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Wildlife News - Aug. 1 Wildlife News Aug 1, 2008
The deadline to submit nominations for the 2008 Arizona Game and Fish Commission awards is this Friday, Aug. 8. The awards recognize Arizonans who have contributed significantly to the welfare of the state's wildlife and the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Categories for nomination include: Youth Environmentalist of the Year, Outdoor Writer of the Year, Media of the Year, Conservation Organization of the Year, Conservationist of the Year, Outdoor Woman of the Year, Environmentalist of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Educator of the Year, License Dealer of the Year, and Award of Excellence. Nominations may include individuals, organizations, clubs, foundations or government agencies. Arizona Game and Fish Department employees are not eligible for nomination. To download a nomination form, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission and click on the awards link. Return the nomination form and all supplemental materials to: Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn: Marty Fabritz - DOHQ, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086. Forms can also be faxed to (623) 236-7299 or e-mailed to either Directorsoffice@azgfd.gov or Mfabritz@azgfd.gov. Another award category for which nominations are being solicited is the Wildlife Habitat Stewardship Award. For more information or to download a nomination form, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission and click on the awards link. The awards will be presented to the winners at the Meet the Commission banquet on Jan. 17, 2009, at the Four Points by Sheraton Phoenix North at 10220 N. Metro Parkway East, Phoenix.
The proposed spring hunt recommendations for 2009 spring turkey, javelina, buffalo and bear, as well as the recommendations for 2008–09 waterfowl and snipe seasons, continue to be available for review at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s regional offices. These hunt recommendations were formulated according to the hunt guidelines approved by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission in August 2007. At each of the open houses, a knowledgeable staff person will be available to discuss regional hunt recommendations and answer questions. No formal presentation will be provided. The schedule of open houses is:
If you are unable to attend one of these open houses, both hunt recommendations are available on the department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/h_f/hunt_guidelines.shtml. The spring big game hunt and fall waterfowl regulations will be presented to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission for consideration during its Aug. 9 meeting in Flagstaff at the Radisson Woodlands Hotel, 1175 West Route 66, Flagstaff, Ariz., 86001. For a full agenda, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission under “Meeting Agenda.” If you still have questions, please call one of our regional offices to discuss before the commission meeting in Flagstaff on Aug. 9.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking public comments on draft 2009-2010 regulations for reptiles, raptors, crustaceans and mollusks, and amphibians. Public comment will be accepted until Aug. 22. If warranted, public meetings on the proposed changes to these commission orders may be held in Phoenix, Tucson and/or Flagstaff. Most of the proposed changes being considered for the 2009-2010 commission orders involve raptor regulations. Highlights include:
To see the draft commission orders, visit the department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/comments. For more information, call (623) 236-7500. To provide written comments, send correspondences to: Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program, Arizona Game and Fish Department, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, Arizona 85086, or by e-mail to: CommOrd25@azgfd.gov (Raptors); CommOrd41&43@azgfd.gov (Amphibians and Reptiles); and CommOrd42@azgfd.gov (Crustaceans and Mollusks).
The monsoon season brings cooler temperatures in the mornings and evenings, making this a great time to step back outside and take in some fun target shooting.
Women interested in learning to shoot are encouraged to join the Desert Roses, an introductory women’s-only shotgun program that offers a unique “night out with the girls.” Ladies will learn to handle shotguns safety and experience the fun of sporting clays, trap and skeet shooting. Classes are free and are offered the first and third Thursday of each month from 7-9:30 p.m. The next dates are August 7 and 21, September 4 and 18, and then October 2 and 16. Loaner shotguns are available for use. Contact Fred Jeffers to register at fjeffers@azgfd.gov or (623) 262-4623. Space is limited. For upland- and wing-shooters, the Clay Target Center is hosting a number of open sporting clays events designed to sharpen your shotgunning skills for the upcoming dove, quail and waterfowl seasons. Registration begins at 7 a.m., with shooting starting at 9 a.m. Each course is typically 15 stations with 100 targets. Upcoming shoots include the August 23 “Dove Season Primer” open, the September 20 “Gettin’ Ready for Quail” open, and the October 26 “Spooky Bird” classic. There is a nominal fee, and shotgun loaners and rentals are available. Fall hunters are reminded to come out and sight in your rifle for your upcoming hunt. Also, this is a great time for Kaibab Plateau and Strip tag holders to test out the recommended non-lead ammo in support of the department’s voluntary reduction of lead use in the endangered California condor range. The Ben Avery Shooting Facility is on the northwest corner of I-17 and Carefree Highway in north Phoenix. The Clay Target Center is just west of the main facility. The summer 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. For more information about the facility and shooting programs offered, visit www.azgfd.gov/basf.
