Category Archives: Recreation

Apply now for 2024 spring hunts

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The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is accepting applications for 2024 hunt permit-tags issued through the draw process for spring turkey, javelina, bison, and raptor capture.

To apply, visit www.azgfd.gov and click on “Apply for Big Game Draw.” The deadline for the department to receive all applications is 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023.

For an overview of the application service, including license requirements, applying for bonus points and payment information, see Page 8 of the “2024 Spring Turkey, Javelina, Bison, Bear and Raptor Capture Hunt Draw Information” booklet. The booklet is posted online at www.azgfd.com/hunting/regulations/. Printed versions soon will be available at all license dealers statewide (call in advance for availability).

In the meantime:

  • Check your AZGFD portal account. Visit www.azgfd.gov, then click on “Account Login” at the bottom of the homepage. Take this time to review personal data, including  application history and total bonus points (bonus, loyalty, hunter education). Also, be sure to verify your mailing address to ensure proper delivery of hunt permit-tags (if successful). If something seems amiss, call AZGFD at 602-942-3000 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • Open an AZGFD portal account. Visit accounts.azgfd.com/Account/Register and fill in the required information. The department encourages all customers to have an AZGFD portal account; that’s the only place where draw results will be posted. Dependent account features are available with a portal account, so everyone — including youth — can view their draw results online as soon as they are available.
  • Applicants must possess a valid Arizona hunting license (or combination hunt and fish license) to apply for a hunt permit-tag. A license must be valid on the last day of the application period (October 3). Licenses can be purchased online, or at any AZGFD office statewide. AZGFD provides a list of license dealers statewide that offer online licenses for purchase. When purchasing an Arizona hunting (or combination hunt and fish) license online, the license number will appear at the bottom of the customer’s receipt. Don’t throw it away! That license number will be required as part of the draw application process.
  • Know your Customer ID. This is a must to submit an application. There are four ways to locate a Customer ID: 1) Log into your AZGFD portal account, and click on “View Details” under “My AZGFD Dashboard; 2) Check your hunting or combination hunt and fish license, if it was purchased online; 3) A Customer ID number can be retrieved by visiting customerlookup.azgfd.com/. If the account is located, AZGFD will send the Customer ID number to that email address; 4) Call AZGFD at 602-942-3000 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • Download “Arizona E-Tag.” Download this mobile app from either the Apple or Google Play stores, and opt-in to receive an electronic hunt permit-tag in your AZGFD portal account (this is not an option selected through the draw). Be sure to update to the most recent version of the app, which is compatible with both Apple and android products. The Arizona E-Tag app provides real-time delivery of licenses and big game tags purchased or drawn after the app has been downloaded. The app also provides the ability to electronically tag a harvested animal and complete the hunter questionnaire. For more information, visit www.azgfd.gov/etag.
  • Plan to purchase a PointGuard product. Choosing PointGuard Plus, or the standard PointGuard, ensures that applicants can surrender their hunt permit-tag for any reason, and the accumulated bonus points that were expended to draw that hunt permit-tag will be reinstated. A portal account is no longer required to purchase a PointGuard product.
  • Sign up to receive a hunter questionnaire via text message. As part of the application process, a customer can now enter his or her phone number (ghost number format) to receive a hunter questionnaire via text message on their mobile device.
  • When’s the draw? AZGFD will post an announcement on its website and social media channels when the 2024 spring draw opens. The deadline for the department to receive all applications is 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

Dove season outlook: Birds should be plentiful

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When it comes to dove hunting in Arizona, one thing is pretty much indisputable: There’s never a bad season opener.

All signs indicate that there will be birds aplenty when the 2023 season gets underway next Friday, Sept. 1. This is especially true for hunters who are willing to scout in the mornings and evenings between now and the opener to locate some good hunting spots.

Once again, the greatest number of doves — and dove hunters — will be concentrated in the state’s agricultural areas, particularly those that produce small-grain crops like wheat, barley, oats and sorghum. That includes locations like Yuma, one of the premier destinations in the U.S., as well as Buckeye, Eloy, Florence, Gila Bend, Toltec and others. Note: All National Park Service parks and monuments are closed to hunting unless specifically opened in Commission Order.

