• Public input sought on management of Arizona’s roadless areas
• Governor names Jennifer Martin to Game and Fish Commission
• Department actively works to resolve online draw application issues
• Bear attack points out need to be “bear aware” this season
• Arizona Game and Fish begins efforts to save pygmy owls from drought
• Arizona’s Big Game Super Raffle: Win the hunt of a lifetime
• Photo contest: 2007 calendar to showcase public’s submissions
• Bighorn Sheep Workshop dates announced
• Volunteer for wildlife: Check out the opportunities with Game and Fish
• Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet set for Aug. 25

Public input sought on management of Arizona’s roadless areas

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking input from the public on how it would like to see the state’s roadless areas managed. A series of informational open houses will be held around the state in July and August, and written comment will be accepted until Aug. 31.

The input will assist Gov. Janet Napolitano and the department in developing Arizona’s petition to the USDA Forest Service requesting specific management requirements for some or all of 1.2 million acres of inventoried roadless areas in six national forests in Arizona.

“Arizona is fortunate that Governor Napolitano is committed to developing recommendations that conserve the integrity of our roadless areas, establish provisions for current public and administrative uses, and allow management actions that ensure the long-term health of the public land and resources,” says Director Duane Shroufe of the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “The public input phase is an important part of developing these recommendations.”

The Forest Service originally issued the Roadless Area Conservation Rule in January 2001. The rule essentially prohibited new road construction and development on 58.5 million acres of inventoried roadless areas on Forest Service lands across the country, while allowing for current public access and recreational opportunities (including hiking, camping, hunting and fishing) and wildlife habitat management. The rule also allowed construction of temporary roads under specified circumstances, such as to fight forest fires or conduct actions to reduce wildlfire risk.

Several states filed lawsuits over the rule after it was issued, and a federal court struck it down in 2003.

The Forest Service issued a revised rule in 2005 that allows state governors to petition the Secretary of Agriculture with specific management recommendations for inventoried roadless areas in their states. The states have until November 2006 to complete the petition and submit it for review and approval.

At the request of Gov. Napolitano, the Arizona Game and Fish Department is conducting the public input phase of Arizona’s petition process. A series of informational open houses has been scheduled to help the public better understand roadless management issues and the state’s petition process.

“The meetings will include a presentation about roadless areas, the state petition process, and potential management options for inventoried roadless areas in the national forest closest to the local community,” says Bob Broscheid, habitat branch chief for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “The public will have an opportunity to view maps, ask questions and provide written comment, but no oral comment will be taken at the meetings.”

All of the open house meetings will be held from 6-9 p.m. Visit azgfd.gov/roadless for meeting dates and locations.

Written comment can be submitted until Aug. 31, either by e-mail to roadless@azgfd.gov, or by U.S. mail to Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn: Roadless Petition Comment, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000.

Additional information on roadless areas is located on the USDA Forest Service’s Web site at www.roadless.fs.fed.us.

Governor names Jennifer Martin to Game and Fish Commission

Gov. Janet Napolitano has appointed Jennifer Martin of Phoenix to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. Martin immediately replaces W. Hays Gilstrap, whose term had expired.

Gov. Napolitano nominated Martin to serve as a commissioner Jan. 6, 2006, and her nomination was transmitted to the Senate for confirmation. Despite strong support from the National Rifle Association, four past commissioners, hunters, anglers and conservationists, the Arizona Senate took no formal action on her nomination during the 2006 Legislative session.

“Jennifer’s strong scientific background in wildlife management and her respect for fishing and hunting make her a perfect fit for the Arizona Game and Fish Commission,” said the Governor. “I look forward to working with her and the rest of the Commission.”

Martin graduated from Northern Arizona University with a degree in Biology and specializes in Wildlife Management. She has previously worked with the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Conference and the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference. She is also a former Game and Fish Department employee.

Martin will remain a commissioner for one year and must be confirmed by the Senate on or before June 22, 2007.

Department actively works to resolve online draw application issues

The Arizona Game and Fish Department continues to work to reconcile problems that some big game draw hopefuls may have encountered when applying online in the 24 hours prior to the application deadline.

There were some instances where people applying online completed their application but did not receive a confirmation page or confirmation number. Customers who experienced this situation may be wondering if they have a valid application in the draw.

Those applications were directed to a “pending file.” The Arizona Game and Fish Department is continuing to check each application in the pending file and contact those people to ensure that they will have a completed application in the draw.

Customers can verify their online application was received, or can review the information they submitted, by visiting azgfd.gov/draw and clicking on the “Click here to review your 2006 fall big game hunt application” link. Applicants can access their information on this secured page by entering either their department ID number, social security number, or first and last name, and then entering their date of birth. The system will let individuals access their information for any application on which their name was submitted.

