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Wildlife News - May 22, 2008 Wildlife News May 22, 2008
Prime camping season is arriving in the high country, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds people heading to the great outdoors to be “bear aware” and keep a clean campsite.
“The root cause of most conflicts between bears and people, especially in camping areas, is food,” says Bruce Sitko, information and education program manager in Game and Fish’s Pinetop region. “Bears can’t change their behavior, but people can. Protect yourself and protect a bear—take a few minutes to secure your food items.” Wildlife officials say it is prudent for all outdoor recreationists to take the following precautions to minimize potential conflicts with bears and other wildlife:
If you are confronted by a black bear (the only bear species in Arizona), don’t run. Stay calm, continue facing it, and slowly back away. Try to make yourself look as big and imposing as possible; put young children on your shoulders. Speak or yell and let it know you are human. Make loud noises by clanging pans, using air horns, or whatever is available. If you encounter a bear in a developed campground, notify the campground host. If you have a problem with a scavenging bear in the forest, notify the Arizona Game and Fish Department. For more information, visit www.azgfd.gov/urbanwildlife.
The Memorial Day holiday is nearly upon us, and that means more boats are likely to be out on Arizona’s waterways this weekend. The
“This week, May 17-23, is National Safe Boating Week, but boating safety is really important every day,” says Arizona’s Boating Law Administrator Kevin Bergersen. “You should always wear your life jacket, be aware of the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning, and never operate a boat while intoxicated.” A boating safety education class covers these topics and much more. Bergersen adds, “Operating a boat is a huge responsibility, and boaters should take boating safety seriously.” Last year alone, there were 220 accidents, 118 injuries and eight fatalities on Arizona’s waterways.
“When heading out to the water, do yourself, your friends, and your family a favor,” says Bergersen. “Boat safe, boat smart, and boat sober.”
Printed copies of the 2008-09 Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations have been shipped to license dealers throughout the state. The regulations and application forms should now be available at a license dealer near you, as well as at any Arizona Game and Fish Department office. Regulations and forms can also be downloaded from the department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/draw. Don’t forget: The deadline to apply for the fall draw for deer, turkey, bighorn sheep and buffalo, as well as juniors-only javelina, is Tuesday, June 10, by 7 p.m. (MST) – postmarks do not count. There is no online application process available for the fall hunts – it is a manual paper-permit process again. Take advantage of the “correction period” by submitting your application by May 29. If your application has been received by the department by that date (postmarks don’t count), and you’ve made a mistake on your hunt-permit application, the Game and Fish Department will attempt to call you three times in a 24-hour period and give you the opportunity to correct the mistake. After that date, mistakes can cause your application to be rejected.
You may be tempted to pick up a baby bird or other young wild animal that appears to be on its own, but Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists warn this is not a good idea. This is the time of year young wildlife can be seen throughout the state, and the department typically receives an increased number of calls and visits from good Samaritans who are trying to do the right thing by "rescuing" baby animals thought to be abandoned. That can cause more harm than good. "If you see a baby bird, rabbit, fawn or any young animal on its own, don't assume it's orphaned and in need of your help," says Randy Babb, information and education program manager for the department’s Mesa region. "Usually, the parents are not far away. They may be out gathering food, taking a short break from their young, or you may have scared them away. If you remove the baby, then its odds for survival diminish." For example, baby rabbits, if removed from the wild, will almost certainly die. Newborn rabbits require virtually 24-hour care for any hope of survival, but even then the odds are slim. Young birds on the ground may be learning to fly or may have fallen from a nest. Birds that have fallen from a nest will not be neglected; the parents will continue to care for them. However, if the young birds are in immediate danger, it is OK to place them back in the nest. Contrary to popular belief, human scent will not concern the avian parents. Moving deer and antelope fawns and elk calves is not only bad for the animal, it is also illegal. Regulations prohibit possessing and moving native deer and elk due to concerns over the potential transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) to Arizona’s deer and elk populations. CWD, a wildlife disease fatal to deer and elk, has not yet been found in Arizona but is in several neighboring states. The best rule of thumb if you see young wildlife on its own is to resist the instinct to help, and leave the animal alone. Humans are often the threat that scares away the adult, so the sooner you vacate the area, the quicker the parent will return to care for its young. “There is almost never an occasion when you should remove a baby wild animal from its natural environment, as that may doom it from being able to survive in the wild in the future” says Babb. “However, on those rare occasions where a young animal is obviously injured, you should call a wildlife rehabilitator who can assess the animal and decide whether to move it.” The Arizona Game and Fish Department has a list of wildlife rehabilitators and their phone numbers available at the department's Web site at www.azgfd.gov/urbanwildlife. This section of the department's Web site also contains details about how to deal with truly injured, sick or orphaned wildlife. If the injured animal is a large game animal or potential danger to handlers, such as a deer, javelina or coyote, call the closest Arizona Game and Fish Department office or Radio Dispatch at (623) 236-7201.
