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Outdoor recreation enthusiasts are encouraged to participate in the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) by taking the public survey conducted by Arizona State Parks and Trails. The SCORP serves as a guide for public outdoor recreation in urban and rural neighborhoods, cities and regions. Each state is tasked with identifying outdoor recreation issues of statewide importance once every five years to be eligible for Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) dollars. The results... Full story
Nominations Sought For Arizona Outdoor Hall Of Fame Inductees are recognized for their contributions to the state's outdoor heritage. The Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation (WFT) is soliciting nominations for this year’s inductees into the Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame. The Outdoor Hall of Fame annually 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 herit... Full story
Renew OHV decals, remember helmets for youths, stay on trails. Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) officers conducted off-highway vehicle (OHV) safety-enforcement patrols throughout the East Valley last month. The focus was on ensuring public safety and deterring potentially hazardous or illegal operation of OHVs. Those using an OHV are reminded to use the following safety tips: • Never operate an OHV while impaired by alcohol or drugs. • Helmets are required by law for all riders under the... Full story
In A Word: Huzzah! Once again (and after a covid interruption in 2021) the Arizona Renaissance Festival and Artisan Marketplace is back. It features a 16-stage theater, an outdoor whimsical village, a 50-acre circus, an arts and crafts fair, jousting tournaments, and a feast, all rolled into one nonstop, daylong adventure. This is the rowdy, raucus event that is well encapsulated in its motto: Huzzah! On a much quieter note, shhh: the eagles are breeding. These magnificent birds ask for your... Full story
February 2022 Hunting Calendar Compiled By Margie Anderson Make sure you don’t miss an opportunity to hunt! Keep an eye on the Arizona Game and Fish website at azgfd.gov so you know when the latest regulation booklets are available. Applications are only online now. Don’t miss out! YOU CAN APPLY FOR 2022 ELK AND PRONGHORN UNTIL FEBRUARY 8, 2022, 11:59:59 PM MST. APPLY ONLINE. YOU MUST HAVE A LICENSE THAT IS VALID ON DEADLINE DAY – FEB 8. Draw deadlines for deer, fall turkey, fall javelina, bigho... Full story
Arizona's bald eagles are back, and they will soon be preparing for the next generation of eagles at breeding sites statewide. To assist with the state's continued bald eagle population growth, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) encourages outdoor recreationists, aircraft pilots, drone operators and motorized paragliders to do their part by not disturbing the state's 93 eagle breeding areas. Hope For A Productive Breeding Season To protect breeding attempts, some portions of public... Full story
The American kestrel, formerly known as the sparrow hawk, is North America's smallest and most colorful falcon. During the breeding season, kestrels need access to nesting cavities and perches found in trees and saguaros. American kestrels lack the ability to excavate their own nest cavities, so they rely on structures already built by other animals, such as woodpeckers. Although a relatively abundant species, population declines have been detected throughout much of the species range,... Full story
The western burrowing owl is one of the most interesting birds of prey in Arizona. Its species name, cunicularia, means "miner", in reference to this owl's unusual habit of spending time underground. Their use of burrows makes them susceptible to impacts from ground-disturbing activities. Burrowing owls are increasingly at risk of displacement in the greater Phoenix area due to commercial and residential development. As one of several solutions to help conserve and protect the species, the... Full story
Once endangered, bald eagles have been slowly growing their numbers around the country. Thanks to the careful work of the Arizona Game and Fish Department and its partners on the Southwestern Bald Eagle Management committee – a coalition that includes government agencies, private organizations and Native American tribes – we've made good progress recovering bald eagle populations in Arizona. From tracking just 11 breeding pairs in 1978, we monitored an estimated 69 pairs in 2018. Even more imp... Full story
Magnificent, but shy: These are the sandhill cranes that are in focus on a photography tour at the end of the month. The wildlife viewing and photography tour will be conducted by AZGFD photographer George Andrejko and biologists at Whitewater Draw. And, at press time, there was still space available to join this remarkable experience. So much is in focus as we enter the New Year. The annual Arizona Renaissance Festival is back after a covid absence last year, and the Arizona Yacht Club is... Full story
January 1 All Arizona hunting, fishing license sales are going online Jan. 1.License dealers will no longer sell traditional paper licenses, but many will offer an online purchase option; customers can also buy directly online at https://license.azgfd.com/ or at AZGFD offices. Also, AZGFD will discontinue selling Community Fishing licenses. Arizona General Fishing licenses are only $37 for residents and $55 for nonresidents. Through January 17 Grand Canyon Celebration of Art, Grand Canyon... Website
Make sure you don’t miss an opportunity to hunt! Keep an eye on the Arizona Game and Fish website at azgfd.gov so you know when the latest regulation booklets are available. Applications are online only starting in January 2022. Don’t miss out! 2021-22 Fees: General Hunting, resident: $37; Non-resident: not available see combination Combination Hunt and fish, resident: $57; Non-resident: $160 Youth combination hunt and fish (ages 10-17), resident: $5 Non-resident: $5 Short-term combination lic... Full story
Boquillas Ranch Access Agreement Renewed For One Year - AZGFD, Navajo Nation Hope To Reach Long-Term Deal The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) and the Navajo Nation have renewed an access agreement that ensures continued public recreation use for one year on the Boquillas Ranch in Game Management Unit 10. The 720,000-acre ranch in northwest Arizona, which accounts for more than 50 percent of the land in Unit 10, is owned by the Navajo Nation. After more than six months of negotiations be... Full story