There were also some instances where customer credit cards were charged more than once.  Although this was not a common occurrence, applicants are advised to check their credit card statements.  The department is aggressively working to reconcile any instances where this happened.

The department advises people who can’t access their application information in the system, or those whose credit card has been charged more than once, to please contact the department at (602) 942-3000 and ask the operator for the draw section.

We apologize to our customers for any inconvenience you experienced, and appreciate your understanding and continued support.

Bear attack points out need to be “bear aware” this season

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is again advising campers and other outdoor recreationists to be “bear aware” this season in the wake of a recent bear attack on a 14-year-old boy near Hayden and several other bear incidents throughout the state.

A young black bear attacked and slightly injured the boy, who was camping with three friends on June 11 along the Gila River at a place called Shores Recreation Area. The four boys were sleeping on the ground when the victim woke up to a bear standing over him around 5:30 a.m. The bear swatted the boy, and when his friends were awakened by the incident, they chased the bear off.

The bear was likely attracted to the camping area because of the significant amount of trash surrounding this popular recreation site.

“The incident illustrates the need for the public to take precautions when camping or recreating outdoors, because there is a higher potential for human interactions with bears and other wildlife this year due to the state’s prolonged drought,” says Randy Babb, a Game and Fish information and education specialist. “Bear encounters have been on the increase in several areas of the state.”

The primary cause of most conflicts between bears and people, especially in camping areas, is food. It is prudent for all outdoor recreationists to take the following precautions to minimize potential conflicts with bears and other wildlife:

• Never intentionally feed wildlife.
• Secure all garbage.
• Keep a clean camp.
• Do not cook in your tent or sleeping area.
• Store all foods, toiletries and other scented items well away from sleeping areas and unavailable to bears.
• Wash up, change clothing and remove all scented articles before retiring to your sleeping area.
• Walk or jog in groups. Pay attention to your surroundings when hiking, jogging or bicycling.
• Supervise your children and keep them in sight.
• Keep your pets on a leash – don’t allow them to roam free. Or better yet, leave them at home if you can. Pets can easily get into conflicts with a wide range of wildlife from skunks to coyotes.
• If you are confronted by a bear, don’t run. Try to make yourself look as big and imposing as possible. Stay facing the animal. Throw something at it. Speak and let it know you are human. Loud noises can help. Try clanging pans, using air horns, or whatever is available.

Arizona Game and Fish begins efforts to save pygmy owls from drought

Because of tough drought conditions and past problems with the survival of young pygmy owls in Arizona during the summer, the Arizona Game and Fish Department is taking action to protect the future of the species in our state.

“We’ve seen and documented the deaths of several pygmy owl fledglings in the Arizona heat during each of the past three years, a period of extended drought,” says Jim deVos, head of the Arizona Game and Fish Department research branch. “Therefore, we want to bring several juvenile owls out of the wild into a captive environment, where they can be better protected.”

Researchers have found very few nesting pairs of pygmy owls in southern Arizona in the past few years, and most of their young died within the first year of life. In response, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the state’s Pygmy Owl Recovery Team have been working for the past three years to develop a plan identifying actions to boost the population of pygmy owls in our state. The Arizona Game and Fish Department developed a detailed proposal for rescuing juvenile pygmy owls based on the actions outlined in the plan.
 
“Bringing some of these pygmy owls together in the same place would allow us to monitor them and ensure, to the extent possible, their survival,” says deVos. “This will also allow us to work with interested parties to implement long-term strategies to enhance conservation of this unique desert-dwelling bird.”

The pygmy owl was recently taken off the endangered species list. The little bird is 6 to 7 inches tall and weighs about 2 1/2 ounces. The pygmy owl is an important part of our desert environment, nesting primarily in woodpecker holes in saguaro cacti. That’s why the bird’s full name is the cactus ferruginous pygmy owl. Populations of this owl live in Texas and Mexico, in addition to southern Arizona.

Arizona's Big Game Super Raffle: Win the hunt of a lifetime 

Hunters have an opportunity this year to win a unique year-round big game hunt while helping wildlife conservation efforts at the same time, thanks to Arizona’s Big Game Super Raffle. Here is how it works:

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission set aside special tags for each of the nine big game species to be used in a super raffle to raise money for wildlife conservation. A consortium of conservation groups banded together to raffle these special tags. Every cent raised goes to the Arizona Game and Fish Department to benefit the big game species for which the raffle is held.

Special tags are available for bighorn sheep, elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, antelope, buffalo, turkey, bear and javelina. The public drawing this year will be held on July 8. The season dates associated with these special tags are 365 days, starting Aug. 1, and the tags include a few restrictions on hunting areas.

