Best trout fishing conditions in more than a decade

The deep snow drifts across backcountry mountain roads have melted and now Arizona’s picturesque trout lakes in the national forests are not only accessible, most have filled and spilled as well, creating premium fishing conditions not seen in more than a decade.

“This is shaping up to be one of our best trout fishing seasons since the El Nino winter of ‘96,” said Kirk Young, the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s fisheries chief.  “Take advantage of this fishing bonanza while it is available. Who knows when we’ll see water like this again.”

Young added that this is definitely the time of year to catch the larger hold-over trout, possibly even a state record.  “With some patches of snow still on the ground, especially in the mixed-conifer and spruce habitats, it’s a great time for a mountain fishing adventure.”

The lakes in the Flagstaff and Williams areas have been open for some time. All of them have been stocked.  In fact, Lower Lake Mary near Flagstaff was a huge elk meadow last fall and now not only has plenty of water, it was stocked weeks ago with 28,000 rainbows. Anglers are already reporting limits of trout and fun.

The Mogollon Rim lakes and streams are now open and accessible. All the lakes and streams on the national forests in the White Mountains are open and accessible.

Along the Mogollon Rim, anglers at Woods Canyon, Willow Springs and Bear Canyon have reported catching lots of larger hold-over rainbows. Anglers at Big Lake in the White Mountains have been routinely catching larger rainbows and some big cutthroat as well.

“All the lakes are looking good, so just pick your favorite mountain lake and go.  Unplug the electronic I/V’s –-- the game boxes, play stations and iPods --- load up family and friends, and experience the Arizona outdoors at its best. Don’t miss out,” Young advises.

Payson Wildlife Fair set for this Saturday

Green Valley Park in Payson, Ariz., will undergo an amazing transformation on Saturday, May 10, when its sprawling grassy expanses turn into a carnival full of wildlife and fun outdoor activities. The 14th annual Payson Wildlife Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day, and organizers have been working hard to make it the best yet. Admission is free.
 
“This is a great way for the family to spend a Saturday,” says Craig McMullen, Arizona Game and Fish Department wildlife manager in the Payson District. “Parents and kids can fish, play games and get a close-up look at lots of amazing animals, including all sorts of raptors. The wildlife featured is magnificent.”

In addition to birds of prey, other live animals on display will include rattlesnakes, Gila monsters, prairie dogs and alligators. Fair visitors can also test their skills at one of the casting booths, virtual fishing galleries, air gun or archery ranges, and they can visit booths from a variety of conservation groups, including the National Wild Turkey Federation,  Arizona Wildlife Federation, Arizona State Parks and the Phoenix Herpetological Society, to name a few.

Green Valley Lake will receive more than double its usual stocking of trout in preparation for this event. The park typically receives about 300 pounds of trout per stocking. For this event, 800 pounds of fish will be released into the lake prior to the fair. No fishing license is required for fair attendees, and equipment and bait can be borrowed from the free fishing booth at the fair.
 
The Payson Wildlife Fair is a cooperative effort between the Arizona Game and Fish Department, USDA Forest Service, Mogollon Sporting Association, and Payson Parks and Recreation Department.

Green Valley Park is located at 1000 W. Country Club Drive, Payson (take State Route 87 to Main Street and go about one mile west).

Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame seeks nominations

The Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation is seeking nominations for inductees into the Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame at its annual banquet scheduled for Aug. 16 in Scottsdale. The deadline for submitting applications is May 23.

The Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation was created in 1990 in the spirit of conservation, intelligent coexistence, and a determination to sustain the delicate relationship and balance between people and Arizona's wildlife. It is a nonprofit, charitable fundraising foundation that works closely with the Arizona Game and Fish Department and Commission, businesses, corporations and private citizens to ensure the future of Arizona's unique wildlife resources through educational, charitable and scientific programs.

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.

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.

Last year's inductees include Paul Berquist, Representative Jerry Weiers, Tom Mackin, Beth Woodin and the Arizona Elk Society.
 

No CWD found in Arizona deer and elk testing

The Arizona Game and Fish Department has concluded another sampling season for chronic wasting disease (CWD) and reports that lab tests found no presence of the wildlife disease in any of the 2,157 hunter-harvested or road-killed deer and elk sampled during Arizona’s 2007-08 hunt season.

The department has tested nearly 10,450 deer and elk samples since beginning its surveillance program in 1998. None have tested positive for the disease. Although CWD has not yet been found in Arizona, it is present in three neighboring states: Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.

