• Give your input about management plans for Arizona Strip and other public lands
• Wildlife-feeding bill and coyote problems
• Six endangered condors released into the wilds of Arizona
• Catch a good time at the ISE show March 10-12
• Winter Range brings cowboy action shooters to Ben Avery
• Free family fun at the 3rd Annual Tres Rios Nature Festival
• Try out the latest firearms at the Shooting Showcase
• Commissioners' Cup trap championships to be held March 25
• Hunters Who Care cleanup to be held southwest of Tucson on March 11
• Come learn how to use science to catch more fish
• Take your winter visitors fishing
• Game and Fish wildlife professional wins national conservation award
• Study to determine how to protect burrowing owls from development

Give your input about management plans for Arizona Strip and other public lands

PHOENIX -  Maybe you're one of the people who enjoy using the Arizona Strip or the Agua Fria National Monument for outdoor recreation. If so, you may want to give your input on drafts of the new 15- to 20-year Arizona Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans for those popular areas and also the Bradshaw-Harquahala planning area.

"Hunters and wildlife watchers are among those who frequently use these public lands, and they should have a say in how the areas are managed in the future," says Bob Broscheid, head of the Arizona Game and Fish Department's habitat branch. "Some substantial changes to recreation may be included. We want to encourage anyone who uses these areas to take a long, hard look at the plans and make sure their needs are being addressed."

The BLM has released draft Resource Management Plans and Environmental Impact Statements for all of these public lands, and the drafts are each open for a 90-day comment period. Those interested can view the documents at the bureau's Web site, blm.gov/az/.

"The Arizona Game and Fish Department has been working with the BLM as a cooperating agency for more than three years in developing these plans, but we believe that our constituents' input will help make them better," says Rebecca Davidson of the Arizona Game and Fish Department's habitat branch. "For example, the documents will determine where you can camp, how much firewood you can collect, where you can shoot a firearm, and much more. We need assistance from the people who will have to follow the new rules."

Some other issues that will be affected by the new plans: access to certain areas, including potential road closures; ability to create wildlife water and habitat restoration projects in various places; and possible hunting restrictions in certain areas. Overall, wildlife and resource management could be significantly impacted.

The Arizona Strip planning area encompasses more than 2.8 million acres in northern Arizona, including the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument and 1.7 million acres in between them. Comments on the plans regarding those areas must be received by March 17. You can get copies and more information about the plans by e-mailing Arizona_Strip@blm.gov or by calling (435) 688-3200. Provide comments by e-mail to Arizona_Strip@blm.gov, by FAX to (435) 688-3388, or by mail to BLM Arizona Strip District Office, Attn: Planning Team, 345 E. Riverside Drive, St. George, UT 84790.

The Agua Fria National Monument and Bradshaw-Harquahala Management Plans for areas of central Arizona are open for comment until April 5. The computerized version of these plans at blm.gov/az/ includes maps with layers that allow viewers to zoom in closer to geographic areas of interest. Get more information and copies of these plans by e-mailing az_afnm_bradshaw@blm.gov or calling (623) 580-5500. Send e-mail comments to az_afnm_bradshaw@blm.gov or written comments to Chris Horyza, RMP Project Manager, 21605 N. 7th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85027.

Wildlife-feeding bill and coyote problems

PHOENIX -  The Arizona Senate is now considering a bill that would make it a petty offense to feed wildlife in a way that causes nuisance, aggressive animals to come into a neighborhood and pose a danger to people. The move comes in the wake of aggressive coyote reports in both Sun City West and Paradise Valley in the Phoenix area. The wildlife-feeding bill would only affect the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas.

"Many people think that feeding wildlife is a nice thing to do, that they're encouraging rabbits or deer to spend time around their homes," says Rod Lucas, the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Phoenix/Mesa regional supervisor. "What really happens is that those animals attract larger, predatory animals to their neighborhoods, too. That's when you have coyotes, bobcats and other animals that can become aggressive toward people and even eat pets."