Sportsmen and sportswomen wishing to hunt big game in Arizona this fall can start applying for leftover hunt permit-tags beginning at 8 a.m. (MST) Monday, Aug. 11. For those who either missed the fall drawing or were unsuccessful in the draw, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has tags for deer, turkey and juniors-only javelina hunts, to be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Also remaining are more than 2,500 tags for general deer, 27 tags for muzzleloader deer, and more than 700 tags for archery-only deer. The majority of these tags are for Coues whitetail deer in southern Arizona. Turkey hunters also have a chance at 354 remaining permits for a fall hunt on the Kaibab. These tags will go very quickly. To apply for a tag, a paper hunt permit-tag application must be submitted by U.S. mail only, for delivery no earlier than August 11 at 8 a.m. (MST), to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Drawing Section, P.O. Box 52002, Phoenix, Ariz., 85072-2002. Hunters with bonus points who are awarded a tag through the first-come, first-serve process will not lose their bonus points for the genus for which the tag is allocated. Conversely, an unsuccessful applicant for a leftover tag is not awarded a bonus point. Applicants must include their 2008 license number on the application request. However, a 2008 license may be purchased through the application request if needed. Additionally, junior hunters ages 10, 11, 12 and 13 are required to complete a certified hunter education class to participate in a big game hunt. For a detailed listing of leftover permits, visit www.azgfd.gov/draw or call (623) 236-7702. For those who qualify, there are military hunts available for Fort Huachuca. Call (520) 533-2549 for additional information. For more information about the department’s hunter education course, visit www.azgfd.gov/education and click on “hunter education.”
With the fall big game hunt results announced, now is when the planning begins. Proper preparation includes exercising, researching hunt areas, and honing your marksmanship skills. But what about having a safe hunt? One way to assure a safe trip afield is by taking a hunter education course. Taught by certified, knowledgeable and experienced volunteer instructors, the program teaches the basics and beyond, to make your hunt satisfying, successful, and most of all, safe.
For a full listing of classroom courses, visit www.azgfd.gov/education and click on “hunter education.” “Although hunter ed is not mandatory for adults, youth hunters ages 10, 11, 12 and 13 are required to have a valid hunter education certification from Arizona or other approved program to participate in a big game hunt,” says Hunter Education Coordinator Mark Quigley. Hunting remains one of the safest recreational activities. Hunter education provides a sound foundation for young hunters and those new to hunting in the West, or it is an excellent refresher for experienced hunters. “Our course is very diverse and fun. We teach about ethics, fair chase, hunting laws, firearm safety, wildlife identification, conservation, game care, first aid, survival and much more,” Quigley adds. “We also offer several different types of courses, including introductory, basic, combined basic/bowhunting, and our latest online self-paced Internet course.” For more information about the online hunter education course, visit www.azgfd.gov/education and click on “hunter education” and then “online course.” “Although it’s the middle of summer, right now is the time to take a class,” says Quigley. “Class availability will dramatically decrease as the hunting season progresses.” Lastly, Quigley suggests, “even if you don’t take a hunter safety course, all hunters are encouraged to wear “hunter orange” in all hunting situations - except spring turkey season - and to remember Arizona’s safe hunter’s slogan, tab plus one (T.A.B. +1): T=Treat every gun as if it were loaded; A=Always keep you muzzle pointed in a safe direction; B=Be sure of your target and beyond; +1=Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot. Early deer season starts in late August, and then dove, small game and fall big game hunts begin.
The workshop will provide an opportunity for the public to watch an amazing sight as thousands of Mexican free-tail bats exit their roost for the evening at Phoenix’s largest bat colony, near the Biltmore area. The program will begin at 6:45 p.m. with a talk by bat biologists and an opportunity to see live bats up close. Participants will then watch the mass exodus using special night vision and ultrasonic sound equipment to hear the bat’s inaudible echolocation sounds. “Bats are plagued by a lot of inaccurate myths,” says Angela McIntire, Arizona Game and Fish Department bat management coordinator. “But, they do so many good things like helping protect agricultural crops and our backyards from being overrun by pesky insects.”
Don’t miss this opportunity to meet some of the Valley’s more secretive residents. The event is free to the public. Educators are also encouraged to attend and receive continuing education credit. Those attending the workshop should park in the retail parking lot on the southwest corner of 40th Street and Camelback Road, walk north along 40th Street, and then proceed west on the north side of the canal until they reach the Maricopa County Flood Control District tunnel. The tunnel is approximately ½ mile from 40th Street. It will be marked with signage. The public is encouraged to arrive with ample time: The bats leave at sunset and won’t wait! For more information about bats in Arizona, visit www.azgfd.gov.
