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Wildlife News - Feb. 28, 2008 Wildlife News Feb 28, 2008 Wildlife News
House Bill 2573, sponsored by Weiers, would provide resources to better manage Arizona’s growing off-highway vehicle (OHV) use while protecting wildlife habitat. It is believed that this is one of only a few times in Arizona history any bill has had such diverse support. From OHV user groups to sportsmen’s groups to environmental groups to the Game and Fish Department, the support of this legislation is unprecedented. According to Todd Rathner with the NRA, “This bill would strike a necessary balance between preserving Arizona’s natural resources and the interests of the outdoor sporting community.” OHVs have seen a 347-percent increase in usage in Arizona in the last few years, but law enforcement and trail development have lagged far behind. Through this legislation, dollars would be provided by a nominal user fee to create new law enforcement positions, new land and habitat mitigation for damaged use areas, and more trail construction. “The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is in full support of this legislation,” said Commission Chairman William McLean. “Irresponsible OHV use hurts wildlife, wildlife habitat, hunting, fishing and all of outdoor Arizona. We simply need to see this legislation passed.” The bill recently passed through the House Natural Resources and Public Safety Committee. It will move through the House Rules Committee and then be debated on the open floor of the House. Once that is completed, should the bill pass the House, it will then move on to the Senate. Should the Senate pass the legislation, it would go to the Governor to sign the bill into law. For more information on this legislation go to: www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/ohv_legislation.shtml
Small game, such as quail and rabbits, are expected to respond accordingly but this also brightens the picture for larger game animals as well, such as deer. Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists said that the routine storms blasting across Arizona at timely intervals throughout the winter are resulting in one of the best green-ups this state has experienced in years, which in turn should equate to a decent Gambel’s quail hatch this year. “We need at least back-to-back years of good winter and spring precipitation to produce what we call a ‘bumper crop’ of Gambel’s quail. Last year throughout much of Arizona, we had a record dry winter. But right now there is abundant and thick green feed growing on the ground, so we are definitely expecting at least average quail reproduction this year,” said Ron Day, the department’s small game specialist. The jury is still out on scaled and Mearns’ quail. “Scaled quail will likely benefit from all this green-up, but Mearns’ reproduction is primarily keyed to summer rainfall. We just experienced the best Mearns’ quail hunting in probably 30 years. If we have good rainfall again this summer in southeastern Arizona, we could have unparalleled Mearns’ reproduction. We’ll just have to wait and see.” Day said. Day explained that the luxuriant green-up doesn’t just mean food for the quail, but an abundance of Vitamin A. “Vitamin A is a key for quail and other animals, especially small game, to have fully developed and functioning sexual organs. It’s nature’s way of ensuring a lot of young aren’t produced when the vegetative resources aren’t available to support the newborn animals.” Yet times are good, not just for quail, but other animals as well. “There is no doubt we will see a cottontail explosion this year. Cottontail populations have actually been looking favorable for the past several years, especially in central Arizona. This green-up means rabbit production will be excellent,” Day said. Day added that hunters will want to get out and reap this good small game production. “This is a great year to introduce youngsters and others to the joy of small game hunting in our deserts. Plus, cottontails provide great eating – much better than chicken. Quail also provide what may be considered gourmet table fare.” The abundant precipitation should also help Arizona’s big game animals as well. “We may have turned the corner on declining mule deer populations, which drought had in part influenced. The good snowpack, rainfall and expected improvements in browse conditions this spring and summer is excellent news for our recovering mule deer populations,” said Big Game Supervisor Brian Wakeling. Elk, which are extremely adaptable and weren’t hit as hard by drought, should also benefit from the improved vegetative food base this year. If that isn’t all, fishery biologists are also predicting the best fishing in 25 years or so thanks to the filling of the lakes in general this year, but also the expected first time for the new enlarged lake at Roosevelt filling and spilling. “This is shaping up to be the year of the combo – you’ll want a hunting and fishing license to reap all the quality outdoor fun and adventure,” said Assistant Game and Fish Director Ty Gray. “This is the perfect time to take the next step and take a friend, neighbor or relative out hunting and fishing this year.”