It’s time to leave your troubles (and work) behind, hang up the “GONE FISHIN” sign and then go experience some fishing-hole therapy.
1. Get back to basics with cane poles and a can of worms. Treat your youngsters (or yourself) to the youthful glories of stream fishing. Try fishing Christopher Creek, Tonto Creek, Haigler Creek, Canyon Creek along the Mogollon Rim, or along the East or West Fork of Black River or possibly the Little Colorado River in the picturesque Greer Valley. Oak Creek can also be fun. Don’t ignore Beaver Creek or West Clear Creek in the Verde Valley. 2. Get in the cool pines frame of mind and go catch trout at our spectacular mountain lakes. There are some terrific choices in Zane Grey country along the famous Mogollon Rim – you can even fish more than one lake in a day. Try Woods Canyon, Willow Springs, Bear Canyon, Black Canyon, Knoll Lake and Chevelon Lake. Blue Ridge Reservoir is also an option. 3. If you long for the chatter of red squirrels along spruce-lined alpine meadows, then point the family wagon toward the thin sweet air of the White Mountains in eastern Arizona. You can even make snow balls from lingering snow drifts and rediscover deep blue skies. Big Lake is THE top spot, but the Greer Lakes, Luna Lake, Nelson Reservoir, Hulsey Lake or one of the White Mountain Apache lakes are also excellent places to catch some alpine memories. 4. If you long for a world-class fishing adventure in one of the most scenic lakes on earth, then head for Lake Powell where you can even find fishing solitude along its 1,850 miles or so of shoreline. And the fishing itself is world class too. 5. There is another world-class experience beckoning you at Lees Ferry where wild rainbow trout are waiting to dance across the swift-flowing river as it winds along the majestic Marble Canyon Gorge between Lake Powell and the Grand Canyon. It’s an E-ticket fishing adventure with a capital A. 6. Want to have great fishing for bass and crappie, yet avoid all the hordes of recreational boaters and jet skiers out there? Then remember the Alamo! Alamo Lake that is. Alamo lacks boat fuel but yet offers plenty of undisturbed fishing fun. It has great campgrounds, but no motels close by. It’s perfect for self-sufficient Western anglers who want a pure fishing lake. 7. Do you want a great time but don’t want your wallet to shrink too much from high gas prices? Then try the Lower Salt River adjacent to If you want more timely tips on what is biting where in Arizona, visit the Game and Fish Department’s weekly fishing report at www.azgfd.gov. “Heck, we’ll even deliver the fishing report right to your computer each and every week – at absolutely no charge for those who bought a fishing license, those who might buy a fishing license, or even those who might know someone who bought a license,” said Rory Aikens, the fishing report editor
Archery deer hunters are advised that some game management units formerly open to over-the-counter archery permit-tags will now require a permit issued through the big game draw application process for the 2008-09 hunting season. Pursuant to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission hunt orders approved on April 19, 2008, archery deer hunts in the following units are now allocated through the big game draw: • 1 – White Mountains / Big Lake area Archery hunters interested in hunting deer in these units will need to apply through the big game draw application process. The deadline to apply is June 10 by 7 p.m. (MST) – postmarks do not count. Applications will be accepted by mail or may be hand delivered to a department office – there is no online application process. “The reason for this significant first-ever change is to allocate the harvest among deer hunters that is proportionate to the demand for that weapon choice. In some management units, the harvest proportion for certain weapon types exceeded the demand,” states Brian Wakeling, big game management supervisor for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Hunters who purchased a 2008 archery season nonpermit-tag in the fall of 2007 are reminded that you are now required to adhere to the new 2008-09 hunting regulations, which will eliminate these units from your available hunting areas (although these tags are valid in many other open units). Hunters are also advised that some season structures (dates) have changed, which includes the lengthening of seasons in some units. To download a copy of the 2008-09 Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations and to learn how to apply through the draw process, visit www.azgfd.gov/draw. If you have additional