Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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Monsoon season brings one of the southwest desert’s most iconic creatures out of their burrows and out-and-about across the state. Desert tortoises are now in their most active season and more likely to be seen by the public. The Arizona Game and Fish Department asks the public to follow these important guidelines if they encounter a desert tortoise: • Do not remove a tortoise from its habitat. Taking a wild tortoise home is illegal in Arizona. Additionally, most tortoises stay in the same sma... Full story
Many of you in the marine industry and boating world know me; my name is David Esparza, and I have been a member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary for 19 years and a volunteer with the Arizona Game and Fish Department as boating safety instructor for 20 years. I have now worked at West Marine in Tempe for almost three years. First, wear your life jacket when around water. Set the example for others to follow — your fellow boaters, your children or your guest upon your boat. Boating accidents can be horrible and deadly; approximately 8... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has added largemouth bass virus (LMB virus), whirling disease and all snakehead fish to the Director’s Orders aquatic invasive species (AIS) list. LMB Virus LMB virus, which primarily affects adult largemouth and smallmouth bass during the summertime, has been discovered at Lake Pleasant (Maricopa County Parks) and Bartlett, Saguaro, and Roosevelt lakes on the Tonto National Forest. All watercraft users leaving those lakes will now be required by law to c... Full story
Arizona is famous for many things, but opening day of dove season is downright legendary. Temperatures here may still be high, but there's nothing cooler for the hunting community than the first day of dove season. Sunday, Sept. 1 is the official start of dove season. Since the big day falls on a Sunday this year, be sure to get your hunting license and stamp well in advance. Before the weekend, stop in and get your license and stamp at any of the seven Game and Fish offices statewide, 8 a.m.... Full story
What do you have when you combine a 300-foot zip line, rapelling, a kid’s fishing tank, live creatures, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, disc golf, camping, live music, food, many booths and exhibits, educational clinics, sporting equipment displays, and an entire area of Arizona Game & Fish Department displays and exhibits . . . . . . All in the scenic setting of the Granite Dells of Prescott? You have the Prescott’s Great Outdoors – Outdoor Recreation Festival and Expo to be held... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department will hold public meetings this month in Payson, Tucson and Pinetop to share information with constituents on two proposed U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rules dealing with Mexican wolf conservation, and how the public can provide comments to the Service. The first federal rule proposes delisting the gray wolf from the federal list of threatened and endangered species but maintaining endangered status for the Mexican wolf. The second federal rule proposes expa... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission (Commission) voted unanimously on Sept. 6, 2013 to pass a resolution requesting that the Department of Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) hold at least one public meeting in Arizona as part of the scoping hearings on the expansion of Mexican wolf conservation. Currently, the Service has proposed to hold public meetings on the proposed rule to delist gray wolves and reclassify the Mexican wolf only in Washington, D.C., Sacramento,... Full story
Hunters may now submit their online and paper applications for the 2014 spring hunt draw for turkey, javelina, buffalo and bear. The deadline for all applications is Tuesday, Oct. 8, by 7 p.m. (MST). Don’t wait until the last minute, as technical issues can occur on deadline day. To apply online, go to www.azgfd.gov/draw and select the link for hunt applications. Paper applications may be hand-delivered to any of the seven department offices located statewide in Pinetop, Flagstaff, Kingman, Y... Full story
Western Outdoor Times publishers note: This report by AZGFD concerns a highly controversial topic. There is much debate over this topic and other views and opinions are available from all sides. 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... Full story
With the recent discovery of quagga mussels in Lake Powell, boaters leaving the northeastern Arizona lake will be required by law to pull their boat plug and decontaminate and dry their watercraft before leaving the vicinity of the lake to help prevent the spread of these invasive mussels. The requirements, which took effect July 1, are now the same as for other Arizona waters known to contain quagga mussels. These waters are listed in the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Aquatic Invasive S... Full story
The Lake Havasu National Refuge Complex has created a safety zone that is anticipated to reduce the likelihood of boat collisions in the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge at the Interstate 40 Bridge on the Colorado River. The expansion of commercial development at the Topock 66 Marina is expected to greatly increase boating traffic in the area. Safety concerns had been expressed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and Lake Havasu Marine Association. A No Wake Zone has been created with two boundary lines of regulatory buoys approximately 700... Full story
With catfish stockings at all Phoenix and Tucson urban waters on hold during the summer months, fishing becomes more challenging, requiring anglers to be adaptable, patient and persistent. Plenty of wily catfish still lurk the depths of the lakes, especially larger lakes of more than 4 acres. Catfishing is fair for anglers using worms, stink baits, or shrimp fished on the bottom. Catfish can be caught throughout the day, but are most active when the sun goes down. Most catfish are from 14-18 inc... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is considering changes to the fishing regulations and is continuing its series of public meetings to provide information. The remaining meetings are — . • July 19, 6 p.m., Arizona Game and Fish Kingman regional office, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road. • July 19, 6 p.m., Arizona Game and Fish Pinetop regional office, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd. Meetings were previously held in Flagstaff, Mesa, Yuma and Tucson. In addition, the public can also submit written comme... Full story
The collaborative efforts of multiple natural resource agencies to protect Gila trout and other native fish populations after last year's devastating Whitewater-Baldy Complex Fire in New Mexico were recognized with the 2012 Region 2 Recovery Champion Award. Recovery Champions are U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff and their partners whose work in advancing the recovery of endangered and threatened species of plants and animals. The award was presented to the Gila trout and Chihuahua Recovery... Full story
The public still has the opportunity to provide comment on the revised draft of the hunt guidelines for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 hunting seasons. The revised draft can be viewed at www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines. Comment can be submitted through July 31 by e-mail to azgamebranch@azgfd.gov, or by mail to Hunt Guidelines, Arizona Game and Fish Department, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086. The draft was developed based on prior input from the public this year and was shared with the... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department will host six public open houses where constituents may review and ask questions about the 2014 spring recommendations for turkey, javelina, buffalo and bear. The proposed recommendations are anticipated to be posted online on July 19 at www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines. Each year, the department makes recommendations to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission regarding the management of game species, which establish the seasons, dates, bag limits, open areas, and...