Arizona Game and Fish Department experts predict that Alamo Lake, about one hour and a half west of Wickenburg, will be one of this year's hottest fishing spots in Arizona. The problem is the amount of trash that has accumulated in this area during the past year. The solution? Come join volunteers and Game and Fish Department employees to clean up the shoreline and the Alamo Wildlife Area. The 9th annual Alamo Lake Cleanup is March 1 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. In the past seven years, volunteers have picked up over 21 dump trucks full of trash around Alamo Lake. "Volunteers have removed everything from a kitchen sink to an old truck frame including the engine block," says Alamo Lake wildlife manager Stewart Kohnke. "This is a great opportunity to give something back to a lake that so many local people enjoy." The department will provide boats and trash bags for those who do not have them. The Alamo State Park will waive camp and launch fees for participants staying at the Cholla Campground Group Use Area. Registration begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 29 and runs through the morning of March 1 at the group use area. Come on out and help us make a difference. For more information, directions and a park map visit: www.pr.state.az.us/Parks/parkhtml/alamo.html
The department, in coordination with other state and federal agencies, is conducting surveillance for the early detection of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus (also known as "bird flu") in the United States. Although this strain of avian influenza has not yet been detected in the Western Hemisphere, the department is monitoring waterfowl populations to ensure it is prepared to respond if avian influenza, or any other significant avian disease, is detected in Arizona. The spring surveillance consists of monitoring various lakes throughout the state, to inspect them for sick and dead birds. If you see ill or dead wetland birds or raptors while you are visiting any lake in Arizona this spring, please report your observations by calling the toll-free hotline number at 1-877-97-AVIAN (1-877-972-8426) or by filling out a form online at www.azgfd.gov/ai. For more information about avian influenza, visit www.azgfd.gov/ai.
The Game and Fish Department is teaming up with the Arizona Bowhunters Association to offer the free introductory archery classes at ISE. “Last year we provided an opportunity for youth to experience shooting a bow and arrow during ISE,” said Denise Raum, the statewide archery and bowhunting coordinator for the Game and Fish Department. “This year, we are expanding our efforts and actually providing half-hour introductory classes to give youngsters and adults a solid foundation on which to build should they desire to pursue this fun and exciting sport.” Raum explained that archery is the great equalizer. “Gender, size, background, or ability doesn’t matter -- anyone can do archery.” For the archery classes at ISE, youth must be at least eight years old to participate. The free half-hour archery classes will focus on range procedures, safety, proper form and technique. The class size is limited to 20 participants and the archery equipment is provided. Just visit the Youth Outdoor Sports Fair section of the exposition. “Parents are encouraged to participate with their children and may not leave their children at the archery booth unattended,” Raum said. Classes will be utilizing the department’s Arizona Archery in the Schools format. Currently more than 100 schools are participating in the program. The Arizona Archery in the Schools Program is an in-school physical education curriculum for grades 4-12. Similar archery classes will also be available during the Arizona Game and Fish Department Outdoor Expo 2008 at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility on March 29-30. At the ISE gathering, come join more than 20,000 outdoor-sports enthusiasts who will be visiting an estimated 400 exhibitors from around Arizona and the world at this fun three-day expo. There are also multiple seminar stages, contests, and a large youth outdoor sports fair. The Arizona Game and Fish Department will once again have a significant presence this year and will operate the kids fishing pond, as well as live wildlife, including all Arizona’s venomous reptiles, plus the archery area, and a trailer for shooting air guns. You can even purchase hunting and fishing licenses there.
ISE show hours are Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $12. Children 12 years and under receive free admission. Parking is free. Get your tickets online now! All tickets are valid for one-day admission. For more information, visit www.sportsexpos.com.