questions, call your local department office. Archery deer hunters should adhere to the following guidelines regarding harvest reporting: Nonpermit-tag holders: Mandatory harvest reporting is still required by archery deer hunters with an over-the-counter nonpermit-tag. Please call (866) 903-3337. Permit-tag holders: Archery deer hunters with hunt permit-tags obtained through the draw process are NOT required to call the harvest hotline. However, you will receive a hunter questionnaire in the mail. Please return your questionnaire. Regardless of hunt permit-tag type, all successful archery hunters are encouraged to participate in the voluntary chronic wasting disease (CWD) sampling program. Hunters who are successful in Game Management Unit 12B are especially encouraged to submit heads. Because this unit borders Utah, deer from this area of the state have the greatest potential for initial detection of CWD. To submit a sample, heads can be brought to any Game and Fish Department office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. You will be notified of the results of this test and there is no charge for this service. Lab tests from the sampling during the 2007-08 season found no presence the disease in Arizona.
After weeks of hopping and flapping, nestling bald eagles are growing up and beginning to take to Arizona’s skies. The first 2008 bald eagle fledgling took flight recently from a cliff-side nest along the waters of Lake Pleasant. The first fledgling’s sibling is expected to take its first flight shortly, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department continues to keep a vigilant eye on bald eagle nesting activity around the state. “Bald eagles are sensitive to human activity, so this is a critical time of year for nestlings,” says Kenneth Jacobson, head of the Arizona Game and Fish Department Bald Eagle Management Program. “Game and Fish asks recreationists to stay away from bald eagle nests so that they don’t prematurely scare a nestling from the nest. If a bald eagle is found on the ground, report it to Game and Fish promptly.” Eaglets demonstrate pre-flight behaviors of hopping up and down in the nest; flapping their wings; and hovering over the nest slightly. These exercises help prepare them for a successful first flight. Thus far in 2008, over 60 bald eagles have hatched with more breeding areas expected to hatch in the coming weeks. Outdoor recreationists are asked to help protect important breeding areas by honoring the closure of 16 areas across the state, most of which end in June. Various land and wildlife management agencies close the breeding areas from December through the spring to protect the state’s 48 breeding pairs of bald eagles. Some of the closure areas are located near popular recreation sites. For a list of closure areas, visit www.azgfd.gov.
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission approved the department’s fee increase proposal for the Ben Avery Shooting Facility at its May 16 meeting. New rates for users of the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, including the archery range and clay target center, are effective July 1. The department’s recommendation came after nearly a month-and-a-half of public input was solicited. “We received more than 100 e-mails from the public about the fee proposal. The majority of our customers were understanding about the needs of the range and supportive of the new rates,” says Jay Cook, education branch chief for the department. “Shooters and sportsmen are always the first to step up and support the outdoor activities that they love.” The need for the fee increase was due to increasing operational costs. Electricity, waste disposal, fuel and consumables are some of the biggest contributors to the rising costs. The last fee increase was implemented seven years ago on July 1, 2001. Examples of the new fees: A day at the main shooting range or archery range will cost $7 instead of the current $5. 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. Located on 1,650 acres in north Phoenix, owned by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission and managed by the Department, 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. The facility offers a wide array of target-shooting opportunities to the public, including, handgun, rifle, archery, shotgun and much more. Ben Avery shooters are also reminded that the range switched to summer hours on May 12. The new hours are: Wednesday and Thursday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., then 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. The range is closed Monday and Tuesday.