The bill, Senate Bill 1438, "Unlawful Feeding of Wildlife," would not affect people just feeding birds or squirrels, or anyone carrying out normal livestock or agricultural operations. It would only stop those who are intentionally, knowingly or recklessly feeding wildlife.

For the full story on the bill, click here.

Six endangered condors released into the wilds of Arizona

PHOENIX -  A very unusual event takes place just once every spring in northern Arizona: a release into the wild of endangered California condors that's open to the public. On Thursday, March 2, about 200 people showed up to watch this year's release of six condors at the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. Fewer than 300 condors exist in the entire world.

"This is a chance to see an incredibly rare moment, when these birds take flight in the wild for the first time," says Chris Parish, condor field project supervisor with The Peregrine Fund, the group releasing the birds. "The moment marks progress toward bringing condors back from the brink of extinction."

In 1982, only 22 California condors were left in the world. The birds were captured in an effort to breed and save the species. Captive-reared condors are now periodically released at sites in California, Mexico and at the Vermilion Cliffs in Arizona.

"We were happy to see all of the people who wanted to watch these birds reach this milestone," says Kathy Sullivan, a condor biologist with the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Condors have been federally listed as endangered since 1967. The condor is the largest flying land bird in North America. The birds can weigh up to 26 pounds and have a wingspan of up to 9 1/2 feet. Condors were first reintroduced in Arizona in 1996. Sixty now fly free in the wilds of our state. Visitors at the Grand Canyon and Vermilion Cliffs may be able to observe the birds, especially during the spring and summer.

The condor reintroduction in Arizona is a joint project of many partners, including Arizona Game and Fish Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Peregrine Fund, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Kaibab National Forest and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

Catch a good time at the ISE Show March 10-12

If you are looking for a fun family outing, come to the International Sportsman's Exposition at the Arizona State Fairgrounds on March 10-12.

Once again this year, the Arizona Game and Fish Department will be providing fun activities and interesting booths. Youngsters can even catch-and-release a feisty channel catfish at a Kids Fishing Pond. You can try your hand at virtual fishing or virtual shooting.

A big hit every year is the live wildlife from the department's Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center. Come down and see Sparks the peregrine falcon, Red the red-tailed hawk and Crash the hummingbird. Other live wildlife will include burrowing owls, bats, a vulture, a great horned owl and a black crowned night heron.

At another booth, you can see all 15 of Arizona's venomous reptiles, including a Gila monster and all 13 species of rattlesnakes found in the state.

The show hours are:

Friday, March 10, noon to 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 11, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, March 12, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

General admission is $10 per person, with children 12 years and under free. Parking is $7. You can get tickets online, instead of waiting in line, by visiting sportsexpos.com.

Winter Range brings cowboy action shooters to Ben Avery

A national shooting competition that celebrates our heritage of firearms of the Wild West will be held at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility from March 8-12.

Nearly 700 competitors will participate in Winter Range 2006, the Single Action Shooters Society's (SASS) national championship of cowboy action shooting. Participants decked out in Old West-style clothing will compete in various competitions on 12 stages, using a combination of pistols, rifles and shotguns of the late 1800s. Spectators are welcome; admission is free; parking is $5. For more information, click here.

Free family fun at 3rd Annual Tres Rios Nature Festival

PHOENIX -  You and your family can enjoy seeing live wildlife, listening to local entertainers, participating in an Arizona Game and Fish Department fishing clinic and learning more about the earth and our environment at the 3rd Annual Tres Rios Nature Festival. This family-friendly event is open free to the public and will be held on March 11 and 12 at Estrella Mountain Regional Park.

"This event is an opportunity for the whole family to learn about, enjoy and experience the West Valley's rich wildlife, outdoor heritage and environmental projects," says Festival Co-Chair Jackie Meck.