”It’s always a thrill to add more individuals to this growing flock, but these birds will face many challenges growing up, especially the danger of lead poisoning, their leading cause of death,” says Chris Parish, condor field project supervisor with The Peregrine Fund, the group releasing the birds. The California condor has gone from only 22 birds left in the world in 1982 to nearly 300 today. The original 22 birds were captured in an effort to breed and save the species. Condors produced in captivity are now periodically released at sites in California, Mexico and at the Vermilion Cliffs in Arizona. “The California condor is one of the great endangered species successes in the country, and to be able to share that with the public is very rewarding,” says Kathy Sullivan, a condor biologist with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “It is exhilarating to witness the release and watch the birds fly free.” Condors were added to the federal endangered species list in 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, and they now number 61 in the state. Visitors at the Grand Canyon are often able to observe the birds during the spring and summer, and in the Vermilion Cliffs during the winter. Lead poisoning is the leading cause of death in condors and the main obstacle to a self-sustaining population in Arizona. Studies show that lead shot and bullet fragments found in game carcasses and gut piles are the main source of lead in condors. The Arizona Game and Fish Department, and its partners the Arizona Deer Association, Arizona Elk Society, Arizona Antelope Foundation, Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, and the Arizona Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, encourage hunters to continue their proud tradition of wildlife conservation by using non-lead ammunition in condor range (Game Management Units 9, 10, 12A/B, and 13A/B). The department started offering free non-lead ammunition in 2005 to hunters drawn for hunts in the condor’s core range, which includes Game Management Units 12 A/B and 13A. Surveys show that more than 80 percent of hunters took measures last year to reduce the amount of lead available to condors versus 60 percent in 2006. To view the condor release, drive north on Highway 89 out of Flagstaff. Turn left (west) onto Highway 89A toward Jacob Lake and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Drive about 40 miles past Marble Canyon until you turn right onto House Rock Valley Road (BLM Road 1065). Travel about three miles to a shaded viewing area on the right. On top of the cliffs to your east will be the location where the condors are released. The release site is approximately one mile from the viewing point. Several spotting scopes will be available to the public, although participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars or spotting scopes for better viewing. 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. For more information on California condors, visit www.azgfd.gov/condor
Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Admission is free. Held near the confluence of the Gila, Salt and Agua Fria rivers, the festival is held in cooperation with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Luke Air Force Base, local communities and other organizations to celebrate the wildlife, ecology, outdoor heritage and history of the area. Visitors will be able to:
The Base and Meridian Wildlife Area is located adjacent to Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, five miles south of I-10 on Avondale Boulevard (7602 S. Avondale Blvd.). For more information, visit www.tresriosnaturefestival.com or call (623) 204-2130.
Witness cowboy action shooters of the Old West at Winter Range Nearly 700 competitors will participate in Winter Range 2008, 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. "Winter Range is a fun event for competitors and spectators," says Toni Tomich (alias Pea Patch) one of the SASS event organizers. "Everyone dresses in Western clothing and shoots firearms from that era. A lot of families compete - more than 25 percent of the participants are women." A crowd-pleaser every year is the mounted shooting, where competitors on horseback weave through a course while popping balloons with six-guns blazing. It's like a rodeo and a shooting event combined. Spectators are welcome to view the competition and also roam the