• New regulations are now available online
• The long-awaited Hunt Arizona 2006 Edition is available
• Governor signs bill increasing penalties for poaching
• Fire restrictions initiated at state wildlife areas
• Commissioners’ Cup championships conclude successful SCTP season
• Help send Arizona’s youth champions to the Scholastic Clay Target nationals
• Triple digits are here: It’s time for cool mountain trout
• Focus on boating safety this season
• Celebrate Migratory Bird Day at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum
• New trail map will help you find wildlife in the White Mountains
• 12th Annual Payson Wildlife Fair Set for Saturday, May 13

New hunt regulations are now available online

Hunters will want to go online at azgfd.gov to get copies of the new hunt regulations: There are lots of changes this year to the big game hunt seasons, in large part to assist efforts to retain and recruit hunters.

The printed regulations should be available at license dealers throughout the state by mid-May. The fall hunt application deadline is 7 p.m. (MST) June 13. Hunters can applying online again this year for the big game hunts at azgfd.gov. The online process should be available starting early next week.
 
Here is a quick summary of changes this year:

• The online application process will again be available this year.
• There are fall javelina big game hunt permit tags available this year.
• Bonus points and loyalty points now also apply to javelina, turkey and bear.
• A 10-percent non-resident cap now applies to bighorn sheep, buffalo, all antlered deer, bull elk, javelina, antelope and turkey.
• There is no longer a 15-percent bighorn sheep set-aside of hunt permit-tags for non-residents.
• The $5 application fee per applicant will no longer be refunded on rejected applications.
• Applicants must be 10 years old by deadline day (June 13) to apply for bonus points. However, if applying for a hunt, applicants must be 10 years old by the beginning date of any hunt they select.
• Hunters are required to physically check-in for bear and mountain lion kills.
• Archery deer hunters are still required to report their harvest; compliance for this requirement last year was low.
• The 20-percent bonus point pass, meaning that 20-percent of tags in each hunt will be set aside for applicants with the highest number of bonus points, now applies to bighorn sheep, buffalo, antelope, bear, deer, elk, javelina and turkey.
• Metro unit numbers and boundaries have changed. Units 4A and 5A also changed.

The long-awaited Hunt Arizona 2006 Edition is now available

Do you want to know what deer or elk hunts offer you the best odds for getting drawn this year?
 
Would you like to know what hunt management units offer the best opportunity of successfully harvesting a big game animal in the fall?

To answer those questions and others, visit your nearest Arizona Game and Fish Department office to purchase the Hunt Arizona 2006 Edition. You can even purchase the $6 booklet online at azgfd.gov.

This 177-page booklet is packed with information such as all the recent survey and harvest data on Arizona’s big game animals. It also provides detailed information on how to use that data. The information is especially useful for those who want to play the odds for the best chance of being drawn. The booklet also provides such things as unit-by-unit deer survey data dating all the way back to the 1940s.

Governor signs bill increasing penalties for poaching

Gov. Janet Napolitano on May 2 signed House Bill 2129, a measure that increases the penalties for the illegal taking of wildlife. It will go into effect 90 days after the last day of the Arizona legislative session, probably in mid- to late-August.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jerry Weiers (R-Glendale), gives the Arizona Game and Fish Commission the authority to permanently revoke, or suspend for a period of five years or more, a person's hunting privileges for various offenses. These include unlawfully taking trophy or endangered species, taking three times the legally established limit or committing repeat violations. The bill also creates a civil assessment and revocation system based on the number of convictions an individual has for unlawfully taking or wounding wildlife.

“Hunters statewide are in favor of this legislation,” says Tony Guiles, legislative liaison for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “The vast majority of people respect our wildlife resources and obey the law, but a few egregious offenders don’t. This bill gives our wildlife officers more enforcement tools and provides stiffer penalties for individuals who illegally take wildlife, especially repeat offenders.”
 
