• Spring hunt recommendations should increase hunter opportunities
• September dove season is winging our way
• Public input sought on Game and Fish strategic plan
• Learn about Arizona’s reptiles and amphibians in a new field guide
• Comments sought on reptile, raptor, amphibian and mollusk regulations
• The nation’s anglers are asked to take someone fishing
• Learn more about the Mexican gray wolf reintroduction in Arizona
• Public help needed to solve bald eagle shooting case
• Nominations sought for annual Game and Fish Commission awards
• Game and Fish educational efforts earn national awards

Spring hunt recommendations should increase hunter opportunities
A record number of spring turkey tags and an increase in javelina tags are being recommended by the Arizona Game and Fish Department this year, which should provide more people an opportunity to go hunting.

Game Chief Leonard Ordway says the spring hunt recommendations reflect the Arizona Game and Fish Commission’s direction to enhance hunter opportunities and reduce barriers to hunter retention, while maintaining sustainable big game populations.

“Recommended tag numbers reflect current biological conditions and will allow more people a chance to hunt,” he says.

The department’s spring hunt recommendations will be considered by the Game and Fish Commission during its meeting in Flagstaff on Aug. 11-12 at the Radisson Woodlands Hotel at 1175 W. Route 66, starting at 8 a.m. both days. The commission will address the spring hunting seasons during the Saturday portion of the two-day agenda.  The entire agenda meeting is available here.

The department is recommending 6,246 spring turkey tags, which is a 670-permit increase from the 2006 season. 

“Last year was a good year for turkey reproduction. The hunt success was high. The turkey populations are doing well. Those factors combined with having stratified hunts provide us the opportunity to recommend a record hunt-permit number for spring turkey,” says Brian Wakeling, the department’s big game program biologist.

The department is also recommending a 225-permit juniors-only season to begin one week earlier than the standard seasons and run for five weeks. That would be April 20-May 24, using a similar structure to last year. Juniors-only permits are recommended for a 60-permit increase over last year, with the overall junior hunt opportunity distributed across the state.

For javelina, the department is recommending 11,480 permits for the general javelina season; 865 permits for the juniors-only season; 5,465 permits for the handgun, archery and muzzleloader season (HAM); and 9,200 permits for the archery season.

When considered together with the fall javelina hunts being conducted for the first time ever this year, this results in an overall recommendation for an increase of approximately 1,100 javelina permits compared to the last javelina season.

September dove season is winging our way
Start loading up on shotgun shells because the Sept. 1-15 early dove season is rapidly winging our way, and it looks like the fast-flying birds will be more concentrated in agricultural areas this year.

Mike Rabe, the department’s migratory bird biologist, says that once again this year, hunters can expect Arizona to have the best dove hunting in the nation. “Expect mourning and white-winged doves to be more concentrated in agricultural areas than they were last year,” he says.

Rabe advises dove hunters to scout beforehand.  “Be sure to scout at least a few days ahead of time. Doves are quite dynamic. They will feed heavily in one area, and then all of a sudden, they find another source of food and things change. It also helps to find roost sites.”

The juniors-only hunt at the Game and Fish Department’s Robbins Butte Wildlife Area near Buckeye is Sept. 2-3, which is the first weekend of the dove hunt.  “The juniors hunt is going to be awesome this year. We have lots of birds out here. We expect another record-breaking year,” says Phil Smith, the Robbins Butte manager for the Game and Fish Department.

Once again this year, the Chandler Rod and Gun Club will provide a superb pancake and sausage breakfast for all the youth hunt participants at the wildlife area.

Don’t forget that juniors in the southern zone can hunt all day, while adults are restricted to half-day (morning) hunting. In the afternoon, a good place to start is around water sources before doves head back to roost in the evening.

Something new for the dove season has been added this year: an open season on Eurasian collared doves. These exotic birds from Europe have gradually worked their way across the United States and can now be found in Arizona.

Eurasian collared doves are typically found in urban areas. Dove hunters shooting at dairies might see them. These are large, steel-gray doves with a black collar around the back of the head. Look for them while hunting. A bag limit of 25 per day is allowed. Be sure to have plenty of shotgun shells in case you find an area where they are abundant

By the way, mark you calendars for Nov. 24-Jan. 7, which is the late dove season. It’s typically a lot cooler, but you can still find a lot of hot wing shooting.

You can view the 2006-2007 dove regulations at azgfd.gov.

