08-21-2007, 03:10 AM
Record number of spring turkey tags approved for 2008
Invasive mussels detected in Lake Powell<br />
State record striper caught at Lake Pleasant<br />
Local schools, universities, parks and research projects can receive grant money through the 2008 Heritage grants<br />
New "introductory" hunter education course offered<br />
Tickets still available for Outdoor Hall of Fame banquet<br />
Game and Fish to move headquarters this fall<br />
Ranchers partner with Game and Fish and land trust to protect Cochise County ranch<br />
Hunt of a Lifetime needs kids<br />
Federal grant helps department work with landowners to conserve at-risk species<br />
Wildlife-viewing workshop scheduled at Sipe Wildlife Area Sept. 15<br />
Ed Huntsman honored as boating professional of the year<br />
Bird Discovery Workshop for educators to be held Sept. 8
Record number of spring turkey tags approved for 2008<br />
Game and Fish Commission also sets historic second Gould's turkey hunt
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission on Aug. 11 approved a record 6,983 spring turkeys tags for 2008 and also set an historic second Gould's turkey hunt.
During its meeting in Flagstaff, the commission set the spring 2008 hunts for javelina, turkey, buffalo and bear. As part of the turkey hunt recommendation, the commission approved a second hunt for Gould's turkeys, which will occur in the Chiricahua Mountains in Hunt Unit 29. The first-ever hunt for Gould's turkeys in Arizona was held in the Huachuca Mountains during the spring of 2002.
Hunters can start applying for the 2008 spring hunts via paper applications that can be downloaded online once the regulations are posted on the department's Web site (expected to be available around Aug. 20). The printed version of the spring 2008 regulations will not be available at license dealers in the state until early to mid-September.
The online application process will not be available for the spring 2008 draw. All spring hunt-permit applications will have to be mailed or hand-delivered to department offices.
The deadline to apply for the spring hunts is Tuesday, Oct. 9 (the day after Columbus Day, a state holiday).
Big Game Program Supervisor Brian Wakeling told the commission that one of the tremendous successes in recent years has been the stratified hunt seasons for spring turkey, which have resulted in the department providing more hunting opportunity during this popular hunt.
In addition, a successful Gould's turkey transplant program in Arizona conducted in close cooperation with the National Wild Turkey Federation has also afforded the ability to expand hunting opportunity for this subspecies.
For the spring 2008 turkey hunt, the commission set 6,983 permits, which is 737 more than in 2007, and increased junior's-only permits to 350, which is a 125-permit increase over 2007. Eight of these permits are available for Gould's turkey.
For javelina, the commission approved 27,760 permits for the 2008 year, which were split into the following seasons:
General season - 11,705 (plus 225 over 2007)<br />
Archery season - 9,645 (plus 445)<br />
Junior's only - 970 (plus 105)<br />
H.A.M. - 5,440 (minus 25)<br />
The 2008 buffalo season was approved at the same permit levels as last year - 10 each for the House Rock and Raymond wildlife areas. The season on House Rock, however, has been extended through May.
The spring bear season did not remain static. The commission approved 405 general permits, which is an increase of 15, along with 250 archery-only permits, which is an increase of 65. The commission also approved annual female harvest limits for units with spring hunts; the annual female harvest limits for the remainder of the units that only have fall hunts will be set next April.
Invasive mussels detected in Lake Powell<br />
Boaters asked to inspect their vessels for mussels
New test results indicate the presence of an extremely small number of individual, larval quagga or zebra mussels in Lake Powell. Two cooperative research and monitoring efforts, conducted on July 19 and 30 by the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Park Service, and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, detected three individual mussel larvae at the Wawheap marina and near the Glen Canyon Dam.
Dr. David Britton, an expert on quagga and zebra mussels for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said, "While the test results indicate the presence of individual larval quagga or zebra mussels in Lake Powell, much uncertainty remains. We do not know at this point if an established population is present. We also do not know for certain how quagga or zebra mussels will affect Lake Powell."
Five water samples were collected from Lake Powell and analyzed by a Bureau of Reclamation laboratory in Denver (click here and scroll down to see table). The samples were analyzed using two different methods - a microscopic technique and DNA fingerprint technology. Three of these samples did not indicate the presence of any quagga or zebra mussels. Two of the samples, collected at the Wahweap Marina and near the Glen Canyon Dam, indicated the presence of three individual larval mussels when tested with the microscopic method and DNA fingerprint technology. The testing methods cannot distinguish whether or not these are quagga mussels or zebra mussels, which are closely related.
"Additional samples have been collected from Lake Powell and are being analyzed for quagga and zebra mussels. In the coming weeks, more samples will be collected from various locations around the lake to determine if mussels are present in other areas," said Kitty Roberts, superintendent of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
The National Park Service, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have been closely working with each other to closely monitor the spread of quagga mussels since they were found in Lake Mead in January 2007.
The National Park Service's existing quagga and zebra mussel prevention program will remain in place. Boats that have been in water bodies with known quagga or zebra mussel infestations in the last 30 days will continue be required to be decontaminated before entering Lake Powell. High pressure, hot water decontamination stations are available at all marinas within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, including Wahweap, Antelope Point, Bullfrog, and Halls Crossing marinas.
As a preventative measure, the National Park Service will also begin requiring any boats that are slipped in Lake Powell to receive a decontamination wash before they exit the park if they are being moved to a non-infested lake. In addition, people with boats in the marinas at Lake Powell are strongly encouraged to conduct a thorough inspection of their boat to look for quagga or zebra mussels which may be attached.
To prevent quagga mussels or any other aquatic nuisance species from being spread to other lakes, all visitors leaving Lake Powell or any other body of water should thoroughly wash their boats and trailers after they leave the lake. Bilges, wet wells, motors, and any other part of the boat that could hold water must be completely drained. Any other gear that has come into contact with the water - such as waders or fishing equipment - should also be washed. The boat and all gear should be allowed to thoroughly dry in the sun for at least five days before being used in another water body.