Wildlife viewing is the activity of watching and enjoying wildlife species in their natural environment. This recreational activity is growing in popularity as it offers a relaxing, low-cost adventure that can be done close to home and is fun for the whole family. It can be as simple as observing birds on a backyard feeder or as adventurous as a moonlit hike through a canyon to watch nocturnal animals scurry about under the cover of dark. Watching wildlife can be done by anyone, anytime, anyplace and at virtually any age. Watching wildlife provides significant economic benefit to the state with more $825 million spent in 2006 in Arizona and its communities. It also leaves a lasting impression on participants and imparts an increased awareness of the benefits of conserving the state’s irreplaceable resources. The Web site is part of the department’s Watchable Wildlife Program that strives to manage wildlife while providing for the responsible recreational use of the resource. Much of the support for the program comes from the Heritage Fund, a fund started in 1990 by Arizona voters to further conservation efforts in the state. Funding comes from Arizona Lottery ticket sales. To start planning your next wildlife adventure, visit www.azgfd.gov/wildlife.
Your child’s school or your local park could be among those that benefit from next year’s Arizona Game and Fish Department Heritage grants. Every year, the department makes hundreds of thousands of dollars available to applicants who have projects with a wildlife focus that otherwise might not receive funding. More than $500,000 is available and now is the time of year to apply for the money. “There are so many deserving projects that promote Arizona wildlife that may not be implemented due to a lack of funding,” says Robyn Beck, the department’s Heritage grant coordinator. “We want to help students, researchers, outdoor enthusiasts and ultimately all Arizonans enjoy the benefits of this funding.” Started in 1990, the Heritage Fund was established by Arizona voters to further conservation efforts in the state, including protecting endangered species, educating our children about wildlife, helping urban residents to better coexist with wildlife, and creating new opportunities for outdoor recreation. Funding comes from Arizona Lottery sales. The department holds annual workshops for agencies interested in applying for Heritage grants. This year’s workshops will be held at the following times and locations: Those planning to attend the workshops, and those wanting to learn more about eligibility for the grant money, should R.S.V.P. to Robyn Beck at (623) 236-7530. Potential grant recipients must have a project that is either located in Arizona or involves research in which the wildlife or its habitat is located in Arizona. More information on the grants and application forms can be found at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/heritage. The deadline for applications is Nov. 28 at 5 p.m. MST. Over the years, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has awarded a total of more than $12 million in grants to communities across the state. Arizonans can help raise money for the Heritage Fund every year, simply by buying Arizona Lottery tickets.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department received national recognition for its conservation communications efforts by taking one first-place and two second-place awards at the annual Association for Conservation Information (ACI) conference in Nashville, Tenn. on July 17.
Two articles published in Arizona Wildlife Views magazine were selected for honors. Julie Hammonds, the magazine’s associate editor, won first place in the “Parks, Historical or Cultural Magazine Article” category for her article entitled "Watchable Wildlife: Ramsey Canyon Preserve." Rory Aikens, public information officer, garnered a second-place award in the “Fisheries Magazine Article” category with his article, "A Mountain Journey: Finding the Hidden Essence of Fishing." The department’s Hunting Highlights e-newsletter won second place for design and information in the “Big Idea, Small Budget” category. ACI is a nonprofit association of information and education professionals representing state, federal and Canadian agencies and private conservation organizations. It provides a forum for communication professionals to exchange new ideas, concepts, and practices that promote wildlife conservation.
Both are very prestigious awards. The latter is named in memory of two fallen Idaho Fish and Game Officers, Bill Pogue and Conley Elms. “Wagner is an exceptional credit to the department,” says Bob Birkeland, wildlife manager supervisor. “He was nominated for this award for many reasons, including outstanding contributions to fish and wildlife law enforcement. He has shown great leadership, skill and ingenuity during the performance of his job, and in promoting law enforcement training and education for other officers. He has always demonstrated high ethics, standards and practices.” Wagner’s commitment to his work is also demonstrated in his law enforcement statistics, where he’s generated over 1,500 citations for wildlife law violations. His cases have sent record numbers of wildlife violators to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission for license revocations and civil assessments for illegal taking of wildlife, such as deer, elk, bear and fish. Wagner played an instrumental role in Operation Bear Bones, an extensive multi-agency undercover operation targeting illegal guiding and unlawful take of numerous wildlife. The operation resulted in 16 suspects being charged with more than 60 wildlife violations and one suspect facing six felony charges involving killing of stray horses on U.S. Forest Service lands near Show Low. During his 12-year career, Wagner has been recognized as “Officer of the Year” by both Shikar-Safari and the Arizona Elks Lodge, and he has been named the Cliff Sorrels Arizona Game Ranger Lodge Officer of the Year. He received the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s award June 11 in Flagstaff and the WAFWA award July 14 in Rapid City, South Dakota, during the annual WAFWA meetings.
