Nonresident hunting limits likely to be reinstated and expanded

PHOENIX -  Many local hunters are likely rejoicing after the Arizona Game and Fish Commission decided to move forward with a proposal to reinstate a 10 percent cap on the number of out-of-state hunters who can receive tags to hunt for the most desirable big game species in our state each year. The decision was one of several high-profile moves made by the commission at its August 2005 meeting in Flagstaff, Ariz.

"The public input we received was overwhelmingly in favor of putting the nonresident cap back in place," says Richard Rico, assistant director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department's special services division, which is responsible for hunt draws.

Arizona's original 10 percent cap on nonresident hunt tags was created to protect hunting opportunities for Arizona residents. Last year, a U.S. District Court declared the cap unconstitutional and prohibited enforcement of it, citing the federal Commerce Clause as the reason. However, Congress recently took action to renounce interest in regulating hunting and fishing permits under the federal Commerce Clause, opening the door for states to impose caps and other limits on nonresident hunt opportunities.

"It will take some time, and we'll have public hearings before a final change is made," says Rico, "however, we're moving in the direction of putting a cap back in place, if the court lifts its injunction as expected."

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New watercraft registration fees going into effect

PHOENIX -  New watercraft registration fees are getting ready to go into effect on August 31, 2005. The new flat fee rates were approved by the legislature this year. Any renewal received by the Arizona Game and Fish Department after August 31 will be charged the new rate. Postmarks do not count. Any renewal received after the effective date that includes the old fees will be returned to the customer with a request to include the proper fees. Click here to see the new fee schedule.

For a small convenience fee, you can also renew your watercraft registration online at azgfd.gov/watercraft. After completing the online process, you can print a temporary certificate that will enable immediate use of your boat. This means no more waiting for your validated certificate to come in the mail before you can hit the water.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department will utilize new revenues collected by increased boating registration fees to promote boating safety and education. The money will also help the department increase law enforcement efforts statewide on Arizona waterways, including increasing operating under the influence enforcement and outreach.

A portion of the new funds will also be paid to the Lower Colorado River Multi-species Conservation Plan. The MSCP is a regional partnership among Arizona, California, Nevada, Indian Tribes, water and hydroelectric power agencies and other public interests. The goal of the MSCP is to recover listed species through conservation and to prevent additional species from being listed as threatened or endangered.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department must seek legislative approval to appropriate the new boating registration funds for all of its intended new uses.

High country offers some big trout opportunities

A parade of big show pond rainbow trout have been finding their way to mountain lakes via Arizona Game and Fish Department stocking trucks. Last week the department received reports of a 4-pound trout being caught from Woods Canyon, a 5-pounder from Black Canyon Lake, a 6-pounder from Willow Springs, and an 8-pound rainbow from Big Lake. There are larger trout than those waiting to be caught in our high country waters.

With summer heat still baking the desert lowlands, this is a great time of year to head to the cool pine country for relief. The monsoon season makes the fishing quite exciting. In between storms, when the water isn't too turbid, and even sometimes when it is, trout can become very active. It is possible to catch a lot of trout in a short time period, including some of the monsters. Please avoid the water during lightning storms though. Those storms can also prompt increased activity by many of the larger wildlife species, such as elk and deer. It's a great time for wildlife watching.

Monsoon storms can also stimulate increased fish feeding activities at the desert lakes when active, or drench them and slow the fishing down. In fact, both can happen in the same day. A recent 2-inch drenching at Alamo turned off the bite. A recent half-inch pummeling at Apache Lake turned on the bite the same day. Don't forget that when water temperatures are in the 80s, bass need to feed four, five or even six times a day (or have at least one big gorge on shad) just to maintain their body weight. In other words, if the bite gets knocked down for five or six hours, you could be in for some great fishing when they start biting again.

Important new book for bird watchers available after a decade in the making

PHOENIX -  After more than a decade of work and help from hundreds of volunteers across the state, a must-have reference book for Arizona bird watchers is finally available. Forty-six million Americans are birders, and the new "Arizona Breeding Bird Atlas," sponsored by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, offers a first book of its kind about this state.
"The creation of this book has been a labor of love," says Troy Corman, one of the book's editors and a bird biologist for the Arizona Game and Fish Department for 15 years. "We've been wanting to make a reference like this available for a very long time."

Cathryn Wise-Gervais, a former Game and Fish bird biologist, is Corman's co-editor. It's the first book focusing on all of Arizona's hundreds of breeding bird species. The creative process for the new book began in 1993, when Corman started asking Audubon Societies across the state for help with the research. Both Corman and Wise-Gervais wrote articles and made presentations at bird club meetings, where they asked for volunteers to go out and help gather data. Hundreds of people answered the call, carrying out bird survey missions in 10-square-mile blocks in more than 1,800 areas of the state. The volunteers looked high and low in a variety of habitats, from deserts to mountains.