All Arizona Hunting, Fishing License Sales Going Online License dealers will no longer sell traditional paper licenses, but many will offer an online purchase option; customers can also buy directly online at https://license.azgfd.com/ or at AZGFD offices. In a move to further modernize its licensing system, beginning January 1, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) will no longer offer traditional paper "book" licenses sold through license dealers. Dealers Vary... Full story
Hunters are reminded to help keep Arizona free of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). With big game seasons still taking place through the end of January, the Arizona Game and Fish Department is asking hunters to continue doing their part to help keep Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) at bay. CWD is a fatal wildlife disease that affects the nervous system of deer and elk. All successful deer and elk hunters are encouraged to bring the head of their harvested animal - especially bucks and bulls - to any d... Full story
Sure, there have been birds for hunters who were willing to get out and climb the hills and canyons of southeastern Arizona when the season opened in early December for Mearns' quail. But the fact remains that it's going to take more than one summer of decent monsoon rains to give populations a desperately needed boost and improve lagging harvest rates. Mearns' Numbers Low "Montezuma (Mearns') quail numbers have been low since we've not had a really good monsoon since 2018, and they respond to... Full story
Popular calendar features 2021 wildlife photo contest winners. The Arizona Game and Fish Department has unveiled its 2022 wildlife calendar, which showcases the winning photographs from its annual contest. The winning images are featured in the full-size 2022 wildlife calendar, which is published in the November-December 2021 issue of Arizona Wildlife Views magazine. Isabel Guerra Clark's photo of desert bighorn sheep at Canyon Lake was awarded best in show and is showcased on the cover. Guerra... Full story
Four years after their habitat was nearly wiped out by the 2017 Frye Fire in the Pinaleño Mountains of southeastern Arizona, an annual survey of the endangered Mt. Graham red squirrel shows their numbers are holding steady compared with last year. 109+ Squirrels Now The annual survey resulted in a minimum estimate of 109 squirrels-the same number as in 2020. Last year was the first time the population had returned to the triple digits since being severely impacted by the Frye Fire. The survey... Full story
Outdoor recreationists, pilots, drone operators asked to avoid nesting areas. From Arizona Game & Fish Arizona's bald eagles are back, and they will soon be preparing for the next generation of eagles at breeding sites statewide. To assist with the state's continued bald eagle population growth, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) encourages outdoor recreationists, aircraft pilots, drone operators and motorized paragliders to do their part by not disturbing the state's 93 eagle breeding... Full story
Sandhill Cranes Return To Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area Sandhill cranes by the thousands have once again returned to their wintering grounds at the Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area in southeastern Arizona. For the next few months, viewers can observe almost 20,000 of these fascinating birds on a live-streaming camera installed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD). View the live stream here: www.azgfd.gov/sandhillcranes. A Record Number Of the 47,000-plus sandhill cranes that migrated to... Full story
Now through January 15, 2022 (Select Nights) The wonder of wandering through the Phoenix Zoo Lights is a magical part of the Christmas season. From 5:30-10:30 p.m. experience the thrill of incredible lighting throughout the part. Tickets are $20/person, $16/member, and children two and under are free. December 3 The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) will ...... Website
Arizona hunters who were unsuccessful in the recent 2022 spring draw still have an opportunity to receive a hunt permit-tag for javelina or turkey. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has posted a list of leftover hunt permit-tags on its website at www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Draw/. At press time, a total of 1,538 leftover hunt permit-tags were available for the following hunts: • 921 handgun, archery or muzzleloader (HAM) javelina • 322 archery-only javelina • 205 general javelina • 62 yout... Full story
Award recipients will be honored at annual banquet on Saturday, Jan. 22. The Arizona Game and Fish Commission selected 17 recipients of the 2021 Commission Awards at its Sept. 24 meeting in Greer, Ariz. The award winners will be honored at the annual Commission Awards Banquet on Jan. 22, 2022, at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort in Phoenix. The Commission Awards recognize Arizonans who have contributed significantly to the conservation of the state’s wildlife, its outdoor heritage, and t... Full story
Compiled By Margie Anderson ARIZONA BIG GAME SUPER RAFFLE: If you win, you can hunt AZ big game species for 365 days. Get raffle tickets for elk, antelope, Coues, mule deer, black bear, desert bighorn sheep, buffalo, mountain lion, javelina, turkey. Go to www.arizonabiggamesuperraffle.com.Drawing to be held December 7, 2021. Go to the website to see details about the raffle and additional prizes and raffles. 2021-22 Fees: General Hunting, resident: $37 Non-resident: not available see... Full story
Hunters can check their AZGFD portal account. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) has released the draw results for 2022 spring hunts for turkey, javelina, bison and bear, and raptor capture. AZGFD portal accounts now are the sole source for finding out draw results and viewing bonus points. Customers can create a free portal account (family account features are now available) at accounts.azgfd.com/Account/Register. Draw results no longer will be provided through the automated phone... Full story