Commission denies request to extend 2008 antelope, elk application deadline
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission today unanimously voted to deny a request by a national outdoor equipment retail company that would have extended the 2008 pronghorn antelope and elk draw deadline.

Cabela’s petition to the commission was a result of the Arizona Game and Fish Department receiving elk and antelope applications after the established deadline that were submitted by the company’s tag application service on behalf of 568 hunters.

According to the petition, Cabela’s sent to the department three packages through a private courier from Nebraska on Feb. 11, 2008. The packages didn’t arrive at the department location until after the posted deadline time of 7 p.m. on Feb. 12, 2008. 

The commission agreed to the hearing in accordance with Commission Rule R12-4-611 that allows for petitions to be heard by the commission when no other administrative remedy exists.

Off-highway vehicle legislation takes a giant step forward
The Arizona House of Representatives on March 10, 2008 passed House Bill 2573, (also known as the off-highway vehicle user fee bill) by a vote of 43 to 13. For the official ballot count, go to: http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/48leg/2r/bills/hb2573.hthird.1.asp.

House Bill 2573 would provide resources to better manage Arizona’s growing off-highway vehicle (OHV) use while protecting wildlife habitat. 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 bill now heads to the Arizona Senate, where it’s scheduled to be heard in the Committee of Natural Resources and Rural Affairs on Wednesday, March 19. As you may remember, last year the bill failed to pass the Senate by just one vote.

To learn more about this legislation go to the Department OHV legislation Web site at: http://www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/ohv_legislation.shtml.

Critical Arizona water source gains increased protection
Organizations partner to protect the Verde River to benefit people and wildlife
The Verde River, an essential source of water to communities and wildlife from northern Yavapai County to the Phoenix valley, received an increased level of protection this week as 293 acres along the river’s upper path were committed to conservation by The Nature Conservancy and the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission recently purchased the Verde Springs property, located at the origin of the river north of Prescott, from The Nature Conservancy to connect with its Upper Verde River Wildlife Area. The additional acreage increases this important wildlife area to more than 1,000 acres of protected land. The Conservancy will retain 20 acres where the river virtually springs to life above ground at its Verde River Springs Preserve.

“Acquisition of this property consolidates our Upper Verde River Wildlife Area, and it is a key step towards protecting and conserving important wildlife species in one of the most biologically diverse areas in Arizona,” said Bob Broscheid, assistant director of wildlife management for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

The vision to secure this property began nearly 10 years ago. The Nature Conservancy’s relationship with the previous, private landowners and their willingness to partner with Game and Fish were key factors in the acquisition.

Patrick Graham, Arizona State Director for The Nature Conservancy, said, “Arizona is the fastest growing state in the country, and the priorities we set now will impact future generations.  These partnerships help us balance our state’s growth with conserving our land and water, so that our children and grandchildren can enjoy the good quality of life that we enjoy now. “

Game and Fish purchased the property with help from Arizona’s Heritage Fund. Started in 1990, the Heritage Fund was established by Arizona voters to further conservation efforts in the state, including protecting endangered species and preserving important habitat. Funded by Arizona Lottery ticket sales, the Heritage Fund provides $10 million dollars to Game and Fish, with $2.4 million dollars earmarked for land acquisitions. To date, the department has dedicated over $25 million dollars to conserve nearly 18,000 acres of land in the state.

A grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, which is dedicated to conserving wildlife habitat identified in state wildlife action plans, enabled The Nature Conservancy to retain the headwaters of the Verde River as its newest preserve.

A major component of the Colorado River Basin, the Verde River is an important flyway for migratory birds and home to nesting bald eagles, rare species of reptiles and amphibians, as well as one of the best remaining native fisheries. It is one of the few locations in Arizona where otter and beaver thrive. While the Verde’s preservation is vital to wildlife, it is also critical to the health of the river’s watershed, which feeds many Arizona communities downstream.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific.  The Nature Conservancy in Arizona has been protecting nature and preserving life for more than 40 years. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org/arizona.

Public input sought on state’s invasive species management plan
Six informational meetings to be held statewide from March 18-27
The Arizona Invasive Species Advisory Council is hosting a series of meetings from March 18-27 to inform the public about invasive species management activities and seek input on the Comprehensive Statewide Invasive Species Management Plan.