Further information about quagga and zebra mussels and how to prevent their spread is available online at www.100thmeridian.org, www.protectyourwaters.net, and www.nps.gov/glca.
State record striper caught at Lake Pleasant
Noel Arnold of Wittmann was fishing at Lake Pleasant and decided to try a water dog in the wee hours of the morning on Aug. 8, and caught a new inland state record striped bass weighing 27.28 pounds and measuring 42.25 inches long.
In fact, Arnold was planning to catch just one more fish before catching some sleep so he could meet his dad in the morning to fish for largemouth bass at first light. He ended up not getting any sleep. But he doesn't mind.
Arnold's monster striper shatters the existing inland state record of 23 pounds, 8 ounces that measured 39.25 inches long and was caught from Alamo Lake on May 3, 1997 by David Jackson of Phoenix. The previous inland state record is the only known striper to be caught at Alamo Lake.
Arnold caught his new state record while fishing 45 feet down while anchored in 100 feet of water in the upper half of Lake Pleasant in the general area of the 1702 sign.
Arnold was night fishing beneath artificial lights while using frozen anchovies most of the evening to catch 1- to 5-pound stripers. He decided to hook up a large, 7-inch water dog on a Texas rig using 12-pound test line. The fight lasted more than 40 minutes.
"It took forever to land the fish. It kept stripping off line time and again," Arnold said, but he finally subdued the powerful striper.
Arnold is an avid angler and hunter who has caught more than 500 stripers from Lake Pleasant in the past year. He plans to have the record fish mounted.
Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists said the fish was in excellent condition. According to estimates by research biologist Bill Stewart, who conducted the striped bass study at Lake Pleasant, the record striper was probably 13-14 years old. That means this fish was likely one of the original invaders from the Central Arizona Project Canal when the new Lake Pleasant was completed 15 years ago.
Local schools, universities, parks and research projects can receive grant money through the 2008 Heritage grants
Your child's school or your local park could be among those that benefit from the Arizona Game and Fish Department Heritage grants. Every year, the department makes hundreds of thousands of dollars available to applicants who have projects with a wildlife focus that otherwise might not receive funding. Now is the time to apply for the funding.
"There are so many deserving projects that promote Arizona wildlife that may not otherwise receive funding," says Robyn Beck, the department's Heritage grant coordinator. "We want to help students, researchers, outdoor enthusiasts and ultimately all Arizonans to enjoy this funding."
Started in 1990, the Heritage Fund was established by Arizona voters to further conservation efforts in the state, including protecting endangered species, educating our children about wildlife, helping urban residents to better coexist with wildlife, and creating new opportunities for outdoor recreation. Funding comes from Arizona Lottery ticket sales.
The department holds annual workshops for agencies interested in applying for Heritage grants. This year's remaining workshops will be held at the following times and locations:
Thursday, Aug. 23 at the Pinetop regional Game and Fish office, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd., Pinetop. (Choice of two sessions from 1 to 3:30 p.m. or from 5:30 to 8 p.m.)
Monday, Aug. 27 at the Phoenix Game and Fish office, Roadrunner Room, 2222 W. Greenway Road, Phoenix. (Choice of two sessions from 1 to 3:30 p.m. or from 5:30 to 8 p.m.)
Wednesday, Aug. 29 at the Tucson regional Game and Fish office, 555 N. Greasewood Road, Tucson. (Choice of two sessions from 1 to 3:30 p.m. or from 5:30 to 8 p.m.)
Thursday, Aug. 30 at the Sun Canyon Inn, 260 N. Garden Ave., Sierra Vista. (Afternoon session only from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.)<br />
Those planning to attend the workshops, and those wanting to learn more about eligibility for the grant money, should R.S.V.P. to Robyn Beck at (602) 789-3530. Potential grant recipients must have a project that is either located in Arizona or involves research in which the wildlife or its habitat is located in Arizona. More information on the grants and application forms can be found at the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Web site at azgfd.gov/heritage. The deadline for applications is Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. MST.
New "introductory" hunter education course offered<br />
Can be taken in classroom or online with field day
Prospective hunters now have another option for taking hunter education training in Arizona.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has rolled out its new "introductory" hunter education course. The new program can be taken either in a classroom setting or by independent study over the Internet. Both the classroom and online formats require students to demonstrate proficiency and pass an exam during a field day with certified instructors to complete the course.
"The new course was developed as a convenient alternative for beginning hunters who either don't have the time to take the traditional 20-hour basic class, or who can't find a class or an opening in their area," says Michael Golightly, chairman of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. "The curriculum includes the most important elements of the basic class that beginning hunters need to know.
Content was developed over the past year through collaboration between Game and Fish education staff, wildlife managers and biologists, and volunteer hunter education instructors throughout the state. The course meets International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) national standards but is also tailored to Arizona's specific needs.
This new offering now gives people three primary alternatives for hunter education training in Arizona:
The new "introductory" course, which can be taken through 7-10 hours of classroom study or through independent study online. Both options also require a 4- to 5-hour field day.
The traditional "basic" course, which encompasses about 20 hours, including a 4-hour field day.
The expanded "basic plus bowhunting" course, a 28-hour course that includes the basic class and the NBEF/IBEP bowhunter education class, and a 5- to 6-hour field day.<br />
Non-residents who have completed hunter education training in another state have an additional option: a "supplemental" course that educates them on Arizona hunting issues.
One of the cornerstones of all the courses is the development of a new, state-of-the-art hunter education manual. It covers firearms safety, ethics, hunting skills, hunting laws, survival skills and wildlife conservation, among other topics.
"The manual includes updated information on new technology and biology, as well as educational information on the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation," says Ed Huntsman, acting education branch chief for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Arizona's current hunter education program graduates about 4,000 students annually. Courses are taught by about 460 volunteer instructors who are certified by the Game and Fish Department. It is anticipated that more students, particularly young people, will take hunter education now that the new course is offered.
