| Wildlife News - Sept. 7 Regulations are available: It's time to apply for spring hunts A true sign of autumn rapidly approaching is being able to apply for Arizona's spring hunts for javelina, turkey, bear and buffalo. Sharpen your pencil; it's that time again. This year's draw even includes a record number of much-sought-after spring turkey permits offered for 2007. The deadline to apply for the spring hunts is Oct. 10. Remember,
postmarks don't count. If you are running late, hand-carry that important
application to any Arizona Game and Fish Department office before the 7 p.m.
deadline on the second Tuesday of October. But don't expect to apply online: the department is only taking paper applications this time. However, the applications are downloadable from the department's Web site to print out. For those who have gotten out of the practice of filling out manual applications, it might be a good idea to apply during the grace period, just in case you make a mistake. Here's how the grace period works: if a paper hunt permit-tag application contains an error, and it's received prior to Sept. 22, the department will make three attempts within a 24-hour period to notify the applicant by telephone (if a phone number is provided). Be sure to enclose the right amount of money in the application because
tag fees have been increased a little starting in 2007. Check the
regulations for the latest amounts. Speaking of licenses, some super new license deals are available for 2007, especially for families. The new Family Hunting License is $32.25 for the primary adult, $25.80 for the spouse, and $15 for each child, which is a $29 savings for a family of four. Or get the Family Combination Hunting and Fishing License, which is $54 for the primary adult, $43.20 for the spouse, and $20 for each child. That is a savings of $24. A new Super Conservation Hunting License for residents is also offered, which includes general hunting privileges; a Unit 12A (North Kaibab) Habitat Stamp; state waterfowl stamp and state migratory bird stamp privileges; plus over-the-counter archery deer, archery turkey, fall bear and mountain lion tags; and enrollment in the Hunter Pool, all for $118. This package will save you $37. Another new license bargain for 2007 is a Super Conservation Combination Hunting and Fishing license for just $163, which is a $50 savings. The Super Combo License for residents contains all the Super Hunting License opportunities listed above, plus Class G Fishing License, Urban Fishing License and trout-fishing privileges. Small game outlook: This is the year of the cottontail Oil up your favorite .22 and dig out that trusty old .410, this is the year of the rabbit in Arizona, and you can enjoy plenty of other small game hunting opportunities, too. "Cottontails provide excellent fare for the hunter's table, a light delicate meat that tastes absolutely nothing like chicken; it's better," says Mark Zornes, small game biologist for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Cottontails were abundant last year in much of Arizona, and the state experienced additional population increases this summer, especially in central and western Arizona, thanks to all the summer rains and the resulting vegetative growth. For in-depth information on rabbits or other small game animals, including unit-by-unit outlooks, visit the department's Web site at azgfd.gov. Cottontail rabbits Arizona's rabbit season is year-round. Desert washes, canyons and brushy hillsides provide good places to hunt cottontails. "Take some kid hunting, or make like a kid yourself and go bag some cottontails. It's a lot of fun and also a great way for youngsters and adults to hone their hunting skills," Zornes recommends. He also recommends taking along binoculars. "Walk along the edge of washes and occasionally stop, stay quiet, and use the binoculars to search for cottontails hiding in the shady areas under brush. When you find them, you can also practice executing a stalk. Do this a dozen times in a single day, and you will rapidly refine your hunting skills, or those of your youngster," says Zornes. Dove, quail and waterfowl hunters will want to add cottontails to the mix this year. Try using a .22-caliber rifle for the rabbits rather than a shotgun. Attaching a decent telescopic site to the rifle also provides young hunters (and older ones, too) with the opportunity to become proficient at sighting in on their targets. Also, take along monopods or other portable shooting rests so the youth (or others) can learn to shoot more accurately and have better shot placement. Tree Squirrels This will also be a good year to hunt tree squirrels in the White Mountains, along the Mogollon Rim or on the Kaibab Plateau during the Oct. 13 to Nov. 26 season. Most people may not be aware, but Arizona has more species of tree squirrels than any other state. Consider a hunt for the Arizona big five - Abert's, Kaibab, Arizona