If you are headed out of doors this Memorial Day holiday weekend, keep in mind that some agencies have implemented fire restrictions, including the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Mike Senn, who heads the field operations division for Game and Fish, said people can exercise a common-sense approach to determining if any state wildlife area has fire restrictions. “If a wildlife area is located within a national forest or other jurisdiction such as the BLM or State Land Department that has implemented fire restrictions, then just expect Game and Fish to follow suit,” Senn said. “Taking precautions is not about political boundaries, it is about habitat conditions and being safe out there.” For the latest updates on fire restrictions in Arizona, visit the Public Lands Information Center. The Game and Fish Department has implemented restrictions at:
In those affected wildlife areas, no open fires are allowed – including charcoal-burning barbecues. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, is prohibited. However, you can still use gas and propane stoves, lanterns or heating devices. “These are pretty much the same restrictions you will see on the national forests and other locations. It’s all simple and straightforward – enjoy the outdoors but take the simple precautions to be safe out there,” Senn said.
A valuable resource for hunters planning their fall draw strategy and hunts is now available as a free downloadable document from the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/draw (click on the link at the bottom of the “Downloads” column). The 2008 edition of Hunt Arizona is 192 pages and includes updated big game draw, survey and harvest statistics for a five-year period, as well as information on distribution, life history, and behavior of big game, small game and other wildlife. Hunt Arizona will also be available for $6 as a printed and bound book at all department offices. Anticipated date of availability is May 30, 2008. You can also order the book by mail by downloading an order form at www.azgfd.gov/publications and mailing it back along with your payment
Ready to enter? Entries must be received by the deadline at 5 p.m. (MST) Monday, July 7. All the information you need to prepare a winning entry is available at www.azgfd.gov/photocontest. Share your vision of Arizona wildlife — enter today!
The Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation is seeking nominations for inductees into the Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame. The deadline for submitting applications is this Friday, May 23. Wildlife for Tomorrow established the Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame in 1998 to recognize individuals, corporations, organizations and others who have made significant and lasting contributions to benefit Arizona's wildlife and the welfare of its natural resources. Inductees will be recognized at the annual Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame banquet in Scottsdale on Aug. 16. Past inductees have included individuals with backgrounds in wildlife volunteerism, corporate leadership, politics, wildlife art and the media. To nominate an individual or organization for the Outdoor Hall of Fame, download a PDF form at www.azgfd.gov/artman/publish/article_66.shtml and fax it to (623) 236-7299. For more information, call (623) 236-7281. ### 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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Bear activity is up this time of year, as yearling bears leave their mothers and begin roaming more in search of food sources and to establish their own territories. Bears have a keen sense of smell and can be drawn to food in campgrounds.
Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds boaters to take precautions to ensure a safe and enjoyable outing.
But if you need some help deciding where to go for some piscatorial fun in the Arizona sun, here are some tips from the fishing hole experts at the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Phoenix for trout, Tempe Town Lake for bass, the urban lakes for catfish, Lake Pleasant for striped bass (catfish and bass), Saguaro Lake for bluegill (yellow bass and catfish) or Bartlett Lake for flathead catfish (largemouth bass and crappie). Go fill up on fishing fun close to home.
If you’re one of those people for whom the pleasure of viewing wildlife and the challenge of photographing it are linked together — and you’d like to see your work published — we invite you to enter our third annual calendar photo contest. Thirteen winning wildlife images will grace the 2009 Arizona Wildlife Calendar, and winners will receive cash prizes. 
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