Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Sorted by date Results 851 - 875 of 1079
Rising temperatures and longer days mean spring is here and newborn wildlife will become increasingly visible. The Arizona Game and Fish Department understands people's desire to help seemingly abandoned animals such as baby birds and bunnies, but reminds the public that "helping" or "rescuing" baby wildlife can have unintended negative consequences. "The public's intentions to care for wildlife are admirable, but removing baby wildlife from the wild often results in their death," said Mike... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department and its partners of the Southwestern Bald Eagle Management Committee have lifted the closure put into place annually to help bald eagles during the breeding season at Lake Pleasant. The closure was removed at noon on April 1 because the bald eagles in the area failed to produce young and will not breed this late in the spring. Most other previously announced closures remain in effect because bald eagle breeding activities are still continuing in those areas.... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department implemented Stage 1 fire restrictions at all department wildlife areas on Friday, April 18. The restrictions are part of the restrictions issued by the Arizona State Forestry Division on state-owned and state-managed lands outside incorporated municipalities due to the increased risk of wildfire in the state. Stage 1 restrictions mean that no open fires are allowed -- including campfires and wood or charcoal-burning stoves and barbecues. Smoking is...
(PHOENIX) – The future of recreational shooting in Arizona looks a little brighter after a successful fundraising event at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix on Saturday, April 12. The Arizona Game and Fish Department teamed up with TreadLightly! to sponsor the combination fun shoot and dinner party attended by nearly 200 people. Recreational shooting in Arizona came under increased scrutiny when the Sonoran Desert National Monument, one of the last parcels of public land open to r... Full story
The following is a summary of Mexican Wolf Reintroduction Project (Project) activities in Arizona on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (ASNF) and Fort Apache Indian Reservation (FAIR) and in New Mexico on the Apache National Forest (ANF) and Gila National Forest (GNF). Non-tribal lands involved in this Project are collectively known as the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area (BRWRA). Additional Project information can be obtained by calling (928) 339-4329 or toll free at (888) 459-9653, or by...
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is making constituents aware of upcoming public input opportunities regarding bison management at Grand Canyon National Park. The National Park Service (NPS) has initiated a public scoping process for a bison management plan and environmental impact statement (EIS) for Grand Canyon National Park pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. The NPS is working closely with the U.S. Forest Service and the Arizona Game and Fish Department on this effort.... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has posted the 2014-15 Arizona Hunting Regulations online at www.azgfd.gov/draw. Hunters may now apply for a 2014 hunt permit-tag issued through the drawing process for deer, fall turkey, fall javelina, bighorn sheep, fall buffalo and pheasant. (The drawing process for elk and pronghorn antelope occurred earlier this year.) At this point, paper applications may be submitted by U.S. mail to Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn: Drawing Section, P.O. Box... Full story
Grand Canyon, AZ – The National Park Service (NPS) is pleased to announce the latest step to manage the impacts of bison on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park (GCNP). After meeting with cooperators Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD), U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)--over the last several months, the NPS will initiate public scoping later this week for a bison management plan and environmental impact statement (EIS) to be prepared pursuant to t...
The 20th Annual Payson Wildlife Fair is happening on Saturday, May 10. This free event in the cool pines runs 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Green Valley Park, 1000 W. Country Club Dr. in Payson. Admission, parking and activities are free! The Arizona Game and Fish Department will be stocking 800 pounds of rainbow trout for this event; that’s more than 1,000 fish going into the lakes! There will be fishing poles and bait available to borrow for free. No fishing license is required during the event hours (... Full story
On March 4, 2014, the Southwest Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) notified the public that the Service had designated 764,207 acres of land in southern Arizona as critical habitat for the rarely-present jaguar. This action completed the third review by the Service that examines the need for jaguar critical habitat in Arizona. The two prior reviews found that designation of critical habitat in Arizona-New Mexico was not warranted. The Arizona Game and Fish Department does... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department Outdoor Expo is all set for Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30, at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix. Admission and parking are free. There's plenty of hands-on fun for all ages. Check out the huge kids' fishing tanks and take home a free photo. Learn target archery and try other shooting sports in a safe, supervised, controlled environment on the range. Get a feel for specialty shooting disciplines like clay target, cowboy action, practical... Full story
Tip Of The Week Spring bass fishing can be excellent, and there's one technique that can turn average bass days into exceptional ones. During the pre-spawn (generally water temperatures of less than 55 degrees), when targeting big, transitioning bass in the shallows, try dyeing your soft plastic bass lures orange. Water clarity is generally limited in our warm-water fisheries right now, and an orange tail can help trigger bass feeding on crawfish. During a spawn (when water temperatures are at... Full story