Wildlife enthusiast leaves a conservation legacy
The April 26 event at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility Activity Center included items such as firearms, trophy mounts and hides, a full-size truck and horse trailer, Western memorabilia, a bear tag, and a javelina tag. The auction brought in more than $37,000. Proceeds are going to projects driven by AWF, with more than $13,000 going to the Game and Fish Department for habitat restoration projects. About $3,700 is being used specifically for the Anderson Mesa habitat project. Patti Ho was a remarkable woman and an avid outdoor enthusiast. No only did she appreciate wildlife and its habitat, but she was a professional surfer, a professional motocross racer, a horsewoman, a dedicated hunter, and world traveler. AWF and the Game and Fish department greatly appreciate her and her family’s gift to both organizations.
The next Arizona Game and Fish Commission meeting will be held on Friday, Aug. 8 and Saturday, Aug. 9 at the Radisson Woodlands Hotel, 1175 West Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001. The meeting begins with an executive session at 8 a.m. Friday morning, followed by the public meeting. Items on Friday’s agenda include a briefing to the commission on the proposed State Trust Land ballot initiative (“Conserving Arizona’s Water and Land”), a presentation about the new Transportation and Infrastructure Moving Arizona’s Economy or “TIME” initiative, and an update on the status and the department’s coordination on new air quality regulations as proposed and enacted by the state, county and municipal governments pursuant to SB1552 (and the impact of such legislation on vehicular access for hunters and anglers in Maricopa and Pinal Counties). On Saturday, agenda items include consideration of the commission hunt orders for turkey, javelina, buffalo and bear for the spring 2009 hunting season, consideration of the commission hunt orders for waterfowl and snipe for the 2008-09 hunting season, approval of the hunt permit-tag application schedule for spring 2009 hunts, and consideration of a department proposal to restrict vehicle access at the main access point at the department’s Upper Verde River Wildlife Area. A detailed agenda in PDF is available at the department's Web site. Go to www.azgfd.gov/commission and click on the "commission agenda" link on the left, then click on “Aug. 8-9, 2008 agenda.” |
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The Ben Avery Shooting Facility Main Range and Clay Target Center business hours begin early and extend well into the evening hours under the new lighting system, allowing shooters a reprieve from the peak heat of the day.
All visitors to the Ben Avery Shooting Facility are reminded that all firearms must be in a case or properly holstered to enter the main range, and eye protection must be worn by shooters and spectators while on the main range.
Parents, grandparents, relatives, and friends of the family can take advantage of the many available juniors-only permits. There are more than 2,000 fall juniors-only javelina tags and 106 juniors-only deer tags leftover from the draw. This is a great opportunity to take a youngster outdoors and introduce him or her to the American tradition of wildlife conservation through hunting. These juniors’ hunts are structured to assure a fun, safe and satisfying family hunting experience.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has hunter education classes available throughout the state, including metro Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma, Camp Verde, Lakeside, Kingman and many other areas. Some of the classes begin as soon as this Friday, July 25. 
Did you know that bats are the slowest reproducing mammals on earth for their size? Did you know that every night they provide free insect-control services to the Valley? The Arizona Game and Fish Department invites you to attend a free bat workshop on Friday, Aug. 15 to learn the answers to these questions and find out more about these shy, misunderstood creatures. 
Arizona is home to 28 bat species, including two species that are nectar-feeders and pollinate plants like the saguaro and agaves. Mexican free-tailed bats are found throughout Arizona in the summer and most migrate south in the winter. It has a wingspan of 11 to 13 inches, and it roosts in caves, tunnels, and crevices in tunnels, bridges and buildings. Bats are most frequently observed between April and October, but many species are active year-round in the state. They are the only mammal that can truly fly and, contrary to popular myth, bats are not blind. 
The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s new wildlife viewing site offers tips for watching wildlife; how to observe wildlife responsibly; where to go in Arizona; a comprehensive list of watchable wildlife events in the state; and, news and features. From how to watch to when to watch, the site helps novice wildlife watchers get started and reminds seasoned viewers of the finer points of catching a glimpse of their favorite species. Information on how to select the right optics, including binoculars, is also included. 
Shawn Wagner, Arizona Game and Fish Department wildlife manager in Unit 3B South, near Pinetop, was recently honored as “Wildlife Manager of the Year” by the department and as the “Pogue-Elms Officer of the Year” by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA). 
When outdoor enthusiast Patti Ho passed away last year, she generously left behind a legacy for wildlife. At Patti’s request, the Arizona Wildlife Federation (AWF), in cooperation with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, hosted an estate auction to sell items that were willed to the organizations upon her death.
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