Tag Archives: Arizona Game and Fish

Reminder: Wildlife assets to be sold at AZGFD’s Outdoor Expo

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Assets_-_2PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s annual sale of wildlife assets will take place April 2-3 at the 2016 Outdoor Expo at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, a change in venue from the International Sportsmen’s Expo (ISE) set for March 10-13 at WestWorld of Scottsdale.  

The Wildlife Assets Program enables the public to legally purchase antlers, head mounts, hides and other wildlife parts that have been seized during law enforcement investigations, obtained from animals killed in vehicle collisions or acquired through donations.

All assets will be sold through a silent auction. Proceeds will be used to support the department’s law enforcement program through the purchase of equipment (evidence collection kits, digital cameras, audio recorders, metal detectors, decoys and night vision equipment) and specialized training (interview and interrogation classes, wildlife forensic classes, crime scene investigation training) that assist officers in more effectively performing their duties.  

For more information, visit www.azgfd.gov/assets, or call (623) 236-7303.

Even $1 at tax time helps Arizona’s wildlife

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az-game1Did you know that your state taxes do not support the conservation of Arizona’s wildlife, but your donations do? Taxpayers can help the state’s wildlife at tax time by “making a mark” on their state income tax form.

The Arizona Wildlife Fund is a voluntary program that allows Arizona taxpayers to make a donation specifically to help imperiled and endangered wildlife, including majestic bald eagles, black-footed ferrets, California condors, Apache trout, Mexican wolves and desert tortoises, among other non-game species.

“Since Game and Fish does not receive any general fund dollars, the Arizona Wildlife Fund provides important support for managing and conserving some of the state’s most iconic native species,” says Josh Avey, terrestrial wildlife branch chief for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “The fund goes only to non-game species that are not hunted or fished, and the cumulative effect of even a dollar can have a tremendous impact on conserving one of Arizona’s greatest natural treasures – its wildlife.”

Since Arizona started the program more than 25 years ago, taxpayers have donated more than $5 million to the conservation of non-game wildlife.

For the 2014 tax year, the average donation was nearly $26. The Arizona Wildlife Fund box can be found on line “64” of the state’s long income tax form, or line “33” of the short tax form.

To learn more about the conservation and reintroduction efforts the fund supports, visit www.azgfd.gov/nongame.

Game and Fish Commission to meet March 4 in Sierra Vista

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Sierra Vista — The next meeting of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission will be March 4 at the Sierra Vista City Hall Council Chambers at 1011 N. Coronado Dr. in Sierra Vista. The meeting begins at 8 a.m.

The public is invited to attend the meeting in person, view it live via video stream at any Game and Fish regional office (Friday only), or view it over the web at www.azgfd.gov/commissioncam. Members of the public who wish to speak to the Commission may submit Speaker Cards (Blue Cards) in person at the meeting or from any regional Game and Fish office. The ability to speak to the Commission is not available for those viewing the webcast online.
 
Items on the agenda include:

  • An update on a potential reduced fishing license fees promotion as a means of marketing Arizona fishing and expanding the department’s customer base.
  • A briefing on current state and federal legislation related to the department’s mission.
  • A request to make Patterson Ponds in St. Johns a community fishing water.
  • A presentation on the department’s borderlands and international wildlife conservation efforts.
  • Several requests to reinstate bonus points.
  • Appointment of commissioners to standing committees.
  • 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.).

On Saturday, the commission will take a field trip to view one of Arizona’s premier state parks, Kartchner Caverns State Park.

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

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is the policy-setting board overseeing the Arizona Game and Fish Department. It is composed of five members (serving staggered five-year terms) appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. No more than one commissioner may be from any one county. No more than three may be from the same political party. Since its inception in 1929, this organizational structure has served as a buffer for the best interests of science-driven wildlife conservation during eight decades of back-and-forth political change.

For more information on the commission, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission.

ADEQ Issues Three New Fish Consumption Advisories

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800-adeq-fish-1The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), in association with the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD), has issued three new advisories that recommend fish consumption amounts to protect public health. These advisories are based on recent analysis of data from fish tissue samples taken from these lakes, which showed these fish have elevated levels of mercury.

ADEQ encourages residents and visitors to Arizona to continue to enjoy the wide variety of recreational activities at each of these lakes, such as fishing, bird watching, and swimming, which are not affected by this advisory.

Fish can be an important part of a healthy, diverse diet because they are an excellent source of protein and low in saturated fat. The American Heart Association recommends eating two fish or seafood meals weekly as part of a healthy diet.

Any potential health risks from eating fish on ADEQ’s advisory list are based on long-term consumption, not eating fish occasionally.