Each year the Arizona Game and Fish Department makes recommendations to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission regarding the management of game species for the annual hunting and trapping regulations, which establish the seasons, dates, bag limits, open areas, and hunt permit-tag allocations based on the framework of the hunt guidelines set by the commission every two years. The department has hosted five of six public forums to meet with constituents about developing the 2014 fall hunt... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission today held a public meeting to discuss the strike-everything amendment to House Bill 2127, a proposal that would allow the Arizona Game and Fish Department to use Heritage Fund property acquisition funds to operate, maintain and protect Heritage Fund properties that the commission owns. The department recommended that the commission vote not to move the strike-everything amendment forward. The commission voted unanimously to approve the department’s r... Full story
Catfish stockings will be coming back to the core Community Fishing Program lakes and ponds in Tucson and Phoenix on Friday. Here are the core lakes and ponds: (Phoenix area) Surprise, Rio Vista Pond, Pioneer, Desert West, Alvord, Cortez, Steele I.S. Pond, Encanto, Papago Ponds, E. Hallman Pond, Riverview, Desert Breeze, Veterans Oasis; (Tucson area) Lakeside, Sahuarita, Kennedy, Silverbell, Copper Sky, Kiwanis, Water Ranch, Red Mountain, Chaparral. Channel catfish are best caught using a hook... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department and Tread Lightly! are hosting a Fun Shoot and Steak Dinner on Saturday, April 12, to raise funding to implement education/outreach and engagement strategies designed to save recreational shooting opportunities on public and private lands in Arizona. The Respected Access is Open Access campaign is aimed at protecting and enhancing access and opportunities by fostering an enhanced sense of resource stewardship and responsible recreation throughout the outdoor... Full story
Deadline to submit nominations is April 25 The Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation is soliciting nominations for this year's inductees into the Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame. Every year the Outdoor Hall of Fame recognizes individuals and organizations that have made significant and lasting contributions toward Arizona's wildlife, the welfare of its natural resources, and the state's outdoor heritage. To submit a nomination, download a nomination form (PDF and MS Word versions of this form can also... Full story
Fun Shoot and Steak Dinner to be held April 12 The Arizona Game and Fish Department and Tread Lightly! are hosting a Fun Shoot and Steak Dinner on Saturday, April 12, to raise funding to implement education/outreach and engagement strategies designed to save recreational shooting opportunities on public and private lands in Arizona. You can sign up for the Fun Shoot and Steak Dinner or for the Steak Dinner Only (see prices below). There will be an auction and raffle with exciting prizes. Sign up...
Did you know that your state taxes do not support the conservation of Arizona"s wildlife, but your donations do? Taxpayers can help the state's wildlife at tax time by "making a mark" on their state income tax form. The Arizona Wildlife Fund is a voluntary program that allows Arizona taxpayers to make a donation to specifically help imperiled and endangered wildlife, including majestic bald eagles, black-footed ferrets, California condors, Apache trout, Mexican wolves and desert tortoises,...
Arizona Wildlife Views, the Emmy-winning outdoors and nature series produced by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, will now be seen weekly on Eight, Arizona PBS in Phoenix. Beginning March 18, new episodes of the show began airing Tuesdays at 2 p.m. on the popular PBS station (Digital channel 8.1). "We’re proud that Eight, Arizona PBS has aired Arizona Wildlife Views for more than 20 years as part of their commitment to original programs about Arizona," said Carol Lynde, video production s... Full story
The 14th annual Arizona International Sportsmen's Exposition (ISE) will fill the University of Phoenix Stadium Feb. 20-23 with an expanded list of outdoor products. Open to the public, the expo will draw more than 15,000 attendees from the Valley and throughout Arizona. The expo will spotlight 300 companies: manufacturers and retailers; local, regional and international destinations; guides and outfitters; travel bureaus; enthusiast clubs and groups; and nonprofit organizations representing a wi... Full story
Bill Luke Bass Days is the Southwest's largest family fishing tournament and festival - held March 14, 15, 16 at Lake Pleasant. This year's is sure to be one of our biggest events! For the fishermen, we are featuring over $50,000 in cash prizes. For everyone, we will have a day and night time festival featuring a Cornhole Tournament, carnival rides, vendors, food, wildlife exhibits and live music. Tournament Prize List The prizes for this year's Bass Days Tournament are spectacular. This year's... Full story
In a continuing effort to advance open two-way communication with stakeholders, the Arizona Game and Fish Department will host a Sportsmen’s Open Forum on Wednesdaly, Feb. 19 from 6-8 p.m. at the department’s headquarters at 5000 W. Carefree Highway in Phoenix. There will be an interactive session to discuss issues that the department sees as important to its constituencies. There will also be time for open dialogue with those who would like to discuss issues that are of concern and/or imp... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is investigating the poaching of a mule deer doe that occurred the evening of Jan. 24 or possibly the following day on the Kaibab National Forest near Williams in Game Management Unit 8. The deer was found southwest of Bill Williams Mountain along U.S. Forest Service Road 122. Officials investigating this case received information about the dead deer through the department’s Operation Game Thief hotline. The deer was discovered about 20 yards from the road w... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has announced the availability of additional Heritage Grant awards in two categories for the 2014 grant cycle. Grant proposals will be accepted until Friday, March 14 at 5 p.m. MST in the environmental education and outdoor education categories. Applicants should review the revised Heritage Grant eligibility funding windows (eligibility criteria) and application forms at www.azgfd.gov/w_c/heritage_apply.shtml to obtain specific guidance for goals and... Full story