Public input sought on Game and Fish strategic plan
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking public comment on the draft “Wildlife 2012” plan, a strategic plan that will guide how the agency manages wildlife, certain recreational opportunities and its own operations for the next six years.

The department develops a new strategic plan every six years. The draft document is posted for review on the department’s Web site at azgfd.gov. Six public meetings will be held around the state in September to provide an overview. Written comment will be accepted until Oct. 6.

“Public input will be important in helping us finalize the plan,” says Bruce Taubert, the department’s assistant director for wildlife management. “Everyone has a stake in the continued health of our state’s wildlife populations and in future recreational opportunities. It’s important to make your viewpoint known.”

Wildlife 2012 reflects the management direction the Arizona Game and Fish Commission has provided to the department for the next six years. The plan outlines priorities and strategic goals in four areas: wildlife management, off-highway vehicle recreation, watercraft recreation and department administration.

Public meetings about Wildlife 2012 will include a presentation on the planning process and an overview of the plan’s highlights. The meetings will be held from 6-9 p.m. on the following dates:

• Wednesday, Sept. 6 – Yuma, Arizona Game and Fish Department Yuma regional office, 9140 E. 28th St.
• Monday, Sept. 11 – Kingman, Arizona Game and Fish Department Kingman regional office, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road.
• Tuesday, Sept. 12 - Flagstaff, Arizona Game and Fish Department Flagstaff regional office, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road.
• Thursday, Sept. 14 – Mesa, Arizona Game and Fish Department Mesa regional office, 7200 E. University Drive.
• Friday, Sept. 15 – Pinetop, Arizona Game and Fish Department Pinetop regional office, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.
• Monday, Sept. 18, – Tucson, Arizona Game and Fish Department Tucson regional office, 555 N. Greasewood Road.

People will have the opportunity to ask questions, but no oral comment will be taken at the meetings. Written comment can be submitted at the meetings, or anytime through Oct. 6, by e-mail to wildlife2012plan@azgfd.gov or by U.S. mail to Wildlife 2012, c/o Funds & Planning, Arizona Game and Fish Department, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ  85023-4399.

Learn about the state’s reptiles and amphibians in a new field guide
If you spotted a lizard or snake outside, how would you know whether it was venomous?  Where can you see a Gila monster in the wild? How many types of turtles live in Arizona?

You can learn the answers to these questions and more by reading the new book “A Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles in Arizona” from the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The new $12 guide offers 150 pages full of color photos and tips for finding and identifying different amphibians and reptiles in the wild.

“We cover everything from what to do if you’re envenomated by a rattlesnake, to what steps to take if your pet has been poisoned by toad toxins,” says Dr. Andrew Holycross, one of the book’s authors, who is a biology instructor at Mesa Community College and an assistant research professor at Arizona State University. “If you want to know anything about the basic biology of Arizona’s turtles, salamanders, frogs, toads, lizards or snakes, you’ll find it in the new field guide. Believe it or not, this is the first comprehensive guide to Arizona’s native and introduced reptiles and amphibian species.”

The book contains details on all 141 species of Arizona reptiles and amphibians, including all 13 rattlesnakes found in this state. Readers will also find detailed maps of the range where each species lives. This guide is a good tool for both frequent wildlife watchers and those who just encounter snakes and lizards outside every once in a while.

“We explain what these animals eat, how they behave and which habitats they live in across our state,” says Thomas C. Brennan, co-author of the book and a research technician at Arizona State University. “If you enjoy wildlife watching, then you can use the checklist at the back of the guide to keep track of which species you’ve spotted.”

This is the second collaboration between Holycross and Brennan, who previously wrote “A Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Maricopa County.” Both of their books are available at any Arizona Game and Fish Department office or by going to the department’s Web site at azgfd.gov/publications for a mail-in order form.

The new book is the result of a joint effort between the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Arizona State University’s School of Life Sciences, Mesa Community College, and Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC).

Comments sought on reptile, raptor, amphibian and mollusk regulations
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking public comments on draft 2007-2008 regulations for reptiles, raptors, crustaceans and mollusks, and amphibians.