As an example, Guiles points out the case of a Payson man who pleaded guilty last year to three charges of unlawfully taking wildlife after his license had already been revoked for a similar offense. “If this law had been in place then, we could have taken away this individual’s hunting privileges for the rest of his life. Then, if he were convicted again, he could have faced prison time and a significant fine,” says Guiles.

Many people don’t realize that wildlife is considered a state asset, owned by the people of Arizona. “When poachers illegally take an animal, they are stealing from all of us,” says Guiles.

Another provision in the bill would ban the feeding of most wildlife in Maricopa and Pima counties. Attached as an amendment by Sen. Toni Hellon (R-Tucson), it makes feeding of most wild animals in those two counties a petty offense punishable by a $300 fine.

Wildlife feeding is a significant factor in increased human-wildlife conflicts in outlying urban areas.

“Many people think that feeding wildlife is a nice thing to do because it attracts rabbits or deer to spend time around their homes,” says Arizona Game and Fish Department Urban and Watchable Wildlife Project Manager Joe Yarchin. “But what happens is that those animals attract larger, predatory animals, such as coyotes, bobcats and mountain lions that can potentially eat pets and even become aggressive toward people.”

Problems associated with wildlife feeding include coyote attacks on eight child victims in areas of Maricopa County, two recent Phoenix-area incidents where javelina bit humans who were hand-feeding them, and several human-mountain lion encounters in 2004 in Sabino Canyon and near an elementary school in the Tucson area.

The ban will create another way for Game and Fish to help the public deal with repeated problems from wildlife feeding, in addition to its current wildlife information and education efforts, such as community meetings and the section of its Web site at azgfd.gov/urbanwildlife.

The measure does not apply to feeding birds and tree squirrels, and it does not affect people engaged in legal hunting or fishing or those engaged in normal agriculture and livestock operations.

Fire restrictions initiated at state wildlife areas

Arizona Game and Fish Department Director Duane Shroufe initiated fire restrictions at the department’s wildlife areas effective immediately.

Arizona Game and Fish wildlife area fire restrictions prohibit open fires, including campfires or barbecue grills that use charcoal or wood. Smoking is only allowed within a vehicle or in an area cleared of all flammable materials at least 3 feet in diameter. Propane cook stoves, heating devices and lanterns are allowed for use in designated camping areas only. Please use your ashtray.

Game and Fish Department wildlife areas include the following:

• Alamo Lake Wildlife Area.
• Arlington Wildlife Area.
• Base and Meridian Wildlife Area.
• Bog Hole Wildlife Area.
• Clarence May & C.M.H. May Memorial Wildlife Area.
• Cluff Ranch Wildlife Area.
• Colorado River Natural Center.
• Mittry Lake Wildlife Area.
• Powers Butte Wildlife Area.
• Quigley Wildlife Area.
• Robbins Butte Wildlife Area.
• Roosevelt Lake Wildlife Area (open campfires are permitted in developed fee campsites).
• Tucson Mountain Wildlife Area.
• Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area.
• Willcox Playa Wildlife Area.

Commissioners’ Cup championships conclude successful SCTP season

The Arizona Game and Fish Department's Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) wrapped up a successful second year with the conclusion of the Commissioners' Cup state championships.
 
Several hundred competitors ages 9-19 from across the state competed in sporting clays April 29 at the Ben Avery Clay Target Center in Phoenix, in skeet April 1 at the Tucson Trap and Skeet Club in Tucson, and in trap March 25 at the Red Mountain Trap and Skeet Club in Scottsdale.

Squads from the Red Mountain Target Terminators team (East Valley), the Ben Avery Clay Crushers team (central/north Phoenix area), the Tucson Trap and Skeet Youth Club (Tucson area) and the Huachuca Hot Shots team (Sierra Vista area) took first place in the various age divisions.

"We had a great turnout at all the events," says Anthony Chavez, shooting sports coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. "Participation in the Commissioners’ Cup was up more than 30 percent over last year. Overall participation in Arizona’s SCTP increased from 350 kids last year to 800 this year."

