Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Sorted by date Results 851 - 875 of 1163
The Arizona Game and Fish Department served a Notice of Intent with the secretary of the Department of Interior and director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). The action was taken in an effort to support development of an updated recovery plan for Mexican wolves that utilizes the best available science as legally required by the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Outdated Plan Game and Fish has requested an updated recovery plan from the Service on multiple occasions over the past... Full story
It is with regret that we announce the passing on Jan. 2 of Wendell George Swank, a former Arizona Game and Fish Department director. Mr. Swank, who worked 15 years for AZGFD and served as director from 1964-68, is perhaps best known for his role in transitioning the department to the use of a science-based wildlife management model. A graduate of Texas A&M University, he joined AZGFD as a member of the first group of college graduates hired by the department as game rangers (wildlife managers)... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is investigating the poaching of a mule deer buck that occurred in late December on the Kaibab National Forest, 10 miles south of Williams in Game Management Unit 8. The deer was found off Forest Service Road 354, about one mile from the Perkinsville Highway. Officials investigating this case found the deer carcass with a bullet wound in the neck and the antlers removed. Officers have limited evidence and are requesting the public's help in solving this... Full story
Coming early in the New Year will be one of Arizona's favorite outdoor events: the Arizona Game & Fish Department's Outdoor Expo. Expo Objective The objective of this favorite outdoor event is to inform, educate, train and introduce the public through activities, demonstrations and exhibits of hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, archery, wildlife watching, off-highway vehicle and watercraft recreation, wildlife conservation, wildlife education, camping, trapping and other related outdoor... Full story
Tip Of The Week At Apache Lake, anglers have been catching a high number of largemouth bass in the 1-2-pound range on Lucky Craft rip baits. The Reel Deal Some reported hot spots have been Bartlett Lake for largemouth bass, Lake Pleasant for flathead catfish, and Kinnikinick Lake for brown and rainbow trout. Kudos to Rich Griner of Queen Creek, who caught this 26-inch, 8.6-pound rainbow trout from Canyon Creek on a worm in mid-November. Griner said his fish was caught upstream of the hatchery... Full story
Trout Are Back In Tucson Trout stocking has resumed at Lakeside Park in Tucson now that water-quality issues have been resolved. Kiwanis in Tempe was stocked on Nov. 24. Operation Game Thief callers are making a difference Following a recent stocking of trout into Silverbell Lake in Tucson, the Department received several reports of unlawful netting. An officer responded twice to separate calls, and on the second response located a person who matched the description. The officer conducted... Full story
Each year as part of its nationally-recognized and highly successful program to manage and conserve bald eagles in the state, the Arizona Game and Fish Department asks outdoor recreationists and aircraft pilots to help protect important eagle breeding areas by honoring the closure of 23 areas across the state. Various land and wildlife management agencies close the breeding areas for part of the year to protect the state's 55 breeding pairs of bald eagles. Some of the closure areas are located n... Full story
With the recent release of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1, interest in target archery has soared, especially among young people. To assist newcomers with getting started, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has created a new Web page, www.azgfd.gov/archery. "We have seen an incredible influx of youngsters looking into classes and researching archery," said Tanja Washburn, archery education coordinator for Game and Fish. "We felt it was important to have a resource page where people can... Full story
What do you buy for the person who seems to have it all? Give them a gift this holiday that not only provides enjoyment for them, but also benefits wildlife conservation in Arizona. This year, consider one of the many unique gift ideas the Arizona Game and Fish Department has to offer. Buyers are sure to find something for everyone with a variety of gift ideas and prices, including the following: Leftover Spring Big Game Hunt Tag If the hunters on your holiday gift list missed the recent draw... Full story
As Arizona Game and Fish public information officer Nick Walter found out, the Boulder Creek area of Canyon Lake, because of its no-wake restrictions, is an excellent spot for beginning and expert kayak anglers. Undulating water that rippled across Canyon Lake in November, gently rocking the kayak, was felt from head to hips. Paddling a new Ocean Kayak Tetra 10 Angler for the first time, and during what was this angler's first time fishing this desert dandy, made for excitement that filled the... Full story
Rehabilitating and handling golden and bald eagles is an art, an art that volunteer Jerry Ostwinkle has mastered. This weekend, Ostwinkle's eagle conservation work and efforts to educate the public about eagles was recognized by SAGE Society (Sonoran Antelope and Golden Eagle Society) with the first-ever Jerry Ostwinkle Golden Eagle Conservation Award named in his honor. SAGE Recognizes Volunteers The award was presented by SAGE Society Executive Director Bill O'Brien during the Adobe Mountain W... Full story
Arizona Game and Fish is seeking information regarding the poaching of two mule deer bucks south-east of Kingman in Game Management Unit 16A. Officers with Game and Fish need the public's help, and Operation Game Thief is offering up to a $750 reward for information leading to an arrest of those responsible for the crime. "At first the investigating officer thought it was a single buck, but found the second after returning to the scene the next day," said Zen Mocarski, public information... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission has voted to give the Director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department authority to finalize a cost-sharing agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) to repair the Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery. In a 5-0 vote, the commission has agreed to pay up to $389,000 to fix a broken pipeline for the hatchery. The contribution amounts to 50 percent of the cost of the project. “This is a great pre-New Year’s present for the people of Mohave Cou... Full story