Huntsman says the new course isn't meant to replace the existing basic course.
"It's offered as a convenient alternative for people who might otherwise be deterred from taking a hunter education class due to time constraints," he says. "But we encourage people to get as much education as they can, and the classroom format offers a chance to ask questions of the instructor and interact with peers."
Huntsman encourages people to take advantage of other educational opportunities offered by the Game and Fish department and sportsmen's groups. "Programs such as small game camps, clinics and watchable wildlife programs are available to give people the chance to learn more about hunting and wildlife and get reconnected with the outdoors. Keep checking the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Web site at azgfd.gov for information on these activities," he says.
The cost to take the new introductory hunter education course is nominal, typically under $10 for the classroom option or $15 for the online course.
To learn more about the course and to see when classes or field days are offered, visit azgfd.gov/education.
Tickets still available for Outdoor Hall of Fame banquet
Outdoor enthusiasts and others are invited to a fun-filled evening to honor four individuals and one organization that will be added to the Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame on Aug. 24. The induction ceremony and annual fund-raising banquet will start at 6 p.m. at the Scottsdale Resort and Conference Center, 7700 E. McCormick Parkway, Scottsdale.
This year's banquet will include a social hour, delicious banquet dinner, silent auction, and entertaining bluegrass music from the talented band, Back Porch Bandits.
Sponsored by the Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation, the Hall of Fame recognizes individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to Arizona's natural outdoor heritage.
This year's honorees include:
Paul Berquist, whose amazing photographic images have graced almost every publication having to do with Arizona's diverse wildlife and habitat.
Representative Jerry Weiers, a life-long conservationist whose efforts at the Arizona Legislature and in his personal life have benefited the state's wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts.
Arizona Elk Society, whose 1,400 members team up on public outreach efforts, habitat protection and enhancement projects, youth activities and significant fundraising efforts to benefit elk and other wildlife.
Tom Mackin, whose tireless work on the Pat Springs pipeline (Unite 7E) and other water development projects has provided valuable sources of water for wildlife.
Beth Woodin, a former Game and Fish commissioner and current board member of the Arizona Heritage Alliance, whose long-time work with a variety of organizations has benefited wildlife and balanced the diverse interests of people with an interest in wildlife.<br />
Tickets to the banquet are $70 each. To reserve your spot, e-mail the Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation at wildlifefortomorrow@cox.net or call (623) 204-2130.
Game and Fish to move headquarters this fall
The Arizona Game and Fish Department will move its Phoenix headquarters from the current Greenway Road location to a new energy-efficient facility on the southwest corner of the Ben Avery Shooting Facility property in mid- to late-October.
The new address will be 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086. The facility will be located about 1.5 miles west of the I-17 and Carefree Highway interchange. The main phone number will remain (602) 942-3000.
All other direct phone numbers and extensions for employees and work units will change.
The new headquarters will include consolidated, modernized office space, expanded meeting facilities (including a 200-seat auditorium), a climate-controlled warehouse, laboratories, and a vehicle maintenance facility.
Ranchers partner with Game and Fish and land trust to protect Cochise County ranch
The Arizona Game and Fish Department and Arizona Open Land Trust recently announced the permanent protection of 960 acres of the 47 Ranch, a working cattle ranch in Cochise County. Ranchers Dennis and Deborah Moroney partnered with the local agencies to protect the ranch located in the Hay Mountain Watershed, near the town of Tombstone.
The Hay Mountain Watershed drains into the Whitewater Draw, southern Arizona's most important waterway east of the San Pedro River and a winter stopover for more than a dozen species of migratory waterfowl, including sandhill cranes. At least 14 different habitats have been identified within the boundaries of the ranch itself, making it potentially suitable for several species that are either currently extirpated or quickly disappearing from southern Arizona. These species include the Chiricahua leopard frog, lowland leopard frog, Cochise pincushion cactus, jaguar, lesser long-nosed bat, Northern aplomado falcon, ocelot and Gould's turkey.
This project is anticipated to be the first phase of an ongoing partnership between the Moroneys and the Arizona Open Land Trust. The Trust aims to protect open land from development and will assist Game and Fish's Landowner Relations Program in monitoring the 47 Ranch easement.
The Landowner Relations Program works with private landowners around the state to provide financial and technical assistance for various types of habitat projects, which benefit Arizona's wildlife and the recreating public.
The Moroneys are longtime conservationists who have worked with Arizona Game and Fish and other conservation partners on a number of habitat improvements within the ranch, including grassland restoration projects and wildlife watering facilities.
Hunt of a Lifetime needs kids
An organization that helps provide hunting and fishing opportunities to terminally ill children stands ready to match kids with several hunting opportunities in Arizona.
The Arizona Chapter of Hunt of a Lifetime (HOAL) has several available hunts in Arizona: five for bull elk and one each for pronghorn antelope and bear. An ibex hunt in New Mexico is also available. These are all exciting hunting opportunities that adults would love to have.
Since Arizona passed legislation in 2005 to make big-game permit transfers possible, HOAL Arizona has sent 14 youngsters on 16 hunts.
When a youngster is accepted to take part, he or she receives a total hunt package including equipment, transportation (air and ground), a guide/outfitter, lodging, meat processing and delivery, as well as taxidermy and delivery of their mount at no cost. Also, one parent can accompany the young hunter.
If you have a minor child age 10-17 or know of a child with a life-threatening illness who would like to go on an HOAL hunt, please contact Arizona Ambas
or Terry Petko by phone at (602) 689-9524 or by e-mail at tpetko@hoalarizona.org.
HOAL is a national nonprofit organization that was started several years ago to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening and terminal illnesses to go on a hunting or fishing trip. For more information or to read the stories of some of these heroic youngsters, visit www.hoalarizona.org.