The winning senior and junior squads are eligible to represent Arizona at the SCTP national skeet and sporting clays championships July 14-16 in Rochester, N.Y. and at the SCTP national trap championships Aug. 8-9 in Sparta, Ill. The winning trap rookie squad will also be eligible to compete in the trap nationals.

Click here for the rest of the story and a list of results.

Help send Arizona’s youth champions to the Scholastic Clay Target nationals

Recreational skeet and trap shooters are invited to participate in two fun competitions that will raise money to send Arizona's youth champions in skeet, sporting clays and trap to the Scholastic Clay Target Program national championships in Rochester, N.Y. and Sparta, Ill. this summer.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department will host the events on Saturday, May 20 at the Tucson Trap and Skeet Club in Tucson, and Saturday, May 27 at the Red Mountain Trap and Skeet Club in Scottsdale. Open to any member of the public, each event offers the option to compete in trap, skeet or both. Cost is $25 for either category and includes the opportunity to shoot at 50 clay targets. Prizes will be given to the top three scorers in each category.

To register for either competition, go to the azgfd.gov shooting sports section to print off a registration form for either the Tucson or Red Mountain event, and fax or mail back to Anthony Chavez, shooting sports coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department, at the contact information listed on the form. For more information, contact Anthony Chavez at (623) 236-7395.

Golden algae causing problems at local lakes

Arizona Game and Fish Department closely monitoring the situation
A tiny organism called golden algae, which does not pose any type of threat to humans, is causing problems in some Arizona lakes.

Arizona Game and Fish Department officials believe a die-off of many small fish at Saguaro Lake this week can be blamed on the algae bloom, which releases toxins that affect only fish and other aquatic animals.

“When golden algae blooms, it affects species with gills, including freshwater clams and threadfin shad, a common 2- to 6-inch baitfish,” says Marc Dahlberg, an Arizona Game and Fish Department fisheries biologist. “At Saguaro Lake, we’re experiencing a shad die-off.”

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is monitoring the situation at Saguaro Lake and others. Golden algae was recently found in local waters, including Canyon and Apache lakes and other urban lakes in the Phoenix area. Officials have been responding.

“Catfish stockings have been suspended at Desert West and Alvord lakes because of golden algae and recent fish losses,” says Eric Swanson, manager of the department’s Urban Fishing Program. “In these smaller lakes, if golden algae can be detected early in the bloom cycle, and treatments with algaecides are applied right away, then the algae can be successfully controlled before harming valuable fish.”

Some small lakes in the Phoenix area have been successfully treated. For larger bodies of water, such as Saguaro, algaecide treatments are not a viable option because all of the water must be treated at the same time, in order for the effort to be effective. However, biologists say you can do some things to help stop the spread of golden algae and other aquatic nuisances to other waterways:

1. Eliminate water from your boat, especially live wells, before leaving the lake.
2. Clean and dry anything that comes into contact with water, including boats, boat trailers, skis, shoes, clothing and pets.
3. Never release plants, fish or animals into a body of water unless they came out of that body of water.

A golden algae bloom happens when the organism manages to out-compete other algae in the area and experience a fast population growth. Scientists have been unable to determine the specific environmental conditions that cause a bloom, making golden algae-related fish kills difficult to predict. For more information about golden algae, visit azgfd.gov.

Head to the cool mountains for great trout fishing
With temperatures soaring into the triple digits, it’s time to grab your trout-fishing gear head for the cool high mountain lakes and streams for some great spring fishing.

This is the time of year when anglers not only have excellent catch rates for stocked trout, there are lots of opportunities to catch the larger, hold-over trout as well. In fact, last year the Arizona Game and Fish Department stocked most mountain reservoirs with huge trout from the show ponds at its hatcheries.  A lot of those monster trout are still lurking in the clear waters of our mountain lakes.

A spring hot spot this year has been Lower Lake Mary near Flagstaff where anglers have been averaging 1.5- to 2-pound rainbow trout, plus lots of small northern pike. At nearby Ashurst Lake, one angler – who now has the nickname of Captain Ahab (from Moby Dick) – even reeled in an 8-pound albino trout this spring.