gray, Chiricahua fox and red squirrels. The tree squirrel outlook on much of the Coconino National Forest west of the Mogollon Rim and the forested areas below the Mogollon Rim are less favorable for squirrels, and hunters can expect only fair hunting at best, so stick to the recommended areas for good results. "With all the moisture the high country received and the resulting mushroom and berry crops along the Mogollon Rim and the White Mountains, hunters should see fat, healthy tree squirrels. Take along the fishing poles for trout, and your family can have a terrific autumn experience in the mountains," Zornes says. Randy Babb, a department biologist and avid squirrel hunter, recommends getting out early in the morning and quietly walking along logging roads while searching for squirrels on the ground and in the trees. "Once a squirrel is spotted, it may be shot on the ground or in a tree. Chasing squirrels up trees at 7,000 feet elevation is more work than it sounds," says Babb. Babb suggests using a .22-caliber rifle for squirrels, instead of a shotgun. "It's a lot more fun, and you don't have to worry about shot at dinner time. Bring a pair of binoculars to help you to spot squirrels in treetops." Attaching a decent telescopic site to the .22 provides the opportunity to become proficient at sighting in on targets, especially rapidly moving ones. Abert's squirrels, also known as tassel-eared squirrels, spend a lot of time on the ground foraging for mushrooms in the fall and are likely to be seen there. Gray squirrels prefer riparian corridors of sycamore, walnut and ash. "The canyons under the Mogollon Rim are good places to try for gray squirrels, and you'll probably pick up some Abert's, too. They are a bit harder to come by and can make for a challenging hunt," Babb says. Red squirrels are found in spruce/fir habitat in the higher elevations and are most easily found by listening for their "wurring" call. Red squirrels also store cones in middens, which are large cone debris piles. If you find a midden with signs of freshly eaten cones, a red squirrel might be close by and is probably getting ready to chatter at you. Doves Another small-game bright spot for Arizona this year is the dove hunting. Quite simply, Arizona has the best dove hunting in the nation. The early season is Sept. 1-15. The late season is Nov. 24-Jan. 7. The late season has gained in popularity the past several years, and with good reason: the shooting opportunities are good, the weather is cooler, and you can hunt the afternoons rather than getting up before dawn. The abundant summer rains have altered the dove-hunting picture, especially in central Arizona. The good seed crops and available water sources in the desert should result in hunters having more dispersed opportunities for mourning doves. Hunters should still expect to see decent concentrations of doves in the agricultural areas, especially white-winged doves. Keep in mind that by the late season, white wings will have migrated south. Don't forget that the bag limit is 10 mourning and white-winged doves per day in the aggregate, of which no more than six may be white-winged doves. In the southern zone, adult dove hunters are relegated to half-day hunting (mornings), while youth can hunt all day during the early season. The Arizona Game and Fish Department also offers something new this year: Eurasian collared doves have been included in the regulations with a season and bag limit. The bag limit is set at 25 per day. Eurasian collared doves are larger than both the native white-winged and mourning doves. These exotic invaders have a black collar on the top part of the next, pale gray coloration, and dark primary feathers. These doves are an introduced species to this hemisphere and have recently expanded their range into Arizona. Originally native on the Indian subcontinent, Eurasian collared doves were introduced to the Bahamas in the 1970s and quickly spread to Florida. Since then, they have moved westward into Arizona. Gambel's Quail Hunters should not expect a repeat of last year's terrific hunting for Gambel's, although hunting opportunities should be better than in 2004. Arizona experienced a record dry winter and had only moderate rain in spring. Gambel's quail reproduction in spring was only marginal in most areas. However, the excellent summer rains did result in some late hatches. Gambel's surveys in July show some areas had fair quail reproduction with five to seven young per brood. "Don't expect an abundance of young birds, or you'll be disappointed. During the early part of the season, hunters may see some very small birds due to the late hatches. Since these small birds produce little meat, it is a good idea to let these birds mature before harvesting them," Zornes says. Some of the best Gambel's quail hunting this year will likely be found in the hill country stretching from Wickenburg to Kingman