Federal grant helps department work with landowners to conserve at-risk species
The Arizona Game and Fish Department will receive $849,510 in grant funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this year to enhance and protect habitat on private lands for federally listed endangered or threatened wildlife and other species of special concern.
The money, part of nearly $13 million recently distributed to 17 state fish and wildlife agencies, is awarded through a competitive grant process under the Landowner Incentive Program. The program supports cooperative efforts with private landowners interested in conserving natural habitat for at-risk species.
The department will focus its efforts on two habitat types, grasslands and riparian.
Examples of grassland species are the ferruginous hawk, Western burrowing owl, and the black-footed ferret. The types of activities that assist these species include securing wildlife conservation easements, controlling and removing invasive species, reseeding native grasses, and fencing for sustainable livestock management.
Examples of riparian species are the Chiricahua leopard frog, Southwestern willow flycatcher, Gila chub, Gila Topminnow, Little Colorado spinedace and spikedace. The types of activities that benefit riparian species include controlling invasive species, planting native riparian vegetation, restoring ponds and wetlands, and constructing species refugia.
Benefits to the targeted species include improved foraging, breeding, brood rearing and nesting habitats, decreased competition and predation, and increased prey base.
Arizona's State Wildlife Action Plan (also known as the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy) identified both grassland and riparian habitats as "habitats of greatest conservation need." Arizona Game and Fish identified 36 species of greatest conservation need that would benefit from the enhancement, protection or restoration of grassland habitat and 88 species of greatest conservation need that would benefit by the enhancement, protection, or restoration of riparian habitat.
The competitive grants are funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund and establish or supplement existing landowner incentive programs that provide technical or financial assistance to private landowners. All grants need to be matched by funding of at least 25 percent from a non-federal source.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has indicated the Landowner Incentive Program will be discontinued next year.
For more information about the grant programs, please visit http://federalaid.fws.gov/lip/lip.html.
Wildlife-viewing workshop scheduled at Sipe Wildlife Area
The Arizona Game and Fish Department will conduct its annual public wildlife-viewing workshop on Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area. This popular program is designed to help people find, observe and enjoy some of the state's many wildlife species on their own. The wildlife area is located in eastern Arizona, seven miles southeast of Eagar.
The program begins at 2:30 p.m. with an information segment that focuses on wildlife viewing in Arizona, giving suggestions on how and where to find wildlife. Department personnel will also discuss natural history and behavior of one of Arizona's most recognized wildlife species, the Rocky Mountain elk. Workshop participants will go into the field that evening on the Sipe property, applying viewing principles and techniques to find and watch some of Arizona's elk up close.
"We've designed this workshop to provide people with sufficient information for them to have a quality, firsthand experience in the outdoors, and to be able to regularly find and watch wildlife on their own," says Bruce Sitko, spokesman in the department's Pinetop office. "If you've never heard a bull elk bugle in the rut, you've missed one of nature's most awesome sounds. This will be an excellent opportunity to see and hear elk."
Because it will be necessary to maintain a small group once in the field, the clinic is limited to 30 participants. "Also, because wildlife viewing in general does require patience and a minimum of movement and noise, we request that children under the age of 14 not attend," Sitko says.
The workshop is free, but pre-registration and a refundable deposit of $20 per person are required to ensure that spaces aren't reserved and then not used. The deposit will be returned to those who attend but is nonrefundable if someone doesn't show up.
Registration can be done at the Pinetop Game and Fish office at 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd., or by calling the office at (928) 367-4281 and giving a name, contact phone number and the number of people attending to one of the customer service representatives. Participants will be given instructions at that time for mailing in the refundable registration deposit.
"Arizona is a state rich in wildlife resources," Sitko notes. "More than 800 different species of fish and animals can be found here. We highly encourage folks to pause and discover not just the visual beauty of Arizona's settings, but also to learn to find, view and appreciate the different creatures that live in and about our state's diverse landscapes."
Ed Huntsman honored as boating professional of the year
Ed Huntsman, conservation education supervisor for the Arizona Game and Fish Department, was recently honored as "Boating Professional of the Year" by the Western States Boating Administrators Association at its annual conference in Laughlin Nev.
The award is given annually to recognize the outstanding efforts of a regional boating safety professional (excluding boating law administrators, who are recognized separately).
Huntsman has worked for the Arizona Game and Fish Department since late 2004. He manages the department's boating safety education program and has been instrumental in enhancing the strategic partnership between the department's boating law enforcement administrator and the education branch to further boating safety efforts, programs, initiatives and activities.
Before coming to the department, Huntsman served in the U.S. Army, including a tour in Vietnam, was a deputy for the McKinley County Sheriff's Office in New Mexico, and worked in the private sector as a senior executive in the airline industry.
He is a licensed Coast Guard master (captain) and has been active in the community on boating education and safety issues through his involvement in the National Safe Boating Council, National Water Safety Congress, U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the states of Arizona and Utah.
Bird Discovery Workshop for educators to be held Sept. 8
Audubon Arizona is partnering with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to offer an exciting Bird Discovery Workshop for teachers and other educators on Saturday, Sept. 8. The workshop covers two acclaimed curricula, and instructors will receive all of the reproducible materials necessary to bring the programs home to their own audiences.
"Bird Sleuth," by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, gets students in grades 4-8 enthused about birds by teaching identification and data entry skills. Participants conduct their own surveys at school or in their community and then input the data into a live online database called eBird.
The second curriculum, "Nature's Sketchbook," was developed by the National Audubon Society's Audubon Adventures. This program teaches children simple sketching and journaling techniques to help them understand and celebrate their natural surroundings.
Both programs are aligned to National Standards, but can also be used outside of the classroom in informal settings.
The workshop will be held in the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Cactus Wren Room at 2221 W. Greenway Road in Phoenix from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The training fee is $25, which includes lunch and materials. For more information and to register, contact Cathy Wise at (602) 468-6470 or cwise@audubon.org.