Public comment will be accepted until Aug. 14. If warranted, public meetings on the proposed changes to these commission orders may be held in Phoenix, Tucson and/or Flagstaff.  Proposed changes being considered for the 2007-2008 commission orders include:

• Allowing northern goshawk to be available without permit by removing the northern goshawk hunt and related application procedures.
• Adding a nonresident northern goshawk and related application procedures with dates that mimic the resident harvest and limit permits to three pending further evaluation.
• Removing notes regarding bullfrogs and leopard frogs held legally prior to closure of live bag limits.  Bullfrogs were closed to live take in most of the state in 1988 and in Mohave, La Paz and Yuma counties in 1996.
•  Changing the species covered by no open season (included updates to genus species names): Include any species in the genus Oxyloma (ambersnails), genus Pyrgulopsis (springsnails), and the genus Tryonia (springsnails), and Sonorella eremite.

To see the draft commission orders, you can visit the department’s Web page at azgfd.gov.

For more information, call (623) 236-7500. To provide comments, write to: Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program, Arizona Game and Fish Department, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000-4399, or by e-mail to: CommOrd25@azgfd.gov  (Raptors); CommOrd41&43@azgfd.gov (Amphibians and Reptiles); and CommOrd42@azgfd.gov  (Crustaceans and Mollusks).

The nation’s anglers are asked to take someone fishing
Remember your first fishing trip?

For most of us, that first exposure to fishing was a significant milestone or turning point in our lives even though we may not have known it at the time. Now a new program has been launched asking the nation’s anglers to reach out and share that terrific experience with others.

During the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST) show in Las Vegas in July, a new program was unveiled called Anglers’ Legacy, which is designed to motivate the country’s approximately 7.5 million anglers to introduce others to fishing.

The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) and Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) have teamed up with several major fishing tackle companies to conduct this new program, which has already received the support from dozens of celebrity and professional anglers, such as Bill Dance, Al Lindner and Kevin Van Dam, who have taken the pledge to introduce others to fishing. The list is growing daily.

“Avid anglers, who have a true passion for this sport, are the obvious choice to introduce new people to angling,” said ASA President/CEO Mike Nussman.

For more information about Anglers’ Legacy and to possibly take the pledge, visit AnglersLegacy.org.

Learn more about the Mexican gray wolf reintroduction in Arizona
Arizonans have a new opportunity to learn more about the reintroduction of the endangered Mexican gray wolf to the American Southwest.

The Mexican gray wolf died out in the United States decades ago, but since 1998, the Arizona Game and Fish Department and five other agencies have been involved in the wolf’s reintroduction to parts of Arizona and New Mexico. The group that manages the reintroduction will hold a two-day public forum in eastern Arizona on Aug. 29 and 30.

The event, hosted by the Mexican Wolf Adaptive Management Oversight Committee, will focus on issues of interest to those who live in the areas where the wolves are being reintroduced. Others who are familiar with endangered species reintroductions will also find the program engaging.

“This will be a unique workshop drawing heavily on local expertise and experiences with the Mexican wolf reintroduction so far,” says Terry Johnson, chairman of the adaptive management oversight committee. “The program will also feature several nationally renowned speakers.”

Topics on the conference agenda include everything from wolf management techniques to disease, ecotourism, and the issue of Mexican gray wolves preying on livestock. Speakers will also talk about policy-making and the reintroduction’s future direction. A question-and-answer session with project leaders will also be included.

The free conference will be held at the White Mountain Apache Tribe’s Hon-Dah Resort and Casino, three miles east of Pinetop. Seating will be limited to 400 people. Those who plan to attend may want to reserve a room at the resort ahead of time. Attendees will have to pay their own hotel costs, but they may book a room as part of the Mexican wolf group by calling the resort at (800) 929-8744.

To view a detailed conference agenda, visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department Web site at azgfd.gov/wolf and click on the “2006 Mexican Wolf Management Conference Agenda” file in the “Downloads” column. For more information on the conference, call Bill Van Pelt, nongame mammals program coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department, at (623) 236-7573.

The reintroduction of the Mexican gray wolf is a cooperative, multi-agency effort of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, White Mountain Apache Tribe, USDA Forest Service and USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services.

Public help needed to solve bald eagle shooting case 
The Arizona Game and Fish Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are asking for help from anyone with information about the shooting death of a bald eagle found in the Doney Park area east of Flagstaff in mid-February.

When the bird was initially recovered, it was difficult to determine the cause of death, but now lab results confirm the eagle was shot.

The bird was discovered near a wooded area on the east side of Caves Crater Hill, just off of Vista de Oro Road, north of Silver Saddle Road. A man walking in the area found the bird and contacted the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The eagle, a 5- to 6-year-old male, was sent to a lab in Wisconsin for testing, where scientists determined how the bird was killed. 