Raffle tickets must be purchased by July 3, and prices are very reasonable. Visit arizonabiggamesuperraffle.com for all the details.

Photo contest: 2007 calendar to showcase public’s submissions

Do you enjoy photographing Arizona’s big game mammals rumbling through their diverse habitats? Or do you prefer the more delicate results you get when photographing this state’s feathered friends? Maybe you delight in capturing your family on film as they fish a sun-dappled river, boat along a desert shoreline, draw a bow in the field, or pursue other outdoor recreational activities.

Whatever your preference, if you’ve got the goods recorded digitally or on film, we would like you to participate in the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s photo contest for next year’s wildlife calendar. You don’t have to be a professional to submit your work, you just have to follow some simple contest rules to ensure our panel of expert judges reviews your photographs.

There are 12 categories to chose from, complete with a section for juniors to submit their work (a junior is someone age 17 and younger). First, second and third-place winners will be announced for each category and subsequently published in the department’s 2007 calendar. The deadline to submit your photos is 5 p.m. MST Aug. 1, 2006 (postmarks don’t count).

For more information, including contest rules, categories and prizes, please visit azgfd.gov/photocontest. To download an entry form, click here.

Bighorn Sheep Workshop dates announced

The majestic bighorn sheep of Arizona will be the feature presentation on consecutive weekends at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Kingman regional office.

The annual Bighorn Sheep Workshop offers wildlife enthusiasts an opportunity to learn about these sure-footed animals and view them in their native habitat during two separate two-day workshops on July 28-29 and Aug. 4-5.

The Friday portion of each workshop involves mandatory classroom education from 6-8 p.m. at the Kingman Game and Fish office, followed on Saturday by a field trip on the Colorado River from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The sheep-viewing boat trip will depart from Willow Beach. An optional 45-minute tour of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery begins at 9 a.m. Saturday before the boat tour.

Registration is limited to 40 people per workshop and is by mail only. “Preference will be given to people who have not attended the workshop in the last two years, but those who have participated are still encouraged to apply for a spot,” says Zen Mocarski, information and education program manager for the department’s Kingman office.

A $20 refundable deposit is required in the form of a check made out to Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation. Send the check to: Sheep Workshop, Arizona Game and Fish Department, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road, Kingman, AZ  86409. Include the names of participants, address, phone, and specify which weekend is preferred. Also, please include a note if you are interested in the tour of the fish hatchery. The deposit is refunded when a person either attends the workshop or calls to cancel at least 48 hours in advance.

The event is limited to those 14 years of age and up. Participants are encouraged to bring water, snacks, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

Volunteer for wildlife: Check out the opportunities with Game and Fish

Are you an outdoors enthusiast? Would you like to learn more about Arizona’s wildlife? Do you have outdoor skills you would like to share?

If so, you may want to check out the opportunities that are periodically available through the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Volunteer Program. The program assists department personnel in accomplishing their duties and provides opportunities for volunteers to participate in wildlife and resource recreation management.

The department has also produced a new “Volunteer for Wildlife” brochure, available at all department offices, which describes the program.

“There are a variety of opportunities that become available at different times of the year,” says Sandy Reith, the department’s volunteer coordinator. “These include habitat restoration and cleanup projects, Adopt-A-Ranch projects, work with our boating safety, sport fishing, hunter education and shooting sports programs, and volunteer work either at the Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center or the Ben Avery Shooting Facility.”

Specific projects and opportunities are posted on the department’s Web site at azgfd.gov/volunteer. More information is available by contacting the department’s volunteer coordinator, Sandy Reith, at volunteer@azgfd.gov or (623) 236-7680.

Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet set for Aug. 25

Make plans to attend the ninth annual Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame Induction Banquet at the Scottsdale Resort and Conference Center, Friday, Aug. 25. Three individuals and two organizations will be honored for their outstanding contributions to Arizona’s natural heritage.

Sponsored by the Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation, the induction ceremony and fund-raising banquet will start at 6 p.m. at the Scottsdale Resort and Conference Center, 7700 E. McCormick Parkway, Scottsdale. This year’s honorees are:

• Bonnie Swarbrick
• Bill Quimby
• Richard “Dick” Brown
• Salt River Project
• Phoenix Herpetological Society

Tickets for the gala evening, which will also include door prizes and a silent auction, cost $65 per person ($650 for a table of 10) and can be ordered by calling Wildlife for Tomorrow at (623) 399-8721.

Wildlife for Tomorrow was founded in 1990 and is a nonprofit foundation that works closely with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, businesses, corporations and private citizens to ensure the future of Arizona's unique wildlife resources through educational, charitable and scientific programs. For more information on the banquet or the foundation, visit wildlifefortomorrow.org.