Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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All lakes were stocked again with channel catfish the week of Sept. 30 – Oct. 5. Fishing for catfish is good to excellent now that the fall stockings have resumed. The Sept. 19 stocking was loaded with incentive-size catfish in the 3-8 pound range. Mornings and evenings are the best times because catfish prefer to feed under dim or dark conditions. Top baits for catfish have been stink baits, shrimp and worms fished on the bottom in the deeper lake sections. Use smaller sinkers and 8-pound t... Full story
Many hunters, anglers and other outdoor recreationists have been wondering how the current federal government shutdown, which began Oct. 1, will impact their upcoming outings. Despite closures by federal land management agencies of their administrative offices and some controlled access points and facilities, there are numerous opportunities available to Arizonans for outdoor recreation. Please keep in mind that, with regard to federal lands, official information on closures is the responsibilit... Full story
KINGMAN, Ariz. — Alcohol is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Luke Apfel, wildlife manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Region 3 office in Kingman, is well aware of this statistic and has been active in many of the regional Operating Under the Influence checkpoints. For his efforts in removing impaired operators from the waterways, Apfel was recently awarded the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) OUI Officer of the Yea... Full story
PHOENIX -- Scottsdale photographer Ruth Jolly's image of an elegant black-necked stilt guiding a fuzzy chick along the shoreline has captured the grand prize in this year's Arizona wildlife photo contest, sponsored by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The contest, which promotes Arizona's diverse wildlife, attracted more than 300 entries from across Arizona and beyond. Winning images are published in a full-size 2014 wildlife calendar in the November-December issue of Arizona Wildlife Views... Full story
Don’t miss this opportunity to sign up for the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Hunter Education class in Payson. The two-day class will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, November 16 and 17, at the Payson American Legion, 709 AZ-260, just east of the Giant Gas Station. Field day will be held on Sunday at the Jim Jones Shooting Range. To register, email jtnash@npgcable.com or call (928) 478-2014. Registration will be available at the door on November 16. Fall hunter edu... Full story
Widespread rains across the state have helped drop lake water temperatures. Look for fish to get active once again, assuming this typical pattern holds true. We'll see. Lake Pleasant The top-water striper bite at Lake Pleasant is picking up. Get there at first light or you might miss the boils. Cover lots of water and look for birds or surface activity. Try top-water lures, jerkbaits and flies. (Zara Spook Juniors and buzzbaits tend to be successful this time of the year.) Roosevelt Lake The...
Arizona Game and Fish Department will hold informational meetings on federal proposals regarding Mexican wolves. 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... Full story
The way some anglers look at Arizona as a fishing destination has begun to change since April when “Flathead” Ed Wilcoxson landed the heaviest recorded fish in the state’s history. Word is getting out that The Grand Canyon State is home to many gargantuan flathead catfish. Wilcoxson — after photos of his 76.54-pound flathead catfish taken out of Bartlett Lake were shared on fishing forums and media outlets across the World Wide Web — has received phone calls from interested anglers as far away a... 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
The Arizona Game and Fish Department will hold public meetings this week 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... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is a pioneer in reducing the amount of lead available in the environment to wildlife species that are particularly susceptible to lead toxicity like the California condor. The department has a successful voluntary non-lead program to aid condor recovery and works extensively with a wide range of partners to monitor lead's impact on wildlife. The Department feels strongly that a voluntary lead ammunition reduction program creates more acceptance and a more... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission recently approved 12 amendments to Commission Order 40 (fish regulations) that are expected to conserve sport fish populations and simplify and streamline regulations. The amendments will take effect Jan. 1, 2014. One amendment of particular benefit to anglers is a change in the statewide possession limit to twice the daily bag limit, applying to all statewide and special regulation seasons. The regulation will now give the angler the ability to continue... Full story
Thank you to all who came to the summer Hunting & Angling Heritage Workgroup (HAHWG) meeting. We had 45-50 attendees at the meeting, representing 22 unique organizations. Included in that count were 19 new faces to HAHWG, bringing seven (7) new organizations under the tent. Way to recruit, everyone! You all are a bunch of dedicated outdoor heritage leaders. I also want to thank Commissioner Pat Madden, of Flagstaff, for attending Sunday’s meeting. For those who didn’t make it, I am loading all... Full story
The wait is over for eager hunters who applied for the upcoming season. Draw results for Arizona’s 2013 fall deer, turkey, javelina, bighorn sheep, buffalo and pheasant hunts are now available online. To view results, go to https://az.gov/app/huntdraw/home.xhtml and scroll down to the “View results and bonus points” link. Draw results are also available by phone at 602 942-3000; select option two on the automated menu. Second Chance Hunters who submitted applications for a fall hunt, but were... 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
Are you fascinated by reptiles? Do you have a yard big enough for a dog, but no time to take one for daily walks? Is someone in your family allergic to pets with fur or feathers? If so, consider adopting a desert tortoise through the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Desert tortoises offer a unique alternative to more traditional family pets, and can teach many of the same life lessons to children, including responsibility, compassion and commitment. “We cannot stress enough how detrimental r... Full story
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
Fishing for catfish is slow at all Urban Fishing waters statewide through the summer (no stocking period). For holdover catfish, try the larger lakes of more than 5 acres. Some catfish and bass are being caught, but it takes persistence and some good timing in the early morning and evening hours. Fishing has been good all summer for the plentiful bluegill that frequent the shoreline areas in search of food. Mealworms fished on the bottom or a few feet under a bobber can catch sunfish throughout... Full story
Did you know that — • There are now a total of 21 lakes in the Program located in 11 cities. More lakes are expected to join the Program over the next few years. • The $18.50 Class U (Urban) fishing license fee is the same price for non-residents too. • The Class L, Super Conservation Fishing license is also valid at Program waters. This new combo license includes the Class A state fishing license, the Class U urban fishing license and the Trout Stamp packaged together for $53, a savings of $5 f... 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
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
