Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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The Arizona Game and Fish Department is accepting comments on improving the hunt guidelines to continue the sustainable management of the state’s game animals, while providing as much hunting recreation as possible. Comments on the existing hunt guidelines may be submitted through Feb. 15 at azgamebranch@azgfd.gov, or by mail to Hunt Guidelines, Arizona Game and Fish Department, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086. “This is the public’s opportunity to get involved in the nuts and bolts... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has announced that the online application service for Arizona’s 2013 elk and pronghorn antelope hunt draw is now available. Hunters who haven’t yet submitted an application for a hunt permit-tag now have the option of applying online by visiting https://az.gov/app/huntdraw/home.xhtml and scrolling down to the “Apply for a Draw” link. Antelope, Elk Hunt Draw Information The 2013 Pronghorn Antelope and Elk Hunt Draw Information Booklet is available online... Full story
Do not let the temperature outside fool you. Cold-water immersion and hypothermia can occur in water as cool as 70 degrees at any time of the year, even on a warm and sunny day. Arizona winters are mild, and recreational boating is popular year-round, but a sudden and unexpected immersion into cold water can cause hypothermia and even lead to a life-threatening situation. Entering extremely cold water causes an immediate gasp reflex that can fill the lungs with water. After falling overboard or... Full story
An adult male Mexican wolf, designated M1133, may soon be exploring its new territory in the Apache National Forest of east-central Arizona. The Mexican Wolf Reintroduction Project’s interagency field team (IFT) recently received approval from Dr. Benjamin Tuggle, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) Regional Director, in coordination with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, to conduct this initial (a wolf born and raised in captivity) release in mid-January adjacent to the Blu... Full story
The recently completed survey of the desert bighorn sheep population on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Kofa National Wildlife Refuge in Southwestern Arizona resulted in a population estimate of 428 sheep (95 percent confidence interval of 376 – 492). The 2012 survey estimate is up slightly from the 2010 survey estimate of 402 sheep, and is the highest estimate since the 2007 survey. The apparent increase in the population size is not statistically significant, however, and bio... Full story
After months of rehabilitation and preparation, Arizona’s only satellite-tracked bald eagle soared free yesterday when it was released at Roosevelt Lake by Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists and rehabilitation specialists from Liberty Wildlife Rehabilitation of Scottsdale. The 4-year-old male was found at Canyon Lake with a broken wing that required medical treatment. Once the wing healed, rehabilitators at Liberty Wildlife worked with the bird to rebuild muscle strength for flying. Hat... Full story
Recently, the Arizona Game and Fish Department temporarily closed to all public entry the Raymond Wildlife Area, located 30 miles east of Flagstaff. The closure will be in effect until March 7. Game and Fish decided on the closure to assist wildlife managers with efforts to maintain the local bison herd on the department-owned property. The closure is necessary to protect ranching operations and property of nearby neighbors, as well as the safety of the public visiting the wildlife area. The... Full story
Are you patiently waiting for the ice to thaw or the weather to warm up so you can get your boat back on the water again? Then why not use the down time productively and take a boating-safety class conducted by your local Coast Guard Auxiliary flotilla or AZGFD, the local U.S. Power Squadron, or the Lake Pleasant Sailing Club? The Coast Guard Auxiliary (as do the others above) offers numerous boating courses for the public, but you may want to go with the basic “About Boating Safely” course or... Full story
Make plans to honor your fellow wildlife conservationists by reserving your spot at the 21st annual Arizona Game and Fish Commission Awards Banquet. The banquet will be held on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Carefree Resort & Conference Center, 37220 Mule Train Road, Carefree, AZ 85377. The event honors recipients of the 2012 Commission Awards selected during the commission’s Sept. 7-8, 2012 meeting (see list of recipients, below). The awards recognize Arizonans who have contributed s... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has been receiving inquiries from outdoor enthusiasts who are uncertain about new Forest Service Travel Management Rules and whether the rules apply to them and their favorite recreational areas. Many hunters, anglers, campers and wildlife watchers are especially concerned about how the new travel management rules are being enforced, especially in national forests located in Arizona. In response to these questions and concerns, Arizona Game and Fish has... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department wants to continue to improve and expand public shooting ranges across the state by providing grant funding to qualified applicants involved in the development, improvement or maintenance of public shooting and archery ranges. The department is accepting grant applications now through Jan. 15, 2013. Shooting clubs, sportsmen’s groups and government agencies operating public shooting ranges are encouraged to apply. Privately owned for-profit ranges are not e... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is proud to announce that its latest book, An Introduction to Hunting Arizona’s Small Game, is now available. The 198-page book is a fantastic resource that provides expert tips for hunting Arizona's small game birds and mammals, from quail and doves to squirrels and rabbits. Extensively illustrated with color photos, it includes detailed descriptions of small game animals and specialized information about their behavior and habits. It will help new and e... Full story