The Tres Rios event celebrates the wildlife, habitat, heritage and natural beauty of the Gila, Salt and Agua Fria rivers. This year's festival is being combined with Luke Air Force Base's annual Earth Day Event to bring the community an even bigger, better festival than was offered in past years. It will include information about outdoor activities, wildlife watching and environmental projects, such as recycling, pollution prevention and innovative energy solutions. Live wild animals, kids' activities and wildlife lectures are also on the agenda. Buses will even take visitors to wildlife viewing areas.

Admission and parking are both free. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 11 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 12. Estrella Mountain Regional Park is located at 14805 W. Vineyard Ave. in Goodyear, just five miles south of I-10 on Estrella Parkway. Vendors will be on hand to sell lunch and snacks.

For more information about this event, which is co-sponsored by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, call (623) 204-2130 or go to the festival's Web site at tresriosnaturefestival.com.

Try out the latest firearms at the Shooting Showcase

Be sure to save March 25 and 26 on your calendar to attend the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Shooting Showcase at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility. Try out the latest pistols, rifles and shotguns on the small bore range, or experience hands-on specialty shooting disciplines, such as cowboy action shooting, rifle and pistol silhouette and black powder, on ranges not normally available to the public.

Exciting skeet shooting demonstrations will be conducted by Arizona's own U.S. National Shooting Team member, Emily Blount. Informative workshops will be offered on such topics as how to improve your big game draw odds, venomous reptiles, outdoor cooking, fishing, critter calling, hunting with dogs and bowhunting tips. Exhibits will include live wildlife from the Arizona Game and Fish Department Wildlife Center, as well as booths on hunting, wildlife conservation, boating safety, off-highway vehicle recreation and more.

Admission and parking are free. A nominal fee will be charged for ammunition for those wishing to try out firearms on the range. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The Ben Avery Shooting Facility is located at the northwest corner of I-17 and Carefree Highway in north Phoenix. To get to the Showcase, exit I-17 at Carefree Highway (Exit 223) and go 1/2 mile west to the shooting facility entrance at Long Shot Lane.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department 2006 Shooting Showcase is sponsored by Sportsman's Warehouse. For more information, visit azgfd.gov/showcase on the Web.

Commissioners' Cup trap championships to be held March 25

The Scholastic Clay Target Program's (SCTP) Commissioners' Cup state championships in trap shooting will be held Saturday, March 25 at the Red Mountain Trap and Skeet Club in Scottsdale. More than 200 young shotgun shooters will compete.

"We expect about a 30-percent increase in the number of kids participating in this year's championships compared with last year," says Anthony Chavez, shooting sports coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department, which administers the SCTP. "This reflects the growing interest in our program among kids, parents and volunteer coaches."

Competitors will shoot as five-person squads and are divided into three divisions by age: rookie (fifth grade and below), junior (sixth through eighth grade) and senior (ninth through 12th grade).

Check-in for competitors is at 8 a.m. The competition runs from 9 a.m. until about 5 p.m., followed by an awards ceremony. The public is invited to attend at the Red Mountain Trap and Skeet Club at 15001 N. Beeline Highway.

The trap competition is the first stage in the Commissioners' Cup championships, which are the culmination of the SCTP season in Arizona. Other championship events will be in skeet at the Tucson Trap and Skeet Club in Tucson, April 1, and in sporting clays at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix, April 29.

This is only the second year of Arizona's SCTP. More than 700 young people --double last year's number -- participate in 15 local programs across the state, making Arizona's program one of the largest in the country.

Hunters Who Care cleanup to be held southwest of Tucson on March 11

Volunteers are encouraged to turn out on March 11 for the Arizona Hunters Who Care cleanup of wildlife habitat in Game Management Units 36A, 36B and 36C, about 20 miles southwest of Tucson. Nearly 200 volunteers removed 33,000 pounds of trash in a similar cleanup last fall.

Base camp will be at Three Points Veterans Memorial Park in Robles Junction. To get there from Tucson, take Highway 86 west about 20 miles to Robles Junction, then go south for one mile on Highway 286. The park is on the east side of Highway 286.