The plan was developed by the 21-member council as a coordinated approach to preventing or controlling the spread of invasive species and their impacts in Arizona. A downloadable copy is located at www.governor.state.az.us/AIS.

Public meetings will be held at from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. on the following dates:

• Tuesday, March 18  – Yuma, Yuma County Cooperative Extension, 2200 W. 28th St., Suite 102.
• Wednesday, March 19 – Tucson, University of Arizona Controlled Environment AG Complex, 1951 E. Roger Road.
• Thursday, March 20 – Phoenix, Arizona State Fairgrounds, Arizona Game and Fish Department Wildlife Building, 1800 W. McDowell Road.
• Tuesday, March 25 – Kingman, Arizona Game and Fish Department Kingman regional office, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road.
• Wednesday, March 26 – Flagstaff, East Flagstaff Community Library, 3000 N. 4th St.
• Thursday, March 27 – Pinetop, Arizona Game and Fish Department Pinetop regional office, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.
  

For those who can’t attend one of the meetings, input can also be submitted online at www.governor.state.az.us/AIS by clicking on the “Submit Electronic Comments” link or by mail to Brian McGrew, Plant Services Division, Arizona Department of Agriculture, 1688 W. Adams, Phoenix, 85007.

The Arizona Invasive Species Advisory Council was established in 2005 by executive order of Governor Janet Napolitano. It is under the joint leadership of the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Arizona Department of Agriculture.

Council members include the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Arizona Department of Agriculture, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Arizona Department of Health Services, Arizona Department of Water Resources, Arizona State Parks, Arizona State Land Department, Arizona Department of Transportation, Arizona State University, Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, The Nature Conservancy, Arizona Crop Protection Association, Arizona Cattle Grower’s Association, Arizona Nurserymen’s Association, Arizona Mining Association, Southwest Vegetation Management Association, Navajo Nation, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, USDA Forest Service, SRP, and PetSmart.

Tres Rios Nature Festival to be held March 15-16 in Avondale
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.

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:

• Attend nature talks and hear from experts about wildlife, the outdoors and area history.
• Participate in guided beginners’ bird walks or interpretive nature hikes.
• Attend a free fishing clinic provided by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
• Ride in a canoe and learn about boating in Arizona.
• Take self-guided hikes, including one to Monument Hill.
• Explore the booths of wildlife and conservation organizations.
• Listen to local entertainers and sample a diverse food menu.
  

Allow your children to experience an extensive children’s area with hands-on crafts, contests, kids’ nature trail, and more.
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.

Arizona agencies plan for wildlife linkages in Maricopa County
A forward-thinking group of Arizona agencies recently met to identify existing and potential wildlife habitat connectivity areas that are vital within Maricopa County. The connectivity areas identified are critical for maintaining wildlife biodiversity and preserving the range of wildlife species found in the area.

The Maricopa County Wildlife Linkages Workshop provided a forum for gathering local and regional knowledge about wildlife movement patterns in the county. Participants applied expertise in local landscapes, habitat and wildlife species to map the most important linkage areas.

“As the Valley undergoes more and more development, wildlife populations are suffering habitat fragmentation that will inevitably lead to reduced numbers and possibly extirpation from the area,” says Ray Schweinsburg, an Arizona Game and Fish Department research biologist and Maricopa County Linkages Steering Committee member. “Bringing this group of experts together allowed us to think ahead and develop a tool for planners to use to preserve our wildlife resources.”

The Maricopa County Wildlife Linkages Assessment will include those linkages previously identified in a statewide study and new linkages important at the county scale. The data collected during the workshop is currently being refined by the workgroup to include in a countywide linkages map and linkage data tables. The resulting map and data tables will be made available to planners for incorporation into activities including wildlife crossings, land protection measures and community planning.  

“The development of this planning tool will assist public agencies in developing programs and projects in ways that will help to maintain and preserve biodiversity,” says Jon Loxley, Flood Control District of Maricopa County landscape architect planner and Steering Committee member. “This tool may also prove useful to private sector landscape planning and design professionals here in Maricopa County.”