Big Lake is an excellent choice for hold-over trout. It also offers diverse fishing opportunities for rainbow, cutthroat, brook and Apache trout. Bring along your binoculars – this is an area full of elk, deer, and antelope.

You can also find diverse fishing opportunities at places like Fool Hollow in Show Low, which has trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye and catfish. Fool Hollow is also a state park, with lots of camp sites.

If you want a distinctive Arizona experience, then try for some native Apache trout at places like the East or West Fork of the Black River. The White Mountains of Arizona offer the only place on this planet where you can catch these golden-colored native trout.

Focus on boating safety this season
PHOENIX — Spring heat is setting in, and that means many Arizonans will be heading to the water to cool off. As boating season arrives, the Arizona Game and Fish Department wants to remind you to stay safe, especially because Arizona has six of the 20 most dangerous waterways in the United States.

“National Safe Boating Week will be celebrated from May 20-26, but boating safety is really important every day,” says Arizona’s Boating Law Administrator Kevin Bergersen. “You should always be sure to take the precautions that will help keep your boating trip safe and fun.”

Among the things you should do before heading out on a lake or river:

1. Make sure enough life jackets are on board the boat for everyone, and make sure they’re all the right size, Coast Guard-approved and in good working order, free from holes.
2. Check that your boat’s motor and propulsion system are working right.
3. Know the passenger and weight limits for your boat, so you can avoid overloading it.
4. Make sure your fire extinguishers work.
5. Put drain plugs back in your boat after winter storage.
6. Don’t ever drink and drive a boat.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department schedules operating under the influence (OUI) checkpoints at various times throughout boating season. The department also uses high saturation or “wolf pack” patrols, where officers patrol high use areas, looking for impaired boat operators on our waterways.

“We want everyone to enjoy their time on the water in a responsible way,” says Bergersen. “By following the tips above, folks can have a great time, and needless tragedies can hopefully be avoided.

The U.S. Coast Guard estimates more than 400 lives could have been saved nationwide in 2003 if all boaters had worn life jackets. "In 2004, 12 people lost their lives in Arizona, six of who could possibly still be alive today if they had worn life jackets. Also, alcohol was a contributing factor in about one-third of all reported recreational boating deaths. We want to educate everyone about the things they can do to protect themselves and their families,” says Bergersen.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department recommends taking a boating education class. Statistics show knowledgeable boaters are safe boaters. Those interested in taking a Game and Fish boating safety class can call (623) 236-7235 or visit azgfd.gov/boating for more information.

You can also attend several safe boating events co-sponsored by the Arizona Game and Fish Department this season:

1. The 2006 Tri-State Boating Safety Fair will be held at Lake Havasu State Park on Saturday, May 6 from 8 a.m. to noon. Boaters and safety experts from California, Arizona and Nevada will be on hand for food, games, free boat safety checks, water rescue demonstrations, a life jacket trade-in and much more. Get more details at BoatColoradoRiver.com.
2. A Safe Boating Day event will be held at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area’s Hemenway Harbor on Saturday, May 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants will have the chance to win some prizes, including a family houseboat vacation and a 2006 Sea-Doo personal watercraft. Boat safety inspections and training are among the other activities planned for this event. Get more details at BoatLakeMead.com.
3. National Safe Boating Week also kicks off with the 3rd Annual Arizona Safe Boating Celebration at Lake Pleasant on Saturday, May 20 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. This event will include free boat safety checks, life jacket displays and information, and a speech by state Rep. Colette Rosati. Get more details at azsafeboating.org.
    
   Celebrate Migratory Bird Day on May 13 at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Brilliant red-orange summer tanagers sing from high in the eucalyptus trees.

A few minutes' walk farther down the path, lazuli buntings dart across Queen Creek to catch unwary insects in midair.