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Arizona team takes fourth place at Scholastic Clay Target Program national trap championships

PHOENIX - Arizona's junior novice team came tantalizingly close to winning its division in last week's Scholastic Clay Target Program national trap championships in Vandalia, Ohio, finishing fourth among 55 teams. The Aug. 9 competition highlighted the razor-thin difference between the leading squads, as the top four finishers were within four points of each other.

Two squads from Tennessee ended the regular competition with 929 points and decided the title in a shoot-off round. A squad from Texas finished third with 928 points, followed by Arizona with 925.

"Our kids gave a great effort," says Anthony Chavez, shooting sports coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. "It's their first time going up against this level of national competition in trap, and they still came within a few targets of taking it."

Members of the junior novice team, called the Red Mountain Target Terminators, are Hayden Edgmon, Queen Creek; Isaac Evans, Mesa; Correy Schultz, Gilbert; Kyle Wandelear, Queen Creek; and Justin Williams, Gilbert. All are 14 years old. The team trains at the Red Mountain Trap and Skeet Club in Scottsdale.

Arizona's senior novice squad, also part of the Red Mountain Target Terminators team, finished in 35th place in its division. Team members are Mark Clary, Jr., 17, Mesa; Remington Dias, 15, Ft. McDowell; Chase Judd, 16, Mesa; James Kechely, 17, Queen Creek; Hunter Williams, 16, Gilbert.

Arizona's rookie team, the Pusch Ridge Riders out of the Tucson Trap and Skeet Club in Tucson, finished in 25th place in its division. Team members are Brandon Carlisle, 10, Tucson; Luis Gloria, 10, Tucson; Clay Hernandez, 11, Marana; Perry Kurker-Mraz, 9, Tucson; Trevor Willett, 11, Tucson.

A record 1,564 youths in grades 12 and under competed at the trap national championships this year, surpassing last year's field by more than 500 and producing the highest attendance in the Scholastic Clay Target Program's history.

Arizona's young representatives earned the right to represent the state in national competition by winning the Commissioners' Cup state championships in skeet, sporting clays and trap in May. The skeet and sporting clays winners advanced to national championships in Detroit July 23-24, where they took two first-place finishes, a second and a third.

The Scholastic Clay Target Program was developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, which is the national sponsor. It offers young men and women in grades 12 and under the opportunity to compete as a team in trap, skeet and sporting clays for state and national championships as well as college scholarship money. The program is designed to instill in participants safe firearms handling, commitment, responsibility, leadership and teamwork. Nearly 40 states and 6,000 youths participate.

This is the first year of Arizona's program, which was initiated by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission and administered by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. More than 400 young people participated this year and the department certified more than 90 instructors.

Emmy Nominations

Arizona Wildlife Views television program has received four Emmy nominations this year from the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Television Academy. This chapter consists of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The Emmy award recognizes outstanding achievement in television programs and production.

Arizona Wildlife Views is a local Game and Fish Department television production, which highlights wildlife stories from around Arizona. It has developed into a must-see for wildlife watchers, bird and animal lovers, and those in search of family-friendly educational television programming about outdoor recreation.

Arizona Game and Fish Department employees Chuck Emmert, Gary Schafer and Carol Lynde produce the program and Chuck Emmert is the host. Arizona Wildlife Views airs on PBS stations KAET-TV in Phoenix and KUAT-TV in Tucson, as well as community cable stations throughout the state. 

Arizona Wildlife Views received the following nominations:

The 2005 Emmy awards will be presented on September 10 at the Pointe Hilton at Squaw Peak in Phoenix. To learn more about the show or see this year's program line-up visit azgfd.gov/tv.

Becoming an Outdoors Woman Workshop set for August 19-21, 2005

PHOENIX -  You still have a few days to sign up if you want to become an outdoors woman. Arizona Wildlife Federation (AWF) is hosting this special workshop Aug. 19-21 at Friendly Pines Camp near Prescott to introduce women to outdoors skills in an enjoyable, non-threatening environment.

Expert instructors will teach canoeing, rock climbing, using a compass, fly-fishing, Dutch oven cooking, archery, hunting, shooting and many more outdoors activities. There has even been a horsemanship class added for the August workshop. Classes are held during the day, and evenings are filled with fun and entertainment such as night hikes, musicians and storytellers. Meals are provided, and participants sleep in cabins. 

"There are showers in the rustic cabins, good food in the dining hall, but the best part is the camaraderie," says Arizona Outdoorsman's Linda Dightmon, the event coordinator for the Arizona Wildlife Federation. "It is rewarding to watch these ladies when they accomplish something that they thought they would never do. It might be hitting a bull's eye with an arrow or bullet or busting a clay pigeon. They become empowered and that is a good thing."

AWF sponsors the program with help from the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Enrollment is open to all women 18 and older.

More information, a schedule of classes, and a registration form is now available at azwildlife.org/bow.htm You can also call the Arizona Wildlife Federation office at 480-644-0077 or email awf@azwildlife.org. You can also contact Linda directly at editor@azod.com or call her at 623-979-4612.