Mr. Zieler has been with Salt River Project since 2008, and has served as Supply Chain Manager, Operations & Maintenance Supervisor and Safety & Security Coordinator. He previously served as Chief of Police for the St. Johns Police Department (1998-2007); Narcotics Agent, Gang Enforcement Officer and Deputy Sheriff with the Apache County Sheriff’s Office (1991-98); and, Corrections Officer for the Arizona Department of Corrections. Additionally, Mr. Zieler has served on numerous boards, i... Full story
The U.S. Department of the Interior triggered a "high-flow release" at Glen Canyon Dam beginning Nov. 10 and lasting four days. The release was part of a long-term strategy that was announced in May 2012 by former Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to meet water and power needs, as well as to allow better conservation of sediment downstream and to better address the important resources in the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam. Benefit To Downstream Resources The high-flow release, which... Full story
Chandler photographer Robert Rinsem's image of a handsome hooded merganser gliding across golden waters 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 700 entries on the theme "Arizona's surprising wildlife." Thirteen winning images have just been published in a full-size 2015 wildlife calendar in the November–December issue of Arizona W... Full story
More people are now on the roads at the time of day when wildlife can be difficult to see: dusk. The sun is setting and the shadows make many species of wildlife particularly difficult to spot, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department is reminding motorists to use caution when on the roads as the sun begins to set. "There are more cars on the road when many wildlife are active and the shadows allow them to blend in well to the surroundings," said Zen Mocarski, public information officer for the... Full story
Come see a bald eagle, bobcat, ringtail, and many bird and reptile species at the free Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center's open house on Saturday, Nov. 22 and Sunday, Nov. 23 from 10-3 p.m. daily. During this once-a-year glimpse into the center's operations, visitors will have the opportunity to see wildlife up close, view educational displays, make wildlife-related crafts and meet wildlife experts. Over thirty years ago, the Arizona Game and Fish Department opened the first state-run wildlife... Full story
Tip Of The Week For rainbow trout in the high country, PowerBait and worms are still the best baits, but trout are also more willing to chase down a lure in these cooler water temperatures than they would during the warm summer months. You can cover a lot of ground by casting a Panther Martin spinner or Kastmaster. Some anglers choose to fish bait on one rod while casting a lure with a second rod to find what the fish are hitting. The new license structure allows the use of two rods with any... Full story
For all you trout enthusiasts, Friday, Nov. 14 was the day! Rainbow trout made their return to the core Community Fishing Program waters. Except for Tempe Town Lake, all expansion waters will be stocked with trout the week of Dec. 15. These trout stockings will continue in CFP Waters through mid-March - so grab your fishing poles and hit the lakes and ponds - it's time to catch some trout! Welcome Back The Trout The City of Tempe and the Arizona Game and Fish Department will host the annual... Full story
Even native Arizonans tend to overlook the southern bass lakes when they get the urge to bass fish. The biggest lakes are in the central part of the state and along the Colorado River, and those areas are also quicker and easier to get to for a majority of the population. For those who live closer to the border, and for those willing to take the time to get there, four smaller more peaceful lakes beckon. Although you could do a drive-by of all four in a single day, each of them is different... Full story
Arizona Game and Fish is seeking information regarding the poaching of a yearling pronghorn buck in Game Management Unit 19B at Juniper Woods south of Interstate 40. Officers with Game and Fish need the public's help and Operation Game Thief (OGT) is offering up to a $750 reward for information leading to an arrest of those responsible for the crime. The Arizona Antelope Foundation is offering up to $750 upon conviction. Evidence At The Scene "Significant physical evidence was collected at the... Full story
The endangered, native desert pupfish took another step towards recovery recently when over 300 fish were released by the Arizona Game and Fish Department into a refuge pond at Mesa Community College's Red Mountain Campus (MCC). The fish that were released came from ponds at the Phoenix Zoo and Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center. Both partners work to help reproduce pupfish. "Partnerships are the key to helping recover Arizona's native wildlife species that are in peril," said Mike... Full story
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area staff continue to monitor park waters to determine the distribution of quagga mussels. Quagga mussels were recently identified in sampling locations between Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry. Mussel larvae (veligers) are passing through the Glen Canyon Dam and low numbers of adult mussels have been confirmed in the Glen Canyon stretch of the river. Managers and research staff remain hopeful that the river current and sediment in the water below the Paria River... Full story
Doug Burt Hunting and Shooting Sports Program Manager Arizona Game and Fish Department Nov. 21-23 kicks off another string of youth camps! If you're interested in visiting an event to get an idea of what they look like, want to help out – glass, cook, fire tending, etc., or just looking for a road trip with the family during this great weather, here are some great options. Details and contact information are below. Also, don't forget it's small game season, so take advantage of flushing q... Full story
