Tag Archives: Phoenix

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.

Tell us how you get around and help chart Arizona’s transportation future

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How do you get around, Arizona?

Spend a little time sharing what takes you from place to place and you’ll help inform how we all get around in the future.

The Arizona Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration are asking households, most of them outside of metropolitan Phoenix and Tucson, to participate in the National Household Travel Survey. Up to 30,000 Arizona households, chosen at random, will be contacted by letter over the next year.

It’s important that as many households as possible participate because the answers will help state, local and federal officials decide when, where and how to invest limited transportation funding to improve roads, public transportation, sidewalks, bike paths and more.

“Taking part in the National Household Travel Survey requires just a few easy steps with one purpose: We want to hear your travel story,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “Your answers are valuable no matter how you get from place to place.”

For those who aren’t invited to participate in the National Household Travel Survey, ADOT has created an online survey available at azdot.gov/NHTS. Information gathered through this survey will also help create a more valuable transportation system for all.

The National Household Travel Survey, conducted every five to seven years, provides an essential snapshot of transportation behaviors and trends by asking how members of a household get around on one day.

Participation, which is voluntary, starts with filling out a brief survey that comes with the invitation letter and returning it in a prepaid envelope. That takes about 10 minutes. Participants receive travel logs to record where members of their household go on an assigned travel day. Then they provide the information online or by phone, a process that usually takes 20 to 25 minutes.

Using a federal grant, ADOT has commissioned extra survey responses from beyond the Phoenix and Tucson areas to learn more about travel behaviors and trends in rural Arizona. The goal is for about 80 percent of all participants to live beyond the Sun Corridor.

By law, all information provided is kept confidential, will be used only for research and cannot be sold. Names and other identifying information aren’t linked with the survey data used to create statistical summaries.

More information on the National Household Travel Survey and how it helps ADOT and all of Arizona is available at azdot.gov/NHTS.

Volunteers needed for White Tank Mountains cleanup

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Tread_Lightly__-_Image_1PHOENIX — “Tread Lightly!,” which promotes responsible recreation through stewardship, communication and education, has scheduled a cleanup April 16 in the White Tank Mountains west of Phoenix.

Partner organizations include the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Arizona Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition.

Volunteers – including recreational shooters, off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts, hikers and others who champion responsible recreation – are needed for this six-hour event, which begins at 8 a.m. Volunteers are encouraged to bring water, work gloves, hat, sunscreen, trash pinchers and buckets. Long pants and sturdy shoes are recommended.

The project site is located off Interstate 10 and Miller Road. From Phoenix, head west on Interstate 10, take Exit 114 to Miller Road, turn right (north) on Miller Road, then left (west) on Tonopah Salome Highway. Keep left at the fork past the trail service yard and follow posted signs to the project site. Volunteers also will be on-site to provide more information and directions. To view a map, visit http://tinyurl.com/jpd65ds.

Sign up at https://treadlightly.wufoo.com/forms/zk331w1owwg1s/. For more information, email Evan Robins at evan@treadlightly.org.

ADOT Motor Vehicle Division rolling out Voluntary Travel ID

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division is rolling out the state’s Voluntary Travel ID, a credential meeting federal REAL ID Act security requirements for access to airports, restricted federal buildings, military bases and more. It costs $25 and is good for up to eight years.

But there’s no reason to rush out and get one. Most people shouldn’t need the Voluntary Travel ID for another few years.

Here’s why: With the state now offering a credential that complies with the federal REAL ID Act of 2005, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said it will consider current Arizona driver licenses and IDs valid through Oct. 1, 2020, for travel by commercial aircraft and access to secure federal facilities.

“With the availability of this new Travel ID, Arizonans have certainty around their ability to conduct business as usual when it comes to flying and accessing federal facilities,” said Motor Vehicle Division Director Eric Jorgensen. “Now everyone has several years to decide if and when to replace their current license or ID with a Travel ID.”

Those applying for a first-time Arizona driver license or ID card can get a Voluntary Travel ID at any MVD office or at any of the 24 Authorized Third Party driver license providers around the state.

Beginning Friday, customers wishing to convert their current driver licenses to the Voluntary Travel ID at an MVD office must make appointments at ServiceArizona.com. To start, appointments can be made at eight offices in Phoenix, Tucson, Prescott and Flagstaff. More offices will be added over time.

Current driver license holders can also convert to a Voluntary Travel ID at any of the 24 Authorized Third Party driver license providers around the state without the need for an appointment.

To meet the REAL ID Act’s goal of making identity documents more consistent and secure, the Voluntary Travel ID design incorporates 39 security requirements. The most obvious is a star indicating that a credential is REAL ID-compliant. Each Voluntary Travel ID requires more documentation from an applicant and greater review than a standard Arizona credential, including checking information against additional databases to confirm an applicant’s identity.

Based on federal guidelines, to get an Arizona Voluntary Travel ID, an applicant must supply:

  • one document to establish birth or legal presence such as a certified birth certificate, valid U.S. passport or valid immigration documents;
  • one document to confirm Social Security information, such as a Social Security card or a W-2 form;
  • two forms of documentation to establish proof of residency such as a bank statement, utility bill or Arizona Voter Registration Card. All residency documents must have current address.