Supporters in the wildlife linkages effort include Arizona Department of Transportation, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Arizona State University Global Institute of Sustainability, Flood Control District of Maricopa County, Maricopa County Department of Transportation, Northern Arizona University and the Sonoran Institute.

Cases of rabid mountain lions are rare, say officials
A mountain lion that attacked a 10-year-old boy in the Tonto National Forest northeast of Phoenix on Saturday has tested positive for rabies, but state wildlife and health officials say such incidents are uncommon.

“Mountain lion attacks on humans in Arizona are extremely rare, as are documented incidents of rabies in mountain lions,” says Randy Babb, information and education program manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Mesa region.

In Saturday’s incident, a family was taking a break from riding their off-highway vehicles near Bloody Basin Road and the Verde River when the mountain lion reportedly walked into their camp and attacked the boy, scratching him on the back. The victim’s uncle shot the lion, which was turned over to the Arizona Game and Fish Department on Sunday for transport to the Arizona State Health Laboratory. The lab confirmed on Sunday evening that the lion was rabid.

The boy and other family members who were exposed to the infected lion will start a series of rabies shots as a health precaution.

Statistics from the Arizona Department of Health Services show that this is only the second documented case of rabies in a mountain lion in Arizona in the past nine years.

Still, officials advise people to be aware of their surroundings and nearby wildlife activity when recreating outdoors, and to keep their distance from wildlife and make sure their pets are vaccinated.
In Arizona, the wildlife in which rabies most commonly occurs are bats, skunks and foxes, but any mammal can contract the disease.

“So far, 14 animals—seven skunks, three foxes, one bat, one coyote, one coatimundi, and now, one mountain lion, have tested positive for rabies at the Arizona State Health Laboratory in 2008, “ says Dr. Elisabeth Lawaczeck from the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Rabid animals may show unusual behavior or appear unstable. Rabid carnivores, such as skunks, foxes, bobcats and coyotes may become aggressive and attempt to bite people, pets and livestock. Wild animals exhibiting unusual behavior should be reported to the Arizona Game and Fish Department or local animal control officials.

Examples of unusual behavior include: wild animals that show no fear of people and pets; nocturnal animals that are active during daylight hours; and bats found on the ground, in swimming pools or that have been caught by a pet.

The Arizona Department of Health Services and the Arizona Game and Fish Department recommend the following precautions to reduce a chance encounter with a rabid animal:

• Keep people and pets away from wild animals. Do not pick up, touch, or feed wild or unfamiliar animals, especially sick or wounded ones. If someone has been bitten or scratched, or has had contact with the animal, report it immediately to animal control or health officials.
• Do not “rescue” seemingly abandoned young wild animals. Usually, the mother will return. If the mother is dead or has not returned in a reasonable time frame (usually several hours), call the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
• Vaccinate all dogs and cats against rabies. Pets should be kept in a fenced yard.
• Take precautions when camping, hunting or fishing. Avoid sleeping on the open ground without the protection of a closed tent or camper. Keep pets on a leash and do not allow them to wander.
• Do not disturb roosting bats. If you find a bat on the ground, don’t touch it. Report the bat and its location to your local animal control officer or health department. Place a box over the bat to contain it. Be careful not to damage the bat in any way since it must be intact for rabies testing.
  

The Arizona Game and Fish Department offers the following tips if you encounter a mountain lion:

• Do not approach a mountain lion: Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.
• Do not run from a mountain lion: Running may stimulate a mountain lion's instinct to chase. Instead, stand and face the animal. Make eye contact.
• Do not crouch or bend over: A person squatting or bending over looks a lot like a four-legged prey animal.
• Appear larger: Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you are wearing one. Throw stones, branches, or whatever you can reach without crouching or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud voice.
• Protect small children so they won't panic and run.
• Fight back if attacked: Many potential victims have fought back successfully with rocks, sticks, caps, jackets, garden tools and their bare hands.
  

For more information about rabies, call your local health department or the Arizona Department of Health Services, Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Disease Section, at (602) 364-4562.

For more information about living in mountain lion country, visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/urbanwildlife.

NRA grants aid department’s gun safety and target-shooting education programs
The Arizona Friends of the NRA (National Rifle Association) and the NRA Foundation recently awarded the Arizona Game and Fish Department $16,000 in grant funds to purchase shotguns and small caliber rifles, which will be used by certified instructors to teach firearm safety and introductory target shooting programs to youth.

