Tag Archives: Commission

Game and Fish Commission proposes to amend rules for taking, handling of wildlife

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Commission proposes to amend rules within Article 3, “Taking and Handling of Wildlife,” to enact amendments developed during the preceding Five-year Review Report.

All public comments about the proposed rulemaking will be accepted through April 15:

E-mail: rulemaking@azgfd.gov, or jcook@azgfd.gov.
U.S. Mail: Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn.: Jay Cook, Regional Supervisor FOR6, 7200 E. University Drive, Mesa, AZ 85207.
Telephone: Jay Cook, Regional Supervisor FOR6, (480) 324-3540.

The final rule will be presented to the five-member commission at its May 4 meeting at the Mohave County Board of Supervisors Auditorium, 700 W. Beale St., Kingman.

To track the progress of this rule, view the regulatory agenda and all previous Five-year Review Reports, and to learn about any other agency rulemaking matters, visit https://www.azgfd.com/agency/rulemaking/.

Meet the Arizona Game and Fish Commission on Saturday, January 13

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PHOENIX — The public is encouraged to meet the members of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission in an informal setting and hear about the commission’s upcoming priorities at the “Meet the Commission” event this Saturday, Jan. 13, beginning at 3:30 p.m. at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort, Courtroom MN, 11111 N. 7th St., Phoenix.

The meeting will begin with the chairman’s welcome and commissioner introductions, followed by a discussion of commission priorities. The public is welcome to ask questions or provide comments. No official action will be taken by the commission.

Game and Fish Commission opposes proposed initiative to ban hunting of wild cats

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PHOENIX – At its regular December meeting, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission passed a motion in opposition to a proposed ballot initiative that would ban the hunting of mountain lions and bobcats and restrict management of the state’s wild cats by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

The proposed initiative has not yet qualified for the ballot, but the Commission regularly takes positions on federal and state legislation with potential impact on the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) and the management of Arizona wildlife. The Commission voted 4-0 “in opposition to the initiative related to wild cats, and to affirm that the department has all the tools necessary to manage our state’s wildlife.”

“I like to describe it as ballot box wildlife management versus scientific management of wildlife,” said Commissioner Kurt Davis, of Phoenix. “This is very dangerous for the ability of our wildlife professionals, our scientists, to effectively manage all the forms of wildlife in the state. It removes management tools that are used by the department and I think that’s a very dangerous path to go down.”

The proposed measure, sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), also seeks to protect “lynx,” a species not found in Arizona, and two endangered species already under federal protection, jaguars and ocelots. None of these animals can be legally hunted in Arizona.

For more information on how the Arizona Game and Fish Department manages the state’s large cats, visit: https://www.azgfd.com/wildlife/mountainlionsinarizona/

Game and Fish Commission to meet December 1-2 in Phoenix

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PHOENIX – The next meeting of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission will be December 1-2, 2017, at the AZGFD headquarters at 5000 W. Carefree Highway in Phoenix. The public can attend in person, view the meeting on a webcast at https://livestream.com/azgameandfish, or (Friday only) watch the meeting on streaming video from any regional office statewide.

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 office (Friday only). The ability to speak to the commission is not available for those viewing the webcast.

The Friday, Deccember 1 portion of the meeting begins at 8 a.m. Among the items on Friday’s agenda are:

  • Consideration of a hunting and fishing license reciprocity memorandum of understanding with Nevada.
  • An update on state and federal legislation.
  • Consideration of a Notice of Final Expedited Rulemaking amending rules within Article 11 addressing aquatic invasive species.
  • Consideration of rulemaking recommendations for Article 3 regarding the taking and handling of wildlife.
  • 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 10 a.m.).
  • A briefing on recent bald eagle telemetry efforts to improve data gathering for management recommendations.
  • An update on department activities and involvement with resource management planning and other major actions on federal lands in Arizona.
  • Consideration of a new commercial public records request policy concerning the release of personal identifying information.
  • Request for acceptance of a perpetual access easement dedicated by the South Eastern Arizona Sportsmen Club to the department.

On Saturday, December 2, beginning at 8 a.m., the agenda includes:

  • Consideration of proposed Commission Orders 3 (pronghorn), 4 (elk) and 26 (population management) establishing seasons and season dates, bag and possession limits, permit numbers or authorized limits, and open areas for the 2018 and 2019 fall hunting seasons.
  • Consideration of the proposed hunt-permit tag application schedule for the antelope and elk 2018 hunts.

