Category Archives: Recreation

Only 73 permit-tags remain for 2016 elk hunts

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PHOENIX — Arizona hunters still have an opportunity to receive a hunt permit-tag for select 2016 elk hunts.

After this week’s release of the official draw results, there were 73 leftover hunt permit-tags that will be available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis as follows:

  • By mail: Paper applications will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, April 25, and must be addressed to: Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn.: Draw/First Come, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ  85086. Applications postmarked prior to April 25 will not be accepted. Note: There is no “mini” draw. Allow 10 to 15 business days to receive a hunt permit-tag by mail.
  • In person: If any leftover hunt permit-tags remain, they will be available for purchase beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, May 2 at any of the seven department offices statewide.

For a complete list of leftover hunt permit-tags, visit https://portal.azgfd.stagingaz.gov/PortalImages/files/hunting/draw/leftoverTags/leftovers-fall.pdf.

Many of the leftover elk tags are for Hopi hunt open areas and are available to everyone, both tribal members and non-tribal members, through the first-come, first-served process.

A number of leftover elk tags remain for military hunts at Camp Navajo, for those who qualify. For more information, visit https://dema.az.gov/army-national-guard/camp-navajo/garrison-operations/camp-navajo-hunting-information, e-mail sarah.b.golabiewski.mil@mail.mil, or call 928-773-3225.

For more information, including license and hunt permit-tag requirements, view the “2016 Pronghorn Antelope and Elk Hunt Draw Information” booklet online, or call (602) 942-3000.  

Available now: 2016 elk, pronghorn hunt draw results

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Pronghorn_-_Buck_1_1PHOENIX – The Arizona Game and Fish Department has completed its 2016 hunt draw for elk and pronghorn.

The results are available by visiting https://draw.azgfd.gov/ and scrolling down to “View results and bonus points,” or by calling the department at (602) 942-3000 and pressing “2.”

By the numbers:

26,483: The total number of permit-tags issued.
159,978: The total number of those who applied for hunts or bonus points.
119,743: The total number of applications submitted (paper application and online).

Permit-tags for successful applicants, along with refunds for those who were unsuccessful in the hunt draw, are expected to be mailed by Friday, April 22.

In the meantime, there are 73 leftover elk permit-tags that will be available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis as follows:

1. By mail: Applications will be accepted by mail beginning at 8 a.m. April 25 and must be addressed to: Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn: Draw/First Come, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086. Do not mail applications to a Post Office (P.O.) box.
2. In person: If any leftover permit-tags remain, they also will be available for purchase beginning at 8 a.m. May 2 at any of the seven department offices statewide.

View list of leftover tags (PDF).

Some of the leftover elk tags are for Hopi hunt open areas and are available to everyone, both tribal members and non-tribal members, through the first-come, first-served process.

A number of leftover elk tags remain for military hunts at Camp Navajo, for those who qualify. For more information, visit https://dema.az.gov/army-national-guard/camp-navajo/garrison-operations/camp-navajo-hunting-information, e-mail sarah.b.golabiewski.mil@mail.mil, or call 928-773-3225.

Now that the draw is over, it’s time to start planning that hunt. The first step is to open an AZGFD Customer Portal account. It’s quick, easy and – best of all – it’s free. Just visit www.azgfd.gov, click on the “Sign in to Account” button in the upper right-hand corner of the home page, then select the “Create an Account” option, filling in the requested information.

As a reminder, all fields requesting information must be completed. For example, both Social Security and Department ID fields must be completed. If your Social Security number is also your Department ID number, your Social Security number must appear in both fields.

The Portal allows customers to create a secure account where they can manage and view their contact information, as well as their license and draw results history and bonus points, in their personal “My AZ Outdoors” section. A Portal account is a mobile-friendly, convenient way to access the online license purchase and hunt draw application systems.

Another benefit of having a Portal account is the opportunity to sign up for the “I Support Wildlife” program, which helps fund wildlife conservation in Arizona. An annual membership for $25 includes access to the new “premium” version of the Recreational Access Arizona (RAA) mapping application, the latest fish stocking reports, an “I Support Wildlife” window decal and a one-year subscription to the award-winning Arizona Wildlife Views magazine.

The premium RAA mapping application is a significant upgrade over the free version and is a tremendous tool when planning your hunt. It is designed to work on all mobile devices and lets you see your current location in reference to different data layers, including Game Management Units, wildlife waters, Arizona land ownership, an ESRI USA Topographic (USGS 24k Topo) basemap and more. Even better, the premium mapping application allows you to create your own point locations and automatically save and sync that data to all of your devices.