Local sportsmen's groups can apply now for grant funding for programs that promote activities and events for hunter, angler, shooter and trapper recruitment and retention. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is offering $75,000 in grant funding this year. Applications must be received by the department by 5 p.m. (MST) on Monday, Aug. 12, 2013. Examples of projects eligible for the Arizona Game and Fish Department grants include — Hands-on mentored hunting events: • Small game hunting camps - qu... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is again offering a unique opportunity for people to learn more about Arizona's colorful forest hummingbirds at the 10th annual High Country Hummers Festival on Saturday, July 27, at the department's Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area located near Eagar in eastern Arizona. Sheri Williamson, one of the nation's foremost experts on hummingbirds, will lead a capture and bird-banding event with the assistance of a group of volunteers. The event is free and open... Full story
One of only two species of parrots historically found in the United States, the thick-billed parrot, will benefit from a recovery plan coauthored by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The plan aims to grow the bird’s numbers by focusing recovery on protecting, managing and restoring mature and old-growth conifer forests in Mexico. The plan was published today by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and represents the first time that the U.S. has adopted another country’s endangered sp... Full story
If you're looking for a great opportunity to get outdoors and help enhance wildlife habitat, join us on Saturday, Aug. 17, for a special volunteer project north of Flagstaff. The Arizona Antelope Foundation (AAF), in cooperation with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, will be working in the Sacred Mountain and Wupatki area of the Coconino National Forest and on an Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) right-of-way adjacent to Highway 89. Volunteers will remove old right-of-way fencing... Full story
PHOENIX -- Whether you won or lost when you bought a lottery ticket last year, some of your money is going to benefit something you would approve of… helping Arizona’s schools and universities. That’s because the bulk of this year’s grants from the Arizona Game and Fish Department Heritage Fund are going to education and research. Heritage Fund money comes from Arizona Lottery ticket sales. This year, Game and Fish is using Heritage funds to award more than $335,000 to 32 grant projects across A... Full story
SELIGMAN, Ariz. -- The Arizona Game and Fish Commission and Department are advising hunters, particularly Unit 10 hunt permit-tag holders, of some decisions made by the Big Boquillas Ranch regarding access to the ranch for the upcoming 2013 fall hunting season. These changes include implementation by the ranch operator of new "Ranch Rules" that charge a $60 recreational impact fee for most adults and govern allowable hunter activities. The Department has been working diligently to maintain hunting access to private lands on the Big Boquillas Ra... Full story
Make plans now to attend the 16th annual Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet on Saturday, Aug. 17, at the Chaparral Suites Scottsdale, 5001 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85250. This year’s inductees into the Outdoor Hall of Fame include: Sandra S. Froman (former president of the National Rifle Association and a former president of Wildlife for Tomorrow); William D. "Don" Martin (Kingman area wildlife outfitter and long-time conservationist and wildlife advocate); Walter Shontz (... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department, in cooperation with the Dolly Steamboat and the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, is hosting a public workshop to see and learn about desert bighorn sheep, one of Arizona’s most fascinating large mammals. This special event includes two parts. The first is an evening classroom session where participants can learn about bighorn sheep, their natural history, management and historical significance from biologist Bruce Sitko, a long-time student of b... Full story
Young wildlife can be encountered throughout the spring and the Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds the public that wildlife, like humans, will take steps to protect their young. For wildlife, leaving young behind is generally a protective slight-of-hand trick by animals as a response to a potential threat. These animals have not been abandoned and should not be whisked away by well-intentioned individuals. Such an action can have dire consequences for wildlife and your wallet. “The i... Full story