RESOURCES:

ADEQ Fish Consumption Advisory Fact Sheet:

https://www.azdeq.gov/environ/water/assessment/download/fca.pdf

Arizona Game and Fish Department – Arizona Fish Consumption Advisory List:

https://www.azgfd.com/fishing/fishconsumption/

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration Guidance regarding Mercury and Fish Consumption:

http://www.fda.gov/food/foodborneillnesscontaminants/metals/ucm393070.htm 

Trinity Tactical offers rifle course

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firearms-trainingPHOENIX — Trinity Tactical Applications is hosting a Tactical Carbine Fundamentals firearm course on November 11 from 9 a.m to 4 p.m. The course will be held at the Game and Fish Ben Avery Shooting Facility located at 4044 W. Black Canyon Boulevard.

The $80 course requires no prerequisite training, but does, of course, require your own ammunition and weapon.

According to the flier:

This course will improve your proficiency utilizing your rifle in practical applications; whether it be on duty, in the general public, or defending your home. We will cover shooting fundamentals, threat engagement, firing from realistic positions one can expect to encounter, reloading, clearing malfunctions, and engaging while moving, along with other real-world considerations. Taught by certified rifle instructors with real world experience employing a carbine in hostile environments, this course will expose students to the realities of utilizing a rifle in a variety of situations.

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ADEQ Lifts Fish Consumption Advisory for Gila River and Tributaries

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) announced today that it has lifted the consumption advisory for fish caught in the Gila River and its tributaries within and downstream of the Phoenix metropolitan area – this includes 100 miles of streams and 286 acres of lakes. Fish caught from these waters are no longer unsafe to eat due to banned pesticides (DDT, chlordane or toxaphene).

“This is the first time ADEQ has lifted a fish consumption advisory,” said ADEQ Water Quality Division Director Trevor Baggiore. “Fish tested by ADEQ and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service show that banned pesticides no longer pose a health risk in the Gila River and its tributaries.”

Lifting this advisory, which has been in place for 24 years, is credited to the cessation of the use of the pesticides in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Detailed information about the delisting of the Gila River and its tributaries can be found at:

Click to access delisting_hassayampa.pdf

ADEQ and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tested 67 fish tissue samples from eight different fish species in the Gila River and several of its tributaries west of Phoenix during 2011 and 2012. Fish tissue data demonstrated banned pesticide levels (DDT, toxaphene and chlordane) dropped from more than 160 times higher than threshold levels designed to protect human health in the 1990’s, to 16 times lower than these thresholds in 2011 and 2012.

On March 10, 2015, ADEQ requested that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) remove the Gila River and its tributaries from Arizona’s Impaired Waters List, which EPA approved August 7, 2015. Each water body removed from the list also had a fish consumption advisory in effect. ADEQ has lifted the fish consumption advisory for the following waterbodies:
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Resources

ADEQ Fish Consumption Advisory Fact Sheet (PDF):
https://www.azdeq.gov/environ/water/assessment/download/fca.pdf

ADEQ Water Quality Division Monitoring and Assessment:
http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/water/assessment/index.html

Arizona Game and Fish Department – Arizona Fish Consumption Advisory List: http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/fish_consumption.shtml

Two youths suffer minor injuries from elk encounter

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Elk_-_Trash_Lid_-_Large_1KINGMAN — The Arizona Game and Fish Department has been informing people for years about the dangers of feeding wildlife. Last week, Mohave County Parks reported that two youths suffered minor injuries that likely were the result of elk seeking human food.

The encounter, which took place in Hualapai Mountain Park, involved a family at a picnic table. A group of elk approached the family and encircled the table. The two youths, a boy and girl, were injured by the hooves. The girl suffered a bloody nose and minor injuries to the forehead and lower leg, while the boy suffered a bump to the forehead.

“They were not feeding the animals, but this encounter was clearly the result of past behaviors of the public.”” said Zen Mocarski, information and education program manager for the department’s regional office in Kingman.

“The family tried to keep the table between themselves and the elk, but the elk continued to move around the family,” said Brandon Oktay, park superintendent. “The park is a place to visit and enjoy, and I’m disappointed this family had to experience something like this. Those children were frightened, but the parents declined medical assistance and the injuries appear to be minor, which is the good news.”

“While I’m sure the children were scared, this could have turned out worse,” Mocarski said. “Elk are large, wild animals, but some people continue to treat them like pets. It is a bit disheartening to hear about the circumstances surrounding this encounter, because Game and Fish has been warning the public of the dangers of feeding wild animals for many years.”

Mocarski said feeding issues in the community near the park have been severe despite warnings. In 2007, two elk needed to have trash can lids removed from their necks, which prompted the park to replace the type of lids on the cans and posted signs not to feed wildlife.

In 2005, two deer in two days were killed by a lion in driveways within the community, which prompted Game and Fish to post warning signs. There’s also the possibility of disease transmission when wildlife exist in unnaturally high densities in such a small area. Some diseases, such as Chronic Wasting Disease, are transmitted through saliva, so feeding from the same food source can decimate herds.

