Register Now for the Commission Awards Banquet

The annual Arizona Game and Fish Commission Awards Banquet will be held on Saturday, January 12, 2013, at the Carefree Resort & Conference Center, 37220 Mule Train Road, Carefree, AZ 85377.  The event will honor the recipients of the 2012 Commission Awards that were selected at the Commission’s September 7-8, 2012  meeting (see below).  The purpose of these awards are to recognize Arizonans who have contributed significantly to the conservation of the state's wildlife, its outdoor heritage, and the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

The social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner and the awards ceremony.  The cost is $55 per individual.  Click on the link below for an RSVP Registration Form.

If you would like to stay overnight at the Carefree Resort, we have a block of rooms reserved and the Carefree Resort has offered attendees the rate of $128 per night.  To reserve a room, call 480-488-5300 before December 10, 2012 and tell them you are attending the Arizona Game and Fish Department event (the block rate will be honored after Dec. 10 as long as there is room availability).

RSVP Registration Form

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission held its first annual awards banquet on January 12, 1991.  Since then, a total of 302 recipients have been recognized with Commission awards.  The awards banquet gives the Commission an opportunity to recognize individual and organizational award recipients for their contributions to Arizona’s wildlife resources.

All of the costs associated with the awards banquet must be paid for by ticket sales and sponsorship donations, including the complimentary tickets for award recipients and their spouses or immediate family members.  Award Table Sponsorships for organizations are available for $550 and include a table in the organization's name, logo advertisement in the event program, recognition in the introductory PowerPoint presentation and event press release, and four banquet tickets for the organization.  Click on the link below for additional information on sponsorship packages and the form.

Sponsorship Package Information and Form

2012 Award Recipients

Award of Excellence:  Freeport McMoRan Division of Environmental Technology

Award of Excellence:  Jeffrey Smythe

Youth Environmentalist of the Year:  Daniella LaPlante

Outdoor Writer of the Year:  David Brown

Media of the Year:  Don McDowell

Conservation Organization of the Year:  Arizona Elk Society

Conservationist of the Year:  Glen Dickens

Natural Resource Professional of the Year:  Chris Parish

Volunteer of the Year:  Tom Slaughter

Educator of the Year:  Aaron Anderson

Mentor of the Year:  Don Martin

Advocate of the Year:  Representative Amanda Reeve

License Dealer of the Year:  ALCO, Chino Valley Store

Buck Appleby Hunter Education Instructor of the Year:  Hank Schucking

Wildlife Habitat Steward of the Year:  Dan Bell