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.

Commission Appointment Recommendation Board to interview four candidates

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Commission Appointment Recommendation Board will interview four candidates for the governor’s appointment to fill a 2018 vacancy on the Arizona Game and Fish Commission.

The meeting on Wednesday, November 15, begins at 9 a.m. at the Arizona Game and Fish Department headquarters, 5000 W. Carefree Highway in Phoenix. An agenda will be posted in advance at www.azgfd.gov/board.

The following candidates will be interviewed: Leland Brake; Kelly Clark; Bobby Cooper; James Goughnour. They were chosen from a list of 9 applicants considered by the board at its November 7 public meeting. After the interviews, the board will select between two and four candidates to forward to the governor for consideration.

Per Arizona Revised Statute 17-202, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission Appointment Recommendation Board shall assist the governor by interviewing, evaluating and recommending candidates for appointment to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. The board shall recommend at least two, but no more than five, candidates to the governor.

The governor must select and appoint a commissioner from the list submitted by the board. For additional information about the Commission Appointment Recommendation Board, contact the Governor’s Office of Boards and Commissions at (602) 542-2449 or toll free at 1-800-253-0883 or on the web at www.azgovernor.gov.

For more information on the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission.

Commission Appointment Recommendation Board to meet November 7

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Commission Appointment Recommendation Board will meet on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, beginning at 9 a.m., to review and select for interview applicants for the 2018 vacancy on the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. The meeting will be held at the Arizona Game and Fish Department headquarters at 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Quail Room, in Phoenix and is open to the public.

See meeting agenda (PDF).

The board will meet again on Wednesday, Nov. 15, beginning at 9 a.m., to conduct interviews with the candidates who were selected at the Nov. 7 meeting. That meeting is also at 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Quail Room, in Phoenix and is open to the public. The board will select from two to five finalists at the Nov. 15 meeting and forward those names to Gov. Doug Ducey for his consideration.

Members of the Commission Appointment Recommendation Board are William “Jim” Lane (chair), Susan E. Chilton, W. Hays Gilstrap, Charles I. Kelly, and Phillip D. Townsend.

Per Arizona State Statute 17-202, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission Appointment Recommendation Board shall assist the governor by interviewing, evaluating and recommending candidates for appointment to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. The Commission Appointment Recommendation Board shall recommend at least two, but no more than five, candidates to the governor. The governor must select and appoint a commissioner from the list submitted by the board.

For additional information about the Commission Appointment Recommendation Board, contact the Governor’s Office of Boards and Commissions at (602) 542-2449 or toll free at 1-800-253-0883 or on the web at www.azgovernor.gov.

For more information on the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission.

Game and Fish Commission to meet tomorrow in Flagstaff

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FLAGSTAFF — The next meeting of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission will be Friday, Aug. 5, at Little America Hotel, 2515 E. Butler Ave., in Flagstaff. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m.

The public can attend the meeting or view it on a webcast at www.azgfd.gov/commissioncam. The meeting also can be watched on streaming video at department headquarters in Phoenix, or any regional office statewide with the exception of the regional office in Flagstaff.

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 office. The ability to speak to the commission is not available for those viewing the webcast.

Items on the agenda include:
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  • A briefing on the status of state and federal legislation related to the department’s mission.
  • An update on the department’s statewide outreach campaign to increase public awareness of the department, its mission and how it’s funded.
  • An update on the department’s efforts toward accomplishing commission priorities.
  • A request to approve a notice of exempt rulemaking amending Article 8, Wildlife Areas and Department Property.
  • 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 10 a.m. Friday).
  • A briefing on black-footed ferret recovery efforts.
  • A briefing on alternative elk harvest strategies in Game Management Units 12A, 12B, 13A and 13B.
  • A request to approve proposed commission orders to establish seasons and season dates, bag and possession limits, hunt permit-tag numbers and open areas for the 2017 seasons for spring turkey, spring javelina, spring bison and spring bear (time certain at 2 p.m. Friday).
  • A presentation on the proposed hunt-permit tag application schedule for the spring 2017 seasons.

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

On Saturday, Aug. 6, the commission and department staff will be given a tour and informational briefing about bison management at the Raymond Wildlife Area east of Flagstaff.