The 15-day “early” season gets underway 30 minutes before legal sunrise Sept. 1. The daily bag limit is 15 mourning and white-winged doves, of which no more than 10 may be white-winged. The possession limit is 45 mourning and white-winged in the aggregate after opening day, of which no more than 15 may be taken in any one day. Of the 45-dove possession limit, only 30 may be white-winged, of which no more than 10 may be taken in any one day. There is no daily bag limit or possession limit on the invasive Eurasian collared-dove. A fully feathered wing must be left attached to each dove for identification purposes until a hunter reaches his or her permanent residence or where the game meat will be consumed.

All hunters 18 and older must possess a valid Arizona hunting license, as well as a migratory bird stamp — both of which can be purchased online at www.azgfd.com/license/. A youth combination hunt/fish license (for youth hunters 10 to 17) is only $5 and includes a migratory bird stamp.

All dove hunters should review the “2023-2024 Arizona Dove and Band-tailed Pigeon Regulations,” which are posted at https://www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Regulations/. The regulations have been produced in a format that hunters will find particularly handy in the field. The color brochure is easy to read and features important hunting information, such as season dates, daily bag and possession limits, and legal requirements, at a glance.

Dove hunters play an important role in conservation. Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR) funds consist of excise taxes collected on the sale of hunting and fishing equipment (including 11 percent on ammunition), the benefit of which comes right back to Arizona for habitat improvements, shooting ranges, boating access and more.

If you’re a dove hunter who’s counting the days (9) until the Sept. 1 opener, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is rolling out a different video each week that’s sure to whet your wing-shooting appetite.

Just keep checking your email each week, and enjoy what our talented folks in the audio-visual department have produced about hunting doves, Arizona-style.

This week: Yuma Desert Doves Women Hunt

And, for those who might have missed it . . .

Aug. 17: Healey Family Opening Day Dove Hunt

Aug. 10: Yuma: A Dove Hunter’s Paradise

August 20 is deadline to apply for Local Sportsmen’s Group grants

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The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is accepting applications for $75,000 in annual grant funding for local sportsmen’s organizations to provide public, mentored projects that are focused on the progressive development of new hunters and anglers.

The Local Sportsmen’s Group grant program places a high priority on projects that involve the pursuit or harvest of fish or wildlife with a valid license (and any necessary hunt permit-tag) and are geared toward participants who have the appropriate experience and skill levels relevant to a particular project.

Grants will be awarded through a competitive online application process. Information, instructions, and a link to the online application are available at www.azgfd.gov/LSG. Applications must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) Sunday, August 20.

“This grant program continues to provide much-needed funding for Arizona’s conservation organizations, which are the backbone of wildlife conservation and the teachers of the next generation of hunters and anglers,” said Doug Burt, AZGFD’s recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3) manager. “We appreciate these valued organizations for their hosting of hands-on, mentored events and projects for folks who want to learn, but maybe don’t know where to get started.”

There is no cost to Arizona taxpayers for this grant program. Game and Fish does not receive any of the state’s general tax funds and operates under a user-pay, public-benefit model. The grant program is an investment in the continuance of wildlife conservation efforts and outdoor recreation participation in Arizona.

Cathedral Rock Trailhead closed Wednesday

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SEDONA – The Cathedral Rock Trailhead on the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest will be closed to the public on Wednesday (July 19) due to the City of Sedona conducting work along Back O’ Beyond Road and the necessity to close the road which accesses the trailhead.The trail itself is open for hiking, but the public will need to access Cathedral Rock Trail through alternate trailheads, such as Baldwin Trail Trailhead or Little Horse Trailhead. The city’s work consists of installing a new concrete box culvert system at the low-water crossing along Back O’ Beyond Road.

AZGFD to step up patrols for impaired boaters over holiday weekend

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To keep the public safe from watercraft-related accidents this upcoming Fourth of July weekend, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) and partner agencies will increase patrols on Arizona’s waterways from July 1-3 during Operation Dry Water.

This nationwide campaign focuses on decreasing the number of alcohol and drug-related incidents and fatalities and educating recreational boaters about the dangers of boating under the influence.