streets of a temporary cowboy "village," where vendors will be selling period clothing, arts and crafts. Another highlight of the event is the quick-draw competition. The Cowboy Fast Draw Shoot-off is at 10 a.m. Sunday morning. The Shoot-off for both men and women is the best three-out-of-five single elimination, shooter vs. shooter format, so it will quickly. Most shooting begins by 9 a.m. and ends by 5 p.m. For a detailed schedule visit: www.winterrange.com/schedule.htm Spectators are welcome; admission is free; parking is $5. Ben Avery Shooting Facility is located in north Phoenix on Carefree Highway just west of I-17. Please allow for traffic backups at I-17 and Carefree Highway due to overpass and ramp construction. For more information, visit: www.winterrange.com
“Volunteers have always played a critical role in the recovery effort,” said Carrie King, supervisor of the reintroduction project. “These spotlighting efforts help Game and Fish determine how the population is doing.” The spring spotlighting effort will be held the nights of March 20-24 at the reintroduction site in Aubrey Valley, just outside Seligman. The 2007 effort resulted in 66 ferrets being captured and processed. Of these, 65 were wild born, showing that reproduction in the wild has continued to climb. “Following a spotlighting event, volunteers will always have an opportunity to say: ‘I was a part of that effort,’” King said. The effort, however, isn’t an easy adventure. Volunteers must be able to stay attentive from sunset to sunrise, be able to carry up to 30 pounds while backpack spotlighting for two-hour durations, and willing to learn how to use a Global Positioning System (GPS). Those wishing to volunteer, or needing more information, should e-mail azferret@azgfd.gov by March 14 with “March Spotlighting” in the subject line. Please indicate what night(s) you will be attending and who else (first and last name) will be attending with you. Also, please list any of the following equipment you can bring: GPS, clipboard, backpack (to carry a 30-pound battery), headlamp, pen, compass, binoculars, walkie-talkies, 4x4 vehicles (please list passenger capacity), compass, spotlight (that can plug into a cigarette lighter), or a cordless rechargeable spotlight. It can be cool during the March event, so individuals need to dress appropriately. A mere 18 black-footed ferrets remained when captive breeding efforts began in 1985. Selected as a reintroduction site in 1996, Arizona has established a record number of sightings in each of the last seven years. “We’re making progress, but we’re a long way from recovery,” King explained. “We wouldn’t be able to monitor the ferret population without the volunteers.” To learn more about Black-footed ferrets visit: Click here to watch video online featuring black-footed ferrets. Click here to watch spotlighting in action from the Arizona Wildlife Views TV show.
For a full agenda visit: www.azgfd.gov/pdfs/inside_azgfd/agenda/2008/March7-8.pdf
Best times to fish for trout generally are early morning, but action is good throughout most days for anglers that fish with lighter tackle geared for trout (2-4 pound test line, small sinkers and hooks and a well presented bait). Small spinners such as Rooster Tails and Panther Martins, or spoons such as Super Dupers and Kastmasters are also working well for trout. Flyfishermen have their best luck fishing nymphs such as the Peacock Lady, Prince Nymph or Hare’s Ear. Trout fishing is fair to good at Green Valley lakes in Payson with PowerBait and small flashy spinners working best. Lake waters at Green Valley (Payson) and Lakeside (Tucson) are clearing up a bit and anglers are enjoying better success. If you are successful at one of the Urban Lakes or Ponds we would love to see a picture of your catch. You can post it to the department's photo page at: www.azgfd.net/photos under the "Fishing" section. Who knows, you might see your picture featured. Visit www.azgfd.gov for updated stocking schedules, fishing clinics, public events, and other great fishing information!
Go to www.anglerslegacy.org to find out more and take the next step to sharing your fishing skills and experiences with someone special.
Online: www.azgfd.gov/magazine Each 40-page issue of this award-winning magazine offers stories about Arizona wildlife and outdoor recreation, illustrated with gorgeous full-color photography. Subscribe today!