“Cases like this show a complete disregard for wildlife, and specifically, our national symbol,” says Preston Fant, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agent in Flagstaff. “This shooting is in violation of three federal laws, which can carry fines from $15,000 to $100,000 and six months to one year in prison.” 

Arizona Game and Fish Department law enforcement staff is working cooperatively with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on this case. If you have any information, please call the Operation Game Thief Hotline at (800)-352-0700. All calls may remain confidential upon request.

Nominations sought for annual Game and Fish Commission awards
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is seeking nominations for its annual Commission awards.

Nominations may include individuals, organizations, clubs, foundations or government agencies. The submission deadline is Monday, Aug. 28 at 5 p.m. For an award nomination form, click here. The categories are:

• Award of Excellence – Any individual, group, organization, club, foundation, or agency that has excelled in efforts to benefit wildlife, wildlife habitats or programs of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
• Youth Environmentalist of the Year – Any individual, 18 years of age or younger, who has excelled in efforts to benefit wildlife and the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
• Outdoor Writer of the Year – Any professional or freelance writer who has excelled in highlighting issues or activities pertaining to the welfare of wildlife and the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
• Media of the Year – Any media source (radio, television, magazine, newsletter or periodical) that has published articles or materials beneficial to the public interest about wildlife or wildlife-related topics and the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
• Conservation Organization of the Year – Any organization, group, foundation, or agency that has excelled in efforts to enhance the welfare of wildlife, wildlife-related recreation and the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
• Conservationist of the Year – Any individual who through a professional agency affiliation has excelled in efforts to enhance, conserve and manage wildlife or their habitats.
• Environmentalist of the Year – Any individual, who on his or her own personal time, has excelled in efforts to promote, enhance or benefit wildlife and the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
• Volunteer of the Year – Any individual who, as a registered volunteer with the department, has excelled in efforts to support and benefit the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
• Educator of the Year (new) – Any individual whose educational activities have advanced and supported the welfare of wildlife, wildlife-related recreation or the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Arizona Game and Fish Department employees are not eligible for nomination.

Game and Fish educational efforts earn national awards
The Arizona Game and Fish Department works hard to build understanding and to provide you with timely, accurate information about wildlife issues. Recently, the department’s communications efforts were recognized with five national awards from the Association for Conservation Information (ACI).

ACI, a nonprofit association of information and education professionals from state, federal and Canadian agencies, and private conservation organizations, annually recognizes excellence in promoting wildlife conservation and education. Arizona Game and Fish received the following awards for products that you may want to use:

• The Focus: WILD Arizona program, a free environmental education program for teachers, parents, students and anyone interested in learning about wildlife and habitat, won first place in the education category. The new lessons are available through the Arizona Game and Fish Department Web site at azgfd.gov/focuswild.
• The department’s mountain lion awareness campaign, a long-term effort to improve the public’s knowledge about how to better coexist with mountain lions in our state, received third place in the media campaign category. Some of the campaign information is available at the bottom of the department’s Web site home page, azgfd.gov, under the heading “Mountain lion information.” Other materials, including brochures and posters, can be requested from Arizona Game and Fish Department offices.
• The “Arizona Breeding Bird Atlas,” a comprehensive bird reference book created with a decade of work and help from hundreds of bird-watching volunteers, was honored with a third place prize in the one-time publication, four-color book category. This book is available for purchase at all Arizona Game and Fish offices and at the department’s Web site at azgfd.gov/publications.
• The Arizona Game and Fish Department Heritage Fund brochure, was awarded third place in the one-time, four-color brochure publication category. The brochure explains the importance of this fund that comes from the sales of Arizona Lottery tickets and goes toward conservation efforts like educating our children about wildlife, protecting endangered species, helping urban residents coexist with wildlife, and creating new opportunities for outdoor recreation.
• The department’s “Bats of Arizona” poster, an educational poster that features all 28 bat species found in Arizona, won third place. The poster is available at all department offices and works well with a free set of classroom lessons about bats that is offered at the department’s Web site at azgfd.gov/focuswild.

“These awards recognize the hard work and dedication the department demonstrates in informing and educating the public,” said Dana Yost, the department's assistant director for information and education. “The messages and programs the department creates play a significant role in wildlife conservation. We also focus on providing products that everyone can use and enjoy.”