Law enforcement officers will remove dangerous and impaired operators from Arizona’s waterways during the holiday weekend. Officers may also give warnings or issue citations, including but not limited to safety equipment and life jacket violations.

“Boating or driving a car under the influence of alcohol or drugs are equally dangerous,” said Danny Rodriguez, AZGFD’s watercraft law administrator. “Our top priority is to create a safe environment for everyone enjoying Arizona’s waterways.”

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the Fourth of July and Memorial Day holiday weekends account for more than one-third of all boating-related accidents and fatalities in the nation. One person died and six others were injured in watercraft-related accidents during the Fourth of July weekend last year in Arizona.

2023 fall hunt applications due by 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) tonight

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The deadline to apply for 2023 fall hunt permit-tags is only hours away.

Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) tonight, Tuesday, June 6. To apply, visit www.azgfd.gov and click on “Apply for Big Game Draw.”

The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is available to assist applicants. Customer service representatives can be reached from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today by calling 602-942-3000. In addition, customer service representatives will be available to provide after-hours assistance — by telephone only at 602-942-3000 (do not call regional offices) — from 5 to 11:59 p.m. tonight (Tuesday).

To expedite the process, applicants are encouraged to be prepared with the following before calling AZGFD:

  • An applicant’s hunting or combination hunt and fish license must be valid through June 6. All applicants, including youth (ages 10-17), who are applying for a hunt permit-tag or bonus point only, must possess a license that is valid on the last day of the application period. Licenses can be purchased online at www.azgfd.gov/license/.
  • Know your Customer ID. This is a must to submit an application. There are four ways to locate a Customer ID: 1) Log into your AZGFD portal account, and click on “View Details” under “My AZGFD Dashboard; 2) Check your hunting or combination hunt and fish license, if it was purchased online; 3) A Customer ID number can be retrieved by visiting customerlookup.azgfd.com/. If the account is located, AZGFD will send the Customer ID number to that email address; 4) Call AZGFD at 602-942-3000 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • Know where you want to hunt. It’s important to have your four-digit hunt number(s) pre-determined (not game management units).

All applicants are encouraged to purchase a PointGuard product. Choosing PointGuard Plus, or the standard PointGuard, ensures that applicants can surrender their hunt permit-tag for any reason, and the accumulated bonus points that were expended to draw that hunt permit-tag will be reinstated (if eligible). A portal account is no longer required to purchase a PointGuard product. More information: www.azgfd.gov/pointguard.

AZGFD also recommends downloading Arizona E-Tag. Hunters can download this mobile app from either the Apple or Google Play stores, and opt-in to receive an electronic tag in their AZGFD portal account (this is not an option selected through the draw). The Arizona E-Tag app provides real-time delivery of licenses and big game tags purchased or drawn after the app has been downloaded. The app also provides the ability to electronically tag a harvested animal and complete the hunter questionnaire. More information: www.azgfd.gov/etag.

In addition, as part of the application process, a customer can now enter his or her phone number (ghost number format) to receive a hunter questionnaire via text message on their mobile device.

For an overview of the application service, including license requirements, applying for bonus points and payment information, see Page 26 of the “2023-2024 Arizona Hunting Regulations” booklet. The booklet can be viewed at www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Regulations/. Printed booklets also are available at license dealers statewide (call in advance for availability).

For more information, check out “What You Need to Know,” a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs), at www.azgfd.gov/draw.

Fossil Creek Road closure extended until late June

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SEDONA — The closure of Fossil Creek Road, also known as Forest Road (FR) 708, has been extended until June 26 to complete roadwork necessary for safe public access.

Fossil Creek Road has been closed since late February for a resurfacing project.

FR 708 will reopen 8 a.m. June 26, at which point, access to Fossil Creek (permitted), FR 502 and the Childs Dispersed Camping Area will be allowed.

Permits are required to visit Fossil Creek. Permits for June 26-30 and July will be available on recreation.gov beginning June 1.

Following July, the standard process for reserving Fossil Creek permits will resume.

While construction on FR 708 has improved road conditions, motorists should still exercise caution. Watch for oncoming traffic and maintain safe speeds, especially around curves and areas with steep drop-offs.