Youth shotguns and .22-caliber single-shot rifles will be purchased and packaged into “kits” that can be used by the department’s shooting staff, education branch, and partnered user groups to educate the public about firearm safety, marksmanship, as well as the traditions and benefits of shooting sports, hunting and fishing.

“Having these “kits” of quality firearms at our disposal is a great asset and allows us additional resources to conduct target shooting events throughout the state,” says Anthony Chavez, the department’s statewide shooting ranges administrator. “We [Arizona Game and Fish] get many requests from organizations, such as the Boy Scouts of America as well as local conservation and sportsmen groups, to host target shooting events. Unfortunately in the past, the lack of equipment has limited our ability to meet every need of these interested groups.”

Target shooting is self-rewarding, builds hand-eye coordination skills, and teaches patience, discipline, and the understanding and respect for firearms. Shooting sports and hunting are rated among the safest forms of recreation. Some 40 million people of all ages safely participate in these activities. However, research shows there are nearly 48 million men and women who are interested in shooting and are simply waiting for an invitation — grants of this kind will assist the department’s already successful shooting education programs.

The Arizona Friends of NRA and the NRA Foundation have awarded the department financial grants in the past. Some of the department-run programs that have benefited from these types of grants include the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP), First Shots, Trailblazer Adventure Day, Step Outside, and Hunter Education classes.

To learn more about the benefits and safety of target shooting and shooting sports come to the Arizona Game and Fish Department Outdoor Expo at Ben Avery Shooting Facility (northwest corner of I-17 and Carefree Highway) March 29-30. There will be hands-on instruction on how to shoot a bow and arrow, pellet rifles, rimfire rifles, shotguns and much more. There will also be demonstrations, exhibits and live wildlife on hand. For more details, visit www.azgfd.gov/expo.

Public input sought on proposed fee increases at Ben Avery Shooting Facility
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking public input on a proposal to adjust some of the user fees at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility to meet rising operational costs. These increases are being proposed to keep the Phoenix Point of Pride location functioning and expanding as one of the top shooting facilities in the nation.

“The range is operated in large part with revenues generated from user fees. Operating costs have significantly increased over the past seven years. Examples include electricity up 72 percent, waste disposal up 100 percent, janitorial supplies up 81 percent, fuel up 48 percent, and clay targets up an average of 25 percent. In addition to consumables, a number of full and part-time positions have been added, many specifically to handle large shooting events and peak usage hours,” says Jay Cook, education branch chief for the department. “The last fee increase was implemented nearly seven years ago on July 1, 2001.”

Examples of some proposed increases: A day on the main shooting range or archery range would cost $7 compared to $5 today. Children 17 years and under are still free. A round of trap or skeet at the completely renovated and modernized Clay Target Center will run a dollar more at $6 compared to the current price of $5. Twenty-five targets at the sporting clays course will bump to $10 from the current rate of $8. For a full schedule of proposed fees visit www.azgfd.gov/basf and click “proposed fees” at the top of the page.

Fee increases do require approval from the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. Public comments will be accepted through May 1, 2008 and the Department will be providing the Commission a final fee schedule recommendation during its meeting May 16 – 17 at the Prescott Quality Inn & Suites, 4499 Highway 69, Prescott, 86301.

The public is encouraged to e-mail comments to BASFfees2008@azgfd.gov or mail them to Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attention BASF Fees 2008, c/o Jay Cook, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086.

Located on 1,650 acres in north Phoenix, the Ben Avery Shooting Facility is one of the largest government-operated recreational shooting complexes in the world. It averages more than 120,000 shooters per year and is home to a number of regional- and national-class competitions and other major events. Offering a wide array of target-shooting opportunities, the facility has 67 covered stations at the main range (all handicap accessible), and over 25 additional rifle, pistol, and archery ranges for recreational and competitive shooting. The Clay Target Center offers 18-lighted trap/skeet overlay fields and two sporting clays courses.
 
Arizona’s endangered condor flock to grow
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.

”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.

Flagstaff regional supervisor named Wildlife Professional of the Year
The Arizona Chapter of The Wildlife Society recently awarded Ron Sieg, regional supervisor for the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Flagstaff office, its 2008 Wildlife Professional of the Year Award.