“I Support Wildlife” bridges the widening gap between wildlife facing new threats and a sharp increase in the cost of conservation. The department receives no Arizona tax dollars to support its mission to conserve and protect more than 800 wildlife species, the most of any non-coastal state in the U.S.

For more information, call the department at (602) 942-3000.

Boaters, watercraft users urged to ‘Spring Aboard’ with boating safety course

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department, in partnership with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), is encouraging the state’s boating and watercraft users to Spring Aboard and prepare for the boating season by enrolling in a safety education course.

Spring Aboard is a national campaign from April 17 to 23 that encourages boaters to protect themselves and their passengers by taking a safety course before stepping onto a boat or other watercraft.

“Boating is a great family friendly activity, but only if it’s done safely and responsibly,” said Josh Hoffman, AZGFD Boating Safety Education coordinator. “In 2014, 77 percent of boating deaths occurred on boats where the operator had never taken a safety course. That statistic from the U.S. Coast Guard is telling and illustrates the need for every boat or watercraft operator to successfully complete a safety course.”

Developed by NASBLA, and produced under a grant administered by the U.S. Coast Guard, the annual Spring Aboard campaign is open to participation by all states, territories, boating education organizations, instructors and course providers.

“We know from many years of experience that an educated boater is safer and boating is a lot more fun if you aren’t confused or worried the whole trip,” said NASBLA President Col. Darren Rider. “Boating isn’t like driving a car and many boaters – both new and experienced – are uncertain about how to boat safely. The Spring Aboard campaign is our big, unified effort to get all boaters educated now, prior to or during spring break.”

Most states require proof of completion of a boating education course for operators of some powered vessels. During the Spring Aboard campaign, many course providers will offer incentives or course discounts for students who enroll in or complete a course.

“With today’s wide variety of courses available, there’s a course for everyone’s schedule,” Col. Rider said. “Boaters have many ways to get educated, from classroom courses offered by the Coast Guard Auxiliary and United States Power Squadrons to online offerings available anytime day or night. There’s no reason to head out on the water without knowing what you’re doing.”

AZGFD offers free courses in Phoenix, Lake Havasu City and Tucson every month to provide water users the information and tips needed to stay safe while on the water. Each year many deaths and injuries on Arizona’s waterways are the result of people who don’t know how to operate a watercraft properly or how to act to avoid placing themselves in danger.

For more information on boating safety or to register for a hands-on or online safety course, visit www.azgfd.gov/boating and click “Boating Safety Education.” Below is a list of hands-on boating safety courses scheduled for April:

Arizona Boater Education Course

  • 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. April 16, Apex Arms Facility, Green Building in Lake Havasu City
  • 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. April 16, Arizona Game and Fish Headquarters in Phoenix

Arizona Paddlesports Education Course

  • 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. April 23 and May 21, AZGFD Region 5 offices in Tucson
  • 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. May 14, Biscuit Tank at Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

  • 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. April 16, Bass Pro Shop in Mesa. Course costs $30.

Department’s courses include instruction on the basic skills needed to safely operate a boat or personal watercraft, trailering your vessel, navigational rules, buoys, anchoring, legal requirements, boating emergencies, watersports and paddling. In addition, most insurance companies offer a discount on boat or watercraft insurance rates for completing a course.

The department also reminds watercraft users that all boats, including paddleboards, must have a wearable life jacket for every passenger onboard and those 12 years old and younger must wear a life jacket at all times, under state law. Users should also check to make sure a life jacket fits properly by ensuring there is no excess room above the openings of the jacket and that it does not ride up over the chin or face.

For more information on boating in Arizona or to sign up for a safety course, visit www.azgfd.gov/boating. To learn more about Spring Aboard, visit www.nasbla.org/spring.

AZGFD to display world-record desert bighorn sheep

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PHOENIX — The most magnificent desert bighorn sheep in the world now stands regal among the wildlife mounts on display at Arizona Game and Fish Department headquarters in Phoenix.

On loan from the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, the massive ram joins the bull elk, pronghorn, black bear, mountain lion and more, including small game and several sportfish, in the customer service area for all to see.

Scrivens_Ram“This is the ideal place for this ram,” said Pete Cimellaro, whose organization delivered and assembled the mount in advance of this weekend’s meeting of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. “It’s home. It’s just the epitome of what a desert bighorn sheep looks like – and a really, really big one.”

