Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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After more than 22 years and 1,200-plus weeks of producing the weekly fishing report, this is my last one. I am retiring. I am truly blessed for having had such a superb readership. And such an interactive one. I truly appreciated all the e-mails and phone calls with tips and questions. It was also gratifying to meet so many of you on the lakes, at events, or in some cases, even places like the local super market. Being just an old small-town newspaper editor, I have always looked at all of you... Full story
All lakes were stocked again with channel catfish the week of Oct. 1-6. Fishing for catfish is good to excellent now that the fall stockings have resumed. Mornings and evenings are the best times as catfish prefer to feed under dim or dark conditions. While the majority of stocked catfish are caught in the first five days of stocking, anglers are still catching cats one to two weeks later at a slower rate. Top baits for catfish have been stink baits, shrimp and worms fished on the bottom in the... Full story
Hello anglers!As most of you know, long-time Fishing Report Editor Rory Aikens retired last week after 22 years with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Rory was a great ambassador for the department and to Arizona’s fishing community. Over his career he interacted with thousands of anglers and conveyed his wealth of knowledge about the fishing hot spots in the state, what types of fish are biting, what bait to use, and more. We wish him a happy retirement — he leaves “big waders” to fill. L... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is awarding grant funding to 14 local sportsmen’s groups to support 22 projects geared toward increasing hunter and angler recruitment and retention. The Local Sportsmen’s Group Grant Program was started in 2007 to provide financial assistance to local sportsmen’s organizations in supporting wildlife conservation. The program awards grant funds to eligible projects through a competitive application process each year. Focus On Recruitment, Retention The focus of projects eligible to receive grant funds is det... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is asking for assistance from deer and elk hunters in monitoring efforts for chronic wasting disease (CWD). Hunters can provide assistance by allowing Game and Fish personnel or a cooperating taxidermist or game-meat processor to collect a tissue sample from their harvested deer or elk. CWD is a neurodegenerative wildlife disease that is fatal to cervids, which include deer, elk and moose. Clinical signs include loss of body weight or emaciation, excessive... Full story
A boater is quite right about only needing a flashlight or lantern for a (non-mechanized) boat less than 7 meters (23 feet). However, if the boat has machinery (a motor — even a trolling motor) on board, according to A.R.S. Title Five, which is what “Officer Friendly” out at the lake in Arizona enforces, you'll need running lights if you're out between sunset and sunrise, or operating in restricted (rain, dust or the like) visibility: 5-333. Classification of watercraft; lights A. Water...
Even some places in the Southwest may have ice and cold temps, beginning soon. If you are in one of those locations, as you patiently wait for the ice to thaw or the weather to warm up so you can finally get your boat back on the water again, here’s an idea. Why not use the down time productively and take a boating safety class conducted by your local Coast Guard Auxiliary flotilla? Also, Arizona Game & Fish Department, the Phoenix Power Squadron, and the Lake Pleasant Sailing Club all offer classes that are referenced each month on page t... Full story
Hunters in Arizona continue to prove to the critics that voluntary efforts to conserve endangered wildlife do work, often better than mandated measures. In the last five years, 80 to 90 percent of hunters in Arizona’s condor range have taken measures to reduce the amount of spent lead ammunition that is available to California condors. Arizona’s voluntary lead-reduction program has been well supported by hunters, and they deserve a thank you for continuing sportsmens’ proud tradition of being th... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has released the draft of its new strategic plan, Wildlife 20/20, and wants your comments and input. Wildlife 20/20 provides broad strategic guidance for all department programs. It is intended to be a living document that conveys policy direction that the Arizona Game and Fish Commission has provided to the department to guide its work into the future. It will be complemented by additional plans designed to provide more specific direction, as needed. The...
TUCSON, Ariz. — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is currently analyzing a recent trail camera photo of either a jaguar or an ocelot sighted southeast of Tucson. The photo includes only the tail and a small portion of a hind quarter of the animal, making positive identification more difficult. Game and Fish is now consulting with outside experts about the photo, taken Sept. 23 and submitted by a sportsman, to better identify the species. Reported By Hunters Four of the last five confirmed jag...