Invasive mussels detected in Lake Powell<br />
State record striper caught at Lake Pleasant<br />
Local schools, universities, parks and research projects can receive grant money through the 2008 Heritage grants<br />
New "introductory" hunter education course offered<br />
Tickets still available for Outdoor Hall of Fame banquet<br />
Game and Fish to move headquarters this fall<br />
Ranchers partner with Game and Fish and land trust to protect Cochise County ranch<br />
Hunt of a Lifetime needs kids<br />
Federal grant helps department work with landowners to conserve at-risk species<br />
Wildlife-viewing workshop scheduled at Sipe Wildlife Area Sept. 15<br />
Ed Huntsman honored as boating professional of the year<br />
Bird Discovery Workshop for educators to be held Sept. 8
Record number of spring turkey tags approved for 2008<br />
Game and Fish Commission also sets historic second Gould's turkey hunt
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission on Aug. 11 approved a record 6,983 spring turkeys tags for 2008 and also set an historic second Gould's turkey hunt.
During its meeting in Flagstaff, the commission set the spring 2008 hunts for javelina, turkey, buffalo and bear. As part of the turkey hunt recommendation, the commission approved a second hunt for Gould's turkeys, which will occur in the Chiricahua Mountains in Hunt Unit 29. The first-ever hunt for Gould's turkeys in Arizona was held in the Huachuca Mountains during the spring of 2002.
Hunters can start applying for the 2008 spring hunts via paper applications that can be downloaded online once the regulations are posted on the department's Web site (expected to be available around Aug. 20). The printed version of the spring 2008 regulations will not be available at license dealers in the state until early to mid-September.
The online application process will not be available for the spring 2008 draw. All spring hunt-permit applications will have to be mailed or hand-delivered to department offices.
The deadline to apply for the spring hunts is Tuesday, Oct. 9 (the day after Columbus Day, a state holiday).
Big Game Program Supervisor Brian Wakeling told the commission that one of the tremendous successes in recent years has been the stratified hunt seasons for spring turkey, which have resulted in the department providing more hunting opportunity during this popular hunt.
In addition, a successful Gould's turkey transplant program in Arizona conducted in close cooperation with the National Wild Turkey Federation has also afforded the ability to expand hunting opportunity for this subspecies.
For the spring 2008 turkey hunt, the commission set 6,983 permits, which is 737 more than in 2007, and increased junior's-only permits to 350, which is a 125-permit increase over 2007. Eight of these permits are available for Gould's turkey.
For javelina, the commission approved 27,760 permits for the 2008 year, which were split into the following seasons:
General season - 11,705 (plus 225 over 2007)<br />
Archery season - 9,645 (plus 445)<br />
Junior's only - 970 (plus 105)<br />
H.A.M. - 5,440 (minus 25)<br />
The 2008 buffalo season was approved at the same permit levels as last year - 10 each for the House Rock and Raymond wildlife areas. The season on House Rock, however, has been extended through May.
The spring bear season did not remain static. The commission approved 405 general permits, which is an increase of 15, along with 250 archery-only permits, which is an increase of 65. The commission also approved annual female harvest limits for units with spring hunts; the annual female harvest limits for the remainder of the units that only have fall hunts will be set next April.
Invasive mussels detected in Lake Powell<br />
Boaters asked to inspect their vessels for mussels
New test results indicate the presence of an extremely small number of individual, larval quagga or zebra mussels in Lake Powell. Two cooperative research and monitoring efforts, conducted on July 19 and 30 by the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Park Service, and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, detected three individual mussel larvae at the Wawheap marina and near the Glen Canyon Dam.
Dr. David Britton, an expert on quagga and zebra mussels for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said, "While the test results indicate the presence of individual larval quagga or zebra mussels in Lake Powell, much uncertainty remains. We do not know at this point if an established population is present. We also do not know for certain how quagga or zebra mussels will affect Lake Powell."
Five water samples were collected from Lake Powell and analyzed by a Bureau of Reclamation laboratory in Denver (click here and scroll down to see table). The samples were analyzed using two different methods - a microscopic technique and DNA fingerprint technology. Three of these samples did not indicate the presence of any quagga or zebra mussels. Two of the samples, collected at the Wahweap Marina and near the Glen Canyon Dam, indicated the presence of three individual larval mussels when tested with the microscopic method and DNA fingerprint technology. The testing methods cannot distinguish whether or not these are quagga mussels or zebra mussels, which are closely related.
"Additional samples have been collected from Lake Powell and are being analyzed for quagga and zebra mussels. In the coming weeks, more samples will be collected from various locations around the lake to determine if mussels are present in other areas," said Kitty Roberts, superintendent of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
The National Park Service, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have been closely working with each other to closely monitor the spread of quagga mussels since they were found in Lake Mead in January 2007.
The National Park Service's existing quagga and zebra mussel prevention program will remain in place. Boats that have been in water bodies with known quagga or zebra mussel infestations in the last 30 days will continue be required to be decontaminated before entering Lake Powell. High pressure, hot water decontamination stations are available at all marinas within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, including Wahweap, Antelope Point, Bullfrog, and Halls Crossing marinas.
As a preventative measure, the National Park Service will also begin requiring any boats that are slipped in Lake Powell to receive a decontamination wash before they exit the park if they are being moved to a non-infested lake. In addition, people with boats in the marinas at Lake Powell are strongly encouraged to conduct a thorough inspection of their boat to look for quagga or zebra mussels which may be attached.
To prevent quagga mussels or any other aquatic nuisance species from being spread to other lakes, all visitors leaving Lake Powell or any other body of water should thoroughly wash their boats and trailers after they leave the lake. Bilges, wet wells, motors, and any other part of the boat that could hold water must be completely drained. Any other gear that has come into contact with the water - such as waders or fishing equipment - should also be washed. The boat and all gear should be allowed to thoroughly dry in the sun for at least five days before being used in another water body.