The backstory behind the “Scrivens” ram is almost as extraordinary as his immense horns that scored at 205-1/8 points when they were first measured unofficially in 1946 by the Boone and Crockett Club – a world record that hasn’t been challenged for 70 years.

While on a hunting trip in 1942 on a remote ranch on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, Carl Scrivens and his brothers were taking a stroll around the ranch when they spotted the skull and horns in the back of a dilapidated wagon. According to vaqueros at the ranch, the ram had been killed a year or so earlier by a Native American who was hunting for meat and left the head.

Scrivens_Ram_-_1The brothers, knowledgeable about the size of desert bighorn rams, were not about to leave without the head and acquired it for a mere eight pesos — and a wool sweater Scrivens was wearing at the time that caught the eye of a vaquero.

“That goes down with things like the Louisiana Purchase,” Cimellaro said, laughing.

The ram was bequeathed in 1992 to ADBSS, of which Scrivens had been a lifelong member. In fact, he and his wife, Anna, often would come from their home in Afton, Wyo., to help with water catchment projects.

“They loved the desert,” Cimellaro said. “They shared many campfires with members of the sheep society. That affinity is what gave Carl the idea to allow us to be custodians of the ram. He said, ‘This is the perfect place because the sheep society is always going to care about sheep.’ ”

After obtaining a suitable cape for the ram from Game and Fish, the restored mount was put on display in 1992 at the Boone and Crockett Club’s National Collection of Heads and Horns at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyo. In recent years, the mount had found its way to the headquarters of Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Mo. It was Cimellaro who recently made the trip back to Missouri, crated the world-record ram and brought it back to Arizona.

Cimellaro still marvels at the size of its thick, heavy horns.

“Nothing really has approached it,” Cimellaro said. “That might change someday, who knows? At this time, it’s one of the longest-standing records out there.”

Game and Fish headquarters is located at 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, 85086. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, except for holidays. For more information, visit www.azgfd.gov, or call (602) 942-3000.

Game and Fish Commission meeting set for April 8-9 in Phoenix

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PHOENIX — The next meeting of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission will be Friday and Saturday, April 8-9, at the Arizona Game and Fish Department, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, in Phoenix. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m.

The public is invited to attend the meeting, view it live on streaming video at any department regional office (Friday only), or view it on a webcast at www.azgfd.gov/commissioncam. Those who wish to speak to the commission may submit “speaker cards” (blue cards) in person at the meeting, or from any Game and Fish regional office. The ability to speak to the commission is not available for those viewing the webcast online.

Items on the agenda include:

  • A briefing on the status of state and federal legislation related to the department’s mission.
  • An informational update on the Research Branch’s projects and activities.
  • An update on the Terrestrial Wildlife Amphibians and Reptiles Program conservation and recovery efforts and capacity-building projects.
  • Hearings on license revocations for violations of Game and Fish codes, and civil assessments for the illegal taking and/or possession of wildlife (time certain at 2 p.m. Friday).
  • A request to consider proposed commission orders to establish seasons and season dates, bag and possession limits, and open-closed areas for the 2016-2017 seasons for dove, band-tailed pigeon, waterfowl, snipe and sandhill crane (Saturday).
  • Consideration of proposed commission orders to establish seasons and season dates, bag and possession limits, and open-closed areas for the 2016-2017 seasons for deer, turkey, javelina, bighorn sheep, bison, bear and mountain lion, as well as trapping seasons. The commission also may consider and approve the same for tree squirrel, cottontail rabbit, predatory and furbearing mammals, other mammals and birds, pheasant, quail, chukar partridge and blue grouse (Saturday).
  • A presentation on the proposed hunt-permit tag application schedule for the fall 2016 seasons. The commission will be asked to approve the application schedule (Saturday).

To view a copy of the full meeting agenda, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission and click on the “commission agenda” link.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is a five-member, policy-setting board that oversees the Arizona Game and Fish Department. For more information about the commission, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission.

Flagstaff/Williams fishing: hit Dogtown before dog days of summer

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150608-01-dogtown
dogtownbrownNo question: Dogtown Reservoir south of Williams is one of Arizona’s trout fishing hot spots. A shred of evidence: Joshua Rose on Saturday caught this gorgeous 23 ¾-inch, 4.3-pound brown trout out of Dogtown.
Rose caught the fish on corn PowerBait.