Oct. 19, 2012 PHOENIX - The Arizona Game and Fish Department will host a series of public meetings statewide in November 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. The proposal would provide the commission more flexibility to change the license structure and license products to be responsive to customer needs and changing conditions. “Potential benefits... Full story
This report is provided by WOT/AZBW to bring our readers some of the current updates from Arizona Game & Fish Department. AZGFD offers a vast amount of information on all outside activities and may be found at www.azgfd.gov. October 24, 2012 “The Greatest Story Never Told” is the mantra being extolled by the nation’s wildlife conservation community in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Fund (WSFR). Farsighted and forward-looking sportsmen worked with... Full story
According to The Arizona Game and Fish Department, off-highway vehicle fatalities jumped from 8 in 2010 to 29 last year – serving as a stark reminder for OHV enthusiasts to exercise safe, responsible riding practices. According to statistics from the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), there were also 409 non-fatal inpatient hospitalizations and 1,611 non-fatal emergency room visits due to OHV injuries in 2011. “The increase in the number of fatalities and injuries is most likely rel... Full story
From AZGFD Arizona’s State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) revision guiding wildlife conservation for 2012-2022 was recently approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The plan’s revision considers many of the changes that Arizona and its wildlife have experienced since the original plan was created in 2006. Some of the more significant changes that impact wildlife conservation and were addressed in the plan include the state’s above-average human population growth; increasing demand for renew... Full story
Even though each night is two minutes longer, the nighttime temperatures still remain in the upper 70s and 80s, so our larger desert impoundments are experiencing a slow cool down this season so far. However, in the high country the nights are into the 50s or cooler, so the transition to fall conditions will be more pronounced and the fish should be getting increasingly active. Transition Time This is really a transition time of year from summer to autumn conditions. As the water cools, the... Full story
From AZGFD The online application service for Arizona’s spring 2013 hunt permit-tags issued through the drawing process for turkey, javelina, buffalo and bear is now available at https://phx.az.gov/app/huntdraw/home.xhtml. The online service allows payment with a credit card (VISA and Mastercard only). The cost of the hunt permit-tag won’t be charged unless the applicant is drawn. The online service works with the following browsers: Microsoft Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome and Saf... Full story
Recently, “about a quarter of the boats showing up at Lake Powell with quagga mussels have been in violation due to mussels’ being attached to the anchor,” Tom McMahon, invasive species coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department, said. McMahon added that boaters coming from lakes such as Pleasant, Mead, Mohave, and Havasu that are infested with quagga mussels need to be conscientious about taking legally required proper precautions so they don’t move these invasive mollusks to an unaf... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has a bargain offer for anyone interested in learning more about Arizona’s wildlife, in fishing, and eating wild-caught foods. From Sept. 17–21, the department will be selling four of its most popular books (that normally retail from $5 to $8) for just $1 each (while supplies last) at the Game and Fish offices in Phoenix, Mesa, Tucson, Flagstaff, Pinetop, Kingman and Yuma; available are the following: • Arizona Wildlife Views Special Edition — This 155-pag... Full story
Urban Fishing Report Best Hope In Summer Are Larger Lakes Monsoon storms trigger some good fishing periods. From AZGFD Fishing for catfish is slow at all Urban Fishing Program waters statewide through the summer (no stocking period). For holdover catfish, try the larger lakes over five acres in size. 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 bluegills that... Full story
Bring Your Rods To The Rim Arizona’s High Country Offers Excellent Angling Now By Rory Aikens AZGFD Monsoon rains have helped our high mountain lakes. For many getting ready to head back to school, it's time for one last summer fishing fling. So, here are some tips for a summer fling. Tough to beat the Mogollon Rim Country. You can fish Woods Canyon, Willow Springs Lake, Christopher Creek, Tonto Creek, Canyon Creek, Haigler Creek, and Bear Canyon all on the same trip — if you so desire. Tak... Full story
Hunters, Anglers Getting A Special Football Deal From AZGFD Football fans with Arizona hunting or fishing licenses can score on special ticket license deals for two Sun Devil football games in September. Sun Devil Athletics has teamed up with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to offer two great gridiron deals so sportsmen can experience the excitement of Sun Devil Football first hand. Discounts are being offered sportsmen for the Sept. 8 televised game between ASU and Illinois and the Sept.... Full story
Hunters, Anglers Getting A Special Football Deal From AZGFD Football fans with Arizona hunting or fishing licenses can score on special ticket license deals for two Sun Devil football games in September. Sun Devil Athletics has teamed up with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to offer two great gridiron deals so sportsmen can experience the excitement of Sun Devil Football first hand. Discounts are being offered sportsmen for the Sept. 8 televised game between ASU and Illinois and the Sept.... Full story
Fall Draw Had Over 133,000 Applicants Leftover permits have been available on first-come, first-served basis. The wait is over — the drawing results for Arizona’s fall deer, turkey, javelina, bighorn sheep, buffalo and pheasant hunts are now available. You can visit www.azgfd.gov/draw and click on the link to the draw results page. Applicants can also find out if they were drawn by calling (602) 942-3000 and selecting option two. Due to heavy call volume initially, you might get a busy sig... Full story
AZGFD Partners With ADOT To Make Highways Safer Many motorists have wondered what the 8-foot fences are along Interstate 17 near Munds Park. These “exclusion fences” are designed to keep elk off the highway as part of a larger statewide effort to make highways safer for motorists and wildlife. This transportation enhancement project is a cooperative effort between the Arizona Game and Fish Department and Arizona Department of Transportation. Elk are a common sight along I-17. Research ind... Full story