The event was hosted by the Wildlife Center’s Auxiliary and raised nearly $8,000. “In only three years, this event has grown tremendously and it clearly demonstrates how much Arizona’s residents appreciate wildlife,” says Sandy Cate, coordinator of the Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center. “We’re already planning for next year’s ride on Feb. 15, and it is sure to be even bigger and better.” Riders enjoyed 120 miles of scenic Arizona, with the ride ending at Pioneer Living History Village in Phoenix. Participants enjoyed lunch, shopping, live wildlife and a live band at the end of the route. Founded in May 1983, the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center treats more than 1,000 sick and injured animals annually, and provides wildlife education to local schools and outreach to community groups. The center’s mission is carried out with a small budget from the state’s Heritage Fund, making fundraising an important contributor to the care of the animals. More than 20 wildlife species from Adobe Mountain will also be on display to the public at the free Game and Fish Outdoor Expo, being held March 29-30 at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility. Experts will be on hand to answer questions about the animals on display. If so, the “Becoming an Outdoors Woman” workshop could be for you. The program offers these and 26 other sessions for you to choose from. It introduces women to outdoors skills in an enjoyable, non-threatening environment with expert instructors. Classes are held during the day, and evenings are filled with fun and entertainment like night hikes, musicians, and storytellers. The event is scheduled for April 4-6 and again in August. The program is held at the Friendly Pines Camp near Prescott. It begins at noon on Friday and ends at noon on Sunday. “Participants stay in rustic cabins, but there are showers and bathrooms in each cabin. We all eat in a central dining hall and there is always a lot of fun,” says Linda Dightmon, the BOW coordinator for the Arizona Wildlife Federation, which sponsors the program in partnership with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “The only thing the participant needs to bring is her personal stuff, a good attitude and a willingness to learn,” Dightmon added. Equipment, materials, food and lodging are all included in the $235 registration fee. The only exception is the outdoor photography class where participants will need to bring a camera. Enrollment is open to all women 18 and older. For more information, schedules of classes, and a registration form, please call the Arizona Wildlife Federation office at (480) 644-0077 or email at awf@azwildlife.org.
This Wildlife News e-newsletter is issued every other week and contains detailed and comprehensive information on the activities of the Arizona Game and Fish Department. To sign up for this newsletter or other Arizona Game and Fish Department electronic information products, go to www.azgfd.gov/signup. |
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“I’m not sure I’ve ever seen legislation that enjoys the support of both the NRA and the Sierra Club at the same time,” said Representative Jerry Weiers (R-Glendale), the chairman of the Arizona House Natural Resources and Public Safety Committee.
It’s time to go fishing for trash to help one of the state’s most productive and popular fishing holes, Alamo Lake.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is introducing something new this year – archery classes – at the upcoming International Sportsmen’s Exposition (ISE) on March 7-9 (Friday through Sunday) at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.
The Game and Fish Department’s Wildlife Assets Program will offer for sale, through a silent-auction format, wildlife-related items (horns, antlers, mounted specimens and hides) that the department has acquired through seizures, pick-up and donations. View an inventory of items by visiting 
Once a year, people get a rare opportunity in Arizona that very few other places offer: to witness the release into the wild of endangered California condors. The public is invited to attend this year’s event on Saturday, March 15 at 11 a.m. when four condors will be released at the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. 
The annual Tres Rios Nature and Earth Festival will be held at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Base and Meridian (B&M) Wildlife Area in Avondale on Saturday and Sunday, March 15-16.
In the continuing effort to monitor the progress of the Black-footed Ferret Reintroduction Project, the Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking volunteers to participate in spotlighting, a technique used to find the nocturnal animals.
Fishing for trout continues to be good to excellent at most Urban Fishing Program waters. Plenty of beautiful rainbow trout from 10-16 inches are being stocked every two weeks into your nearby urban lakes. Enjoy the fine fishing, the warming days, and the spring blossoms and blooms. Anglers using scented dough baits (such as PowerBait), worms fished under a bobber, or small trout lures have been successful. 
In the pages of Arizona Wildlife Views magazine, that’s where! The March-April issue features stories on all these topics, and much more. The official magazine of the Arizona Game and Fish Department is published six times a year. Subscribe for just $8.50 a year:
Nearly 600 riders recently spent a beautiful Sunday enjoying Arizona’s landscape, all while benefiting sick and injured wildlife. The family-friendly “Bikers Soar for Wildlife Poker Run” raised funds to help with the care and rehabilitation of animals at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center. 
Did you ever want to learn how to shoot a shotgun or fly-fish? Would you like to find out how to navigate with map and compass or use a GPS? Does canoeing or kayaking sound like fun? 
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