Garbage bags for the cleanup will be distributed at the camp starting at 6 a.m. Saturday. Those who are familiar with the area can go directly to those places they know are in need of cleanup. Volunteers not familiar with the area can get directions about places to go from the event coordinators. Dumpsters will be provided at Three Points Veterans Memorial Park.

Other fun events will also be going on during the cleanup. Lunch and beverages will be served on Saturday. A 3-D archery course will be available for kids at the camp. Raffle tickets will be given out for each bag of trash collected, and numerous raffle prizes will be awarded. Please check in with the volunteer coordinators for raffle tickets, food and refreshments.

For more information, contact one of the event coordinators: Officer Gabriel Paz of the Arizona Game and Fish Department at (520) 883-0487 or gpaz@azgfd.gov; Lance Altherr of Hunters Who Care at azhunterswhocare@hotmail.com; or Bob Boido of Safari Club International, Tucson Chapter at (520) 622-1216.

Hunters Who Care is a group of hunters, guides, sportsmen, hunting clubs and other groups who work together to clean up Arizona's desert. The group partners with the Arizona Game and Fish Department and other organizations on various cleanup and habitat enhancement events.

Come learn how to use science to catch more fish

Come learn how to use science to catch more bass and crappie.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is presenting a free fishing seminar from 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 18 at the department's Mesa regional office at 7200 E. University Drive.

Come join biologists Jim Warnecke and Rich Wiggins as they show you how to use fishery science to put more black crappies and bass in the live well. A demonstration of fish cleaning and cooking will round out the afternoon. For more information, call (480) 981-9400, ext. 3541 or ext. 3544.

Take your winter visitors fishing

Do you have out-of-state family and friends vacationing in Arizona this month? Are you a long-term winter visitor who annually escapes the harsh winters back home? There's no better time than now to enjoy our fun fishing, phenomenal weather and breathtaking scenery.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department makes it very affordable by offering a variety of short-term licenses for nonresidents. A one-day license is $12.50; a five-day license is $26; and a four-month license is only $37.50. These licenses are valid for all species and don't require a trout stamp.

"Despite the lack of rain and snow this winter, our fishing outlook is excellent," says Larry Riley, fisheries chief for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. "The record wet winter we had last year replenished many of our lakes and reservoirs and set the stage for great fishing opportunities for the next several years. This is an ideal time to get out and fish."

Wondering where to go and what to fish for?

Central Arizona hot spots right now include Roosevelt Lake and Lake Pleasant. Roosevelt Lake, about a 90-minute drive northeast of Phoenix, is reporting excellent bass and crappie fishing. Lake Pleasant, an hour northwest of Phoenix, has decent crappie fishing right now, and the white bass and striped bass bite has been terrific. Be aware that a portion of the Agua Fria arm of the lake is closed for nesting bald eagles. You also might want to give Canyon Lake a shot. Bass fishing in this scenic lake, about an hour's drive east of Phoenix, is reportedly good in small coves, and the lake was stocked with 1,200 rainbow trout on March 2.  All three lakes have shoreline fishing opportunities as well as marinas offering boat rentals.

A little further north, some hot spots are Alamo Lake and Deadhorse Ranch State Park. Alamo Lake, about 60 miles northwest of Wickenburg, has really turned on since last week, with some anglers catching and releasing 50 or more bass a day on spinnerbaits. Anglers are also reporting great success catching crappies by trolling jigs and minnows. Deadhorse Ranch State Park, located just outside Cottonwood (two hours north of Phoenix), has been a shoreline fishing hot spot for a while. About 3,600 catchable-size rainbow trout are stocked into the middle and lower lagoons every other week from November through March. In addition to the normal stocking, many small (5-8 inch) trout are still being caught in the upper lagoon from a stocking of 5,000 fish several weeks ago.

