournament at Ben Avery. We have more than 300 youth archers registered for the event plus their parents and / or chaperones. They will be shooting both target archery and many shoot 3D animal targets. We would like to extend and invitation to any organization or group, especially archery hunting groups, that would like to setup a booth or trailer to do any outreach and education about your programs... Full story
John ("JK") Koleszar can be reached at elkhabitat@gmail.comelkhabitat@gmail.com. Before anyone sets out the lynch mobs, let me be perfectly clear - I really like horses. I rode them for years, found them to be beautiful and, in many cases, like family members. I also love elk, deer, javelina, antelope, desert bighorn sheep and a host of other creatures. The problem that I have is in the prevailing attitude of those who proclaim the absolute love of only horses. I did a little digging, courtesy... Full story
Updated Wildlife Rules Now In Effect. The Arizona Game and Fish Department, as part of its regular five-year review rulemaking process, has updated its Article 4 (Live Wildlife) rules. The new provisions became effective in December 2015 and were approved by the Governor's Regulatory Review Council. The new provisions include some notable changes including the following: • Removal of hedgehogs from the restricted live wildlife list to allow them as pets. • Prohibitions on possession of any non... Full story
Tip Alamo Lake can be a crappie hot spot this time of the year. Heavy rains might delay the great winter crappie bite, but it bodes well for the lake's productivity. Catfishing can still be excellent. These voracious channel catfish at Alamo routinely feed on shad. Try live minnows on the bottom or drop-shot style just off the bottom. The Reel Deal Water temperatures across the state have dropped to their winter standards, and rain and snow has slowed or stalled driving in the high country. Be... Full story
Kingman, Arizona - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Kingman Field Office, in cooperation with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, will conduct a prescribed burn in the Hualapai Mountains 16 miles southeast of Kingman, Arizona, in the coming weeks. Weather permitting, burning may begin as early as February 22, 2016, and is expected to be completed within three to five days after ignition. The burn areas are located in the south and east end of the Hualapai Mountains in upper Blue Tank... Full story
Ending nearly a 10-year decline, watercraft registrations in Arizona rebounded this year, bringing more people to the state's waterways and likely contributing to an increase in watercraft-related accidents. Two Increases To date this year, there were 127,796 watercraft registered in Arizona, which is a 2.7-percent increase from the 124,425 registered in the state in 2014. With the increase in registrations, law enforcement officers statewide recorded a 13-percent jump in watercraft-related... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department swapped approximately 800 old and tattered life jackets with new ones during life jacket exchange events at area lakes this past summer. During the popular events, the public can swap old, less-effective life jackets for new ones. The department began the life jacket exchange program in 2008 to help save lives and to encourage watercraft users to remain safe on the water. Most Effective Way "Wearing a life jacket is the most effective way to prevent against... Full story
The annual Arizona Game and Fish Commission Awards Banquet will be held on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, at the Arizona Grand Resort, 8000 S. Arizona Grand Parkway, Phoenix, Arizona 85044. The event will honor the recipients of the 2015 Commission Awards that were selected at the Commission’s September 4, 2015 meeting (see below). 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... Full story
It is the role of the Arizona Game and Fish Department to conserve, protect and manage more than 800 wildlife species within the state's boundaries – more than any non-coastal state in our nation. To fulfill that promise, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission and Department must stand as a barrier against all threats to our wildlife. It's a heavy responsibility carried out by all who serve at the Department, and it's why we are pressuring the federal government to provide the U.S. Bureau of L... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is launching a new program to encourage anglers to learn more about trout fishing in Arizona. The Arizona Trout Challenge Program is an incentive program that highlights the state's unique species, waters, and fishing opportunities. Any angler completing the Challenge will receive a certificate featuring the species caught along with the date and location. In addition, the first group of anglers to complete the Challenge will receive other items that may... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department, as part of its regular five-year review rulemaking process, has updated its Article 4 (Live Wildlife) rules. The new provisions became effective Dec. 5. The updated rules were recently approved by the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council. The new provisions include some notable changes including the following: • Removal of hedgehogs from the restricted live wildlife list to allow them as pets, • Prohibitions on possession of any non-human primate speci... Full story
Each year the Arizona Deer Association works with the Arizona Game & Fish Department Development Branch on worthwhile projects designed to help all wildlife but in particular, deer. The photos that you see are really the culmination of years of activity prior to the actual production of this walk-in water trough. For those who are not familiar with it, this article is a primer on how things get done. Every year HPC (Habitat Partnership Committee) groups meet all across the state. Water happens... Full story