Further information about quagga and zebra mussels and how to prevent their spread is available online at www.100thmeridian.org, www.protectyourwaters.net, and www.nps.gov/glca.
State record striper caught at Lake Pleasant
Noel Arnold of Wittmann was fishing at Lake Pleasant and decided to try a water dog in the wee hours of the morning on Aug. 8, and caught a new inland state record striped bass weighing 27.28 pounds and measuring 42.25 inches long.
In fact, Arnold was planning to catch just one more fish before catching some sleep so he could meet his dad in the morning to fish for largemouth bass at first light. He ended up not getting any sleep. But he doesn't mind.
Arnold's monster striper shatters the existing inland state record of 23 pounds, 8 ounces that measured 39.25 inches long and was caught from Alamo Lake on May 3, 1997 by David Jackson of Phoenix. The previous inland state record is the only known striper to be caught at Alamo Lake.
Arnold caught his new state record while fishing 45 feet down while anchored in 100 feet of water in the upper half of Lake Pleasant in the general area of the 1702 sign.
Arnold was night fishing beneath artificial lights while using frozen anchovies most of the evening to catch 1- to 5-pound stripers. He decided to hook up a large, 7-inch water dog on a Texas rig using 12-pound test line. The fight lasted more than 40 minutes.
"It took forever to land the fish. It kept stripping off line time and again," Arnold said, but he finally subdued the powerful striper.
Arnold is an avid angler and hunter who has caught more than 500 stripers from Lake Pleasant in the past year. He plans to have the record fish mounted.
Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists said the fish was in excellent condition. According to estimates by research biologist Bill Stewart, who conducted the striped bass study at Lake Pleasant, the record striper was probably 13-14 years old. That means this fish was likely one of the original invaders from the Central Arizona Project Canal when the new Lake Pleasant was completed 15 years ago.
Local schools, universities, parks and research projects can receive grant money through the 2008 Heritage grants
Your child's school or your local park could be among those that benefit from the Arizona Game and Fish Department Heritage grants. Every year, the department makes hundreds of thousands of dollars available to applicants who have projects with a wildlife focus that otherwise might not receive funding. Now is the time to apply for the funding.
"There are so many deserving projects that promote Arizona wildlife that may not otherwise receive funding," says Robyn Beck, the department's Heritage grant coordinator. "We want to help students, researchers, outdoor enthusiasts and ultimately all Arizonans to enjoy this funding."
Started in 1990, the Heritage Fund was established by Arizona voters to further conservation efforts in the state, including protecting endangered species, educating our children about wildlife, helping urban residents to better coexist with wildlife, and creating new opportunities for outdoor recreation. Funding comes from Arizona Lottery ticket sales.
The department holds annual workshops for agencies interested in applying for Heritage grants. This year's remaining workshops will be held at the following times and locations:
Thursday, Aug. 23 at the Pinetop regional Game and Fish office, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd., Pinetop. (Choice of two sessions from 1 to 3:30 p.m. or from 5:30 to 8 p.m.)
Monday, Aug. 27 at the Phoenix Game and Fish office, Roadrunner Room, 2222 W. Greenway Road, Phoenix. (Choice of two sessions from 1 to 3:30 p.m. or from 5:30 to 8 p.m.)
Wednesday, Aug. 29 at the Tucson regional Game and Fish office, 555 N. Greasewood Road, Tucson. (Choice of two sessions from 1 to 3:30 p.m. or from 5:30 to 8 p.m.)
Thursday, Aug. 30 at the Sun Canyon Inn, 260 N. Garden Ave., Sierra Vista. (Afternoon session only from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.)<br />
Those planning to attend the workshops, and those wanting to learn more about eligibility for the grant money, should R.S.V.P. to Robyn Beck at (602) 789-3530. Potential grant recipients must have a project that is either located in Arizona or involves research in which the wildlife or its habitat is located in Arizona. More information on the grants and application forms can be found at the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Web site at azgfd.gov/heritage. The deadline for applications is Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. MST.
New "introductory" hunter education course offered<br />
Can be taken in classroom or online with field day
Prospective hunters now have another option for taking hunter education training in Arizona.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has rolled out its new "introductory" hunter education course. The new program can be taken either in a classroom setting or by independent study over the Internet. Both the classroom and online formats require students to demonstrate proficiency and pass an exam during a field day with certified instructors to complete the course.
"The new course was developed as a convenient alternative for beginning hunters who either don't have the time to take the traditional 20-hour basic class, or who can't find a class or an opening in their area," says Michael Golightly, chairman of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. "The curriculum includes the most important elements of the basic class that beginning hunters need to know.
Content was developed over the past year through collaboration between Game and Fish education staff, wildlife managers and biologists, and volunteer hunter education instructors throughout the state. The course meets International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) national standards but is also tailored to Arizona's specific needs.
This new offering now gives people three primary alternatives for hunter education training in Arizona:
The new "introductory" course, which can be taken through 7-10 hours of classroom study or through independent study online. Both options also require a 4- to 5-hour field day.
The traditional "basic" course, which encompasses about 20 hours, including a 4-hour field day.
The expanded "basic plus bowhunting" course, a 28-hour course that includes the basic class and the NBEF/IBEP bowhunter education class, and a 5- to 6-hour field day.<br />
Non-residents who have completed hunter education training in another state have an additional option: a "supplemental" course that educates them on Arizona hunting issues.
One of the cornerstones of all the courses is the development of a new, state-of-the-art hunter education manual. It covers firearms safety, ethics, hunting skills, hunting laws, survival skills and wildlife conservation, among other topics.
"The manual includes updated information on new technology and biology, as well as educational information on the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation," says Ed Huntsman, acting education branch chief for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Arizona's current hunter education program graduates about 4,000 students annually. Courses are taught by about 460 volunteer instructors who are certified by the Game and Fish Department. It is anticipated that more students, particularly young people, will take hunter education now that the new course is offered.