In 1995, two dozen deer, apparently starving, were killed at the Grand Canyon. Following a necropsy, it was found the deer had lost their ability to digest vegetation due to being hooked on junk food. Mocarski said the common link is humans feeding wildlife.

“The message is stop feeding wildlife,” Mocarski said. “Wild animals are supposed to disperse and forage, but some people mistakenly believe the animals need assistance. Feeding wildlife is not an act of selflessness, it’s a selfish act that has now resulted in two children getting injured. This has to stop.”

There is a statewide ordinance against feeding wildlife, but it only applies to counties with populations of 280,000 or more, including Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties. The best practice for those wishing to see or help wildlife is to plant native vegetation.

“The bottom line is that things like chips or pretzels, which are not particularly good for humans, are certainly not good for wildlife,” Mocarski said. “Neither are the hay bales visible throughout the community. Allow these animals to forage naturally. They should have a natural fear of humans, not expect a handout.”

Mountain Lion has been sighted in Williams

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WILLIAMS — We have confirmed that there has been a mountain lion sighted in the City of Williams. It is our understanding that Arizona Game and Fish has been notified and is working with the Williams Police Department to capture the animal.

The cougar was sighted several weeks ago and was sighted again last night. It appears to be hanging around Pine Street area in the south-eastern section of town according to reports.

It is recommended that you keep your dogs on a strong leash when walking them and keep dogs and cats inside at night unless you are with them.

If you spot it, do not attempt to approach, capture or shoot it. Call the Williams Police Department at 928-635-4461.

Williams gets a gusher

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640-15-04-20-5WILLIAMS — There is a quote attributed to W.C. Fields concerning why he does not drink water. The various versions are really not appropriate here. Suffice it is to say that W.C. Fields will not be drinking water in Williams.

Ian Tabeling checks the pH and temperature of the water before releasing crop into the water.

Ian Tabeling checks the pH and temperature of the water before releasing crop into the water.


Well, not just because he has been dead for many years now. It is also because the Arizona Game & Fish truck arrived from the Peach Springs hatchery to restock the local lakes.

Ian Tabeling told me he stocked Santa Fe and was there to stock the Buckskinner reservoir—to the delight of the anglers waiting for a bite. His partner was stocking White Horse, he said.

This is welcome news for anglers who have been trying with no success since the reservoirs were lowered because of recent drought conditions.

(Sorry. Forgot to ask his partners name or if they were stocking Dogtown or Kaibab.)

Kaibab National Forest treats almost 3,000 acres with Heritage Grant

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image006WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest recently completed treatment of almost 3,000 acres of grassland on the Williams Ranger District using a $50,000 Heritage Grant awarded by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Specifically, the Kaibab National Forest used an agra-axe, which is a tree shearing machine, to remove encroaching junipers and other conifers from 2,901 acres of a historic grassland in the far northern corner of the Williams district near White Hill. The purpose of the work was to restore habitat for ferruginous hawks, burrowing owls, golden eagles, Gunnison’s prairie dogs and pronghorn antelope.

“This funding was obtained specifically to address non-game species that rely on grassland habitat in northern Arizona,” said Justin Schofer, wildlife biologist. “Interest in and funding for grassland restoration for game species has been a longtime, worthwhile and ongoing effort. Through the Heritage Grant program, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has shown its commitment to restoration for non-game species such as hawks, prairie dogs and other wildlife that also rely on grassland habitat.”

The agra-axe project involved cutting about 100 to 300 trees per acre in the grassland. Many large trees were retained to provide important foraging perches and suitable nesting habitat for ferruginous hawks and other raptors. Cut trees were often crushed, which improves the line of sight for Gunnison’s prairie dogs and other wildlife species. Also, pinyon and juniper trees on rocky hills and outcrops were left, as they historically served as nesting and roosting habitat.

Functioning grasslands are declining across the Southwest due to a variety of factors, which is resulting in loss of wildlife habitat and other negative impacts to ecosystem health. By removing encroaching trees and conducting prescribed burns on a broad scale, forest managers hope to reduce tree densities, reestablish natural fire regimes, and promote grassland-associated wildlife species.

The completed 2,901-acre project complements other work accomplished on the district in recent years as well as future projects being planned to restore historic grasslands. Due to their important ecological role, the Kaibab National Forest has identified restoring grasslands by reducing tree encroachment and restoring fire as a priority in its recently revised Land and Resources Management Plan. Plan objectives include reducing tree density to less than 10 percent on 5,000 to 10,000 acres of historic grasslands annually.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department Heritage Fund Grant Program provides funding for wildlife conservation programs in Arizona. It was established in 1992 as a way to promote outreach in order to enhance important partnerships and generate fresh approaches in support of the department’s mission. Since inception, the department has awarded more than $13 million in support of more than 670 projects throughout the state.