OVERVIEW:
The Arizona Game and Fish Department follows a multi-tiered process for setting hunting season structures, hunting season dates, hunt permit allocations, and other controlling elements for regulating hunting of game animals.

The Department's Game Branch is responsible for this task and their mission is to protect and manage game wildlife populations and their habitats to maintain the natural diversity of Arizona, and to provide game wildlife oriented recreation opportunities for present and future generations. This is done by using science-based methods to assure wildlife is managed within the biological limits of each species, management strategies are also developed to consider social acceptability and responsibilities.

That process includes:

While this is no simple task, a guiding principle requires continually refining the process through better science-based management and extensive public involvement.

The public process used by the Department to develop this system contributed to a “Showcase in Excellence Award in 2008” from the Arizona Quality Alliance – the organization that recognizes total quality management principles and organizational excellence.

Public involvement is critical for two reasons. In North America, wildlife is held in the public’s trust and belongs to all citizens, unlike in other countrries where access is restricted by financial or social class. Law regulates hunting and that too is a public process - both are core principles of the North American Wildlife Conservation Model, founded by hunters and conservationists more than 100 years ago.

GUIDELINES (every two years):
It all starts with Hunt Guidelines. Every two years, on odd numbered years, the department revises the guidelines for the Commission to approve. The public's input is encouraged. The Hunt Guidelines provide social and biological parameters that make up the “recipes” used by wildlife managers to formulate the annual hunt recommendations (season dates, permits allocated, etc.) in which sportsmen participate. The Commission approves the guidelines at its public meetings.

Examples of ideas from the guideline process that have been incorpated include:

• "Have the draw earlier for antelope & elk hunts."
• "Create a bonus point system for the draw."
• "Increase juniors-only hunting opportunities."

• Current Hunt Guidelines for fall 2008 through spring 2010 [PDF, 110kb]
  
  
• New! Final commission approved Hunt Guidelines for Fall 2010 through spring 2012 seasons. [PDF, 163kb]
  

Background information on the 2009 review process:

• 2009 hunt guidelines review started (4/29/09)
• Draft posted & public meetings schedule (6/3/09)
• Online survey open to rate proposals (6/17/09)
  
  
• Article - "Changing Seasons, Hunting seasons, that is," by Jim Heffelfinger & Brian Wakeling [pdf, 240kb]

RECOMMENDATIONS (annually):
With the guidelines in place, and survey data in hand, wildlife managers and game specialists propose the permit allocations on a unit-by-unit basis resulting in the proposed Hunt Recommendations. After the public comment period and once approved by the Commission, the recommendations are incorporated into the hunting regulations. This is done three times a year, starting with the main fall Arizona Hunting and Trapping regulations, followed by the Spring Turkey, Javelina, Buffalo and Bear supplement and then the Pronghorn Antelope and Elk supplement. Each of these regulations contains all the information needed for applying for a hunt permit-tag through the draw, what hunts are over-the-counter nonpermit-tags, open areas and season dates, and youth hunting opportunities.

• New! 2010 Spring Hunt Recommendations
• New! Commission Memo Spring Hunts
  
  
• New! 2009 Waterfowl and Snipe Recommendations
• New! Commission Memo Waterfowl/Snipe Hunts
  
  
• Hunting regulations and Draw information
  
  
• Article: "The Hunt 'Wreck'-ommendation Process," by Brian Wakeling [pdf, 708kb]

HUNT RECOMMENDATIONS PROCESS TIMELINE & PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
(Annually three times a year based on the 3 hunting regulation booklets - The main Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations in June; Spring turkey, javelina, buffalo and bear supplement in October; and the pronghorn antelope and elk supplement in January)

SPECIES MANAGEMENT PLANS:

• Elk Management Plan
  
  
• Pronghorn Antelope Management Plan