Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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PHOENIX — Tis the season to head out on the water and if a boat, kayak or other personal watercraft is on your Christmas list this holiday season, the Arizona Game and Fish Department wants to make sure your inaugural voyage is a safe one. Whether you’re planning to take a new watercraft out for some sightseeing or to do some fishing, all new and veteran watercraft users are encouraged to remember the following 10 tips to remain safe on the water. • Always wear a life jacket. Life jac... Full story
PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Commission will recognize 17 people during the 2016 Commission Awards event, which will commend national/state/local leaders, wildlife advocates, and volunteers for their work to support the state’s wildlife. The event will be held on Saturday, Jan. 14, at the Arizona Grand Resort at 8000 S. Arizona Grand Parkway in Phoenix. Reservations are being accepted for $65 per person to attend the event, which begins with a social hour and live music at 5 p.m., and wil... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) swapped more than 300 old and tattered life jackets with new ones during life jacket exchange events at area lakes this summer. The AZGFD Boating Safety Education program helped to ensure 304 people were safer on the water by swapping old, less-effective life jackets for new ones during visits to Lake Havasu, Saguaro Lake, Lake Pleasant, Lake Powell and Canyon Lake. Check PFDs Every Season "This program makes it possible for boaters to exchange old... Full story
Whether it's dipping the canoe or kayak into one of Arizona's lakes for a quiet day of fishing or it's just to enjoy some time on the water, studies show the number of people reaching for a paddle and heading outdoors is increasing. Paddlesport activities, including canoeing, kayaking, inflatable rafting and standup paddleboards, are gaining in popularity nationally. In 2014, about 21.7 million people enjoyed the sport nationally – an increase of more than 3 million people since 2010, a... Full story
Arizona's endangered black-footed ferret population celebrated the 20th anniversary of its reintroduction to Arizona with the release of more animals into a new privately owned reintroduction area. Through a new Safe Harbor Agreement, the Double O Ranch outside of Seligman yesterday became the third reintroduction site in Arizona. Safe Harbor Agreement 'This release was made possible by a Safe Harbor Agreement, a newer conservation option that aims to enlist the help of non-federal landowners to... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) partnered this summer with Northern Arizona University (NAU) to release two male and one female narrow-headed gartersnakes into a newly created wetland adjacent to the AZGFD Pinetop regional office. Narrow-headed gartersnakes are listed as a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The enclosed wetland was created, along with two new fish ponds, on the site of the original Pinetop Fish Hatchery that was built in the 1930s. Before the... Full story
People who live in or visit Arizona can expect to see many species of wildlife. More and more often though, wild animals are venturing into areas where people live. Sometimes the wildlife becomes a problem, either by hammering on the side of the house, digging a den under the front porch, or eating all of your brand new landscaping plants. You can usually enjoy wildlife watching from a distance, but sometimes wildlife encounters involve conflict. Preventing Problems Preventing problems with... Full story
Channel catfish are being stocked by the thousands of pounds through the fall. Time to pick a lethal bait. These all have a strong scent of some sort, some are even tasty to humans - and all have a long record of catching catfish in Arizona's community waters. Here, then, are the Arizona Game and Fish Department's top-5 best baits to catch these channel catfish: 5. Marshmallows Mallows. Mmm, marshmallows. Can you blame catfish for wanting to chomp one of these sweet, beautiful, poofy globs?... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has transferred two bear cubs to Out of Africa Wildlife Park following an incident that resulted in an adult female bear's being killed. On an early September Sunday, Game and Fish received a call that an adult bear, unprovoked, charged an archery deer hunter from a distance of about 20 feet. The hunter shot the bear with a handgun at close range in self-defense. Department officers responded to the area where they discovered the bear's two cubs that were... Full story
Arizona's bald eagles continue to impress biologists with their upward growth trends and year-after-year breeding records. Key productivity records that were broken in 2016 include number of: breeding areas, occupied breeding areas, eggs laid, active breeding areas, successful breeding attempts and young hatched. All of these measures are important indicators of the species' health. The most notable: a record minimum of 93 bald eagle eggs were laid by a record 65 pairs of adult eagles with 78...