Sieg was recognized for his dedication to wildlife conservation, including work on the Kaibab Westside Habitat Improvement Project and Condor Lead Reduction Program in Arizona.

The Kaibab Westside project is an effort to improve habitat conditions for deer on the west side (of the Kaibab Plateau) winter range. This 24,000-acre proposed project will include pinyon-juniper cutting/grinding to help release shrubs for the deer, seed shrub species and use herbicide to limit cheatgrass expansion.

The Condor Lead Reduction Program is an effort that began in 2003 to increase voluntary compliance among hunters to use non-lead ammunition when hunting in the core range of the endangered California condor. Lead toxicity from ingesting lead bullet fragments from hunting is the leading cause of mortality for condors in Arizona.

Sieg joined Game and Fish in 2000 as the Regional Supervisor for the Flagstaff area.

Founded in 1937, The Wildlife Society is a non-profit scientific and educational association dedicated to excellence in wildlife stewardship through science and education.

Urban fishing update
Anglers United, a sport-fishing and conservation club, is sponsoring their annual “Just for Kids” fishing clinic at Kiwanis Lake in Tempe on March 15 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is a great opportunity to introduce the youngsters to the great sport of fishing. Many kids have caught their first fish at this annual event.  There will be a “Tiny Tots Tank” for the very young to begin trying their luck.  A free hot dog or hamburger meal, free “goodie bags”, and many free raffle prizes will be given away to participants that register at the event.  Kiwanis Park is located on Mill Avenue south of Baseline Road.  For more information, contact Anglers United at (480) 350-5650.

All lakes and ponds in the Phoenix and Tucson areas will be stocked with 15- to 20-inch channel catfish on Friday, March 21. Warming spring temperatures signal the upcoming stocking changeover from trout to catfish. Beginning with the season kick-off stocking, catfish will be stocked on an every other week basis through June. Nearly 14,000 pounds of Arkansas farm raised catfish will be delivered and stocked into 19 Urban Fishing Program lakes each time.

The final trout stocking of the winter season took place the week of March 2-8 representing the end of the four month delivery of these coldwater fish. All urban lakes were stocked with plenty of nice rainbow trout, some in the 14- to 17-inch range. Fishing for trout continues to be good to excellent at Urban Fishing Program waters. The usual trout baits such as Power Bait, worms or small spinners continue to work well. This is a good time to try meal worms on the bottom or under a small bobber to fool trout and bluegill that are starting to move into the shallows as lakes begin to warm. Trout fishing is good to excellent at Green Valley lakes in Payson with Power Bait, worms and salmon eggs working off the bottom.

If you’re successful at one of the urban lakes / 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.

Outdoor Expo 2008 coming soon
Sponsored by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the March 29-30 (Saturday and Sunday) Outdoor Expo is full of fun activities and exhibits about the great outdoors.

Located at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in north Phoenix (Carefree Highway, ½ mile west of I-17) the Expo hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Bring your family and friends along to find out how to get started in new outdoor activities or improve your skills in sports you already enjoy. Throughout each day there will be activities, demonstrations and exhibits in the areas of fishing, hunting, recreational shooting, archery, off-highway vehicles and watercraft recreation, conservation and wildlife education, camping and more. A kids fishing tank will be full of sunfish ready to bite.

Admission and parking are free. 

For more information, call (623) 236-7241 or go to www.azgfd.gov/expo.

Ladies: Learn how to shoot trap, skeet and sporting clays
The Ben Avery Desert Roses is an introductory women’s shotgun program that offers a unique “night out with the girls.” Sponsored by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and held at the Ben Avery Clay Target Center in north Phoenix, it teaches the exciting sports of sporting clays, trap and skeet in a friendly, welcoming environment with other women.

The Ben Avery Desert Roses meet the first and third Thursday of each month from 7-9:30 p.m. Participation is free during the instructional period for each of the three shotgun shooting disciplines. Participants must be age 9 or older. Loaner shotguns are available for use at the range.

The next classes are March 20 and April 3. Pre-registration is required for the first session; to register, please contact Kari Rountree at (623) 236-7077 or krountree@azgfd.gov. Space is limited.

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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.