This 50-acre lake in the Kaibab National Forest is being stocked consistently and is one of the best bets for a high country Arizona trout fishing adventure. Some experienced anglers are catching plump winter holdovers.
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Effective baits have been PowerBait, small spinners, and wet flies such as bead-headed prince nymphs and zug bugs. Make sure the spinners are small — no heavier than 1/8 of an ounce. Some anglers are having success slow-trolling spinners.

A couple weeks ago, 10-year-old Matthew R. duped this 3 pound-pound that measured 19.5 inches.

Where to trout fish in Flagstaff/Williams area
150608-02-dogtown
Stocking trucks from Page Springs Hatchery have been loading up trout into Flagstaff/Williams regional waters the past few weeks .

Here is AZGFD Region 2 Aquatic Wildlife Program Manager Scott Rogers’ top 5 spots to fish near Flagstaff and Williams (all are being stocked with trout).

  1. Dogtown Lake
  2. Ashurst Lake
  3. Cataract Lake
  4. Frances Short Pond
  5. City Reservoir (Santa Fe Dam)

A high chance of rain is predicted for Flagstaff and Williams Friday and Sunday (trout sometimes bite great just before a storm), and these waters should be great options throughout April.

Grab your gear and your fishing license and get ready for a pine-scented weekend! Temporary fishing permits available at some Williams merchants.

The road to Dogtown has some beautiful trees including Aspens and Oaks. It is a great drive in fall.

The road to Dogtown has some beautiful trees including Aspens and Oaks. It is a great drive in fall.

Get draw results sooner with AZGFD Customer Portal account

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PHOENIX — As the Arizona Game and Fish Department completes the random draw process for the 2016 pronghorn and elk seasons, hopeful hunters are being encouraged to open a free Customer Portal account.

Portal account holders will be among the first to get the news before the draw results officially are released. It’s quick, easy and free to create a Portal account. Just click on the “Sign in to Account” button in the upper right-hand corner of the www.azgfd.gov home page and then select the “Create an Account” option, filling in the requested information.

The Portal allows customers to create a secure account where they can manage and view their contact information, as well as their license and draw results information and bonus points, in their personal “My AZ Oudoors” section.

A Portal account is mobile-friendly, which means customers can view their information on their smartphone. It’s also a convenient way to gain access to the online license purchase and hunt draw application systems.

Meanwhile, the random draw process remains on schedule and should be completed by mid-April. The department is aware that applicants are eager to learn whether they will be receiving a hunt-permit. The department will post an announcement on its website and Facebook page when results officially are released. All permit-tags and refunds are expected to be mailed by April 22.

As always, applicants are encouraged to contact the department at (602) 942-3000, Option 2, with draw-related questions.

2016 fall hunt recommendations to be available for review

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Bighorn_Sheep_-_Ram_1_1PHOENIX – The Arizona Game and Fish Department has scheduled a series of six “open houses” for its constituents to review and ask questions about the proposed 2016 fall hunt recommendations for deer, turkey, javelina, bighorn sheep, bison, bear, mountain lion, predators and furbearers, small game and trapping.

The department annually makes recommendations to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission regarding the management of game species, which establish the seasons, dates, bag limits, open areas and permit-tag allocations based on the framework of the hunt guidelines set by the commission every two years.

The proposed recommendations will be posted Friday, March 25, at www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines. The open houses will be conducted at the following Game and Fish regional offices:

  • Thursday, March 31: 3-5 p.m., Pinetop, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.
  • Thursday, March 31: 4:30-6:30 p.m., Mesa, 7200 E. University Drive.
  • Monday, April 4: 3-5 p.m., Yuma, 9140 E. 28th Street.
  • Monday, April 4: 3-5 p.m., Tucson, 555 N. Greasewood Road.
  • Monday, April 4: 3-5 p.m., Kingman, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road.
  • Tuesday, April 5: 6-8 p.m., Flagstaff, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road.

Constituents who are interested in particular game management units within those regions will be able to review the hunt recommendations and ask questions. No formal presentations are planned.

“The meetings allow us to meet with sportsmen and other members of the public to answer questions and discuss the direction for the recommendations based on survey data, harvest rates and the hunt guidelines,” said Amber Munig, big game management program supervisor.

The proposed recommendations will be presented to the commission for consideration during the Saturday, April 9, portion of its April 8-9 meeting at Game and Fish headquarters, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, in Phoenix.
The agenda will be posted at https://www.azgfd.com/Agency/Commission.

To learn more about the hunt recommendations and hunt guidelines processes, visit www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines.

