Game And Fish Commission To Meet Aug. 1-2 In Flagstaff

The next meeting of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission will be Aug. 1-2 at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel at 1175 W. Route 66 in Flagstaff. The meeting begins at 8 a.m. both days.

The public is invited to either attend the meeting in person, view it live via video stream at any Game and Fish regional office (Friday only), or view it over the web at http://www.azgfd.gov/commissioncam. Members of the public who wish to speak to the Commission may submit Speaker Cards (Blue Cards) in person at the meeting or from any regional Game and Fish office (Friday only). The ability to speak to the Commission is not available for those viewing the webcast online.

Items on the Friday, Aug. 1 portion of the agenda include:

Consideration of several of the following consent agenda items:

o Updates on the department’s shooting sports activities; information, education and wildlife recreation activities; law enforcement program; lands and habitat program.

o approve renewal of a National Forest Service Special Use Permit (SUP) for the continued operation of the Sterling Springs Hatchery

Update on the development of the Customer Portal, a website with customer login capabilities with improved customer access to information, products and services.

A briefing on the recently released Mexican wolf proposed 10(j) rule and the associated draft environmental impact statement, including the impact the proposed rule may have on the existing wolf program.

Hearings on license revocations for violations of Game and Fish codes, and civil assessments for the illegal taking and/or possession of wildlife (time certain at 2 p.m.).

On Saturday, Aug. 2, a “Flagstaff Community Forum” will be offered to discuss current and future matters and collaborative work involving the department and the local community (this item begins at 8 a.m. and will not be webcast). Items will include a discussion on:

Adaptive sport fish management at Lee’s Ferry by the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

California condor recovery by The Peregrine Fund

The Willow Bend Environmental Education Center by a representative from the center

The Hopi Cooperative Hunt Program by the Hopi Department of Natural Resources

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) cooperative projects and an update on Travel Management by the BLM.

Following the community forum, the commission will consider agenda items on hunting Commission Orders 21 (waterfowl), 22 (snipe), and 5, 6, 8 and 9 (spring turkey, spring javelina, spring buffalo, and spring bear). The commission will consider establishing seasons and season dates, bag and possession limits and open areas for 2014-2015.

To view a copy of the full meeting agenda, visit http://www.azgfd.gov/commission and click on the “commission notice/agenda” link.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is the policy-setting board overseeing the Arizona Game And Fish Department. It is composed of five members (serving staggered five-year terms) appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. No more than one commissioner may be from any one county. No more than three may be from the same political party. Since its inception in 1929, this organizational structure has served as a buffer for the best interests of science-driven wildlife conservation during eight decades of back-and-forth political change.

For more information on the commission, visit http://www.azgfd.gov/commission.