"We're very encouraged by these results, but we'll continue to remain vigilant with an aggressive testing program," says Lisa Shender, wildlife health specialist for the department. "We’ll be sampling again during the 2008-09 hunting season."

As in past hunting seasons, Game and Fish will be asking for hunters’ assistance in submitting deer or elk heads for free CWD testing. Heads can be brought to any Game and Fish Department office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Hunters who are successful in Wildlife 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. Additionally, because the Kaibab check station is only mandatory for Units 12AE and 12AW, it is typically more difficult to obtain samples from Unit 12B.

"We’d like to thank the hunters, meat processors and taxidermists who helped provide samples for testing this year,” says Shender. “They play a crucial role in our testing process."

CWD is a neurodegenerative wildlife disease that is fatal to cervids, which include deer, elk and moose. Clinical symptoms include loss of body weight or emaciation, excessive salivation, increased drinking and urination, stumbling, trembling, and behavioral changes such as listlessness, lowering of the head, and repetitive walking in set patterns.

No evidence has been found to indicate that CWD affects humans, according to both the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.

CWD was first identified in captive deer in Colorado in 1967 and has since spread to both captive and wild cervids in 14 states and two Canadian provinces. It is a naturally occurring prion disease belonging to a group of diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Other TSEs are bovine spongiform encephalopathy (also called “mad cow disease”) in domestic cattle, and scrapie in domestic sheep and goats.

The department has had rules in place since 2002 banning the importation of cervids designated as restricted live wildlife under commission rule R12-4-406(A)(9)(b), to protect against the introduction of CWD to free-ranging or captive wildlife.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department will continue to work in close coordination with other state and federal agencies to monitor for CWD.

For more information on CWD, visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Web site at www.azgfd.gov/cwd; the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance Web site at www.cwd-info.org; or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at www.cdc.gov (use the search feature for chronic wasting disease).

Arizona archer wins Olympic trials at Ben Avery Shooting Facility

Brady Ellison, 19, from Glendale, Ariz., was pure gold in all three matches before a cheering hometown crowd during the final Olympic Archery Trials at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility on May 2-4.

Brady will be headed to Beijing, China this summer to represent the United States.

The nation’s finest archers gathered at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s shooting facility to compete during this third and final round of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Archery.

Eight male and eight female archers were vying for the three remaining men’s spots and two women’s spots on the U.S. team that will compete at the Olympic Games in Beijing. For the final standings, visit the USA Archery Web site.

During the event in Phoenix, a banner across one section of the grandstands filled with partisan spectators appropriately proclaimed, “The Brady Bunch.”

 After the last shot was taken, it was all hugs and autographs for Brady as the talented young shooter was congratulated by friends, family and fans for being undefeated in all three rounds of the three-day competition.

Cecil Bleiker of USA Archery said that during the second day of competition, “Brady showed he has the heart of a champion as his last four shots were 10’s; three to tie and a final extra arrow to win by one point over Jason McKittrick (Holton, Ind.).”

As the Olympic signs proclaimed along the sidelines during the competition, “Amazing awaits.” Brady and the “Brady Bunch” now have their sights set on Olympic gold in China this summer.

This dedicated young archer has already compiled an impressive winning record. Brady has been one of the country’s top young archers in recent years. He was the 2006 national target champion and a gold medalist at the 2006 Junior Olympic Archery Development National Championships. He also competed on the U.S. team at last year’s Pan American Games.

There was also another winning Arizona connection at the archery trails. Jennifer Nichols of Cheyenne, Wyo., who trains in Tucson, placed first in the women’s competition.

There was a tense moment during the final match of the three-day competition when Jennifer was waiting for the wind to die down before taking her final shot of the day. With just three seconds left, the wind sock lowered and Jennifer raised her bow. Then with just one second left, Jenny calmly nailed the shot while the crowd (and her coach) audibly released their collective breaths.

Coming back from the target, the upbeat young archer showed her true mettle – she was undaunted by the close call and had a dance in her step while her beaming smile lit up the desert landscape.

But the archery competition wasn’t all cheers and smiles for the Arizona contingent. A young Arizona hopeful, Lindsay Pian, of Scottsdale, who attends Arizona State University, came in fourth during the competition for the two available Olympic slots.

The USA Archery event was hosted by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and Arizona State Archery Association.

