Hunt Guidelines & Hunt Recommendations

Arizona Game and FIsh Department - Managing Today for Wildlife Tomorrow: azgfd.gov

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Hunt Guidelines and Hunt Recommendations Process

Arizona Hunt Guidelines Review

Draft hunt guidelines will be posted here on May 24, 2013.

The hunt guidelines provide the biological and social parameters used by wildlife managers to formulate the annual hunt recommendations (season structures, season lengths, season dates, permits allocated, etc.) and results in the hunts in which sportsmen, women, and children participate. While hunting opportunity is important, wildlife is held in the public trust, and using science-based principles in shaping the guideline process remains paramount to assure healthy, sustainable, and diverse wildlife populations in perpetuity.

Based on public input received this year, the Arizona Game and Fish Department is developing a first draft revision of the hunt guidelines and wants to hear more from you on how this revision may be improved. Draft hunt guidelines will be made available on May 24, 2013 on the Department’s website (http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/hunt_guidelines.shtml).

Comments on the draft hunt guidelines may be submitted through June 12, 2013 electronically to azgamebranch@azgfd.gov, or by mail to Hunt Guidelines, Arizona Game and Fish Department, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086.

“We are seeking your ideas, concerns, or observations on how to meet the many demands of our varied hunting public, as well as fostering new opportunities for continuing our hunting heritage for future generations. With comments running from one end of the spectrum to the other, the Department attempts to balance the hunting opportunity and experience while maintaining healthy and sustainable game populations,” said Big Game Management Supervisor, Amber Munig. “This is your opportunity to get involved in this bi-annual process”.

The department will host 9 public meetings across the state to present the draft hunt guidelines, answer questions, and to collect further public input. The draft hunt guidelines, public meeting input, and all public comments will be shared with the Commission at the June 14-15, 2013 Commission meeting. Final proposed hunt guidelines will then be prepared and posted on the department’s website prior to being presented to the Game and Fish Commission at its September 6-7 meeting in Pinetop.

The public meetings run from 6-8 p.m. per the following schedule:

May 28, Sierra Vista, Sierra Vista Police Department, 911 N Coronado Drive
May 29, Tucson, International Wildlife Museum, 4800 W Gates Pass Road
May 30, Mesa regional office, 7200 E. University Drive
May 31, Payson, Payson Public Library, 328 N. McLane Road
June 3, Yuma regional office, 9140 E. 28th Street
June 4, Prescott, Yavapai County Administrative Building, 1015 Fair Street
June 5, Flagstaff regional office, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road
June 6, Pinetop regional office, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.
June 7, Kingman regional office, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road

For a copy of the current hunt guidelines, details about the guideline review process, see below.

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:

Hunt Guidelines - which are set every two years;
Survey & field data - hunter harvest reporting & game surveys (collected annually);
Hunt Recommendations - which happens three times annually;
Commission Orders - approved by the Commission and published in the hunting regulations.

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.

Evolution of Hunting Laws, Enforcement and the Commision System

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.

Hunting regulations and Draw information
Article: "The Hunt 'Wreck'-ommendation Process" by Brian Wakeling [pdf]

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)

FALL HUNTING REGULATION RECOMMENDATIONS (Set at the April Commission meeting) Deer, fall turkey, fall javelina, bighorn sheep, fall buffalo, fall bear, mountain lion

February -	Department regional staff begins formulating recommendations based on game surveys, hunter questionnaire data and the hunt guideline package.
March -	Regionally hosted public meetings to solicit public comment, announced by news release, website and other department communications.
Late March -	Release final draft recommendations to the public and Commission for review.
Early April -	Regionally hosted public open houses for public review and hear reasoning for recommendations (not designed as public input mechanism)
Mid-April -	Final recommendations presented to the Commission for approval - public input is permitted via blue slip.
Late April -	Final Commission approved Recommendations are incorporated into the Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations and posted on the Department's website.
Mid-May -	Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations available at Department offices and license dealers statewide.
June -	Application deadline is anticipated second Tuesday of June.

SPRING HUNTING REGULATION RECOMMENDATIONS (Set at the August Commission meeting) Spring turkey, spring javelina, spring buffalo and spring bear

June -	Department regional staff begins formulating recommendations based on game surveys, hunter questionnaire data and the hunt guideline package.
Late July -	Release final draft recommendations to the public and Commission for review.
Late July/Early August -	*Regionally hosted public open houses for public review and hear reasoning for recommendations (not designed as public input mechanism).
Early August -	Final recommendations presented to the Commission for approval - public input is permitted via blue slip.
Late August -	Final Commission approved Recommendations are incorporated into the spring regulation supplement and posted on the Department's website.
Mid-September	Spring regulation hunt draw information booklet available at Department offices and license dealers statewide.
October -	Application deadline is anticipated second Tuesday of October.
	*Note - To date public meetings have not been offered for the spring recommendations.

PRONGHORN ANTELOPE & ELK HUNTING REGULATION RECOMMENDATIONS (Set at the December Commission meeting) Pronghorn antelope & Elk Hunts

September -	Department regional staff begins formulating recommendations based on game surveys, hunter questionnaire data and the hunt guideline package.
October -	Regionally hosted public meetings to solicit public comment, announced by news release, website and other department communications.
November -	Release final draft recommendations to the public and Commission for review.
December -	Regionally hosted public open houses for public review and hear reasoning for recommendations (not designed as public input mechanism)
Early Dec. -	Final recommendations presented to the Commission for approval - public input is permitted via blue slip.
Late December -	Final Commission approved Hunt Orders posted on the Department's website.
Mid-January -	Pronghorn and Elk regulation hunt draw information booklet available at Department offices and license dealers statewide.
February -	Application deadline is anticipated second Tuesday of February.

Guidelines (every two years)

It all starts with the 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 the biological and social 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."

Hunt Guidelines for fall 2012 through spring 2014 seasons, revised Dec. 3, 2011

Other information

Article - "Changing Seasons, Hunting seasons, that is," by Jim Heffelfinger & Brian Wakeling

GUIDELINES PROCESS TIMELINE & PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT (every two years - during odd numbered years, 2009, 2011, 2013..)

Anytime -	Collect and compile comments from the public for the next guideline review.
April -	Formally solicit public input via news releases, website and publications.
May -	Formally solicit public input via news releases, website and publications.
June -	Present draft guidelines at public meetings statewide.
July -	Compile public input from meetings and finalize guidelines for executive staff review.
August -	Release final draft guidelines to the public and Commission for review.
September -	Final draft presented to the Commission for adoption of guidelines at it's public meeting - public input is permitted via blue slip.
October -	Final Commission approved Hunt Guidelines posted on the Department's website.