Come see these colorful birds and others at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum on Saturday, May 13 to celebrate International Migratory Bird Day, in conjunction with the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

International Migratory Bird Day was created in 1993 by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology to mark the journey of migratory birds between their winter and summer homes. The day is celebrated across several continents.

You can attend the event at the arboretum at Highway 60 milepost 223 near the scenic copper mining town of Superior, about 55 miles due east of Phoenix. For more information, call (520) 689-2811 or visit the Web site ag.arizona.edu/bta

Events and activities for the morning of International Migratory Bird Day include:

• 7 a.m. - guided bird walks, and 8 a.m. until noon - exhibits by the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center and the Maricopa Audubon Society, plus kids’ activities sponsored by Audubon.
• 9 a.m. - avian photography presentation in the lecture room by Chandler resident E.J. Peiker.

  
New trail map will help you find wildlife in the White Mountains

With the weather getting warmer and kids getting out of school soon, maybe it’s a good time to plan a family vacation to enjoy wildlife viewing in the White Mountains. The Arizona Game and Fish Department has a new field guide called “White Mountains Wildlife Trails” to help you map out a fun trip to enjoy nature in eastern Arizona.

The department is offering everyone a copy of the free, new guide, which comes complete with a map and descriptions of several prime areas where you can see a variety of animals.

“The guide will help people to streamline wildlife-viewing trips in the Pinetop, Springerville and Alpine areas,” says Bruce Sitko, public information officer at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Pinetop office. “Families and friends will be able to plan out what types of wildlife they want to see, which areas they want to visit, and how to most quickly and effectively get from one area to another.”

The guide gives directions to local wildlife-viewing spots and information about how to best navigate through them. Some sites have hiking trails, while others are driving loops of longer mileage. The guide also tells you what types of facilities, such as restrooms, campsites, picnic areas and parking, are available at each location. In addition, the guide offers a comprehensive description of what types of animals you’re likely to find in each spot, from elk or Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep to hawks, wild turkeys and songbirds.
 
“We want to make wildlife viewing as enjoyable as possible,” says Sitko. “Making the planning easier and faster will help people get out the door more quickly, so they can the most of their wildlife-viewing time.”

The new guide is now available for free at all seven Arizona Game and Fish Department offices, located in Pinetop, Flagstaff, Kingman, Mesa, Phoenix, Tucson and Yuma. Office addresses and contact phone numbers can be found at the department’s Web site azgfd.gov. Click on “Inside AZGFD” and then “Agency Directory.” You can also call (928) 367-4281 for more information about the trail guide.

The new guide is paid for by the Arizona Game and Fish Department Heritage Fund, which is lottery ticket sale money used for conservation purposes, including educating our children about wildlife, protecting endangered species and creating more opportunities for outdoor recreation. The new trail guide includes tips for responsible wildlife viewing.

12th Annual Payson Wildlife Fair Set for Saturday, May 13

 Green Valley Park will undergo an amazing transformation on Saturday, May 13, when its sprawling grassy expanses turn into a carnival full of wildlife and outdoor activities. The public is invited to attend the free 12th Annual Payson Wildlife Fair. Organizers have been working hard to make this year’s event the best one yet. 
 
“This is a great way for the family to spend a Saturday,” says Mary Gilbert of the USDA Forest Service. “Parents and kids can fish, play games and get a close-up look at lots of amazing animals, including raptors. The birds are magnificent.”

In addition to birds of prey, other live animals on display will include rattlesnakes, Gila monsters, prairie dogs and alligators. Fair visitors can also test their skills at one of the casting booths or the virtual fishing galleries, and they can visit booths from a variety of conservation groups, including the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Arizona State Parks and the Phoenix Herpetological Society.

Green Valley Lake will receive nearly double its normal stocking of trout in preparation for this event. No fishing license is required for fair attendees, and equipment and bait can be borrowed from the free fishing booth at the fair.

The fair is a cooperative effort between the Arizona Game and Fish Department, USDA Forest Service, Mogollon Sporting Association, and Payson Parks and Recreation Department. The fair runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 13 at Green Valley Park in Payson.