Get Out For Trout This is the time of year when the Arizona Game and Fish Department really kicks in its winter trout stockings in the lower-elevation lakes. You can’t beat the recent weather, so now is a great time to get out and fish for trout. Fishing Updates Anglers sent in the following reports this week: Brand reported that he caught some rainbow trout at Desert Breeze Lake (an Urban Fishing Program water in Chandler) using spring green Power Bait, small panther martins, mealworms, and n... Full story
Rainbow trout stockings are well underway and will continue all winter long at two-week intervals. Trout range in size from 11-12 inches in length, with some fish up to 16 inches. Fishing is good to excellent for anglers using scented dough baits (such as Power Bait), worms or corn on the bottom. Tip: Anglers using 2-4 pound test line are getting 2-3 times more bites than anglers using 8-12 pound line. Small spinners such as Roostertails and Panther Martins, or spoons such as Kastmasters and... Full story
Enjoy a wildlife-viewing experience and help wildlife conservation at the same time by volunteering to help out in one or more annual Arizona Christmas Bird Counts this month. The count program is a bird population survey that has been coordinated annually by the National Audubon Society since 1900. For each count, volunteers (including those from the Arizona Game and Fish Department) will take to the field for one calendar day between Dec. 14, 2012, and Jan. 5, 2013, to record every bird... Full story
The November–December issue of Arizona Wildlife Views magazine has a full-size 2013 wall calendar featuring winning photos from this year’s wildlife photo contest. Bonus feature: 38 honorable-mention images are also included. This issue is still available to new subscribers. Sign up now to get our sale price: seven issues for just $7. The regular price is six issues for $8.50. You can’t buy Arizona Wildlife Views on newsstands, so take advantage of the holiday sale and join our family of subsc... Full story
The City of Tempe and the Arizona Game and Fish Department will host the annual Welcome Back the Trout celebration from 3-5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 20, at the SRP Tempe Town Lake Marina. The public is invited to come down and watch as thousands of rainbow trout are released into the lake. Arizona Game and Fish will conduct a free fishing clinic starting at 3 p.m. About 100 free loaner rods, reels and bait will be available during the event, along with instruction and tips from seasoned anglers. Pe... Full story
November promises to provide excellent fishing at Urban Fishing Program lakes. The Phoenix and Tucson urban lakes have been loaded with catfish all fall with one last stocking in early November. Additionally, 15,000 bluegill were stocked. And, good news: The first trout delivery for the winter season began on Nov. 15 (see below for more information on the trout and bluegill stockings). Top baits for catfish are hot dogs, shrimp, and stink baits with fish biting throughout the day. Anglers are... Full story
Arizona Game and Fish Department officials have confirmed the presence of largemouth bass virus in Lake Pleasant. Lab tests on largemouth bass tissue samples collected during a routine survey in October by Arizona Game and Fish and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel showed presence of the disease in some samples. While the virus can affect largemouth bass, it doesn’t pose a risk to people and pets, and the water is safe for drinking water supply and recreation. “Largemouth bass virus is... Full story
PAYSON, Ariz. — The Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Arizona Elk Society are seeking the public’s help in finding the person(s) responsible for the illegal shooting of four elk in the Payson area in Game Management Unit 22. Game and Fish officers investigating the case said that two young bull elk and one cow elk, all illegally shot and left to waste, were found in close proximity to each other in the Chaparral Pines community and were most likely poached between the evening of Oct. 24 a... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has hosted a series of public meetings statewide to discuss proposed legislation to allow the Arizona Game and Fish Commission to establish hunting and fishing license structure directly through a streamlined, customer-focused process. At press time there remains one meeting: Monday, Nov. 19, 6-8 p.m.: Phoenix, Arizona Game and Fish Department headquarters, 5000 W. Carefree Highway (also webcast at www.azgfd.gov/webcast). The proposal being considered would... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has launched an exciting new Web-based mapping tool, “Recreational Access Arizona,” that provides hunters, anglers, and other outdoor recreationists with important information about access to and through private lands. The free tool, which utilizes GIS mapping technology, is available at www.azaccessmap.com. Recreational Access Arizona was developed as part of the Game and Fish Department’s efforts to secure, maintain and enhance public recreational acces... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is making the public aware of a looming threat to crucial conservation funding by the federal government’s proposed sequestration of conservation trust funds, an action that could reduce Arizona’s wildlife conservation funding by several million dollars. “The Greatest Story Never Told” is the mantra extolled by the nation’s wildlife conservation community in the 75th anniversary of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) programs being celebrate... Full story
A snowy egret with enormous white wings outspread, balances precariously on a tiny yellow branch. The image, captured by Bryan Keil of Scottsdale, Ariz., is the grand prize winner in this year’s wildlife photo contest. The contest, sponsored by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, attracted more than 400 entries from across Arizona and beyond. Winning images have been published in a full-size 2013 wildlife calendar in the November–December issue of Arizona Wildlife Views magazine. The oth... Full story
Rory Aikens, who became known to thousands of anglers through his long-time tenure as editor of the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Weekly Fishing Report, retired last week after a 22-year career with the department. It’s been a superb ride, full of exciting assignments in the field, interesting projects to cover, and even challenging controversies to address. The icing on the cake was getting paid to write about fishing, hunting and wildlife, Aikens said. Aikens began his career as a pub... Full story