Huntsman says the new course isn't meant to replace the existing basic course.
"It's offered as a convenient alternative for people who might otherwise be deterred from taking a hunter education class due to time constraints," he says. "But we encourage people to get as much education as they can, and the classroom format offers a chance to ask questions of the instructor and interact with peers."
Huntsman encourages people to take advantage of other educational opportunities offered by the Game and Fish department and sportsmen's groups. "Programs such as small game camps, clinics and watchable wildlife programs are available to give people the chance to learn more about hunting and wildlife and get reconnected with the outdoors. Keep checking the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Web site at azgfd.gov for information on these activities," he says.
The cost to take the new introductory hunter education course is nominal, typically under $10 for the classroom option or $15 for the online course.
To learn more about the course and to see when classes or field days are offered, visit azgfd.gov/education.
Tickets still available for Outdoor Hall of Fame banquet
Outdoor enthusiasts and others are invited to a fun-filled evening to honor four individuals and one organization that will be added to the Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame on Aug. 24. The induction ceremony and annual fund-raising banquet will start at 6 p.m. at the Scottsdale Resort and Conference Center, 7700 E. McCormick Parkway, Scottsdale.
This year's banquet will include a social hour, delicious banquet dinner, silent auction, and entertaining bluegrass music from the talented band, Back Porch Bandits.
Sponsored by the Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation, the Hall of Fame recognizes individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to Arizona's natural outdoor heritage.
This year's honorees include:
Paul Berquist, whose amazing photographic images have graced almost every publication having to do with Arizona's diverse wildlife and habitat.
Representative Jerry Weiers, a life-long conservationist whose efforts at the Arizona Legislature and in his personal life have benefited the state's wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts.
Arizona Elk Society, whose 1,400 members team up on public outreach efforts, habitat protection and enhancement projects, youth activities and significant fundraising efforts to benefit elk and other wildlife.
Tom Mackin, whose tireless work on the Pat Springs pipeline (Unite 7E) and other water development projects has provided valuable sources of water for wildlife.
Beth Woodin, a former Game and Fish commissioner and current board member of the Arizona Heritage Alliance, whose long-time work with a variety of organizations has benefited wildlife and balanced the diverse interests of people with an interest in wildlife.<br />
Tickets to the banquet are $70 each. To reserve your spot, e-mail the Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation at wildlifefortomorrow@cox.net or call (623) 204-2130.
Game and Fish to move headquarters this fall
The Arizona Game and Fish Department will move its Phoenix headquarters from the current Greenway Road location to a new energy-efficient facility on the southwest corner of the Ben Avery Shooting Facility property in mid- to late-October.
The new address will be 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086. The facility will be located about 1.5 miles west of the I-17 and Carefree Highway interchange. The main phone number will remain (602) 942-3000.
All other direct phone numbers and extensions for employees and work units will change.
The new headquarters will include consolidated, modernized office space, expanded meeting facilities (including a 200-seat auditorium), a climate-controlled warehouse, laboratories, and a vehicle maintenance facility.
Ranchers partner with Game and Fish and land trust to protect Cochise County ranch
The Arizona Game and Fish Department and Arizona Open Land Trust recently announced the permanent protection of 960 acres of the 47 Ranch, a working cattle ranch in Cochise County. Ranchers Dennis and Deborah Moroney partnered with the local agencies to protect the ranch located in the Hay Mountain Watershed, near the town of Tombstone.
The Hay Mountain Watershed drains into the Whitewater Draw, southern Arizona's most important waterway east of the San Pedro River and a winter stopover for more than a dozen species of migratory waterfowl, including sandhill cranes. At least 14 different habitats have been identified within the boundaries of the ranch itself, making it potentially suitable for several species that are either currently extirpated or quickly disappearing from southern Arizona. These species include the Chiricahua leopard frog, lowland leopard frog, Cochise pincushion cactus, jaguar, lesser long-nosed bat, Northern aplomado falcon, ocelot and Gould's turkey.
This project is anticipated to be the first phase of an ongoing partnership between the Moroneys and the Arizona Open Land Trust. The Trust aims to protect open land from development and will assist Game and Fish's Landowner Relations Program in monitoring the 47 Ranch easement.
The Landowner Relations Program works with private landowners around the state to provide financial and technical assistance for various types of habitat projects, which benefit Arizona's wildlife and the recreating public.
The Moroneys are longtime conservationists who have worked with Arizona Game and Fish and other conservation partners on a number of habitat improvements within the ranch, including grassland restoration projects and wildlife watering facilities.
Hunt of a Lifetime needs kids
An organization that helps provide hunting and fishing opportunities to terminally ill children stands ready to match kids with several hunting opportunities in Arizona.
The Arizona Chapter of Hunt of a Lifetime (HOAL) has several available hunts in Arizona: five for bull elk and one each for pronghorn antelope and bear. An ibex hunt in New Mexico is also available. These are all exciting hunting opportunities that adults would love to have.
Since Arizona passed legislation in 2005 to make big-game permit transfers possible, HOAL Arizona has sent 14 youngsters on 16 hunts.
When a youngster is accepted to take part, he or she receives a total hunt package including equipment, transportation (air and ground), a guide/outfitter, lodging, meat processing and delivery, as well as taxidermy and delivery of their mount at no cost. Also, one parent can accompany the young hunter.
If you have a minor child age 10-17 or know of a child with a life-threatening illness who would like to go on an HOAL hunt, please contact Arizona Ambas
or Terry Petko by phone at (602) 689-9524 or by e-mail at tpetko@hoalarizona.org. HOAL is a national nonprofit organization that was started several years ago to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening and terminal illnesses to go on a hunting or fishing trip. For more information or to read the stories of some of these heroic youngsters, visit www.hoalarizona.org.