and in river bottoms and agricultural areas in southwest Arizona. Those areas were also quail-hunting hot spots last year. Drainages, such as the Santa Maria and Big Sandy and their associated uplands, will likely hold decent numbers of Gambel's quail. Reproduction in those areas looks a little more favorable than in some other parts of the state, but you may have to hike some to find the best hunting. Scaled quail (southern Arizona) In southern Arizona, hunters should expect poor hunting for scaled quail: Southern Arizona had a dry winter and spring. "Conditions were abysmal for early scaled quail reproduction. Scaled quail have the ability to delay reproduction until conditions are better, so some reproduction likely occurred during the monsoon rains this summer. Gambel's quail reproduction in the southeast was likely nearly nonexistent," says Zornes. "Getting in a successful triple species hunt (Gambel's, scaled and Mearns') this year will be extremely tough." Mearns' quail The Mearns' quail season is Nov. 24 through Feb. 12. Mearns' quail nest in late summer, so their reproduction is dependent on the summer rains. Southern Arizona had an exceptionally wet summer for a change. The outlook for Mearns' is pretty good, and some areas could have excellent hunting opportunities. However, in spots, torrential rains may have inhibited nesting or resulted in juvenile mortality. Chukar partridge Arizona has limited chukar partridge opportunities for the Sept. 15-Feb. 12 season. Chukar are found mostly in the Arizona Strip area, the Paria Plateau and Vermilion Cliffs. Chukars can also be found in a few locations south of the Grand Canyon. "Chukars inhabit extremely rough country that'll put any hunter to the test. There is an old adage that a person hunts chukar the first time out of desire and the second time for revenge. That is especially true here in Arizona," Zornes says. Blue grouse Arizona has only limited and spotty populations of blue grouse for the Sept. 15-Nov. 26 season, and this is not promising to be one of the better years. Grouse are typically found in the high elevations that have spruce and mixed-conifer habitats, such as on the San Francisco Peaks, Mt. Baldy, Escudilla Mountain and Hannigan Meadow areas. This year, the better blue grouse hunting will likely occur on the Kaibab Plateau. "There is a small cadre of dedicated grouse hunters in the state. The rest typically take the opportunity to bag one of these birds while hunting other species, such as squirrels, fall turkeys or archery deer," says Zornes. Deadline for submitting comment on "Wildlife 2012" plan is Oct. 6 The Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds the public that the deadline for submitting written comment on the draft "Wildlife 2012" strategic plan is Oct. 6. The plan will guide how the agency manages wildlife, certain recreational opportunities and its own operations for the next six years. The draft document is posted for review on the department's Web site at azgfd.gov. Informational public meetings will continue to be held around the state this month to provide an overview of the plan's highlights. The meetings will be held from 6-9 p.m. on the following dates: Monday, Sept. 11 - Kingman, Arizona Game and Fish Department Kingman regional office, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road. Tuesday, Sept. 12 - Flagstaff, Arizona Game and Fish Department Flagstaff regional office, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road. Thursday, Sept. 14 - Mesa, Arizona Game and Fish Department Mesa regional office, 7200 E. University Drive. Friday, Sept. 15 - Pinetop, Arizona Game and Fish Department Pinetop regional office, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd. Monday, Sept. 18, - Tucson, Arizona Game and Fish Department Tucson regional office, 555 N. Greasewood Road. People will have the opportunity to ask questions, but no oral comment will be taken at the meetings. Written comment can be submitted through Oct. 6 by e-mail to wildlife2012plan@azgfd.gov or by U.S. mail to Wildlife 2012, c/o Funds & Planning, Arizona Game and Fish Department, 2221 W. Greenway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85023-4399. Safety concerns prompt reminder to be "bear aware" Recent safety concerns about aggressive bears in several regions of the state, but especially southern Arizona, are prompting the Arizona Game and Fish Department to issue a reminder about being "bear aware." "Our lack of rain last winter means less food, such as berries, in the mountains now, so many bears are on the move in search of food," says Elissa Ostergaard, an urban wildlife specialist at the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Tucson office. "We have to be more vigilant than usual about sources of food and water around our homes that might attract these animals." You can do several simple things to make your home and neighborhood safer from unwanted wildlife encounters:
If you live in an area with a lot of bear activity, also try to make sure any bird feeders are out of reach of bears, at least 10 feet in the air with a pan beneath them to catch falling seeds or nectar away from the ground. If you're unable to do that, you might want to consider taking down any bird feeders, just for the time being. Believe it or not, these feeders can attract even large animals, including bears. If you are ever confronted by a bear, don't run. That can trigger the animal's chase instinct. Instead, make yourself look as big as possible. Face the animal. Throw something at it. Speak loudly and let it know you are human. Try making noise by banging pans, using a whistle or whatever else is available. You can learn more about Arizona's bears and how to deter them from coming near your home by going to the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Web site at azgfd.gov/urbanwildlife. Game and Fish prepares to assume operation of Ben Avery Clay Target Center on Sept. 18 Get your shotguns ready and prepare for an exciting new chapter in clay target shooting at the Ben Avery Clay Target Center. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is completing renovations to portions of the center in advance of assuming operational control on Sept. 18. The Clay Target Center will remain open under the current operator through Sunday, Sept. 17 and then close on Sept. 18 and 19, as the department transitions to new operational hours of 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesdays through Sundays. The new hours begin Wednesday, Sept. 20. The center will be closed Mondays and Tuesdays, which coincides with the operational hours for the main Ben Avery Shooting Facility. "We're excited about this opportunity to serve the shooting public," says Dana Yost, assistant director of information and education for Game and Fish. "We've done an extensive amount of work in preparation for the management transition, and we will continue to upgrade the facility once we've assumed control." The six easternmost fields of the trap and skeet line have been completely renovated. The skeet houses on these fields have been refurbished and new dividing walls erected. The existing trap houses have been replaced with modern, pre-cast trap houses and new hydraulic PAT traps. When the department assumes operation, it will initially operate these six fields (five trap and skeet overlay fields and one trap field) and the sporting clays field during the day, and two of the trap and skeet overlays at night. There will be a temporary office facility to service customers arriving at the Clay Target Center. New electrical and lighting systems are being installed, as well as wiring for new card reader and voice activation systems. The sporting clays course is being refurbished with new shooting stations, platforms, machines, counting systems, benches and gun racks. A five-station executive course will also be available for the Sept. 20 opening. Renovation of the other trap and skeet fields and clubhouse will begin after the department assumes operation. At full build-out--anticipated to be completed by the end of the year-the Clay Target Center will have 18 fully functional trap and skeet fields (14 overlays with four additional trap fields). The department is also in the process of hiring personnel to run the Clay Target Center (see article on new center manager John Satterwhite below). The Ben Avery Clay Target Center is located on the grounds of the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in north Phoenix. The entrance is off Carefree Highway, about 1.5 miles west of I-17. For more information or to sign up for our new newsletter on activities at the Clay Target Center, visit azgfd.gov/ctc. Shooting legend John Satterwhite hired to manage Ben Avery Clay Target Center The Arizona Game and Fish Department has hired one of the country's most prolific competitive shooters to manage the Ben Avery Clay Target Center. John Satterwhite, a four-time international skeet champion, former Olympic team captain and two-time gold medalist in the 1979 Pan-American Games, has been hired as assistant range manager at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, with the responsibility for overseeing the Clay Target Center when the department assumes operation on Sept. 18. "We're thrilled to have such an accomplished shooting professional as John on board to manage the Clay Target Center," says Dana Yost, assistant director for information and education for Game and Fish. "He's not only had an incredible competitive shooting career, but also an impressive background and commitment to teaching the sport to others, especially youth." During his competitive shooting career, Satterwhite won the All-Armed Services national and international skeet championships, won the NSSA international skeet championship, and was a three-time winner of the NRA United States international skeet championship. He was captain of two U.S. Pan American Games shooting teams, the 1976 U.S. Olympic shooting team, and the 1979 World Shooting Championships team. He won 12 medals representing the U.S. in world shooting competitions, six of which were gold. Satterwhite trained more than 20,000 B-52 and K-135 pilots, crew members and base personnel in rifle and pistol marksmanship while serving as a U.S. Air Force instructor. In 1980 he created and directed the American Shotgun Academy, a Prescott, Ariz.