Monthly Archives: October 2011
Wild in the City – November 12 – Ben Avery Shooting Range
Last year the Arizona Elk Society held our 1st Wild in the City event for 56 girl scouts. This event is a one day event with 6 stations disigned to introduce the girls to Conservation, wildlife and the outdoors.
This year we are holding the event on Nov. 12 at Ben Avery Shooting Range and could use some volunteers.
If you would like to come and help please let Steve Clark (stevec@arizonaelksociety.org) or Annette Naff (annette@arizonaelksociety.org) know if you can join us.
Classes include Archery, Wildlife Identification, Knives and Knots, Track Making, Survival Key Chains, and a fishing tank. Besides the classes there is other help needed like registration, cooking for lunch and set up and tear down.
We could use help on Thursday Afternoon and Friday setting up the fishing pond but most of the help will be from 7am on Sat. until 5 pm on Sat. The event itself will run from 9am-4pm with lunch at noon.
Mexican authorities released five Mexican wolves in Sonora, Mexico
We have learned through Arizona Game and Fish that Mexican authorities released five Mexican wolves in the San Luis Mountains in Sonora, Mexico, on Oct. 12, 2011, approximately 80 miles south of Douglas, Ariz.
Mexico’s desire to release wolves in Sonora as part of its recovery effort has been known for the past two years, although the exact timetable for release was unknown.
“Mexico is a sovereign nation with its own wildlife conservation and recovery goals. The vast majority of historic habitat for the Mexican wolf is actually in Mexico, and long-term full recovery of the sub-species is incumbent on successful recovery there, as well as our recovery efforts in the U.S.,” said Larry Voyles, director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Game and Fish will continue to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine how the wolves will be monitored and managed if animals cross the international border.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has been actively involved in the multi-agency effort to reintroduce Mexican wolves to portions of their historic range in the east-central portion of Arizona (and adjacent New Mexico) for many years. In 1998, 11 captive-reared Mexican wolves were released into the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area (BRWRA) in eastern Arizona.
The current population in Arizona-New Mexico was assessed to be approximately 50 animals during 2011 monitoring. The Mexican wolf is considered endangered in the United States and Mexico.
Game and Fish continues to express concern over the lack of progress in aspects of wolf conservation.
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service initiated efforts earlier this year to update the 1982 recovery plan for the Mexican wolf throughout its historic range in the American Southwest and Mexico,” said Voyles. “The Service also recently released a draft management plan for wolves that might travel to Arizona or New Mexico as a result of the recent release in Sonora or future releases in Mexico. It will likely take years to finalize either plan because of federal environmental compliance processes that could easily be further drawn out by appeals and even litigation.”
Voyles added that wolf management is an emotional issue with potential effects on the human environment, as well as the natural environment. Everyone engaged in wolf management has a responsibility towards open and transparent coordination and information sharing with Arizona stakeholders, as mandated under provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Voyles said Game and Fish will make every effort to work with the Fish and Wildlife Service, neighboring states, counties, and Mexico, to the extent that transparency allows, to manage and conserve wolves in Arizona.
This is the entire text of the AZFGD news release of Oct 20, 2011 on this subject.
AZGFD – Online application service now available for spring 2012 hunts
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has announced that online application service for Arizona’s 2012 spring hunts is now available as of Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011.
Hunters who haven’t yet submitted an application for the spring hunts for turkey, javelina, buffalo and bear will be able to apply online by visiting www.azgfd.gov/draw and selecting a link to the online service.
The application deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011 by 7 p.m. (MST).
Online applicants are advised to apply early and not wait until the last minute, in case any technical issues arise on deadline day.
Department officials said the new online system has been undergoing extensive testing and it wasn’t logistically possible to make the system available any sooner. They added that having the spring draw application process online, even at this late stage of the application cycle, allows the department to continue to fine tune the system for the elk and antelope draw application cycle that typically begins in mid to late December.
At the time of application you will have to pay a non-refundable application fee of $7.50 per applicant, along with the fee for any necessary licenses (a 2012 license is required to enter the spring draw; if you haven’t already purchased one, you can do it through the draw process). You will be able to print any purchased hunting licenses immediately from your computer once your purchase is complete.
The system allows payment with a credit card (VISA and Mastercard only). The cost of the hunt permit-tag won’t be charged unless and until you are drawn.
The online application service works with the following browsers: Microsoft Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari (If you use Safari, it is recommended that you upgrade to the latest version of the OS and Safari browser; a few problems have been reported with older Safari versions). This application service currently does not work with mobile devices such as iPad, iPhone or other Smartphones.
Remember, if you go through the process of applying online and actually submit your credit card number to complete that transaction, you will have submitted (and paid for) a valid application for the draw.
For those not using the online process, paper applications can still be mailed to the Arizona Game and Fish Department or hand-delivered to any of the seven Game and Fish offices located in Pinetop, Flagstaff, Kingman, Yuma, Tucson, Mesa and Phoenix. Mailed applications should be addressed to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn: Drawing Section, PO Box 74020, Phoenix, AZ 85087-1052. Mailed applications must be received by the department by the deadline; postmarks don’t count.
The 2012 Spring Turkey, Javelina, Buffalo and Bear Hunt Draw Information booklet and applications are available at www.azgfd.gov/draw, at Game and Fish offices, and at hunting license dealers throughout the state.
For more information or to apply online, visit www.azgfd.gov/draw.
To see this same News Release on the AZGFD website visit the AZGFD Newmedia