Federal grant helps department work with landowners to conserve at-risk species
The Arizona Game and Fish Department will receive $849,510 in grant funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this year to enhance and protect habitat on private lands for federally listed endangered or threatened wildlife and other species of special concern.
The money, part of nearly $13 million recently distributed to 17 state fish and wildlife agencies, is awarded through a competitive grant process under the Landowner Incentive Program. The program supports cooperative efforts with private landowners interested in conserving natural habitat for at-risk species.
The department will focus its efforts on two habitat types, grasslands and riparian.
Examples of grassland species are the ferruginous hawk, Western burrowing owl, and the black-footed ferret. The types of activities that assist these species include securing wildlife conservation easements, controlling and removing invasive species, reseeding native grasses, and fencing for sustainable livestock management.
Examples of riparian species are the Chiricahua leopard frog, Southwestern willow flycatcher, Gila chub, Gila Topminnow, Little Colorado spinedace and spikedace. The types of activities that benefit riparian species include controlling invasive species, planting native riparian vegetation, restoring ponds and wetlands, and constructing species refugia.
Benefits to the targeted species include improved foraging, breeding, brood rearing and nesting habitats, decreased competition and predation, and increased prey base.
Arizona's State Wildlife Action Plan (also known as the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy) identified both grassland and riparian habitats as "habitats of greatest conservation need." Arizona Game and Fish identified 36 species of greatest conservation need that would benefit from the enhancement, protection or restoration of grassland habitat and 88 species of greatest conservation need that would benefit by the enhancement, protection, or restoration of riparian habitat.
The competitive grants are funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund and establish or supplement existing landowner incentive programs that provide technical or financial assistance to private landowners. All grants need to be matched by funding of at least 25 percent from a non-federal source.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has indicated the Landowner Incentive Program will be discontinued next year.
For more information about the grant programs, please visit http://federalaid.fws.gov/lip/lip.html.
Wildlife-viewing workshop scheduled at Sipe Wildlife Area
The Arizona Game and Fish Department will conduct its annual public wildlife-viewing workshop on Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area. This popular program is designed to help people find, observe and enjoy some of the state's many wildlife species on their own. The wildlife area is located in eastern Arizona, seven miles southeast of Eagar.
The program begins at 2:30 p.m. with an information segment that focuses on wildlife viewing in Arizona, giving suggestions on how and where to find wildlife. Department personnel will also discuss natural history and behavior of one of Arizona's most recognized wildlife species, the Rocky Mountain elk. Workshop participants will go into the field that evening on the Sipe property, applying viewing principles and techniques to find and watch some of Arizona's elk up close.
"We've designed this workshop to provide people with sufficient information for them to have a quality, firsthand experience in the outdoors, and to be able to regularly find and watch wildlife on their own," says Bruce Sitko, spokesman in the department's Pinetop office. "If you've never heard a bull elk bugle in the rut, you've missed one of nature's most awesome sounds. This will be an excellent opportunity to see and hear elk."
Because it will be necessary to maintain a small group once in the field, the clinic is limited to 30 participants. "Also, because wildlife viewing in general does require patience and a minimum of movement and noise, we request that children under the age of 14 not attend," Sitko says.
The workshop is free, but pre-registration and a refundable deposit of $20 per person are required to ensure that spaces aren't reserved and then not used. The deposit will be returned to those who attend but is nonrefundable if someone doesn't show up.
Registration can be done at the Pinetop Game and Fish office at 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd., or by calling the office at (928) 367-4281 and giving a name, contact phone number and the number of people attending to one of the customer service representatives. Participants will be given instructions at that time for mailing in the refundable registration deposit.
"Arizona is a state rich in wildlife resources," Sitko notes. "More than 800 different species of fish and animals can be found here. We highly encourage folks to pause and discover not just the visual beauty of Arizona's settings, but also to learn to find, view and appreciate the different creatures that live in and about our state's diverse landscapes."
Ed Huntsman honored as boating professional of the year
Ed Huntsman, conservation education supervisor for the Arizona Game and Fish Department, was recently honored as "Boating Professional of the Year" by the Western States Boating Administrators Association at its annual conference in Laughlin Nev.
The award is given annually to recognize the outstanding efforts of a regional boating safety professional (excluding boating law administrators, who are recognized separately).
Huntsman has worked for the Arizona Game and Fish Department since late 2004. He manages the department's boating safety education program and has been instrumental in enhancing the strategic partnership between the department's boating law enforcement administrator and the education branch to further boating safety efforts, programs, initiatives and activities.
Before coming to the department, Huntsman served in the U.S. Army, including a tour in Vietnam, was a deputy for the McKinley County Sheriff's Office in New Mexico, and worked in the private sector as a senior executive in the airline industry.
He is a licensed Coast Guard master (captain) and has been active in the community on boating education and safety issues through his involvement in the National Safe Boating Council, National Water Safety Congress, U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the states of Arizona and Utah.
Bird Discovery Workshop for educators to be held Sept. 8
Audubon Arizona is partnering with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to offer an exciting Bird Discovery Workshop for teachers and other educators on Saturday, Sept. 8. The workshop covers two acclaimed curricula, and instructors will receive all of the reproducible materials necessary to bring the programs home to their own audiences.
"Bird Sleuth," by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, gets students in grades 4-8 enthused about birds by teaching identification and data entry skills. Participants conduct their own surveys at school or in their community and then input the data into a live online database called eBird.
The second curriculum, "Nature's Sketchbook," was developed by the National Audubon Society's Audubon Adventures. This program teaches children simple sketching and journaling techniques to help them understand and celebrate their natural surroundings.
Both programs are aligned to National Standards, but can also be used outside of the classroom in informal settings.
The workshop will be held in the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Cactus Wren Room at 2221 W. Greenway Road in Phoenix from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The training fee is $25, which includes lunch and materials. For more information and to register, contact Cathy Wise at (602) 468-6470 or cwise@audubon.org.