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking volunteers to assist with spotlighting efforts to help document the population of endangered black-footed ferrets in Aubrey Valley near Seligman. As part of the recovery effort, the department has scheduled one more fall spotlighting project - Oct. 13-17. The spotlighting method involves using high-powered lights to locate and identify black-footed ferrets. Their eyeshine is reflected by the spotlight and helps surveyors with identifying and... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department now is accepting online applications for 2017 hunt permit-tags issued through the draw process for spring turkey, javelina, bison and bear. To apply online, visit https://draw.azgfd.gov and scroll down to "Apply for a Draw." The deadline by which the department must receive all applications - online or paper - is 11:59 p.m. (MST) Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. Postmarks do not count. Paper applications can be mailed to: Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn.:... Full story
PHOENIX - There's no better way for women 9 and older to learn about firearm safety and receive hands-on instruction shooting trap, skeet and sporting clays than signing up for the Desert Roses women's shotgun program at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility. For $10, a shooter – whether new to the shotgun shooting sports or just needing a refresher – can sign up for three sessions, beginning Thursday (Oct. 6). The fee includes use of a loaner shotgun, ammunition, eye and ear protection, targets and... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has awarded $75,000 in grant funding for local sportsmen's organizations to provide public, hands-on, mentored projects focused on the retention of new hunters and anglers. Of 22 proposals submitted in this latest grant cycle, 16 were approved by a three-member panel that rated and scored the proposals. The grants were awarded through a competitive application process that closed July 14. "The Local Sportsmen's Group grant program is an investment in local... Full story
Congratulations to the recent inductees to the Outdoor Hall of Fame by Wildlife for Tomorrow, including some folks we know from Hunting And Angling Heritage Workshop Group (HAHWG) and other ventures. It’s great to see you recognized, and thank you for all you do. http://azgfd.net/artman/publish/NewsMedia/Conservationists-inducted-into-Arizona-Outdoor-Hall-of-Fame.shtml Richard Sprague, owner Sprague’s Sports in Yuma Jim Unmacht, president of the Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation htt... Full story
Tip Of The Week For our desert lakes, predatory fish activity will be building toward a fall-time frenzy. Bass in particular will feed heavily to prepare for winter conditions. For anglers, that means now is the best time to hook into actively feeding bass. The Reel Deal The first hints of fall means fishing is about to bust loose. Nights are getting noticeably cooler, putting bass in the mood to chase reaction baits and trigger some of the best high-country trout fishing of the year. Remember:... Full story
A professional committee of fisheries scientists has determined that three species of chub found throughout the lower Colorado River basin - roundtail chub, headwater chub, and Gila chub - will now be recognized as one species, referred to as roundtail chub. The decision last week by the American Fisheries Society and American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Joint Committee on the Names of Fishes resolves a long-term disparity among scientists, as these chub populations are... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds residents and visitors looking to head outdoors on their off-highway vehicle (OHV) to do so safely and responsibly. What can you do to make the outdoors safer and more enjoyable for everyone? Between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016 AZGFD officers issued 404 citations and issued 283 warnings statewide for multiple offences, including failing to have a current OHV decal sticker, allowing children under the age of 18 to ride without a helmet and made... Full story
YUMA, Ariz. - On Saturday, September 3, the 1st Annual World Championship Dove Cook-Off will take place at Yuma Civic Center. Coinciding with the opening week of the early dove hunt season (Sept. 1-15), the Cook-Off will pit chefs of all skill levels in a competition to see who can create the best dove dish within the allotted time. "This will be an exciting event," says Richard Sprague, owner of Sprague's Sports in Yuma. "Yuma is the premier dove hunting destination, so having a culinary... Full story
Within the past several weeks, well-intentioned people have delivered several deer fawns to Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) offices believing that the animals were abandoned by their parents. While the department understands the public's desire to help, in reality they're often taking a newborn or juvenile animal from its parents, who likely "parked" the baby in one location while they foraged for food and water for long periods of time. If the fawn appears alert and healthy, it is... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department and Liberty Wildlife released four orphaned baby great horned owls Aug. 3. The owls were rescued after their mother was shot in March by a homeowner in Tolleson. The owlets were raised with the aid of a foster female great horned owl at Liberty Wildlife with the goal of preparing them for releasing. The owls were released at Robbins Butte Wildlife Area, a remote area about seven miles southwest of Buckeye.... Full story
HONORED -- Arizona Game and Fish video producer David Majure recently received three Excellence in Craft Awards from the Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA). Majure was recognized for his work on the department's Arizona Wildlife Views TV show.... Full story
Here is a counter-intuitive truth: Small pistols are more difficult to handle, require a better (stronger) grip, and have a lot more recoil (kick) than larger pistols. Many smaller people make the mistake of thinking that since their hands are small, a smaller pistol is ideal.In many cases, the opposite is true. The same goes for buying that first pistol for your child - just because she has smaller hands doesn't mean you should buy her a small pistol. Single-Stack Semis My granddaughters both... Full story
Summer in the Southwest means fun on the water for many Arizona families, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department encourages everyone heading to area lakes to ensure they are wearing a life jacket while on the water. "Putting on a life jacket is the first and often easiest step anyone can take to keep themselves safe when on the water," said Josh Hoffman, AZGFD Boating Safety Education coordinator. "There are comfortable options for all activities and all weather conditions. Set an example... Full story
When was the last time you visited your favorite fishing spot? Or felt the thrill of that first catch? However long it may be, it's never too late to reclaim the excitement of the great outdoors. Renew your sense of adventure with an Arizona fishing license - because a few minutes online are worth countless memories outside!... Full story