-based instructional school specializing in all facets of shotgun shooting. He has worked for several companies as an instructor and target shooting exhibitor, and has been featured on numerous nationally televised outdoor shows. "I'm looking forward to this new opportunity," says Satterwhite. "One of my real joys these days is working with existing shooters and teaching the sport to youth and new shooters. The Ben Avery Clay Target Center has great potential, and our goal is to make each visitor's experience and enjoyable and memorable one." 2006 is a record-setting fishing year in Arizona 2006 is turning out to be a record-setting fishing year in Arizona, even before the great fall fishing gets underway and anglers still have a chance to catch and submit record fish, especially big fish of the year. "Some of the lead entries for big fish of the year could be surpassed, especially this fall when fish are feeding more aggressively with cooler water temperatures," says Kirk Young, a fisheries biologist for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Kirk, who manages the annual big fish of the year and state fish records, says he has been hearing about lots of huge that were caught but not entered. "It might be tough to top a 13-pound largemouth bass, but a 2.4-pound crappie or a 2-pound, 6-ounce smallmouth bass, while large, are not that unusual. We have many species categories, such as flathead catfish and Apache trout, that have no entries so far," Young says. If you've been putting off that fishing trip, now's the time to get out to Arizona's cool mountain areas. Deer hunter clinic set for Sept. 12 Get drawn for a whitetail or mule deer hunt this year and want some great tips to make best use of your time in the field? Come to the Arizona Deer Association's Annual Deer Hunters' Clinic starting 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12 at the Mountain Preserve Reception Center at 1431 E. Dunlap Ave. in Phoenix. Duwane Adams will be on hand to talk about whitetail and mule deer hunting tacks. Mike Miller will be talking about proper care of game meat in the field. Jim Heffelfinger of the Arizona Game and Fish Department will speak about deer management and biology. The cost is free for juniors ages 10-17 and $10 per adult at the door. Those who have purchased an Arizona Deer Association membership can also get in free. The event will also include a raffle, a terrific collection of trophy deer mounts and a special program for junior deer tag holders. Train to be a wildlife rehabilitator or volunteer Have you ever wanted to work with animals? Here's your chance to learn how to become a wildlife rehabilitator or a wildlife volunteer. On Oct. 6, 7, and 8, the Arizona Game and Fish Department will hold its Southwestern Wildlife Rehabilitators Symposium 2006. Those who attend the symposium can learn how to work with bats, tortoises, raptors, squirrels, songbirds, snakes, and other types of animals. Participants can learn how to use a microscope, how to identify and treat a sick animal, and even how to do a necropsy, if they're interested. Diseases that affect wildlife, including West Nile virus, bird flu, and chronic wasting disease (CWD), will also be discussed. "We have a variety of classes this year that should interest everyone who likes to work with wildlife," says Sandy Cate, coordinator of the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center. "We only have space for 150 participants, and we expect those to fill up fast." The department started holding this type of symposium in 1985 and only hosts one every two years. Some participants even come from other countries to learn. Arizona licensed rehabilitators can gain educational hours required by their permits at this symposium. The event will take place at the La Quinta Inn at 2510 W. Greenway Road
in Phoenix, just off I-17. For Arizona licensed wildlife rehabilitators, the
event is free. The cost for others is just $15 per day or $25 for the entire
symposium. Call (623) 582-9806 for hours of the event, details on classes
and a registration form. Reservations can also be made at the Web site
azwildlifecenter.org. Just
click on the "upcoming events" section. Meals will be available at the event