A full list of approved documents is available at azdot.gov/travelID.

Because state law gives residents the choice to get a Voluntary Travel ID, newly issued credentials that don’t comply with requirements in the federal REAL ID Act will be marked with the phrase “Not for federal identification,” as called for by the federal law. Even so, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said these credentials will still be accepted until Oct. 1, 2020.

For more information on the Voluntary Travel ID, please visit azdot.gov/travelID.

For more information on the REAL ID Act, please visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security website at dhs.gov/real-id-public-faqs.

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.

Volunteers needed for Arizona Antelope Foundation project

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Pronghorn_-_FreePHOENIX — The Arizona Antelope Foundation is seeking volunteers April 15-17 for a fence modification project on Highway 82 from Sonoita east to Upper Elgin Road in southeastern Arizona.

The project activity includes modifying about 3.2 miles of existing fence in 10 different segments on the right-of-way of Highway 82. The bottom two strands of barbed wire will be replaced by a single strand of smooth wire 16 inches above the ground. All fence stays will be removed and replaced with new ones. The objective is to improve motorist safety and to help ensure that pronghorn regularly crossing Highway 82 do not get hung up within the right-of-way.

The project begins at 10 a.m. Friday, April 15; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 16; and 8 a.m. to noon Sunday, April 17. While this is a three-day project, the most pressing need for volunteers will be Saturday. If there are some volunteers who only can provide help for one day, Saturday would be the best for work crew allocations.

The Arizona Antelope Foundation will provide dinners Friday and Saturday nights, as well as continental breakfasts with coffee and juice Saturday and Sunday mornings. Volunteers are asked to provide their own lunches to eat in the field. Volunteers also should bring work gloves, snacks, water and personal gear.

Sign up by April 8 by e-mailing info@azantelope.org. For more information, contact Glen Dickens at (520) 247-4907. For a printer-friendly map to the campsite, visit www.azantelope.org.

Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshop set for April 15-17

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BOW___Photo_1_PHOENIX —  For women who just want to find out what the outdoors experience is all about, signing up for a Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) workshop is a great place to start.

The Arizona Wildlife Federation, in partnership with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, will conduct its next BOW workshop April 15-17 at Friendly Pines Camp in Prescott.

The workshop introduces like-minded women (18 and older) to outdoors skills in an enjoyable, no-pressure setting with expert instructors. Horsemanship, outdoor photography, archery, fly-fishing, Dutch-oven cooking, shooting and birding are among the more than 30 courses offered during the day. The evenings are filled with fun and entertainment, like night hikes, fly-tying and motivational speakers.

“BOW is about much more than hunting and fishing, or even camping and paddling,” said Linda Dightmon, program coordinator. “It’s all about learning to appreciate our wild lands and wildlife, and how to help conserve them. It’s all about learning a new skill or conquering an old fear.

“It’s all about meeting like-minded women and making new friends. It could be all about learning a lot more about you.”

Lodging will be provided in rustic cabins, with five to seven campers per room using bunk beds. Campers must provide their own bedding and towels. Sleeping bags are highly recommended. Full bathrooms with electricity are available in each cabin.

The workshop fee is $250 ($300 with horsemanship) and includes all course materials, meals and lodging. The only things participants need to bring are their personal items, a good attitude and a willingness to learn.

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.

First peregrine falcon egg visible in downtown Phoenix nest

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Phx_peregrine_eggPHOENIX — If you checked on downtown Phoenix’s nesting peregrine falcons Easter Sunday via the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s wildlife camera live stream, you’d know there were no eggs. But, around 5:30 a.m. yesterday, the first egg was laid with two to three more expected over the next two to four days.

Once the female lays all of the eggs and begins incubating them, viewers will have a chance to observe the male bringing food to his mate. The eggs will be incubated primarily by the female for 29 to 33 days.

“We hope that viewers get hooked on watching the progress of this peregrine pair as it is a very unique opportunity to have full, live access to the pair’s attempts to reproduce and raise young,” said Randy Babb, watchable wildlife program manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “Viewing will be more consistent and predictable now that the female is incubating eggs, and viewers will see new developments consistently as the birds progress through the various stages of raising young.”

Anyone with a computer, smart phone or tablet can watch the birds that live atop the Maricopa County Administration building in downtown Phoenix at www.azgfd.gov/livecams.

Game and Fish launched this live stream in early March when the pair was starting to display courtship behavior.

Peregrine falcons have been nesting in the downtown Phoenix area for more than a decade.

Maricopa County partnered with the department and is allowing biologists to monitor the birds and access the nest site when necessary.

Peregrine falcons are one of the world’s most widespread raptors and are found on nearly every continent. The species nearly went extinct in North American from pesticide poisoning, but thanks to recovery efforts, the species was removed from the U.S.’s Endangered Species Act in 1999. This falcon feeds almost exclusively on medium-sized birds such as pigeons and doves, which are plentiful in urban areas.