Anglers in the western part of the state can enjoy fishing the Colorado River and its reservoirs. On Lake Mohave, striped bass and catfish have reportedly been biting well near Davis Dam. This area has plenty of shoreline for anglers to enjoy. On the river below Davis Dam, trout fishing has been good after stockings, particularly in the morning. On Lake Havasu, the Site Six area is hot right now for shoreline anglers fishing for striped bass. Boat anglers have reported success catching largemouth and smallmouth bass. At Martinez Lake north of Yuma, striped bass are biting in the coves. When the weather warms up just a little bit more, fishing for largemouth bass and striped bass in many of the western and southwestern waters should be terrific. Boat anglers on any waters that border Nevada or California need to purchase an additional $3 stamp. Shoreline anglers fishing from the Arizona side do not need that stamp.

Don't forget the high country. Periods of warm weather have taken ice cover off some of the lakes, and the lack of snow has made access easier than in wet years. Some big holdover trout remain from last year's stockings, so this might be the time to get out for an early high country adventure. Before heading out, you should check with the Forest Service or other land management agency that has jurisdiction to see what fire restrictions are in place.

Don't feel like going out of town to fish? Arizona features 20 Urban Fishing Program lakes: 15 in the Phoenix metro area, four in the Tucson area and one (Green Valley Lake) in Payson. The lakes are stocked with trout every two weeks from late fall through early spring, and with catfish from early spring through mid-summer and again in early fall. These are great spots for shoreline anglers. A separate Urban Fishing License is required (a Class A license is not valid on designated urban waters). The cost is $16, and the license is good for the calendar year.

For more information on Arizona fishing, visit azgfd.gov/fish and browse our weekly fishing report and stocking schedules.

Game and Fish wildlife professional wins national conservation award

Brian Wakeling, big game supervisor with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, has received the prestigious Henry S. Mosby Award from the National Wild Turkey Federation for his outstanding conservation work with wild turkeys. He received the award at the federation's 30th annual national convention and sport show in Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 25.

Wakeling was recognized for his dedication to research, management and restoration of wild turkeys, including helping to spearhead Arizona's Gould's turkey reintroduction program. The program, a partnership effort between the Arizona Game and Fish Department, National Wild Turkey Federation, U.S. Forest Service and Mexican government, is repopulating Gould's turkeys in southern Arizona by capturing birds in Mexico and releasing them in suitable habitat in the "sky island" mountain ranges. Gould's turkeys were once found in the region, but disappeared many years ago due to unregulated hunting and unregulated land use practices.

"This is a great honor, but it's truly a team award," says Wakeling, who has worked on the reintroduction program since 1993. "A lot of people within our agency and in our partner organizations have worked very hard, and we wouldn't have been able to accomplish what we have without the spirit of cooperation that exists. I appreciate the support of my colleagues, the folks at the National Wild Turkey Federation, and my family."

Wakeling is the second Arizona wildlife professional to be recognized this year by the National Wild Turkey Federation. Gerry Perry, regional supervisor for the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Tucson region, was named Arizona wildlife officer of the year.

The Mosby Award is named for Dr. Henry Mosby, whose research with wild turkeys in the early 1900s set the standard for their management.

Study to determine how to protect burrowing owls from development

PHOENIX -  Burrowing owls are big-eyed, long-legged, small owls that live underground, and you may not even know you're walking by or over their homes. Unfortunately, developers also may not realize that burrowing owls live on a property where they plan to build.

"We're looking at ways to help protect burrowing owls that will not keep developers from getting their jobs done," says Renee Wilcox, a research biologist with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. "Right now, we're conducting a study to figure out whether these small owls can be successfully relocated into artificial burrows in safer places that won't be developed."

Developers can call the Arizona Game and Fish Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or a volunteer, nonprofit organization called Wild at Heart for more information about relocating burrowing owls through an inexpensive process that can help prevent construction project delays. The federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and state regulations protect burrowing owls, which are considered a "species of concern" here in Arizona and are listed as a threatened species elsewhere. The Arizona Game and Fish Department wants to help with burrowing owl conservation to ensure the continued presence of these owls in our state.

For the full story on the study of artificial burrows and information on how to get a brochure about relocating burrowing owls, click here.