Utah residents pay the price for poaching in Arizona

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission recently revoked the privileges of three Utah residents for spotlighting wildlife (black-tailed jackrabbits), littering, and hunting without a license on the Arizona Strip. 

During its April meeting, the commission revoked the individual hunting, trapping, and fishing privileges of Stephen Holt, Blake Obershaw, and Gregory Holt for five years. The three men were also civilly assessed $500 each for the loss of the wildlife they took illegally. In addition, Arizona is part of the nationwide Wildlife Violator Compact, meaning any individual that is revoked in the state also loses their hunting, trapping and fishing rights in 29 other member states.    

“The commission feels that no matter what type of wildlife is taken, the individuals committing the crime should be held responsible for the loss of a public-owned resource,” says Arizona Game and Fish Commissioner Bob Hernbrode. “You need to be familiar with our laws if you hunt in Arizona.”

The violations were discovered during a night patrol effort conducted by Game and Fish wildlife officers. The officers observed the individuals using a spotlight and shooting at wildlife. After conducting an investigation, the three men were charged with hunting black-tailed jackrabbits at night with artificial light, littering while hunting, and taking wildlife without a license. They were also found to be intoxicated and the driver was arrested for DUI. A Moccasin Justice Court judge found the violators guilty and ordered them to pay $750 in fines, and they will remain on probation until the fines are paid in full.  

“These types of activities represent a disturbing disregard for wildlife laws and for the resource, and these are criminal activities, not hunting,” says Hernbrode. “Legal and ethical hunters appreciate when the people who commit these acts are held accountable."

Civil penalties, and license revocations and suspensions are a separate process from any criminal penalties that a Justice Court may impose. They are initiated by an officer filing criminal charges against a wildlife violator through the Justice Court system. If the individual is found guilty and has been cited with a revocable offense, they must then go through the revocation process and appear before the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. The commission makes the final decision on whether someone loses their hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges and for how long. It is not intended to be punitive, but it is established to recover the loss of the value of the wildlife to the state.

“When a case like this wraps up, it makes all of our efforts worthwhile,” says Arizona Game and Fish Department Wildlife Manager Luke Thompson. “We hear about this type of activity going on and we are glad when we can catch a poacher in the act. It will hopefully send a strong message to others and prevent them from committing a wildlife crime.” 

Visit the Safe Boating Celebration at Lake Pleasant

Is your watercraft safe and ready for the water? If you hesitated while answering this question, then you won’t want to miss the 2008 Arizona Safe Boating Celebration at Lake Pleasant Regional Park on May 17 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Boating experts from the Arizona Game and Fish Department will be present and free vessel safety checks will be offered by the U.S. Power Squadron and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary at the ten- and four-lane boat ramps.

The average check takes approximately 15 minutes and can be performed while you’re preparing to launch your boat. During the check, examiners will review federal and state boating laws and recommend equipment that will help to ensure that your boat is operating safely. Experts will also be on hand to provide information on how to select the right lifejacket, the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning, and those pesky aquatic hitchhikers – quagga mussels.

Don’t have a boat? No problem. Visit the vintage life jacket display to see how life jackets have evolved over the years, or take a wakeboard or kayak out for a test drive at the ten-lane boat ramp. Prizes will be raffled off throughout the morning. The event is included in the $5 per vehicle park entry fee.

For more information on the event, visit www.azsafeboating.org. Lake Pleasant Regional Park is located at 41835 N. Castle Hot Springs Road in Morristown. From I-17, take SR-74 (Carefree Highway) west; turn right at Mile Post 19; three miles to the park entrance. For additional information on the park, visit www.maricopa.gov/parks/lake_pleasant.

Wildlife presentation series begins in Kingman

The Arizona Game and Fish Department has begun a series of summer wildlife presentations for the public at the Mohave Community College Kingman campus at 1971 Jagerson Ave.

The free presentations will be conducted the first and fourth Thursday of each month through August, except in July, when the first talk is July 10 due to the Fourth of July weekend. Game and Fish personnel will answer questions following the presentations.

The next presentation will be on “Watchable Wildlife/Photography” at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 22.

 “This is new to our community,” said Zen Mocarski, information and education program manager for the Game and Fish Department’s Region III office in Kingman. “I’m excited about kicking off the program. Mohave Community College was kind enough to provide the facility and Game and Fish will provide the entertainment.”