Coconino National Forest motorists are reminded to always check the status of roads online at coconinonationalforest.us prior to any excursion. Roads may close at any time due to weather, hazards or other unforeseen events.

Recreate safely and responsibly this Memorial Day weekend

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WILLIAMS — Kaibab National Forest managers anticipate a busy Memorial Day weekend and offer forest users the following reminders to help make the visit as safe and enjoyable as possible.

· Monitor the weather with the National Weather Service Flagstaff, find forest information and conditions on the Kaibab NF website or by contacting your local ranger station, and always be prepared for sudden changes.
· When recreating near rivers, creeks, streams, or in canyons, be aware of high ground and escape routes in case of flash flooding.
· Always look up, look down, look all around for potential hazards such as falling branches, trees, or rocks.
· Bring extra water, food, and clothing layers. Let someone know where you’ll be, and when you plan to return.
· Remember that you’re not the only person using the forest; be respectful of other forest users – drivers, pedestrians, equestrians, and bicyclists.
· Drive with caution as some roads still have hazards such as fallen trees, snow and deep mud.
· Vehicles must stay on designated roads. A free Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) is available at our offices and GPS-enabled versions can be downloaded from our website. These show you the roads you’re allowed to travel and indicate the areas where you may pull further off the road for dispersed camping. The MVUM is the only official reference – don’t rely on map apps and don’t expect blockades or signage on every “off-limits” route.
· Along those lines, please don’t use our signs as your practice target, canvas, or home decor.
· Don’t mess with history. Our forest is rich with artifacts that tell the stories of the people who inhabited this land long before us. You might be lucky enough to come across evidence of more recent settlements like old containers and remnants of railroads and homes, or something from the earliest civilizations like rock art, pottery, and sharps. If you do, “oooh’s” and “ahhh’s” are OK; painting, breaking, and taking are not. In fact, it’s all illegal.
· Always be smart with fire. Even though there are currently no fire restrictions in effect, exercise caution with campfires. Keep them as small as practical. Avoid fires during high winds. And never leave them unattended. Stir your campfire with dirt and water until it’s dead out. You’ll know it’s fully extinguished when it’s cold to the touch. If there’s still smoke, there’s still heat.
· Pack it in, pack it out. Responsible recreation includes packing out all your trash and everything you brought with you. Practice the Leave No Trace principals and leave the forest healthy and beautiful.

Bottom line: Plan ahead, make safety your priority, and respect the natural resources and fellow forest visitors.

Rabies incident a reminder to enjoy wildlife from a distance, keep pets vaccinated

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds the public to protect themselves and their pets by keeping a safe distance from wildlife, especially animals that may be behaving abnormally, such as those that appear overly aggressive and/or lacking a fear of humans.

The reminder comes after a recent incident in which a dog infected with the grey fox strain of rabies bit a child in the town of Whiteriver on the Fort Apache Reservation in eastern Arizona.

Healthy Gray Fox — AZGF photo


“The weather is warming up and people are outside,” said Dr. Anne Justice-Allen, AZGFD wildlife veterinarian. “At this time of year, we often see an uptick in the number of wildlife submitted for rabies testing as a result of contact with people or their pets.”

Rabies is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The rabies virus attacks the central nervous system, causing encephalitis (swelling of the brain) and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. It can be prevented in persons who have come into contact or have been bitten by wild animals through prompt administration of anti-rabies vaccine and rabies immune globulin.

Pets such as dogs and cats, as well as livestock such as horses, should be vaccinated regularly against rabies. In addition, dogs should be on leashes when outdoors and a veterinarian consulted if any domestic animals are injured by wildlife. Unvaccinated animals exposed to wildlife with rabies must undergo a four-month quarantine and vaccinated animals need to be quarantined for 45 days.

“In Arizona, the principal rabies hosts are bats, skunks and foxes,” Justice-Allen said. “These animals carry their own distinct strains of the rabies virus. When rabies activity within these animal groups increases, rabies can impact other mammals, such as bobcats, coyotes, javelina, cats, dogs, horses or cows.”

Often, infected animals may appear disoriented or intoxicated, salivate heavily, or appear thirsty.

The Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) offers some precautions to avoid exposure to rabies:

  • Keep people and pets away from wild animals.
    Do not pick up, touch, or feed wild or unfamiliar animals, especially sick or wounded ones.
  • Do not “rescue” young wild animals you believe to be abandoned. In most cases they are not abandoned. Leave wildlife alone.
  • Never leave pet food in your yard because it will attract wild animals.
  • Vaccinate all dogs and cats against rabies.
  • Keep pets on a leash or in a fenced yard.
  • If you have been bitten or scratched, wash the wound or area well with soap and water, and report it immediately to animal control or health officials.
  • Take precautions when camping, hunting or fishing. Avoid sleeping on the open ground without the protection of a closed tent or camper.
  • Wear impermeable gloves when skinning carcasses.
  • Do not disturb roosting bats.
  • If you find a bat on the ground, don’t touch it. Place a box over the bat to contain it. Try to preserve the bat so it is intact for testing at a laboratory. Report the bat and its location to animal control or health officials.

According to the AZDHS website, approximately 30 people are exposed to rabid animals in Arizona annually. People who are exposed must receive vaccine and anti-rabies serum treatment to prevent infection.

Deadline to apply for 2023 fall hunts is June 6

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There’s not a better time than right now to apply for 2023 hunt permit-tags issued through the fall draw process for deer, turkey, javelina, bighorn sheep, bison, and sandhill crane.

To apply, visit www.azgfd.gov and click on “Apply for Big Game Draw.” For an overview of the application service, including license requirements, applying for bonus points and payment information, see Page 26 of the “2023-2024 Arizona Hunting Regulations” booklet. The booklet can be viewed at www.azgfd.com/Hunting/Regulations/.

The deadline for the department to receive all applications is 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time) Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

As a reminder, applicants must possess a valid Arizona hunting license (or combination hunt and fish license) to apply online for a hunt permit-tag. That license must be valid on the last day of the online application period (June 6). Licenses are available online and at license dealers statewide. When purchasing an Arizona hunting (or combination hunt and fish) license online, the license number will appear at the bottom of the customer’s receipt. Don’t throw it away! That license number will be required as part of the draw application process.

In the meantime:

  • Know your Customer ID. This is a must to submit an application. There are four ways to locate a Customer ID: 1) Log into your AZGFD portal account, and click on “View Details” under “My AZGFD Dashboard; 2) Check your hunting license, or combination hunt and fish license, if it was purchased online; 3) A Customer ID number can be retrieved by visiting customerlookup.azgfd.com/. If the account is located, AZGFD will send the Customer ID number to that email address; 4) Call AZGFD at 602-942-3000 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • Download “Arizona E-Tag.” Download this mobile app from either the Apple or Google Play stores, and opt in to receive an electronic permit-tag in your AZGFD portal account (this is not an option selected through the draw). Be sure to update to the most recent version of the app, which is compatible with both Apple and android products. The Arizona E-Tag app provides real-time delivery of licenses and big game tags purchased or drawn after the app has been downloaded. The app also provides the ability to electronically tag a harvested animal and complete the hunter questionnaire. For more information, visit www.azgfd.gov/etag.
  • Open an AZGFD portal account. Just visit accounts.azgfd.com/Account/Register and fill in the required information. AZGFD encourages all customers to have an AZGFD portal account; that’s the only place where draw results will be posted. Family account features are available with a portal account, so everyone — including youth — can view their draw results online as soon as they are available.
  • Check your AZGFD portal account. Click on “Account Login” at the bottom of the homepage to review personal data, including application history and total bonus points (bonus, loyalty, hunter education). If something seems amiss, call AZGFD at 602-942-3000 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • Plan to purchase a PointGuard product. Choosing PointGuard Plus, or the standard PointGuard, ensures that applicants can surrender their hunt permit-tag for any reason, and the accumulated bonus points that were expended to draw that hunt permit-tag will be reinstated. A portal account is no longer required to purchase a PointGuard product.
  • Sign up to receive a hunter questionnaire via text message. As part of the application process, a customer can now enter his or her phone number (ghost number format) to receive a hunter questionnaire via text message on their mobile device.

For more information, check out “What You Need to Know,” a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs), at www.azgfd.gov/draw.