Registration open for Native and Wild Trout Conference

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Apache Trout Photo by George Andrejko, Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Apache Trout
Photo by George Andrejko, Arizona Game and Fish Department.

PHOENIX — Registration is open for the 7th Annual Native and Wild Trout Conference on April 21 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Arizona Game and Fish Department headquarters, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, in Phoenix.  Register online by April 18 for this free event.

The event provides a free educational conference for those interested in meeting, networking, and developing future plans for restoration and management of watersheds and native and wild fish in Arizona and New Mexico.  

The 2016 conference will again have more than 100 attendees from more than 35 various organizations and agencies from the southwest.  Opening the conference will be Arizona Game and Fish Department Assistant Director Jim deVos.  The agenda will include the topics of:

  • AZGFD Coldwater Fisheries Vision and Management Plan
  • Trout Unlimited Southwest Native Trout Initiative
  • Western Native Trout Initiative Programs
  • Glen Canyon Dam:  Long Term Experimental Management Plan
  • Stream and Temperature Monitoring Networks
  • Making Hatcheries Work:  Mora National Fish Hatchery Operations
  • Wildfire Risk Assessments and Impacts
  • Trout-In-the-Classroom Programs
  • Conservation Awards for Distinguished Service


Presentations and materials from prior conferences can be found on the Trout Unlimited Arizona State Council website.

The conference has become a model in developing relationships for conservation organizations with state and federal agencies for habitat and conservation projects, which reach beyond native fish to restoration and management of watersheds for the benefit of all wildlife.

Give your trigger finger a workout at 2016 Outdoor Expo

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Expo_-_ShootingPHOENIX — If you’re interested in firearms but don’t know where to start, or just want to take a few shots with the latest firearms from some of the biggest manufacturers, then don’t miss the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s 2016 Outdoor Expo.

For two days – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 2, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 3 – the largest outdoor recreation expo in Arizona will take over the Ben Avery Shooting Facility and provide all kinds of fun, hands-on activities and demonstrations, including opportunities to watch, learn and sample everything “shooting.” Admission and parking are free.

The best way to get started would be to attend “An Introduction to Firearms” at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Outdoors Presentations Tent, located in Area 1 (Family Adventure) just west of the expo entrance. Cliff Saylor of Cabela’s will explain the basic types and concepts of firearms, offer tips for choosing a firearm, and suggest places where a novice can learn the basics of shooting.

Then head over to “Introduction to Shooting” (also located in Area 1), where after a brief safety presentation adults and children 9 and older can participate in target shooting using .22 rifles. Adults with children 8 and older are encouraged to give BB gun shooting a try in Area 2 (Main Area). If shooting with a bow and arrow sounds like fun, learn all about it at “Archery for the Whole Family” (in Area 1). This activity is geared for families with children 8 and older.

Other shooting opportunities will include steel target, black powder, air gun, practical pistol, mini gun, clay target, benchrest, rimfire steel challenge, cowboy action and an archery field course. While most are free, keep in mind some venues charge a nominal fee for ammunition.

A few of the organizations that will be sponsoring shooting opportunities include Hassayampa Rod and Gun Club, Arizona Cactus Cappers, Desert Christian Archers, Honeywell Sportsman Club, Shoot Right, Arizona Cowboy Shooters Association, Dillon Aero, Shooter’s World, Cactus Match League and Ben Avery Benchrest Shooters.

Some of the biggest names in the firearms industry, like Sturm, Ruger & Co., Glock, Walther Arms, Patriot Ordnance Factory (POF), Robar Companies, Heckler & Koch (HK), Sig Sauer and Nemo Arms, also will make available their latest products for expo-goers to take a few shots (for a nominal fee for ammunition).

If watching an accomplished shooter in action is more your speed, international trap competitor and Olympics hopeful Tayler McNeil will perform at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. both days in Area 3 (OHV, RV, Mounted Shooting Arena, Shotgun).

The expo is presented by Shikar Safari Club International. Gold sponsors include the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), Cabela’s and Arizona State Credit Union. Silver sponsors are Bass Pro Shops, HPR and Sportsman’s Warehouse. Bronze sponsors are the Mule Deer Foundation and Bill Luke Dodge.

Game and Fish conducts the expo to promote wildlife-related and other outdoor recreation activities. The public’s participation in these activities supports the department’s mission and funding. The department receives no Arizona tax dollars, and no tax dollars are used in conducting the expo.

For more information about the expo, visit www.azgfd.com/expo.