Future presentations, all beginning at 6:30 p.m., will be:

• June 5 – Condors
• June 26 – Mountain lions
• July 10 - Fishing Arizona
• July 24 - Owls/Raptors of Arizona
• Aug. 7 - Black-footed Ferrets in Arizona
• Aug. 28 - The Desert Tortoise.

“We continually have new people moving into the tri-city area, and this provides a means to begin learning about wildlife and the issues surrounding them,” Mocarski said. “It’s going to be informative, educational, and fun.

For more information, please contact Zen Mocarski at (928) 692-7700, Ext. 2301.

Ah, spring is here – now what?

For the 26,000 attendees of the 2008 Arizona Game and Fish Outdoor Expo wanting more outdoor activities, here are some ideas.

If the fishing tank at the Expo was your kid’s favorite, then take the next step. There are 21 city park lakes currently participating in the department's Urban Fishing Program. Waters are stocked with fish every couple of weeks, and right now we are loading them up with hard-fighting, great-tasting catfish. Fishing with a simple rod and reel and some dough bait is all it takes to hook “Mr. Whiskers”. Children 13 years and under do not require a license and can fish for free. A license for those 14 and older is only $18.50 for the year. Visit www.azgfd.gov/fish and click on the “urban fishing” link for more details about the program.

If target shooting piques your interests, a great place to start is with BB guns. BB guns are very affordable and teach the foundations of gun safety, responsibility, aiming, marksmanship, calming breathing techniques, patience, respect and self focus. This is also a great way for experienced sportsmen to introduce a neighbor to target shooting.

Need a bigger bang? Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned shooting sports enthusiast, the Ben Avery Shooting Facility has several fun programs available to suit your interest. Some of the programs offered are:

Introduction to shooting: Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association offers a one-night, basic course on firearm safety and how to shoot, including firing a .22-rimfire rifle. The free class is offered typically every Thursday evening at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility. To register, contact Richard at mersman442@yahoo.com.

Ladies shotgun 101: Ladies, sign up for our free introductory shotgun shooting program called the Desert Roses. This hands-on program is offered the first and third Thursday of every month. Participants will be taught how to shoot a shotgun and learn three clay target games – trap, skeet and sporting clays. Space is limited and registration is required. Contact Fred Jeffers at fjeffers@azgfd.gov or (623) 262-4623. Did we mention it‘s free?

Ladies handgun/rifle 101: The Annie Oakley Sure Shots was designed by women and is hosted by women. It's held on the second and fourth Thursday evening of every month. It's free and it's fun. You do not need to have a firearm to participate, nor do you need any knowledge of firearms. Join us and learn! Preregistration is required. Click here for the online application. www.annieoakleysureshots.com/registration_form2008.htm

Rimfire rifle leagues: Come and join us for some friendly competition, make new friends, and introduce someone new to match shooting. Scoped and open sights are permitted, and distances are 25, 50 and/or 100 yards. Leagues run for eight weeks and there is a nominal fee. Loaner guns are available. The next league starts June 10. To register, call (623) 582-8313.

Archery leagues: Come and join us for some friendly competition, make new friends, and introduce someone new to match archery. There are brackets for men's and women's compound unlimited, compound bowhunter and recurve/ longbow. There is also a junior class (8-17 years old). Leagues run for eight weeks and there is a nominal fee. Loaner bows are available. The next league starts June 11. Contact Mike Raum at mraum@azgfd.gov.

Sporting clays organized shoots: A shotgun shooter’s version of golf, sporting clays offers challenging clay target presentations, exercise and fresh air. From May through the end of the year, the Ben Avery Clay Target Center will be hosting one event a month. Each shoot will offer multiple classes for all skill and interest levels, are very sociable, and are very welcoming to new shooters. For a listing of events, dates and contact, visit www.azgfd.gov/ctc or call (623) 434-8119.

Are you already a shooter and want to get more hunting knowledge? Then go online and take the department's Internet hunter education class. It’s one of the best in the country, and you’ll learn about gun safety, wildlife identification, carrying capacity, survival and more. If you have a youngster between the ages of 10 and 14 who's interested in hunting big game – this course is mandatory. Right now is a great time before the next draw for the fall hunts takes place. The Web site is www.hunter-ed.com/az.