for a nominal cost. Parking is limited, so carpools are encouraged. As the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Emmy award-winning series, "Arizona Wildlife Views," begins broadcasting its all-new season of programming this year, the show's producers say viewers are in for great, new adventures across Arizona. Take a journey from the comfort of your living room as the season kicks off with three entertaining stories, including a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon with Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists to survey one of the last remaining homes of a native fish called the humpback chub. A story on facts and myths of wildlife will answer the never-ending debate about whether hummingbirds ever stop flying and whether Gila monsters spit their venom. Finally, feast your eyes on a lush riparian habitat right in the middle of Phoenix, thanks to the teamwork of the Rio Salado Restoration Project and Audubon Arizona. "'Arizona Wildlife Views' is known for its look at the native animals that make Arizona such a distinctive home for many types of wildlife, but we also cover much more," says producer Gary Schafer. "Whether you are a parent searching for something cool to do outside with your kids this weekend, an avid hunter or angler, a boater or a hiker, 'Arizona Wildlife Views' is a great show for anyone who loves the outdoors." "Arizona Wildlife Views" is packed with lots of action for the upcoming season. Travel from one end of our great state to the other as the cameras give us a close-up of the California condors that soar above the Vermilion Cliffs, the striped bass of Lake Powell, burrowing owls in Pinal County, a "Girls Got Guns" feature on outdoor activities for women, and much more. The long-running series is gearing up for an exciting season on PBS
stations statewide. The show will air at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays in Phoenix on
Channel 8, KAET-TV, and will debut at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 24 in Tucson
on Channel 6, KUAT-TV. Game and Fish partners with public and landowners to preserve natural habitats Because private landowners and government agencies are working together, some of the best examples of native habitats and at-risk species in Arizona are being saved for future generations. Through an Arizona Game and Fish Department program, the department is aiding landowners with many projects like restoring grasslands, creating wildlife water developments and cleaning up trash from ranches. These cooperative efforts have helped to open up public access to 2 million acres of federal or state lands previously closed by private landowners and unavailable to the public for outdoor recreation. Since 2003, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has provided private landowners interested in developing and maintaining wildlife habitat on their property with financial and technical assistance through the Landowner Relations Program. Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) funds are one of these programs available to private landowners for habitat restoration projects that benefit species and habitats at risk. The funding helps landowners with on-the -ground wildlife habitat enhancement projects. One example of a property that has benefited from the program is Diablo Trust Ranches in northeast Arizona, which has completed almost 100,000 acres of grassland restoration since 1960 and is currently planning to restore another 80,000 acres. Because of this effort, the Diablo Trust was recently awarded a 2006 Environmental Stewardship Award by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and sponsors Dow AgroSciences, LLC, and the Natural Resource Conservation Service. The award recognizes those who showcase the stewardship and business practices that exist together on progressive farms and ranches. The Diablo Trust is a collaborative team that manages 426,000 acres of intermingled private, state and federal lands. Participants include ranchers, conservationist, federal and state land managers, scientists, recreationists, elected officials and other citizens. "The Arizona Game and Fish Landowner Relations Program wants to help with more efforts like this. The program encourages the public and landowners to take an active conservation role and provides us with an important opportunity to address critical habitat needs," said Arizona Game and Fish Commissioner Michael M. Golightly, from Flagstaff. "We will continue to work closely with interested conservation partners like the Diablo Trust to protect and recover endangered, threatened and at-risk species and habitat." The Arizona Game and Fish Department would like to encourage others to get involved in the Landowner Relations Program by volunteering to help with restoration and cleanup projects or by seeing how your property might provide more access in exchange for benefits. If would like more information on the program and LIP funds, please visit azgfd.gov.
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