Speaking of hunting, now is a great time to take a youngster afield for some rabbit hunting. The season runs year-round and the springtime is a great time to be in the field while the weather is still beautiful. Rabbits, cottontail and jacks are abundant statewide, challenging to hunt, and make great table fare. Rabbit hunting teaches many of the same skills needed for pursuing big game, including locating game, stalking, shot placement, harvesting, field dressing and game meat preparation. All that is needed is a modest rimfire rifle (.22s and the new .17s), or for very young beginners a small-gauged shotgun is perfect. Youth 13 years and under (2 max.) accompanied by a licensed adult can hunt for free and without a hunting license. A general hunting license is required for those 14 and older. (Hunter Ed is not required for small game – but it is encouraged.)

The Ben Avery Shooting Facility is located on 1,650 acres near the northwest corner of I-17 and Carefree Highway in north Phoenix,  and 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. For more information, visit www.azgfd.gov/basf or www.azgfd.gov/ctc.

Learn about the big game draw at Tucson seminar

Has it been years since you’ve been successful in Arizona’s big game draw? Have you not been drawn and not known why? Do you think the verbiage that explains the draw is written in esoteric code?

If so, come learn all about the draw at a free seminar on May 23 from 7-9 p.m. at the Tucson Sportsman’s Warehouse, 3945 W. Costco Drive. Experts from the Arizona Game and Fish Department will explain the workings of the draw and how you can maximize your chances of getting drawn. We won’t guarantee you’ll be drawn next time around, but you’ll have a better understanding of how to navigate the process.

For more information, contact Aninna Thornburg at athornburg@azgfd.gov or (520) 388-4445.

Enter the Big Game Super Raffle and help wildlife conservation

Hunters have an opportunity to win a unique year-round big game hunt while helping wildlife conservation efforts at the same time, thanks to Arizona’s Big Game Super Raffle.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission sets aside special tags for each of the nine big game species to be used in the Super Raffle to raise money for wildlife conservation. A consortium of conservation organizations partners with the commission to raffle these special tags. The money raised goes to the benefit the big game species for which the raffle is held.

Last year’s raffle raised more than $550,000.

Raffle tickets range in price from $5 to $25, depending on the species (antelope, black bear, buffalo, Coues whitetail deer, desert bighorn sheep, elk, turkey, javelina and mule deer). The season dates for each hunt will be 365 days starting August 15, with very few limitations on hunting areas.

The Super Raffle also includes a chance at one incredible Swarovski optics package.

Purchase an “All Ten” raffle ticket package for $150 for a chance at all nine species plus the optics package. 

Visit www.arizonabiggamesuperraffle.com for more information and to download an order form. Ticket purchases can be made with check, Visa, MasterCard or American Express. Mail orders must be received at the Big Game Super Raffle mailing address (P.O. Box 61713, Phoenix, AZ 85082) by June 27, 2008. Online sales will end July 13. The public drawing will take place July 19; exact time and place to be announced. 

Sponsors of the Arizona Big Game Super Raffle are the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, Arizona Antelope Foundation, Arizona Bowhunters Association, Arizona Chapter of Safari Club International, Arizona Deer Association, Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, Arizona Elk Society, Arizona Wildlife Federation, Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, Mule Deer Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Arizona Chapters of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

Ben Avery Shooting Facility to switch to summer hours May 12

The Ben Avery Shooting Facility Main Range, archery ranges, and Clay Target Center will switch to summer hours of operation for the public beginning Monday, May 12. The new hours will be:

• Monday - CLOSED
• Tuesday - CLOSED
• Wednesday - 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Thursday - 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 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 summer hours are designed for the facility to be open during the coolest parts of the day and still give the recreational shooting community the most quality shooting times on weekends, even during the hotter days of the summer months,” says Ben Avery Range Manager Marty Hererra.

For more information on the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, visit www.azgfd.gov/basf or contact (623) 582-8313. For more information on the Ben Avery Clay Target Center, visit www.azgfd.gov/ctc or contact (623) 434-8119.

Upcoming commission meeting is in Prescott

The next Arizona Game and Fish Commission meeting will be held on Friday, May 16 at the Prescott Quality Inn & Suites, 4499 Highway 69, Prescott, AZ 86301.

The meeting begins with an executive session at 8 a.m., followed by the public meeting.

Items on the agenda include consideration of a new fee schedule for the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, a presentation on the department’s efforts to indentify crucial wildlife habitats and corridors, a Scholastic Clay Target Program update, license revocation hearings, legislative updates, and other matters.

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 “May 16, 2008 agenda”.

###

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.